anyone here use an aerofoamer skimmer by reefconcepts?

kodyboy · 03/30/2007, 05:26 AM

http://www.reefconcepts.com/products...ers/600series/

Here is a link to their site. Has anyone used these? How would they compare to an ASM/Octopus/ER?

kodyboy · 03/30/2007, 07:06 AM

bump
anyone?

EnderG60 · 03/30/2007, 07:26 AM

doesnt look like anything special, especially for $500

kodyboy · 03/30/2007, 09:40 AM

bump

smackwater · 03/30/2007, 12:17 PM

One of the first beckett skim to be produced. I have and used 648 on 360gal. Doesn't look like this particular models is made anymore. Aerofoamer is one of the best beckett skimmer ever made.
just my 2 cents

luke33 · 03/30/2007, 12:44 PM

Kody, just get the 400 already.....GEEZ man! lol

manderx · 03/30/2007, 01:06 PM

i have a friend who used to have one. hands down the best beckett i've ever seen. though it needs a beefy pump to shine.

this one swirls the body while most others do not. it's amazing what the swirl does (you can tell just by watching it), by increasing contact time and decreasing random turbulence. i've done hands-on playing with all the other major becketts (except for a PM) and i'd go aerofoamer in a heartbeat if i could deal with a big pump.

kodyboy · 03/30/2007, 01:23 PM

luke
Yeah yeah...... I have decision making difficulties

kodyboy · 03/30/2007, 01:24 PM

thanks for the input everyone

kodyboy · 03/30/2007, 10:37 PM

When one says "big pump" what do you mean? Looking at the specs a genx 6000 should be more than enough and that is not a huge pump......am I missing something?

kodyboy · 03/31/2007, 09:38 AM

bump

smackwater · 03/31/2007, 10:19 AM

I used Iwaiki 70 on 648

kodyboy · 03/31/2007, 10:26 AM

A genx 6000 produces around 1500 gph and iwaki does the same (but is pressure rated) what is the difference? Does it make a difference if the water is moving 2 feet or is the becket causing the need for a "pressure rated" unit? What does "pressure rated"mean?
thanks all,

kodyboy · 03/31/2007, 06:39 PM

bump

kodyboy · 04/01/2007, 09:16 AM

bump

bergzy · 04/01/2007, 09:31 AM

did someone say aerofoamer?

i have THREE...well, had three...gave one away because they are so incredibly excellent in skimming.

here is one of the 830's attached to an iwaki 70rlt. yep! it requires a big pump to make it work effectively. this pic actually i found later that there was a small blockage in the beckett and performance was hampered somewhat...

not the most energy efficient skimmer out there BUT:

i pull out two gallons of this wet skimmate per day:

now fun part. i only skim 15 hours per day as after the 12th hour, i do not notice any skimmate forming and the foam head is pretty small. i let it go for another three hours just to ensure i get whatever nutrients might still be there. i turn the skimmer off during my main light cycle as the photosynthesis will aid in pH stabilization.

there are used reef concepts skimmers for sale every so often and are usually pretty reasonably priced.

it is MY OPINION, that a properly set up beckett can be a very efficient skimmer that would be comparable to needlewheel skimmers...even the 'deltecs' and 'bubblekings'!!! it is MY OPINION again that in MY experience that becketts are the most EFFECTIVE (very different that efficient) skimmers out there. well, bermuda aquatics have come out with an interesting venturi design that seems to create a lot of foam with small pump requirements...but they are a very new player in the hobbyist department (they have done a lot of very large commercial set ups).

kodyboy · 04/01/2007, 09:46 AM

bergzy
Thanks,
Again I am confused (and probably a dope) regarding "big pumps".
Would a genx6000 submersible pump work WELL for an aerofoamer 624 or do you need an external unit like your iwaki? Both pump around 1500 gph, and it is not like the pump will have to go far (a foot or two at the most). Any opinions? The energy requirement is not a consideration.

bergzy · 04/01/2007, 09:54 AM

i dont think the gen x 6000 has enough 'head pressure' to drive the aerofoamer effectively...but, you never know...

what i do know is that putting on a 'flow; rated pump where a 'pressure' situation is required...while it will work...usually eats up and damges the pump pretty quickly...i am not that familiar with gen x pumps to give an informed answer.

the downfall of becketts is that they NEED pumps that have pressure ratings.

reef concepts recommends mag 12's,18's and 24's for their 600 series.

mags are great pumps and considered a good ol' workhorse in the hobby BUT they do put out heat and this heat goes into your system...so you have to account for the extra heat input. either it is no big deal (aids in warming the tank) or needs to removed (with a fan or chiller). i have found that the latter is almost always the case esp in the summer!

are you looking at the 600 in the used equipment section?

bergzy · 04/01/2007, 09:55 AM

lag time...

bergzy · 04/01/2007, 09:55 AM

3rd lag time...

bergzy · 04/01/2007, 09:56 AM

wow...triple post!!!! STUPID LAG!!!

