Warner Marine K2
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Warner Marine
New member
Jeremy's K2 probably looks similar to Poseidon's...
In addition... WM K2 skimmers IN STOCK at Premium Aquatics... no delays for this US MADE skimmer. And for those who are comparing skimmers... at 220mm the cone size is a bit bigger than a 170mm/200mm cone.
In addition... WM K2 skimmers IN STOCK at Premium Aquatics... no delays for this US MADE skimmer. And for those who are comparing skimmers... at 220mm the cone size is a bit bigger than a 170mm/200mm cone.
Jon
I'm not sure if that is the right way of comparing them you are not being very fair with this yes 2cm larger base on k2 but 550lph more air intake on the alpha 200 and also your skimmer cost $50 more than alpha 200 I saw the 2 skimmers at lfs and build quality was by far better on the alpha than k2 alpha is a one piece cone k2 is a rolled sheet , the quality of the seam job is better on atb, I'm not saying k2 is a bad product but you are not making a good comparison
I'm not sure if that is the right way of comparing them you are not being very fair with this yes 2cm larger base on k2 but 550lph more air intake on the alpha 200 and also your skimmer cost $50 more than alpha 200 I saw the 2 skimmers at lfs and build quality was by far better on the alpha than k2 alpha is a one piece cone k2 is a rolled sheet , the quality of the seam job is better on atb, I'm not saying k2 is a bad product but you are not making a good comparison
Warner Marine
New member
well... I wasn't going to make a direct comparison, but I can.
The K-2 pump is rated at 960LPH, but with a low restriction meter (RMC Series) they pull 1100LPH.
We actually had 1200-1300 LPH on our prototype K-2 and determined that the additional turbulence was not desirable. The K-2 is perfectly matched, body to neck to air flow.
Re: the cone itself... our cone is produced by talented American craftsmen. We start off with 1/4" Cell Cast Acrylic sheet. Then we use a CNC router to cut out a perfect "flattened cone". Then the acrylic goes into the acrylic oven to be heated to the correct temperature, too hot and they burn... too cool and they won't form correctly.
The heated acrylic is formed around a cone shaped mold. After it cools, the inside seam is glued with 2 part clear epoxy. After it cures, the outside seam is glued with 2 part clear epoxy. After both seams cure, they're sanded and then polished by hand with a buffing wheel. That's how we make cones...
It would be faster AND cheaper to vacuum form them OR just use bluish grey PVC sheet and hot air weld the seam. But we wanted to do something that the others DIDN'T do...
Other mfg. may use other methods... including using material like PET-G which is not as strong as cast acrylic in this application (several have already reported cracked PET-G cones) and may be quite thin as it is vacuum formed and may not be "optically clear" as acrylic is.
And regarding the build quality, that's subjective of course and in the reviews of the K-2 several have compared it favorably to the competitor. The Cone is produced on a CNC router table, the StepLess neck assembly on a CNC lathe and the contoured body parts on a CNC mill... right here in sunny SoCal.
And first and foremost... only the K-2 has VBT. And uses 21W of electricity consumption vs. 30-40W. And the US made gate valve compared to the wedge pipe. And the US fittings...
BTW, which LFS did you see with a K-2? Actually I don't believe any SoCal LFS even has one in stock.
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Buganddoug
X NJRC Vice President
You go Jon.
I have used many skimmers in 15 plus years of reef keeping. Some better than others. but by fare the K2 is the best that I have used on my 180 gallon. I paid good money for a MRC-2 skimmer and pump before my K2 and I will say it was the worst skimmer I have used and Tim at MRC is a A-Hole. Just try to get him to help you out.
In my reef club I have a friend that has a Alpha 250 Cone Skimmer and he wish he saw mine before he got his. He likes my skimmer much more. he dose not like the wedge pipe and he loves how smooth the gate valve is on my K2. He is having problems with the skimmer all so. but I am not sure what the problem is. But I know others are having the same problem from what he has heard from Premium Aquatics. I will call him this week to see how he maid out.
Daniel
I have used many skimmers in 15 plus years of reef keeping. Some better than others. but by fare the K2 is the best that I have used on my 180 gallon. I paid good money for a MRC-2 skimmer and pump before my K2 and I will say it was the worst skimmer I have used and Tim at MRC is a A-Hole. Just try to get him to help you out.
In my reef club I have a friend that has a Alpha 250 Cone Skimmer and he wish he saw mine before he got his. He likes my skimmer much more. he dose not like the wedge pipe and he loves how smooth the gate valve is on my K2. He is having problems with the skimmer all so. but I am not sure what the problem is. But I know others are having the same problem from what he has heard from Premium Aquatics. I will call him this week to see how he maid out.
Daniel
3.99AfterTaxes
New member
Uhhh.... And what problems would those be? I have one and it's absolutely flawless. The wedge pipe is almost moron proof. 'Almost' being the word prone to scrutiny from the sounds of things... :rolleye1:
Jon
We met @ reefaplooza I actually talked to you about the skimmer for sometimes &enjoyed our conversation and you showed me the skimmer at that time k1 I belive I saw the other 2 skimmers @ socal also one of our clubmembers has a k2.
