HOB skimmer suggestion
Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Specialized Discussion
Forum Name: Equipment
Forum Description: This is the place to ask question about reef equipment.
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=25356
Printed Date: February 17 2026 at 1:36am
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Topic: HOB skimmer suggestion
Posted By: thathiep
Subject: HOB skimmer suggestion
Date Posted: April 24 2008 at 8:13pm
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I want to buy a HOB skimmer for my new 56g but don't know what is worth spending on. I saw some from Aquatraders.com for fewer than 50 bucks and some well known brands from other sites well over 200 bucks. I don't have the money to spend right now so something under a hundred would be ideal. Is there any skimmer under 100 bucks that worth the try? Thanks Duy |
Replies:
Posted By: MadReefer
Date Posted: April 25 2008 at 12:25am
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I'm interested in this also. I know I need more skimming and I have no space for an in sump skimmer and I have little money. I have a backpack 2 but it's not enough for my 130 gallons of water. I'm sure that my veg. filter can do the job but it's not grown in at the moment and I dont' think I have enough light to fully use the veg. anyway.
So I was looking at aquatraders. Would it be better to buy a light for my 40 gallon that will better grow algae or buy their 160 skimmer? Is that skimmer any good? If not, can it be modded so it is?
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Posted By: Jeff Morrill
Date Posted: April 25 2008 at 8:11am
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I.M.E. , You get what you pay for. Skimmers are not cheap. Well what I mean is, Some skimmers are built cheap, Are still not affordable, And putz out on you. Save the $ and buy a decent one.
I know there are some who still don't skim,take in to consideration Fish load, bio load and so forth....... ------------- WHAT KINDA GUM????... Give em 2 sticks. |
Posted By: thathiep
Date Posted: April 25 2008 at 2:39pm
This is the skimmer I want to try out from aquatraders. Only 40 bucks. Should I or shouldn't I?
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Posted By: MadReefer
Date Posted: April 25 2008 at 3:08pm
| If the power head you add produces good bubbles it will work. But I have no idea if the power head they sell to go with it is any good. |
Posted By: thathiep
Date Posted: April 25 2008 at 3:50pm
| Have any one try this skimmer before? I need some input before buying. |
Posted By: Jeff Morrill
Date Posted: April 26 2008 at 9:07am
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Duy, I have had the CPR, The only prob. is the micro bubbles it puts back in the tank. They have an up grade for it, all it is , is a media bag with A draw string you put over the return hole. I think Eva and Alex are using one on one of their systems. ------------- WHAT KINDA GUM????... Give em 2 sticks. |
Posted By: Reef Addict
Date Posted: April 26 2008 at 10:59pm
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I bought a similar unit from Marine Aquatics a few months ago. It worked well and I had to put a media bag over the return because of micro bubbles. Only problem I had was algae growing in it. Needs to be black. ------------- 100 Gallon Tru VU Acrylic 2 x 175W 14,000K Metal Halides 2 x 54W T5HO 48" Actinics (801) 884-2137 |
Posted By: cl2ysta1
Date Posted: April 26 2008 at 11:37pm
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looks pretty similar to a sea clown skimmer.
spend your money on equiptment. you wont regret it later. i like to look for good used deals. Honestly the only thing i've ever bought new were my lumenbright reflectors :)
new is expensive ------------- I <3 Boxers Achilles tang lover |
Posted By: Dion Richins
Date Posted: April 27 2008 at 2:25am
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Aqua C Romero is the only way to go if you want a decent skimmer for a decent price. Ive used them on everything from a 29 to a 120. Always worked great. Try e-bay for used.
You spend cheap on new......you will get what you pay for.  ------------- http://www.customaquariumfurniture.com" rel="nofollow - Bad "censored" Cabinets Best quality in the valley! He is one sexy bald guy, even with out a finger!(MAC) |
Posted By: thathiep
Date Posted: April 27 2008 at 2:31am
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I decided to buy this one with a fuge that cost 10 more bucks. Used equipments is hard to come by. I want to buy high quality equipments too, but at a prices that I cannot afford. Beside, I'm buying this with a friend to save on shipping. Not to bad for 50 bucks + shipping cost.
Duy
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Posted By: GentlemanBean
Date Posted: April 27 2008 at 3:12am
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I know you already purchased, but if anyone else is looking for a fantastic reasonably priced skimmer... I purchased one of these Coralife Super Skimmers off of eBay for only $78 + shipping: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320224405221 It works great. Almost no break-in period and started pulling out nasty stuff almost immediately. ------------- 
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Posted By: thathiep
Date Posted: April 27 2008 at 3:32am
I haven't make the purchase yet, probably tomorrow. Thanks for the link, I've check that out tomorrow but for now I need to sleep
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Posted By: MadReefer
Date Posted: April 27 2008 at 11:59am
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You know if a skimmer is working or not by the bubbles and skimmate. My bak-pak, http://www.cprusa.com/products/bakpak2r.html - http://www.cprusa.com/products/bakpak2r.html , produces about a half a cup a day and looks and functions the same as this setup. I think this cheap one could work. If it does not get air in there, than you'll have to figure out how to get air in. One way to get it to work better is to add a medium air pump and an airstone to get good foam and good skimming.
