Why Diss the Aqua C Remora?

[cdentii1]

I know this thread is not for selling and I do apologize if I offend anyone however I am willing to give up a Urchin Pro with a Mag 3 that has had repairs (and in no way do they effect performance) but in great working condition for $130.00 shipped to anywhere in the 48 states before I list it on E-Bay just PM if interested and I will send some pics.

 

[vessxpress1]

This may be out of left field but I'm amazed nobody has mentioned PM's HOT 1+ skimmers. Anybody ever used one? I decided to go with one and give it a try. It uses a MJ 1200 just like everything else these days. It has about a 6" dia. collection cup and I get about 3/4" of dark green, skimmate out of it every couple of days but has to be cleaned often. It was an upgrade for me and I liked it's extra height for a HOB. It's better than a seaclone but how does it compare to all these others in it's price range? I have no idea. Probably just average. Does anybody think that the pump driving it could have A LOT to do with how well a skimmer's going to perform? Plus with different bio-loads, rock work, stages beyond water changes..etc. etc... the variable are endless to adequately compare these. How do I feel about the PM? It's a 168.00 skimmer to me. When I first tried putting it together, the cup wouldn't seal. I ended up having to grind extra epoxy out with my dremel, all around under the collection cup so it would seal! So besides performance, the pump you get and everything else...quality and quality control becomes an issue too when you're in the 150.00 price range. That's not a lot of money for a skimmer. I think people's expectations are too high for HOBs, personally.
Here's my current skimmer, the HOT 1+ next to my seaclone for a size comparison (had to black out the window):

 

[dhnguyen]

No offense but 3/4" of dark green skimmate every couple of days doesn't sound like a lot to me. I have a cheapo JEBO 180 with a modded pump (w/needlewheel) that I can get half a cup full of coffeee coloured skimmate every couple of days. I paid $30 new for it.


D.

 

[vessxpress1]

That's just it. I don't think it's that great either. I think a pump better than a MJ 1200 might help it out. I don't know what it should be pulling out though. I have two maroon clowns, a purple dotty back and a 1 inch flame back angel. Also a lot of clean up crew. I feed them lightly once a day. Is there enough junk in the water to skim a cup full a day out of this 38 gallon tank or is it just taking out all that's there? How do I know there's more to take out? It's a very dry foam. A lot of it just sticks in the top of the cup. I've tried adjusting it everywhere but it just doesn't seem to make any difference. It runs 24/7 so why can't I assume it takes out the proteins as fast as they become available?

 

[dhnguyen]

If I were you I would replace the MJ1200 with a comparable needle wheel pump or mod the MJ to have a needle or mesh wheel. I'm betting just doing that will improve the performance quite a bit.

Overall though the PM HOT skimmer isn't all that great of a design. The reaction chamber is way too small and the neck even smaller. For $160 you can do much better Coralife SS, Reef Octopus HOB just to name a couple.


D.

 

[Mistamurray]

I don't have any experience with other skimmers, but the ones i see at the lfs are way quieter than my AquaC Remora... I’ve got some wet paper towel around the cup which helps with the noise... I’ve got it hanging off the side of my sump inside a cabinet but its still too loud for my room...

ps. mine pulls lots of wet skimmate, i dump/clean the cup ever 3 or 4 days

-Aaron

 

[cdentii1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8690697#post8690697 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Mistamurray
I don't have any experience with other skimmers, but the ones i see at the lfs are way quieter than my AquaC Remora... I’ve got some wet paper towel around the cup which helps with the noise... I’ve got it hanging off the side of my sump inside a cabinet but its still too loud for my room...

ps. mine pulls lots of wet skimmate, i dump/clean the cup ever 3 or 4 days

-Aaron

Get the Urchin series as they are whisper quiet I have the pro series (up for sale) and you cant even hear this thing run except for the pump.

 

[jt48]

I only read through page 1 on this thread so forgive me if anyone pointed this out already. The Remora/Remora Pro, although designed to be HOB can be HOS (hang on sump) which is exactly what I am planning. I am in the process of setting up an Oceanic 30 gallon Cube and purchased the Remora Pro used. The Oceanic stand has a 9" opening in the rear. The Remora Pro is 7.5 inches. I do have a AE Tech Reef Devil that should outperform the Remora Pro but for me, the advantages of using the Remora Pro is alot more space in the sump for a refugium.

 

[rmanecke]

There is no best skimmer. If you titrate cost, size, tinkering needed, you will find no perfect skimmer.

I use an Urchin, regular, in my sump. I need something to fit in a tiny space, as I use my sump for a fuge also with only 24 inches of real estate.




I have undetectable nitrates, yada yada yada.

