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Jeffs_little_ocean 
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 Topic: What skimmer do you use?
Posted: January 03 2010 at 10:13am |
I was wondering if you all wouldnt mind sharing what brand and model of skimmer you use?
And if you like it or not, and why?
I have a Remora HOB. It works pretty good and pulls about a cup of gunk a day. But its kind of noisy and in the market for a different one.
Not really sure what to get, hence this post...
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bfessler
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Posted: January 03 2010 at 10:26am |
Wow that's a loaded question.
Do you want another HOB, In Sump or External Skimmer? Also what is the size of your tank? I've heard the Remora's are a little loud.
Personally I don't use a skimmer but to get some good advice I think that these questions will help.
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Burt
An equal opportunity reefer,
I support all hobbyists and organizations involved in Marine Aquarium Keeping.
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Jeffs_little_ocean
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Posted: January 03 2010 at 10:30am |
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LOL Well it wasnt meant to be a loaded question. I just want to know what people use and if they like it or not?
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bfessler
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Posted: January 03 2010 at 10:33am |
 Well mine is completely silent and I like it a lot.
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Burt
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chk4tix
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Posted: January 03 2010 at 11:27am |
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From when I started in the hobby, I started with a CPR backpack skimmer. It wasnt to bad for the 30g tank it was on. Then when I got the 120g, I bought a Coralife super skimmer. For the money this wasnt a bad skimmer after doing a mod to the pin-wheel. Then I changed it out for a ASM G2. These are good skimmers but can be a pain to adjust, so you need to do a the gate mod and also the mesh mod. This makes the skimmer work great. Once I moved into the new house and had a lot more water volume then I did before, I decided to go with the octo extreme with the large purple pinwheel. I would have to say that this is a great skimmer. I pull out about 5 gallons of crap every week to week and a half. I haven't used a cone skimmer yet and with how much they cost and the fact mine seems to do a great job, I dont think I will be trying one any time soon.
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OceanBlueSky
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Posted: January 03 2010 at 12:00pm |
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I have a Reef Octopus Extreme and I love it, best skimmer I have ever owned.
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Arthur
220 Reef, 90 Lightning & RBTA, 7 nano
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MadReefer
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Posted: January 03 2010 at 2:26pm |
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I've only owned two skimmers. CPR Bakpak for small tanks works fine but the pump needs to be cleaned every month or two, or it produces less bubbles. Currently I am using a AquaC Remora Pro with a mag pump. I really like this skimmer but it is too small for my tank; I have to empty the cup too often.
Edited by MadReefer - January 04 2010 at 12:13pm
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chk4tix
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Posted: January 03 2010 at 2:33pm |
 MadReefer wrote:
I've only owned two skimmers. CPR Bakpak for small tanks works fine but the pump needs to be cleaned every month or two, or it produces less bubbles. Currently I am using a AquaC Remora Pro with a mag9. I really like this skimmer but it is too small for my tank; I have to empty the cup too often. |
I had that problem with my ASM skimmer so I moded it and added a drain. With my Octo extreme it came with a drain already, so I just have it go from the skimmer strait into a 7 gal salt bucket. Then I only have to empty it every few weeks
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BobC63
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Posted: January 03 2010 at 3:16pm |
Jeffs_little_ocean wrote:
I was wondering if you all wouldnt mind sharing what brand and model of skimmer you use?
And if you like it or not, and why?
I have a Remora HOB. It works pretty good and pulls about a cup of gunk a day. But its kind of noisy and in the market for a different one.
Not really sure what to get, hence this post... |
What size tank / total water volume do you have - and do you have a sump to put a skimmer into?
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- My Current Tank: 65g Starfire (sitting empty for 2+ years) -
* Marine & Reef tanks since 1977 *
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Jeffs_little_ocean
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Posted: January 03 2010 at 4:25pm |
I have 90 gallons, and Yes I could put a skimmer in my sump. But my tank isnt really the point of the thread. Its more about information for everyone.
