A tale of 6 skimmers.

[djtodd]

OK, so I started out in this hobby 2.5 years ago, and I seem to have gone through a skimmer every 6 months or so. The following are *my* experiences, and my opinions.

First off was my old 20G tank, and I needed a skimmer for it. Luckily Paul_BB had an old BakPak kicking around, and I was off to the races. Returned some bubbles, but some filter floss stuffed in the output helped a lot. It actually didn't skim too badly, but the Rio pump driving it made me nervous, and I had some cash so I moved to...

A Remora. Which IMHO never really skimmed all that well. This was probably no fault of the skimmer as I hadn't learned the "keep your hands out" rule yet. Both units suffered from the poor design of the collection cup with the rubber band method of adjusting it. Never found that to be even remotely accurate or easy to adjust.

After a while a 20 just wasn't big enough, so I moved to a nicely drilled 40 with a 40 sump. The Remora didn't cut it anymore, so I picked up the Pacific Coast predecessor to the Coralife SuperSkimmer. Now that one actually worked rather well, especially considering that I hadn't grasped the concept of placing the NW pump next to the drain to get as much of the nice surface skimmed water from the display. The pump had a tendency to not want to re-start after stopping it for whatever reason though.

Last October I moved to my current 90G tank, and I decided that it was time to move up to a non-cheapo skimmer and got my hands on an ASM G2. I came away hating the thing. For one, the Sedra pump was a POS that was totally inconsistant in it's output. One day Mr. Wilson was over and saw how sometimes it filled the entire body with bubbles, and sometimes it wouldn't. The skimmer overflowed at the drop of a hat, and the build quality was below that of even the cheapo CSS. From what I've heard the G3 was a better unit with a better matched Sedra pump to it. I still came away from this vowing to never use another Sedra NW, and thats why I never bothered with a Euroreef.

Ditched the ASM and decided to give an Aqua-C EV180 a try. You know what? They're darn good skimmers for the money. It pulled out a fair amount of junk, far more than the ASM. Still, it required a power hungry MAG7 to run it, and people reported that it worked far better with a gated MAG9 or Eheim 1262. The only real drawback to this unit was the fact that it stopped skimming for too long a time after feeding or putting your hands in.

Last week I browsed through the classifieds and picked up an H&S A110-F2000. I was dubious. How could it be that different from the ASM? A NW is a NW right? Wrong. The Aquabee is smaller, quieter, and only draws 18W. An hour after I dumped it in the sump this thing was pulling out a lot of crud. When I checked it this morning (48 hours after it was last cleaned) I noted that I'd definately have to clean it again tonight. Originally I thought it might be a little undersized for my setup, but I may be wrong.

In conclusion, from my experiences, some of the cheap skimmers worked rather well for the money. The CSS and the BakPak aren't as bad as you'd think. The hype for the expensive units like H&S and Deltec may very well be justified, time will tell.

[J_T]

Well put!

I have had some great cheap skimmers. Sea clone anyone? Prizim? I still use both. I also just got an Aqua-C EV180. I have just set that up on the frag system. I haven't run it through its paces yet.

I also have a Turbo Floater, HOT. I really like this one. I have to clean 1/4 cup of crud every few days. Not sure how though, I barely feed the tank, water changes, etc, but this thing finds junk to pull out.

[mr.wilson]

I also like the turbo floater, but the HOT version has its' drawbacks. Some day I would like to set up a large tank with three turbofloaters and one (high end) $1200.00 skimmer and compare the yield.

I think adding a wood air diffuser to an affordable skimmer may be the way to go for many aquarists.

I'm setting up a 600 gallon tank with an Aqua-Medic T-5000 Twin this week. The price is very reasonable for what you get (78" high with 1800 GPH of recirculation and 300 GPH of air injection). I'm also installing an ETSS 600 Gemini on a 450 gallon installation. It's a lot smaller than the T-5000, and almost as much money. As Todd says, time will tell. I'll post a review in the near future.

[J_T]

I have the HOT hanging on the sump. I am still screwing around with how the water gets back to the sump. Right now it is splashing all over the place. I have a shield over it to keep the water/salt in the sump. Other than that, I like the skimmer.

[djtodd]

A small addendum here.

One of the biggest problems I've encountered with NW skimmers is the need to protect the impeller from any detritus and algae. The thing that bothers me is that there generally aren't any allowances made for a foam block over the intake of the pumps. My setup isn't ideal in that my sump doesn't have chambers and sometimes a bit of Chaeto will make its way into the pump and wrap like wire around the impeller. Just a little will severely impair performance.