So believe it or not I have seen the 3 skimmers in question. You came across as a nice guy ,I would believe it if other companies like coral vie make such comparison but just didn't expect it from you. I do own your product I recently bought an h2 for my office tank and very pleased with it but again I still have to say both vertex and atb are higher build quality and better price as far as pet-g actually is quiet a tough material ozone safe and food grade. Atb uses PVC which does not look as good and has a seam but the seam job and cuts are much nicer than k2 anyway this is just my opinion I've been using skimmers more than 6 years and have seen many brands come and go but the process seems to be always the same although you are selling a product but as a hobbyist myself the reason I would buy your product is trust in you and your brand not this kind of marketing that's all I have to say no pun intended
We met @ reefaplooza I actually talked to you about the skimmer for sometimes &enjoyed our conversation and you showed me the skimmer at that time k1 I belive I saw the other 2 skimmers @ socal also one of our clubmembers has a k2.
So believe it or not I have seen the 3 skimmers in question. You came across as a nice guy ,I would believe it if other companies like coral vie make such comparison but just didn't expect it from you. I do own your product I recently bought an h2 for my office tank and very pleased with it but again I still have to say both vertex and atb are higher build quality and better price as far as pet-g actually is quiet a tough material ozone safe and food grade. Atb uses PVC which does not look as good and has a seam but the seam job and cuts are much nicer than k2 anyway this is just my opinion I've been using skimmers more than 6 years and have seen many brands come and go but the process seems to be always the same although you are selling a product but as a hobbyist myself the reason I would buy your product is trust in you and your brand not this kind of marketing that's all I have to say no pun intended
Warner Marine
New member
reeftec,
I certainly appreciate your opinion. However... the skimmer you saw at Reef-A-Palooza 2008 was the very first prototype K skimmer. It was made overseas and is nothing like the K-2. The skimmer at the club members house (I think I know who you mean) is also a beta testing sample... not nearly a production K-2, just a test body for the modified pump.
I'd like to invite you to take a look at the production K-2 at:
IMAC 2009, MACNA 2009 or Reef-A-Palooza 2009.
Come to my booth, check out the K-2... I think you'll be surprised.
Not to mention, the primary goal of a skimmer... performance and efficiency. And the K-2 has that covered...
Did you get a chance to see any of our CNC work?
I certainly appreciate your opinion. However... the skimmer you saw at Reef-A-Palooza 2008 was the very first prototype K skimmer. It was made overseas and is nothing like the K-2. The skimmer at the club members house (I think I know who you mean) is also a beta testing sample... not nearly a production K-2, just a test body for the modified pump.
I'd like to invite you to take a look at the production K-2 at:
IMAC 2009, MACNA 2009 or Reef-A-Palooza 2009.
Come to my booth, check out the K-2... I think you'll be surprised.
Not to mention, the primary goal of a skimmer... performance and efficiency. And the K-2 has that covered...
Did you get a chance to see any of our CNC work?
redmarble
Member
I must say that the build looks fine (better than the SWX cone [both look like they belong in a Petco]), but to that of the Alpha cone, it does not compare- this monster looks and feels like a "million dollar" machine! I've checked out the ATB cone, which also looks "heavy-duty", but the Vertex cone is still much superior - it's a BK!
I'm getting a second one!!
I'm getting a second one!!
Warner Marine
New member
I've said MANY times...
The BK is a fantastic skimmer... in fact IF I didn't build and design my OWN skimmers, I'd probably own a BK, a Deluxe 300/RDII to be precise.
The BK is a fantastic skimmer... in fact IF I didn't build and design my OWN skimmers, I'd probably own a BK, a Deluxe 300/RDII to be precise.
Agreed, I would like to know what problems as well, as Premium Aquatics is most certainly not telling people there are problems with them.
In the end, Premium Aquatics has carried 5 different manufacturer's of cone skimmers now... Alpha, WM, ATB, SWC, and the Eshopps. We are committed to two of those, Alpha and WM. I don't really think you can go wrong either way you go. We want the consumer to have a couple of different options because in the real world no matter how much we push Brand A and like it, there will always be people who like Brand B instead.
In the end, Premium Aquatics has carried 5 different manufacturer's of cone skimmers now... Alpha, WM, ATB, SWC, and the Eshopps. We are committed to two of those, Alpha and WM. I don't really think you can go wrong either way you go. We want the consumer to have a couple of different options because in the real world no matter how much we push Brand A and like it, there will always be people who like Brand B instead.
Here are a couple of photos of the WM K-2 running. The difference between this skimmer and the ATB 840 is amazing. The ATB was decent, but the K2 will run circles around it in my opinion.
I am going to start a comparison thread today with the ATB 840, Warner Marine K2, and the Vertex Alpha 200 all running in the same sump. I'll let them run for a couple of weeks and see how they do.
As usual, if anyone is interested we will have the K2 and 840 for sale as a demo once completed.
I am going to start a comparison thread today with the ATB 840, Warner Marine K2, and the Vertex Alpha 200 all running in the same sump. I'll let them run for a couple of weeks and see how they do.
As usual, if anyone is interested we will have the K2 and 840 for sale as a demo once completed.
Buganddoug
X NJRC Vice President
I spooke to my friend from my Reef club this moring He told me that when he called Premium Aquatics they told him try to cut the air nozzle to mod it. He dose not like the wedge pipe it is way to lose. He will call me in a day or two to let me know how it goes.
The skimmer works great with the 1800LPH nozzle, and the wedge pipe is supposed to be loose, as it has a set screw on it that you tighten down once you adjust it. The longer nozzle that is 1500LPH can be cut down to 47mm in length to achieve 2200LPH total air draw if so desired, although it is not needed.
Buganddoug
X NJRC Vice President
lets get back to the K2 skimmer
Jeremy how do you like the Spin lock Cup?
Daniel
Jeremy how do you like the Spin lock Cup?
Daniel
