Help me choose a skimmer

[vinny]

I've ben looking at the EURO RS 135 thats rated for 135gl. for $328 OR
ASM G-3 thats rated for 250gl. for $325 sale $270 OR
pro's and con's or any sugestions are welcome.BTW i've read that some of the builder who build the EURO left that company and now build the ASM.

This will be for my 120gl thats going to have about 10 to 15 fish and hopfully a lot of sps and lps and clams.This will go in my 30gl.sump under the tank.Thanks for your help

 

[grundig5]

I have a ER es5-2 in my 30G sump for a 75g tank. It works awesome, but if I had bought it new I probably would have gone with ASM simply because they are cheaper and not much different (if at all-just the extruded vs. cast acrylic). I have read that ERs are just a little bit stronger (in terms of physically breaking them by dropping it or something) than ASM. just my .02

 

[Jill & Brian]

Buy Liam's deltec for 450. My wife won't let me

 

[RichConley]

I have a ER es5-2 in my 30G sump for a 75g tank. It works awesome, but if I had bought it new I probably would have gone with ASM simply because they are cheaper and not much different (if at all-just the extruded vs. cast acrylic). I have read that ERs are just a little bit stronger (in terms of physically breaking them by dropping it or something) than ASM. just my .02

The ASMs arent any cheaper than the Euroreefs anymore, so IMO, theres no reason to buy one, especially when the Euroreefs have better impellars now. (Asm isnt extruded acrylic, its extruded clear PVC)

If you're worried about cost, buy a Reef Octopus NW150. Its the same size as those two, and should run you about $140 shipped, and is cast acrylic. (and its build quality is a lot closer to ER, than ASM)

 

[B.rian]

is there a difference between the octopus skimmer and the pacific coast skimmer?

 

[vinny]

Rich you mentioned the Reef Octopus NW150 i've never heard of this type of skimmer is it any good sound cheap you know how the saying goes you get what you pay for.

 

[notoriousB]

If you're worried about cost, buy a Reef Octopus NW150. Its the same size as those two, and should run you about $140 shipped, and is cast acrylic. (and its build quality is a lot closer to ER, than ASM)

A word of caution re: Reef Octopus skimmers. They are a great value, but you get what you pay for.

I purchased an NW150 a month ago for my 100g reef. Got it VERY quickly (within 3 days) and proceeded to set it up in my sump.

Plugged it in and... nothing happened. The water level in the skimmer rose about 1/2 inch and that was it.

The pump is junk: the impellers inside it are binding. I was able to get it to work by disconnecting the piping and shaking the crap out of the pump. Once working it worked pretty good, but I unplugged it and re-plugged, and again, it doesn't start pumping.

I have been emailing with marine solutions for a MONTH now and have been getting the runaround on a replacement.

I've been told on three different occasions that a replacement pump has shipped and have received nothing. Email responses are spotty at best. Finally this week I find out they haven't shipped anything and have no more pumps, but are promising that one will ship next week. I'm not holding my breath.

Unfortunately the pump is sealed and non-serviceable so I'm hosed until they send me another one.

Long story short: I wish I had just bought a euroreef skimmer.

 

[reefer125g]

Euro Reef has some new low cost skimmers comming out check it out on www.euroreef.com not sure when or if pics yet but you can contact them to find out if it is worth the wait. I would stick with euro reef better made IMO.

 

[Carlo Miceli]

Liam's Deltec APF600 is a steal... I had a Euro Reef ES80 and it is fantastic for the money but the Deltec Kicks it up a few more notches I am impressed and I only got the AP600 Deltec...

 

[scavdog]

After seeing Euro-Reef at this years MACNA, I have to say that they have bumped up the quality of their product considerably. In fact I think they only use cast acrylic now as opposed to extruded.

 

[RichConley]

is there a difference between the octopus skimmer and the pacific coast skimmer?

Maybe. Theres more than one line of skimmer from PCI.
NW110=PCI PS-1000 (~$79)
NW150=PCI PS-2000 (~$139)
NW200=PCI PS-3000 (~$189)
(theres a recirculating version of each)

Skimmers are one spot where I thoroughly believe that you DO NOT get what you pay for. The remora is a $200 piece of crap. An ASM G3 was a $199 gem. (now theyre $300..and not the same deal anymore).