[smp]

JT, what pump do you have with your turboflotor multi?
I have the aquabee and maybe my pump is just old, but it SUCKS. I've been tangling with this thing since december and it only pulls out tea like, wet skimmate .. it's also damn inconsistent. I've run the pump in vinegar solution and cleaned it numerous times too. It sits in my sump and the pump is close to the drain output. I actually find that with this pump if you "pinch" the intake of the pump just a bit you get MUCH better bubble production.... so I tapered it using a pen cap .. very DIY hack job, but it works somewhat better now.
As we speak it is almost overflowing because I had my hands in the tank tonight :\

[Dman]

I'm also installing an ETSS 600 Gemini on a 450 gallon installation. It's a lot smaller than the T-5000, and almost as much money.

DON'T

ETSS 600 is far too small for a 450 gallon system, for starters they're only designed to handle 600GPH, that's less than 1.5 times volume per hour and despite the build quality (my ETSS 1400 was superb till it got smashed to little itty bitty pieces) unless you modify them for a beckett, they're so-so at best. IMHO.
I still currently own two (800 Gemini and ETSS 1400 Commercial)

[mr.wilson]

DON'T

ETSS 600 is far too small for a 450 gallon system, for starters they're only designed to handle 600GPH, that's less than 1.5 times volume per hour and despite the build quality (my ETSS 1400 was superb till it got smashed to little itty bitty pieces) unless you modify them for a beckett, they're so-so at best. IMHO.
I still currently own two (800 Gemini and ETSS 1400 Commercial)

I took over the install from a friend that's getting out of the business. He had that skimmer in stock, so I think that influenced his selection.

The company that built the tank did the plumbing, so that's going to be my biggest problem.

If you think the ETSS 600 is undersized, you'll love the Berlin classic that the client has for his other new tank (125 gallon).

[Dman]

I took over the install from a friend that's getting out of the business. He had that skimmer in stock, so I think that influenced his selection.

Some friend.......


The company that built the tank did the plumbing, so that's going to be my biggest problem.

Plumbing's an easy fix as long as there's no water involved. :D


If you think the ETSS 600 is undersized, you'll love the Berlin classic that the client has for his other new tank (125 gallon).

Brilliant, The XL I had couldn't skim a moderately stocked 50.

Sounds like you have your hands full, I digress.

Although never used one I have seen first hand the efficiency of the re-circulating style skimmers; a la Euroreef and am quite impressed. Too bad I'm either always too broke or too cheap to buy one/several.

[djtodd]

A further update.

Over the weekend I broke down and bought an H&S A150-F2001 external recirculating skimmer. Thread is here: http://www.aquariumpros.ca/forums/showthread.php?t=22192

I have to say I'm very impressed with the performance of this unit. After a mere 5 or 6 weeks of using the smaller H&S 110-F2000 I was sold on it's quality and performance. The bigger recirc model is probably pulling out twice as much junk, and really isn't any louder.

I'd have to say that the hype for the H&S skimmers are entirely justified. Plus, they're cheaper than similarily rated Euroreef units, yet have better quality components.

One of these days I'd like to try a big beckett unit. Maybe when I start my 40G clam tank in a couple of years. :)

[Shadowknife]

I've gotta tell you, despite the hate you give it, I've had nothing but fantastic luck with that G2 you sold me. Evey day or two I dump out thick skimmate. The gate valve on it makes it super easy to adjust. I've never had it bubble over or go nuts like you describe, ever. I love it.

Perhaps it's just how you had it set up. Here's my outline:

-It's situated in the seperate area where the water dumps down into the sump, so it's fed with hte dirtiest water. The output heads back through the baffles and to the return pump.
-The gate valve makes it supereasy to adjust, and quiets it down instead of dumping back into the sump loudly
-I put a 45 degree elbow where the water enters the chamber, pointing down, to give more contact time with the bubbles. A cheap and easy little trick.
-I propped it up in the sump on an eggcrate stand. I've read it works better at a certain depth of water...not sure what it is off hand, but I think mine's about 10" out.

As for quality, I don't really have anything else to compare it too. But I don't play football with it, so I've never had a problem with anything breaking. I've always expected that to be a tradeoff for it's price though, seeing as it's a cheaper version of a Euroreef.


Not trying to knock your review, but I just wanted to give my thoughts on the same skimmer. And I must say, I love it.

