Reef Octobpus Skimmers, Bubbleblaster or Sicce

[Flame Angel]

Help Me Decide-Reef Octobpus Skimmers, Bubbleblaster or Sicce

Anyone out there have any first hand experience with RO Skimmers and Sicce or Bubbleblaster pumps.

Help me decide... I have a 180g DT and between 75g-150g sump depending on the direction I choose to go.

I am considering and weeding out the following three skimmers.

SRO3000int BBpump, cost $500 aprox. (leaning towards this model) sounds quite and efficient
XP3000int BBpump, cost $500 aprox.
SSS Diablo2500int Sicce pump, cost $300.00

My inquiry is with the actual pump at this point. Is one really a better product than the other? So I am looking for personal experiences with the Sicce and Bubbleblaster.

This alone will help me decide between the SSSDiablo2500int and SRO3000int

Which unit would you go with?

MOD's feel free to delete post if not appropriate and against UA. Thank you

 

[Furnman]

Just curious, but how many gallons of water do you have?

 

[inverted]

I wouldn't go with the diablo. The PSK2500 has always been prone to startup issues.

The real difference between the SRO and the XP is just that the XP is a cone. That is nice and cones probably are more efficient, as claimed, but it's a bit price difference between the SRO and XP, at least for the 3000 series. My total system is about 140g total and I feed 5-7 times per day. I went with the XP2000 over the SRO for the extra efficiency, but it is a powerful skimmer, I probably could have gotten away with a SRO or XP1000 really. So, it depends how heavily stocked you are, but I'd probably lean towards the SRO due to the price difference unless you really want to push the limits.

 

[Flame Angel]

What I read on the Coralvue web site was that the SRO was just as good as the XP due to the bubble plate diffuser which transitions to a cone design. Plus they say it is quieter. There is only so much you can believe when only reading about something and is the reason I am asking for first hand experiences.

Good to know about the start up on the Sicce motor.

Price wise I thought they were pretty similar.

Thank you for the input. Keep it coming.

 

[inverted]

Price wise I thought they were pretty similar.

If you can find them similar, I'd go with the XP. On Aquacave though, for example though, it is:
PS-OCT-SRO-3000INT $415.00
PS-OCT-XP3000I $589.00

I wouldn't pay $174 more just for a cone, especially one with the same pump... When I bought the xp2000, the difference in price between the XP and SRO was only like $40, so, I figured what the heck...

 

[Bobbofin]

If you can find them similar, I'd go with the XP. On Aquacave though, for example though, it is:
PS-OCT-SRO-3000INT $415.00
PS-OCT-XP3000I $589.00

I wouldn't pay $174 more just for a cone, especially one with the same pump... When I bought the xp2000, the difference in price between the XP and SRO was only like $40, so, I figured what the heck...

I agree, The SRO still looks like a cone, sort of. Who cares if it's not cone shaped beside the bubble plate and pump near the bottom, no air bubbles are there anyways. Same pump, same cup, similiar shape. Go with the SRO!

 

[willray]

I still have the issue once in a while with the sicce but got a larger aftermarket needle wheel and it's rarely an issue now.Not sure but thought they remedied that problem with the sicce??? BTW I have an octo extreme an am very happy for the $$ spent.If your handy you can try this http://www.avastmarine.com/ssc/do/product/CS1-Cone-Skimmer-Kit

 

[jayinh]

i have had 3 of these, 5000 int on a 210g , 5000int alomst on 125 and now the xp2000 int . I got the xp cone cause it seemed to sound better but honestly i dont see that much of a difference, either skimmer with the BB pump will be a winner in my book.

as far as noise i feel the skimmer is a bit noisey to me..but so are the 2 mp40's so i deal with it. if the skimmer will be in the basement it will be fine IMO.

on a side note chris..i think i can make at the end of the month like we talked about

 

[MisFit]

Stay away from the sicce pumps. I've had several go on me. I'm now upgrading all my sicce pumps to bubble blasters

 

[willray]

Stay away from the sicce pumps. I've had several go on me. I'm now upgrading all my sicce pumps to bubble blasters

Went on you??? As in... no good anymore? Doesn't sound right.

 

[MisFit]

Went on you??? As in... no good anymore? Doesn't sound right.

Yeah I had one on an ATI skimmer that stopped working. I couldnt even kick start it by spinning the impeller, replaced it and its been about 4 months and now the replacement is chattering away and working only periodically. I also had one on an octopus extreme burn out to the point where the housing deformed and the pump tripped the GFCI shutting down my entire system overnight (Note to everyone: keep heaters and skimmers on separate circuits from your main pumps!!). Each of the three have had different pinwheel designs so I'm not sure I can blame the pinwheel. None of the pumps had any calcium build up on them either so that wasn't the cause. They are also a nightmare to get started again after shutting them off for maintenance or what not.

 

[willray]

That's a shame...you definitely had your share of junk ones.I have noticed if it starts in one direction with difficulty and its sounding off its running the wrong direction.(These weren't made to run in a particular direction as they were just for pumping and not running a needle wheel/venturi.) I shut it off and b4 all the water drains out of the skimmer I start it again and then most of the time it will run flawlessly and efficiently in the correct direction.Every so often I put the venturi hose right in the water for just a few seconds and seems to keep it running smoothly.

 

[MisFit]

They have definitely been frustrating, and they are not cheap either. I have heard rumors that they have improved on the design as far as the backward/non startup, but Ive been burnt too many times with them. In the case of getting a new skimmer I would definitely go with one that doesnt use the psk-2500. Also the bubble blasters pull in more air.

 

[jamesdong009]

As far as I know, the problem has only been with the psk-2500s. I had one running on one of my skimmers and have since replaced the pump with a bubble blaster. The start up issues were really getting annoying.

 

[MisFit]

Which bubble blaster did you use? Im thinking of the 3000s

 

[jamesdong009]

I'll have to check, but I think it's the 1000. It's on an older Octopus 150 that used the OTP pumps. I retro fitted the PSK on then switched it out for the bubble blaster. No problems ever since.