What Skimmer are big tank owners using?
- Thread starter prop-frags
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TampaReefer79
Premium Member
My Reef Creations here! MRC MR6R, fed by Mag 18 and recirculated with a Reeflo Hammerhead.
PSU REEFER
New member
Oct 5000 External----on my 500 and I love it---of course I'm partial to Oct's
psykobowler
New member
Super reef octopus xp-5000 internal and a vertex in-180 fed ozone on a 530 gallon system.
prop-frags
SPS Slave
Done
Thanks Dave!
Looks like the Octopus, and BK are gunning for the top spots so far.
Keep the votes and comments coming... great info.
sonofstarstamps
New member
Bubble King 300internal plus a Vertex Alpha 300, both in a 2000lt setup.
BK300int - Used for the last 18mths. Amazing build, small consistent bubbles, quiet, pulls out a cup of crap every 36hrs or so (heavy bioload in tank, very heavy feeding), set and forget. Cons - price
Vertex Alpha 300 - just over 3 weeks of use so far, in conjunction with the BK.
Finding it hard to dial in, does rely on no fluctuation of water level, bubbles no where nearly as uniformed as BK, still manages to remove a cup or so in about 48hrs, its quiet also, if I could go back a month, id order another bubble king. Not really liking it at the moment, but maybe still breaking in?
BK300int - Used for the last 18mths. Amazing build, small consistent bubbles, quiet, pulls out a cup of crap every 36hrs or so (heavy bioload in tank, very heavy feeding), set and forget. Cons - price
Vertex Alpha 300 - just over 3 weeks of use so far, in conjunction with the BK.
Finding it hard to dial in, does rely on no fluctuation of water level, bubbles no where nearly as uniformed as BK, still manages to remove a cup or so in about 48hrs, its quiet also, if I could go back a month, id order another bubble king. Not really liking it at the moment, but maybe still breaking in?
Sure - Leo used to make good skimmers, and they are built like a tank ( have used various Becketts for years) *but* - technology has out grown Becketts. The Beckett skimmer designs go back some ~ 20 years or so.....
They require an Iwaki 70-100, or comparable ( which can be approx. 3.5 amps) vs a current needlewheel design - such as the Super Reef Octopus 5000External I have switched to - use only 100 watts, including the feed pump!
Additionally, Becketts are un-avoidably noisy, and cannot make bubbles as small as current needle wheel/mesh/pin wheel designs.
And - the SRO Octopus kicks the snot out constantly!
T
I beg to differ on your beckett bashing
Becketts kick serious buttock. You can have a 4ft tall by 8" diameter skimmer run with one beckett and powered by an Iwaki 55RLT. That 185 watts will easily make this beast skim a 500+ gallon tank.
Just because a technology is older, doesn't mean it sucks
Becketts kick serious buttock. You can have a 4ft tall by 8" diameter skimmer run with one beckett and powered by an Iwaki 55RLT. That 185 watts will easily make this beast skim a 500+ gallon tank. Just because a technology is older, doesn't mean it sucks
Dave I am not picking on you personally, as an "older technology":spin3:
but - let's look at it a couple of ways:
1. I love normally aspirated ( carberator using) engines. Simple, easy to tune, and they work great, up to that point.
Here is the problem tho - they are never going to be as energy efficient as precisely metered fuel injection engines of current manufacturing technology. And the fuel injection systems go further, with less fiddling than a carb.
So - my point is simple: I have used probably more different Beckett;s than amost here ( 3 major manufacturers, 6 different skimmers) - and they work. Period. But - having said that, - from about 20 years of using Becketts, I decided to try a needle wheel job recently. It too works. Better. Measured ANY way you want. Quanity, darkness of skimmate, whatever...just MUCH better.
Understand, I really *do* know how to tune Becketts, improve Becketts, and get the most out of them. And, again they work. But....
2. And this for me is important as the number of systems I am keeping is increasing: You simply cannot get the same performance from a Beckett that you can from a needle wheel skimmer of good design for anywhere near the same amount of electricity.
Again - see my comparitive electrical consumption of the needle wheel - vs - Beckett in my previous post. And I can assure you - that if you think a 8'' x 48'' Beckett is working well using a Iwaki 55 - you really should try it on a Iwaki 100. THEN - you can compare the air to water mix, in density and opacity to what the needle wheel are doing with MUCH less electricity.
The physics of how a Beckett work mandate that - not me. It just requires a much higher pressure rated pump to get my Becketts to "honk".
And - again, they are noisy as compared to the needle wheel. And when you have 5 skimmers in one room...the noise and the electrical draw make the fact that the needle wheel is more efficient, just another point in their favor.
T
but - let's look at it a couple of ways:
1. I love normally aspirated ( carberator using) engines. Simple, easy to tune, and they work great, up to that point.
Here is the problem tho - they are never going to be as energy efficient as precisely metered fuel injection engines of current manufacturing technology. And the fuel injection systems go further, with less fiddling than a carb.
So - my point is simple: I have used probably more different Beckett;s than amost here ( 3 major manufacturers, 6 different skimmers) - and they work. Period. But - having said that, - from about 20 years of using Becketts, I decided to try a needle wheel job recently. It too works. Better. Measured ANY way you want. Quanity, darkness of skimmate, whatever...just MUCH better.
Understand, I really *do* know how to tune Becketts, improve Becketts, and get the most out of them. And, again they work. But....
2. And this for me is important as the number of systems I am keeping is increasing: You simply cannot get the same performance from a Beckett that you can from a needle wheel skimmer of good design for anywhere near the same amount of electricity.