[djtodd]

I've gotta tell you, despite the hate you give it, I've had nothing but fantastic luck with that G2 you sold me. Evey day or two I dump out thick skimmate. The gate valve on it makes it super easy to adjust. I've never had it bubble over or go nuts like you describe, ever. I love it.

Perhaps it's just how you had it set up. Here's my outline:


It could very well be. Though I was wracking my brain trying to figure out what the problem was. The main issue I had with the G2 was that it would just randomly decide to overflow. 3 days of working well, then all of a sudden I'd come home and the cup would be full of water leaking out back into the tank.

I knew there was nothing wrong with the skimmer itself, but couldn't figure out what I was doing to cause the overflowing.



Not trying to knock your review, but I just wanted to give my thoughts on the same skimmer. And I must say, I love it.


I'm glad you're getting good use out of it!

It's not really knocking my review anyhow. I'm really just recounting my own personal experience with these units. I'm completely flabbergasted that the H&S units work so much betetr than the ASM did for me. I mean they're methodoligically identical, so if I have at least some success with one, why not the other? That whole line of reasoning is why I avoided needlewheels for a year.

[gricks]

I know this is a older thread, but I have just had my G3 after 6 months of good use, overflow for no reason. I adjusted the output hight and it did it again 2 days later, So I am now thinking of getting a new skimmer because It is a problem i guess that is not just going to go away.

[djtodd]

I know this is a older thread, but I have just had my G3 after 6 months of good use, overflow for no reason. I adjusted the output hight and it did it again 2 days later, So I am now thinking of getting a new skimmer because It is a problem i guess that is not just going to go away.

When is it overflowing? Recently I realised it might have been overflowing when I fed the tank. You might want to just adjust it dryer slightly.

[mr.wilson]

I know this is a older thread, but I have just had my G3 after 6 months of good use, overflow for no reason. I adjusted the output hight and it did it again 2 days later, So I am now thinking of getting a new skimmer because It is a problem i guess that is not just going to go away.

Todd experienced a similar G2 overflow problem in an earlier chapter of his epic journey for a good skimmer. http://www.aquariumpros.ca/forums/showthread.php?t=18214

[djtodd]

Todd experienced a similar G2 overflow problem in an earlier chapter of his epic journey for a good skimmer. http://www.aquariumpros.ca/forums/showthread.php?t=18214

After re-reading that thread, I remember why I got rid of the G2. It still baffles me.

[gricks]

Ya it was after i fed the tank. I just upgraded my tank and i have a lot of fish to feed now, so with the increase in food that may be causing this. I put hot water through the air line once a week to rid any salt buildup, but have never had this problem before I am going to take it out and give it a good cleaning tonight, hope this will do the trick.

[djtodd]

Ya it was after i fed the tank. I just upgraded my tank and i have a lot of fish to feed now, so with the increase in food that may be causing this. I put hot water through the air line once a week to rid any salt buildup, but have never had this problem before I am going to take it out and give it a good cleaning tonight, hope this will do the trick.

I'd suggest running it dryer, lowering the output riser thingy. The water level surges a bit in my current skimmer just after I feed the tank for about 3 minutes. I now have it set as wet as I can without actually flooding when I feed.

[gricks]

I will give it a try thanks for the help!

[in_flight]

hey todd, how are you liking your H&S? mine has been skimming really well and even with dry skimming, i get more skimmate than my T1000. I also realized that from your previous post, you were correct that the external's just a bit more efficient since you can plumb your overflow into the sump and the recirc is also more efficient.

[Weddel Tech Support]

Hi djtodd,

I to use a H&S and this was prior to the company I represent even listing it as a product line.
I purchased mine from Archie at the old EMarine.To this day this skimmer rocks and I wouldnt trade it in for another.The stabilty,build quality and most important the performance of these skimmers are fantastic.

Now we distribute the H&S line to stores throughout Canada,and have only heard positive feedback on them which of course doesnt surprise me.

[djtodd]

hey todd, how are you liking your H&S? mine has been skimming really well and even with dry skimming, i get more skimmate than my T1000. I also realized that from your previous post, you were correct that the external's just a bit more efficient since you can plumb your overflow into the sump and the recirc is also more efficient.

Yes, very happy. I grabbed a dry erase marker from work and every once in a while I'll mark the skimmate level on the side of the collection cup and check it 24 hours later to see how much has accumulated. It's never failed to perform.

A major purchase yes, but it's performing exactly as I think it should. It's interesting to see that it's twice the size of my old 110, and produces about twice as much!