The thing that makes it tough, is needlewheel skimmers are DRASTICALLY changing right now, and ATI is pushing it. Theyve got an Eheim 1260 pulling almost 75scfh (standard cubic feet per hour ...deltec's 1260 pulls about 20-25, a fully driven beckett pulls 40). Because of that, DIYers are making some scary skimmers now, that absolutely destroy the commercial offerings. (IE the Sequence Dart driven skimmers that pull 150-200scfh on 90w)

One of the guys on RC that I talk to all the time has a Aquaclear 802 (20w) pulling 30 scfh. Finding a good pump is no longer tough. Even a maxijet 1200 modded correctly can pull 20 scfh (the Aquabee on the deltec mentioned earlier pulls about 16)


Honestly, theres nothing that touches the Reef Octopus skimmers in their price range. Are they the best skimmers you can buy? No. Are they well built? Yes. Do I reccomend them for those that are slightly budget conscious? Absolutely.

 

[RichConley]

A word of caution re: Reef Octopus skimmers. They are a great value, but you get what you pay for.

I purchased an NW150 a month ago for my 100g reef. Got it VERY quickly (within 3 days) and proceeded to set it up in my sump.

Plugged it in and... nothing happened. The water level in the skimmer rose about 1/2 inch and that was it.

The pump is junk: the impellers inside it are binding. I was able to get it to work by disconnecting the piping and shaking the crap out of the pump. Once working it worked pretty good, but I unplugged it and re-plugged, and again, it doesn't start pumping.

I have been emailing with marine solutions for a MONTH now and have been getting the runaround on a replacement.

I've been told on three different occasions that a replacement pump has shipped and have received nothing. Email responses are spotty at best. Finally this week I find out they haven't shipped anything and have no more pumps, but are promising that one will ship next week. I'm not holding my breath.

Unfortunately the pump is sealed and non-serviceable so I'm hosed until they send me another one.

Long story short: I wish I had just bought a euroreef skimmer.

NotoriousB, thats a problem with Marine Solutions, not the skimmer. You got a bad pump, it happens.


Try blowing in the airline, and see what happens. Also, check the airline, and make sure there are no restrictions. The OTP2000 pump doesnt like to run without air.

 

[vinny]

Liams Deltec is a little more than I can afford ($100 more)and i've seen his skimmer in action very nice and awsome setup.
As for the Octopus skimmers I found this sit called ReefOctopus.com but no prices I have to e-mail them,and they are out of australia so things are in liters not gallons.
Rich what are you running for skimmer.

 

[RichConley]

I'm running a PCI PS-3000 (NW200) thats been recirc modded. I've also heavily customized the pump (I'm a tinkerer...it pulls 40 scfh wide open).

octopuskimmer.com aquacave.com reeftanksupply.com customaquatic.com

all carry them. The new cheaper version Euroreef is also a decent option. (same pumps as the expensive ones, just extruded instead of cast, and glued instead of welded. Functionally identicle)

 

[vinny]

I don't no wich is the new cheap version,do you mean any of the new RS ones.

 

[RichConley]

There are also some nice companies that dont get talked about nearly enough. H&S makes a skimmer that is generally much higher regarded than Deltec, and is cheaper. (A150 vs AP600)

Dutch Aquarium Systems (DAS) has a license from Deltec to make their own deltec knockoffs, uses the same pumps, and is significantly cheaper.

 

[vinny]

Do you know were I can start looking for those you've mentioned.

 

[Dave]

<got an Eheim 1260 pulling almost 75scfh (standard cubic feet per hour ...deltec's 1260 pulls about 20-25, a fully driven beckett pulls 40)>

Rich how do you measure schf?

 

[B.rian]

which would be a better skimmer, the asm g3 or the pacific coast PS-3000? there is only about a $10 difference in price.

 

[B.rian]

vinny, most of the skimmers mentioned are more than 350-400 bucks, the euroreefs, deltecs, h and s, etc. if you want to stay under that price cap look towards the asm skimmer, the pacific coast skimmer (same as the octopus), or a used skimmer.