Again - see my comparitive electrical consumption of the needle wheel - vs - Beckett in my previous post. And I can assure you - that if you think a 8'' x 48'' Beckett is working well using a Iwaki 55 - you really should try it on a Iwaki 100. THEN - you can compare the air to water mix, in density and opacity to what the needle wheel are doing with MUCH less electricity.
The physics of how a Beckett work mandate that - not me. It just requires a much higher pressure rated pump to get my Becketts to "honk".
And - again, they are noisy as compared to the needle wheel. And when you have 5 skimmers in one room...the noise and the electrical draw make the fact that the needle wheel is more efficient, just another point in their favor.
T
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sammie
New member
I've used beckets over the years and thought the same thing that the "new"technology must be better so I switched to a recirc needlewheel and let it run. Sure it worked and used less electricity BUT my tank ever so slowly went down hill (started 6 months after installing the new skimmer) and I could not determine why. Couldn't be the skimmer as this was the new technology, so I looked at everything else and changing a lot of componets did nothing and the problem continued to get worse. Then I ordered a new custom built GEO beckett skimmer and replaced the needlewheel unit. The tank started to improve in about 2-3 weeks and the amount of GUNK that came out with that new skimmer was amazing. Saving electricity is noble but to go to an inferior "technology" just to save a little electric is from my expearence not worth the coral you are going to lose. Old technology is not always bad as I know a VERY large wholeseller in Michigan that still uses undergravel filters in his 1500 gallon tanks and is successful.
Well, I am a bit of a skimmer hound as well and have used quite a few skimmers over the years I will agree that most needlewheel skimmers use less electricity, but I don't agree that they pull out nastier sludge than the good old beckett.
Out of all the skimmers I have owned over the years, the best skimmer I have ever used was a dual beckett skimmer built by GEO. It literally gathered 1/2" of mud on the upper 1/3 of the skimmer neck every week after it filled a 1 gallon reservoir with the nastiest smelling brown skimmate ever.
My current skimmer is a GEO with a beckett feed and NW recirc....it is a bit of both worlds, but I still prefer the dual beckett he made me many moons ago. Sure, it took a powerful pump and it made some hissing, but the hissing was easily corrected with some tubing to a remote location. But, that dual beckett processed the tank several times per hour versus the slower needlewheel only approaching 1x/hour.
I guess we will never all agree on the best skimmer technology, but I think GEO is definitely the best engineer of skimmers on the market and he makes becketts. He has made NWs in the past as well, but he believes the beckett is the best technology available for effective skimming.
I will agree that most needlewheel skimmers use less electricity, but I don't agree that they pull out nastier sludge than the good old beckett.Out of all the skimmers I have owned over the years, the best skimmer I have ever used was a dual beckett skimmer built by GEO. It literally gathered 1/2" of mud on the upper 1/3 of the skimmer neck every week after it filled a 1 gallon reservoir with the nastiest smelling brown skimmate ever.
My current skimmer is a GEO with a beckett feed and NW recirc....it is a bit of both worlds, but I still prefer the dual beckett he made me many moons ago. Sure, it took a powerful pump and it made some hissing, but the hissing was easily corrected with some tubing to a remote location. But, that dual beckett processed the tank several times per hour versus the slower needlewheel only approaching 1x/hour.
I guess we will never all agree on the best skimmer technology, but I think GEO is definitely the best engineer of skimmers on the market and he makes becketts. He has made NWs in the past as well, but he believes the beckett is the best technology available for effective skimming.
Bill - my point is not that Becketts don't work. I still have some in use.
Rather, I have quite the opposite experience to yours with tank turn-around. But I am sure there are NO other influencing factors, eh?:hmm5:
You know, I fully believe that my old 3 speed on the colum, was a better transmission than these new fangled automatics. I believe that manual steering was better than power steering. I really think that manual crank up windows were the way to go too.........nah....I have become older and a bit lazy, think I will take advantage of current technology whenever I can. Doesn't mean I don't miss a bit of the old days, but - not that much:beer:
And - I realize "mileage may vary" for many of us. But I ain't going back to old bubbe up corner filters either!:lolspin:
T
Rather, I have quite the opposite experience to yours with tank turn-around. But I am sure there are NO other influencing factors, eh?:hmm5:
You know, I fully believe that my old 3 speed on the colum, was a better transmission than these new fangled automatics. I believe that manual steering was better than power steering. I really think that manual crank up windows were the way to go too.........nah....I have become older and a bit lazy, think I will take advantage of current technology whenever I can. Doesn't mean I don't miss a bit of the old days, but - not that much:beer:
And - I realize "mileage may vary" for many of us. But I ain't going back to old bubbe up corner filters either!:lolspin:
T
Dave -
I just recently sold an MRC 4848. It was a beast. Took a Hammerhead pump to push it well.
But, I really did not get more out of it than I do with these new needle wheels. And the bubble size I can say with the needlewheels is smaller.
I will say that it has been a re-learning process to tune them tho. Different than the Beckets for sure.
You know - KZ came out with a Beckett driven cone skimmer....and it landed with a thud. I think they quit making it because they just did not sell. Anyone know why? I really thought it would be a hit....
T
I just recently sold an MRC 4848. It was a beast. Took a Hammerhead pump to push it well.
But, I really did not get more out of it than I do with these new needle wheels. And the bubble size I can say with the needlewheels is smaller.
I will say that it has been a re-learning process to tune them tho. Different than the Beckets for sure.
You know - KZ came out with a Beckett driven cone skimmer....and it landed with a thud. I think they quit making it because they just did not sell. Anyone know why? I really thought it would be a hit....
T