Do you like your Dual Octo skimmer Bob? Why or why not?
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BobC63
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Posted: January 03 2010 at 4:37pm |
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OK, I thought you were looking for a new skimmer...
I really like the Reef Octopus / $WC / M$X skimmers. Absolute best skimmers - dollar for dollar - on the market IMO.
Mine is kind of a "custom built" unit based on a design that is a few years old now. While I am happy with it, I still may upgrade to something like the Extreme 300A with the Askoll pump or maybe even one of their new cones...
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- My Current Tank: 65g Starfire (sitting empty for 2+ years) -
* Marine & Reef tanks since 1977 *
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Ryan Thompson
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Posted: January 03 2010 at 4:48pm |
For the price of the 300A I would much rather have an ATB Econo 840 cone skimmer. Especially since I can get you a discount Bob 
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Dion Richins
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Posted: January 03 2010 at 5:08pm |
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I love my asm g3 and g4. Inexpensive used and work awesome.
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Posted: January 03 2010 at 5:27pm |
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I use the Reef Octopus skimmers and love them. I am going to make sure that they are the best for the money though. I have used the ASM G-2-6, Aqua C skimmers, last one went to Downhillbiker who loves it, and someother brand that didn't work so well.
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Adam Blundell
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Posted: January 04 2010 at 8:30am |
I didn't read the posts above- just wanted to say that I am very pleased with the ASM skimmers.
Adam
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BobC63
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Posted: January 04 2010 at 8:37am |
Ryan Thompson wrote:
For the price of the 300A I would much rather have an ATB Econo 840 cone skimmer. Especially since I can get you a discount Bob |
I would think that I would need the 1050 model for my size setup; the 840 (8" cone base, 4" neck, mini Airstar pump) is only rated to a max of 249 gal. and I'm closer to 300 total gals. The ATB 1050 model (10" base, 5.5" neck, 2 X Mini Airstar pump) retails at $1000+...
Now, I could go with the SWC 250 1A Extreme Cone - which has an 11" cone base and 5.75" neck, plus the Askoll 1500 pump, and is rated max 400 gal heavy bioload - and it retails for about the same price as the smaller ATB 840. I'm thinking that the larger 250 1A outperforms the smaller 840 by a significant margin as well...
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- My Current Tank: 65g Starfire (sitting empty for 2+ years) -
* Marine & Reef tanks since 1977 *
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Ryan Thompson
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Posted: January 04 2010 at 12:43pm |
While I agree the 250 1A will outperform the ATB I also know that ATB Skimmers are underrated quite a bit. Plus I would trust an ATB over a SWC but that is just me. I think the Germans build better things than the Chinese. Now if we are talking about lower end skimmers like mine, the Bubble Magus NAC6, then the Germans have nothing on China.
While I do agree that MSX, RO, and SWC have the best bang for your buck for retail but when I get a discount I will take my chances on ATB and others and know that my money is being very well spent. ATB skimmers and other high end German skimmers are not for everyone though. They certainly aren't for me right now!
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trplxj
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Posted: January 04 2010 at 12:56pm |
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I had a Aqua-C Urchin for my 29 gallon and it worked pretty good. I have a ASM G2 for my 90 and it works pretty good most of the time. The only real problem I have is getting the pump to restart after the power has been turned off. Other than that it pulls out some nasty looking stuff.
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Will Spencer
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Posted: January 04 2010 at 1:40pm |
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I love my ASM G-3 Skimmer. I've also had a Coralife Super Skimmer and it was OK. First skimmer I ever had was a Berlin. I didn't see the point of having a skimmer at the time since the thing hardly pulled anything out. Maybe a half cup a week on a 150 gallon tank.
So Yes to ASM, Maybe to Coralife, no to Berlin.
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MrNewbie
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Posted: January 04 2010 at 2:29pm |
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I have had two ASM skimmers, pleased with both
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Just a couple of glass boxes full of slimey things
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