One advantage of the setup with the fuge is that no tiny air bubbles should make it into the tank.
Many people have the same opinion as Dion, the Aqua C Romero is the only way to go. So if you want a HOB that is proven to work well, go with the Aqua C Romero.
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Posted By: thathiep
Date Posted: May 02 2008 at 2:52am
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I got the skimmer+fuge today. I tried it out with a Via Aqua 360 pump (got it in my fish garage) but it didn't create any bubbles and skimmate, definitely the wrong pump for it. What pump/powerhead should I use to have decent bubbles and skimmate for this cheap product? Have any one try this cheap product with success? Thanks Duy |
Posted By: MadReefer
Date Posted: May 02 2008 at 9:33am
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My CPR Bak Pak has a small modded rio I think. It came modded to make better foam. Maybe you can get the same one with the mod. Or just talk to your LFS and get a powerhead that has a good venturi air system. I never use the air on my powerheads so I'm not sure which ones work well. I would get some chaeto in the fuge and keep it running with anything that creates water flow until you can get one that produces bubbles. If you have an air pump throw that in with a good air stone. That is a mod that I read people do to their CPRs. I was going to try it on mine as well. I tried to see how much the whole pump assembly cost from CPR but they are not open yet and I need to go. Their number is (800) 357-2995. I'm sure a local fish store that caries CPR products would be able to help you also.
Good luck, I hope it works out for you.
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Posted By: pickensw
Date Posted: May 02 2008 at 10:07am
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Bak Pak also can use a Maxi-Jet 1200 pump and then add a bio-ball mod and it works great!
Will ------------- All things can be cured by salt water, whether by sweat, tears or going to sea. ~Isak Dinesen |
Posted By: trplxj
Date Posted: May 02 2008 at 10:07am
| I agree the Aqua C is the way to go. I have a urchin (same as the remora just in sump) for my 29 and it works like a dream. It was a little noisey at first, but now that it's broke in I can barely hear it. |
Posted By: Jeff Morrill
Date Posted: May 02 2008 at 10:54am
------------- WHAT KINDA GUM????... Give em 2 sticks. |
pickensw wrote:Posted By: Jeff Morrill
Date Posted: May 02 2008 at 10:55am
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Are you just putting the bio balls in the chamber of the skimmer?? ------------- WHAT KINDA GUM????... Give em 2 sticks. |
Posted By: pickensw
Date Posted: May 02 2008 at 11:54am
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No I cut down the bio-ball so that it slides over the blades of the impeller on the maxi-jet making it a needle wheel.
Here is a picture....I sell them every once in awhile on ebay. What better use of a bio-ball!
 Will ------------- All things can be cured by salt water, whether by sweat, tears or going to sea. ~Isak Dinesen |
Posted By: thathiep
Date Posted: May 02 2008 at 2:59pm
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I never own a skimmer before, so I don't have any knowledge on them Pickensw, depend on where you at, I would love to come over to check out your setup. I'm in Thanks Duy |
.Posted By: Dion Richins
Date Posted: May 02 2008 at 3:11pm
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Will thats awesome. Very creative!!!!!!
Duy........He's in Idaho ------------- http://www.customaquariumfurniture.com" rel="nofollow - Bad "censored" Cabinets Best quality in the valley! He is one sexy bald guy, even with out a finger!(MAC) |
Posted By: thathiep
Date Posted: May 02 2008 at 4:16pm
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That's sucks!
Can I do like a mesh wheel mod on one of my pump?
Thanks
Duy
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Posted By: Mike Savage
Date Posted: May 02 2008 at 10:46pm
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That's great Will!
Mike -------------  |
Posted By: thathiep
Date Posted: May 04 2008 at 2:50am
Yahooooo, I got this cheap product to work with my Via Aqua 360 pump with great result . Thank you for all the help.
Duy
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Posted By: MadReefer
Date Posted: May 04 2008 at 10:55am
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That is good to hear.
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Posted By: thathiep
Date Posted: June 02 2008 at 1:03am
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This skimmer is working great for me so far.
One problem, some micro bubbles returning to the main tank. How do I reduce or eliminate the micro bubbles?
Thanks
Duy
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Posted By: MadReefer
Date Posted: June 02 2008 at 10:41am
| You can place a mesh bag on the return and it will stop some bubbles. |
Posted By: thathiep
Date Posted: June 02 2008 at 3:45pm
| Cool, Thanks. |