kodyboy · 04/01/2007, 10:01 AM

bergy,
Yep I am looking at an aerofomer 624 for $300 for a 150 gallon heavily stocked reef. I will also need a pump, so the genx is out. Woud this skim my tank more effectively than this:
http://www.reefnut.com/reefshop/prod...roducts_id=114
which is about $290 with shipping
thanks

bergzy · 04/01/2007, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by kodyboy
bergy,
Yep I am looking at an aerofomer 624 for $300 for a 150 gallon heavily stocked reef. I will also need a pump, so the genx is out. Woud this skim my tank more effectively than this:
http://www.reefnut.com/reefshop/prod...roducts_id=114
which is about $290 with shipping
thanks

the skimmer you linked 'looks' okay...but it is a model that i am unaware of and i dont know of anyone using it.

thus...when in doubt with equipment...esp something as important as a skimmer...i wouldnt get it.

for that price...you 'could' get a bermuda skimmer bps-3c (not including shipping). yes, you would have to get your own pump...but it isnt all bad. by having the freedom of getting your own pump...you are not stuck with the pump the skimmer uses and trying to find a replacement for it...it 'can' be tough to locate if it is an older skimmer...

i am not sure what pump they are using but they look like sedra's. if they arent readily available pumps...then your skimmer is out one pump and will affect performance.

pm me the reef concept skimmer link you are looking at...

dont be in a rush to get your equipment...a great piece at a great price ALWAYS comes up!

kodyboy · 04/01/2007, 08:07 PM

Ben,
Do you think a bermuda bps-3c could really skim a heavily stocked 150 reef? It is a tiny skimmer. I have an ASM G3 on it and it does not do the trick.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1083693
it looks like an older model 630 with some newer mods
$300 shipped seems reasonable to me, if I can get the cash, but how good a skimmer is it and can it compare to the cheap needlewheel that I linked (there is a large forum on it, called the aquaeuro classic 400 and it looks really good, I looked over some smaller units and they appear well built too)
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1070192
check out the thread

thanks for the help

bergzy · 04/01/2007, 10:31 PM

hmmm,

IF a bps-3c 'could' skim a heavily stocked 150 is unknown to me as i only use their HOB on a 110g.

but what i will say about the deceivingly small size of a bermuda is:

my 110g is heavily stocked with coral (a lot of softies and lps and two sps that are doing very well) with a lot of live rock and it seems to be doing an incredible job on just a mag 3. i have an aqua c remora and it is garbage compared to the bermuda hob.

there is a thread on some larger bermudas...perhaps you can locate those.

the aquaeuro is gaining a lot of momentum and appears to be very popular in a pretty short time. would i get it.....ehhh, i waffle on needlewheels...not because they dont do a good job at skimming...i think they do an incredible job at it...

the problem i have with nw's is that they usually use a very limited pump selection. yes, one is suppose to get a skimmer sized to your system...BUT when i started with my 180g...it was lightly stocked and my reef concepts 830 with an iwaki 55rlt was great at skimming. but...as my reef matured, the 55rlt wasnt keeping up so all i did was swap it out with the 70rlt. get my drift?

thus, pump replacement is might not be as simple with skimmers that use a (somewhat) proprietary pump for their skimmer. i personally do not like the hassle of nw pump replacement. yes, they may last for years...but when (and it is a when and not an 'if') it breaks on you...getting one can be a pain...esp 'if' the pump is discontinued. it may be as simple as an impeller replacement OR in my case where the impeller seized in the pump and i was unable to get it out. toss the whole pump in the garbage. it took me a while (back then) to locate another nw for it...but now...nw pumps are more readily available.

what i do love about nw is the noise...the lack of it...but i dont care about noise as all my equipment is located remotely in my garage.

hopefully, i am a little helpful so far...

03/30/2007, 05:26 AM	#1
kodyboy Moved On Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 2,990	anyone here use an aerofoamer skimmer by reefconcepts? http://www.reefconcepts.com/products...ers/600series/ Here is a link to their site. Has anyone used these? How would they compare to an ASM/Octopus/ER?

03/30/2007, 12:17 PM	#5
smackwater Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: INDIANA Posts: 105	One of the first beckett skim to be produced. I have and used 648 on 360gal. Doesn't look like this particular models is made anymore. Aerofoamer is one of the best beckett skimmer ever made. just my 2 cents __________________ Smackwater

03/31/2007, 10:19 AM	#12
smackwater Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: INDIANA Posts: 105	I used Iwaiki 70 on 648 __________________ Smackwater