My tank also benefits from a prolific refugium and I change a filter sock every three days. So... I can't say I need much from the skimmer.

Now... slide the cost bar over to "money to burn", keep the size and ease of setup requirements, and I would have gone for the Deltec MCE600. In fact, that is my backup plan should my stockage ever overload the system.

If you have lots of space, the urchin / remora might not be your best bet. Likewise, if money is no object or you plan to have lots of fish.

I am sure that helps you none.

Just find someone who's advice sounds reasonable and has goals similar to yours and follow them that person into battle.

Cheers.

 

[MarineGirl411]

All I've got to say is, take a look at TANK OF THE MONTH. He uses an Aqua C Remora and man, his tank is absolutely breath taking!!!!!!!!!! Beautiful beautiful tank. Very large bio load and his skimmer is doing great. =)

 

[rmanecke]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8705353#post8705353 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MarineGirl411
All I've got to say is, take a look at TANK OF THE MONTH. He uses an Aqua C Remora and man, his tank is absolutely breath taking!!!!!!!!!! Beautiful beautiful tank. Very large bio load and his skimmer is doing great. =)

Yep. Beautiful tank! Note, that he also runs another denitrification device and a load of phos ban type media.

So... if you follow this guy into battle with an Aqua C remora/urchin, you may also need additional equipment and media to enjoy a similar level of success.

R

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I've ran a couple of Remoras and a Euroreef. The Euroreef is a better skimmer but I have nothing negative to say about the remora's, one regular and one Pro. They both did a pretty good job and didn't require any tweaking one they were initially set up. I had the drain kit on both and got a pretty good amount of dark tea colored skimmate every week. I found using a slightly larger pump with the cup raised would produce dark coffee colored gunk that was in line with anything else I have seen.

 

[RuskinReefer]

I personally have used several kinds of skimmers in the Aquarium store i work in, and my two personsal favorites are the EuroReef (if you want to spend the money) and Coralife Super Skimmers. For the price and functionality, In my opinion you cant beat the super skimmer. They are reasonably priced, easy to adjust and skim great every time. we currently have 5 super skimmers running in 4 different systems, and they all work like a charm.

 

[pjf]

Remora Skimmer Bypassed?

Remora Skimmer Bypassed?

I have the Remora skimmer with the MJ1200 pump and the surface skimmer box. In my 75-gallon display tank and 29-gallon refugium system, it collects only a cup of wet skimmate every week or two.

There are several theories as to why the Remoras work for some people and not others. Here is my theory as to why I think my Remora’s productivity is low:

The overflow that enters my sump contains large amounts of air that enters through the inlet atop the standpipe. When these air bubbles enter the skimmer sump, they float to the surface. The fast flow (~800gph) carries the bubbles and light foam to the next compartment and the skimmer is bypassed. Unfortunately, dissolved organic compounds (DOC) and particulate matter that are bound to these bubbles also bypass the skimmer. I’ve considered plumbing the overflow directly to a recirculating-type skimmer to solve this problem.

Other theories include variations in quality control and lack of comparative analysis. Comments?

 

[cdentii1]

Re: Remora Skimmer Bypassed?

Re: Remora Skimmer Bypassed?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8706643#post8706643 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pjf
I have the Remora skimmer with the MJ1200 pump and the surface skimmer box. In my 75-gallon display tank and 29-gallon refugium system, it collects only a cup of wet skimmate every week or two.

There are several theories as to why the Remoras work for some people and not others. Here is my theory as to why I think my Remora’s productivity is low:

The overflow that enters my sump contains large amounts of air that enters through the inlet atop the standpipe. When these air bubbles enter the skimmer sump, they float to the surface. The fast flow (~800gph) carries the bubbles and light foam to the next compartment and the skimmer is bypassed. Unfortunately, dissolved organic compounds (DOC) and particulate matter that are bound to these bubbles also bypass the skimmer. I’ve considered plumbing the overflow directly to a recirculating-type skimmer to solve this problem.

Other theories include variations in quality control and lack of comparative analysis. Comments?

I also have my own opinions and there are certainly no 1 right or wrong way of doing things. First and according to Anthony Calfo and this method seems to work well for me. Make sure the skimmer pump input is located within 1-2" of the top sump level also he recommends to have the pump and overflow in the same small container in order to trap proteins, and reduce the sump turn over rate. So yes I do agree with PJF as far as the DOC bypassing the skimmer and his theory as well however I feel there are things we can do to help overcome some of the issues as previously stated and ideally plumbing the overflow to a re circulating type skimmer as PJF suggests would be the best option IMOP I tried to do a search for the article that Anthony Calfo did on skimming however the search engine was disabled at this time.