Yep, another skimmer recommendation thread...

[polyp02]

ok, what to do???

 

[DustinB]

I don't know much about those skimmers, but I kinda remember reading they weren't very good. Although, the low skimmate level may be due to your very small bioload.

If you choose to upgrade, the choice of which skimmer is up to you. My RL150 skimmed very well, it just needs a lot of cleaning to avoid overflowing.

I'm going to go with the XS200. Mainly because it is a good quality skimmer design with a good pump, but also because it has a larger air intake. I believe my problem with the RL150 is from salt creep in the air intake breaking loose. This skimmer should avoid that.

 

[Takitaj]

Honestly Polyp02 I think the sx200 may be a little too big for a 75. Unless you plan on upgrading to a larger tank soon you might want to go for the sx160 instead. That should handle as much as you could safely stuff in a 75 and then some.

I was eyeing the XS200 as well. I want to upgrade my current skimmer, a Berlin from Red Sea, because it is not performing well. I however was thinking of buying the PM with the 8" chamber which is rated at 200gal, I think. I am getting little skimmate(about 1/6th of cup) every week but having to constantly adjust it. I even modified it by adding a ball valve in order to raise or lower the water level. I had to do this because after cleaning, it would foam constantly and after 1 day it would stop and nothing would flow over onto the cup. I will try and do one more modification but if nothing works I'm just going to get a new one.

I was initially going to get the Aqua Euro, but am now leaning towards the Precision Marine 200 or the XS200. What do you guys suggest? I have a 75g with a 30 gal sump, 5 smallish fish and 2 small frags(sps). I will eventually stock it with lots of coral. a little of everything sps, lps...

 

[pwa]

I'm a real like my Bubble Magus NAC7, super wueit does a hell of a job. Really couldn't ask for it to do much more.

PWA

 

[DustinB]

Well my g/f just informed me that my new XS200 arrived, so I guess I'll be setting it up tonight.

Takitaj, I had one more question for you. The 1-1/4" elbow you used, it appears to be a female/male elbow. Is that the case or is it male on both ends like the end that is underwater?

Thanks for the help btw!

 

[Johnny C]

Good decision. After seeing the photo Takitaj provided I'm excited to try it out myself, the old Extreme didn't have a foam head like that. Be sure to update with a review and pics if possible!

 

[DustinB]

I got it in the sump(just barely), this thing is bigger than I was expecting. Like Takitaj said, the pump is really quiet. There is a fair amount of rushing noise, but that is to be expected when you have a cyclone in a bottle. Overall it is pretty quiet, but it is a bit louder than my RL-150. After 24 hours I am getting a pretty good foam head, the entire chamber looks like it's filled with shaving cream there's so many micro-bubbles.

The turbulence is pretty low. This thing has to be moving some serious air, when you take the cap off the silencer it sounds like the room is a wind tunnel. So far I am very happy with the skimmer. Also, I like how the pump doesn't sit on the ground, it stays supported by the skimmer. The skimmer is built very well with thick walls so there's no worry about supporting the weight of the pump, which isn't as big as you'd expect. It's about 2/3 the size of my mag 9.5. The air intake tube is also a thick large ID silicone tube, so there's no worry about any vacuum collapsing the tube slightly.

I will definitely take some pics as I go along and post them with a review in a few weeks.

 

[wcharon]

Now you really got me worried. I also have a 20 gal long sump and i am trying to decide between the ATB 840 and the SX 200. When you say it barely fits do you have other equipment besides the Mag Drive? Both skimmers have similar footprint.

 

[DustinB]

The skimmer probably takes up half the length of a 20g long. I still have room, but it was tight getting it in there inside my stand. I'll try to post a couple pics tonight.

 

[wcharon]

Ok Thanks i will really appreciate it because the ATB Is 1 inch wider but 1 inch less longer.

 

[Takitaj]

Dustin, The elbow is just a regular Fem x Fem 90 but it is smooth on the outside instead of like flares on each end...for lack of a better way to describe it. (made by Lasko) It's not a tight seal, just snug, but there really isn't any pressure there so it's not an issue. Just to redirect the "waterfall".

My sump is a 20 long also with a 6" return area and an 8" refugium leaving 16" for the skimmer area. No bubble baffles just a single sheet at each end. It will fit in 15" or maybe less if you 45 it. I also have a 4" CPR sock holder, heater, ato & dosing tubes and the reactor pump (Rio 8HF) in the same section.

A couple quick updates: I ended up turning the pump back to vertical and it does push visibly more air in that position. Made noise that way when I first installed it but after dissasembling it to check for debris and it breaking in a bit it's about the same noise level, except of course for more air noise.

I've also been playing with the silencer a little. I flipped that upside down & connected the air hose to one of the double tubes, blocked off the sigle tube on the top and stuffed the body with some poly/cotton type stuffing. (careful not to cover the tubes) It's definetly another improvement. I'm gonna play around with that some more as that seems to be the biggest noise offender.

Glad I could help :beer:

 

[skh]

Does anyone know the neck diameter on the xs 200? Anyone who has one want to measure it? I haven't been able to find this info anywhere. I would assume it's between 3.5" and 4.5" but I haven't been able to confirm.

 

[RcToners]

I would say go with a reeflo orca 200. Currently running one on my 150 and IMO its simply the best.

 

[DustinB]

Does anyone know the neck diameter on the xs 200? Anyone who has one want to measure it? I haven't been able to find this info anywhere. I would assume it's between 3.5" and 4.5" but I haven't been able to confirm.

It's about 4.75-5", closer to 5". Kinda hard to measure without taking the cup off.

Still VERY happy with my XS200! This thing is a little on the loud side, but what do you expect for a beast of a skimmer. Still not very bad at all, I've gotten used to it.

 

[skh]

It's about 4.75-5", closer to 5". Kinda hard to measure without taking the cup off.

Still VERY happy with my XS200! This thing is a little on the loud side, but what do you expect for a beast of a skimmer. Still not very bad at all, I've gotten used to it.

Wow, that's a monster neck! That's the same as the SRO 3000 INT and the XP 3000. And those are beefy skimmers.

 

[DustinB]

Yeah, it's a beast for sure. Very easy to clean since everything is so big. I can actually get my hand into the neck on this one. I like that it actually has a proper smooth transition into the neck, unlike the hard ledge where most skimmers' cups attach.