04/01/2007, 09:31 AM	#16
bergzy Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: OC CA USA Posts: 5,299	did someone say aerofoamer? i have THREE...well, had three...gave one away because they are so incredibly excellent in skimming. here is one of the 830's attached to an iwaki 70rlt. yep! it requires a big pump to make it work effectively. this pic actually i found later that there was a small blockage in the beckett and performance was hampered somewhat... not the most energy efficient skimmer out there BUT: i pull out two gallons of this wet skimmate per day: now fun part. i only skim 15 hours per day as after the 12th hour, i do not notice any skimmate forming and the foam head is pretty small. i let it go for another three hours just to ensure i get whatever nutrients might still be there. i turn the skimmer off during my main light cycle as the photosynthesis will aid in pH stabilization. there are used reef concepts skimmers for sale every so often and are usually pretty reasonably priced. it is MY OPINION, that a properly set up beckett can be a very efficient skimmer that would be comparable to needlewheel skimmers...even the 'deltecs' and 'bubblekings'!!! it is MY OPINION again that in MY experience that becketts are the most EFFECTIVE (very different that efficient) skimmers out there. well, bermuda aquatics have come out with an interesting venturi design that seems to create a lot of foam with small pump requirements...but they are a very new player in the hobbyist department (they have done a lot of very large commercial set ups). __________________ The urge to save humanity is almost always a false front for the urge to rule it. H.L. Mencken Ben. Current Tank Info: 180g sps, 90g cube clam biotope.

04/01/2007, 09:54 AM	#18
bergzy Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: OC CA USA Posts: 5,299	i dont think the gen x 6000 has enough 'head pressure' to drive the aerofoamer effectively...but, you never know... what i do know is that putting on a 'flow; rated pump where a 'pressure' situation is required...while it will work...usually eats up and damges the pump pretty quickly...i am not that familiar with gen x pumps to give an informed answer. the downfall of becketts is that they NEED pumps that have pressure ratings. reef concepts recommends mag 12's,18's and 24's for their 600 series. mags are great pumps and considered a good ol' workhorse in the hobby BUT they do put out heat and this heat goes into your system...so you have to account for the extra heat input. either it is no big deal (aids in warming the tank) or needs to removed (with a fan or chiller). i have found that the latter is almost always the case esp in the summer! are you looking at the 600 in the used equipment section? __________________ The urge to save humanity is almost always a false front for the urge to rule it. H.L. Mencken Ben. Current Tank Info: 180g sps, 90g cube clam biotope. Last edited by bergzy; 04/01/2007 at 09:59 AM.

03/30/2007, 07:06 AM	#2
kodyboy Moved On Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 2,990	bump anyone?

03/30/2007, 07:26 AM	#3
EnderG60 Plumbing Engineer Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Atlanta GA Posts: 3,260	doesnt look like anything special, especially for $500

03/30/2007, 09:40 AM	#4
kodyboy Moved On Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 2,990	bump

03/30/2007, 12:44 PM	#6
luke33 Moved On Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 8,375	Kody, just get the 400 already.....GEEZ man! lol

03/30/2007, 01:06 PM	#7
manderx Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Christiansburg, VA Posts: 4,893	i have a friend who used to have one. hands down the best beckett i've ever seen. though it needs a beefy pump to shine. this one swirls the body while most others do not. it's amazing what the swirl does (you can tell just by watching it), by increasing contact time and decreasing random turbulence. i've done hands-on playing with all the other major becketts (except for a PM) and i'd go aerofoamer in a heartbeat if i could deal with a big pump.

03/30/2007, 01:23 PM	#8
kodyboy Moved On Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 2,990	luke Yeah yeah...... I have decision making difficulties

03/30/2007, 01:24 PM	#9
kodyboy Moved On Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 2,990	thanks for the input everyone

03/30/2007, 10:37 PM	#10
kodyboy Moved On Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 2,990	When one says "big pump" what do you mean? Looking at the specs a genx 6000 should be more than enough and that is not a huge pump......am I missing something?

03/31/2007, 09:38 AM	#11
kodyboy Moved On Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 2,990	bump

03/31/2007, 10:26 AM	#13
kodyboy Moved On Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 2,990	A genx 6000 produces around 1500 gph and iwaki does the same (but is pressure rated) what is the difference? Does it make a difference if the water is moving 2 feet or is the becket causing the need for a "pressure rated" unit? What does "pressure rated"mean? thanks all,

03/31/2007, 06:39 PM	#14
kodyboy Moved On Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 2,990	bump

04/01/2007, 09:16 AM	#15
kodyboy Moved On Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 2,990	bump

04/01/2007, 09:46 AM	#17
kodyboy Moved On Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 2,990	bergzy Thanks, Again I am confused (and probably a dope) regarding "big pumps". Would a genx6000 submersible pump work WELL for an aerofoamer 624 or do you need an external unit like your iwaki? Both pump around 1500 gph, and it is not like the pump will have to go far (a foot or two at the most). Any opinions? The energy requirement is not a consideration.

04/01/2007, 09:55 AM	#19
bergzy Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: OC CA USA Posts: 5,299	lag time... __________________ The urge to save humanity is almost always a false front for the urge to rule it. H.L. Mencken Ben. Current Tank Info: 180g sps, 90g cube clam biotope.

04/01/2007, 09:55 AM	#20
bergzy Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: OC CA USA Posts: 5,299	3rd lag time... __________________ The urge to save humanity is almost always a false front for the urge to rule it. H.L. Mencken Ben. Current Tank Info: 180g sps, 90g cube clam biotope.

04/01/2007, 09:56 AM	#21
bergzy Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: OC CA USA Posts: 5,299	wow...triple post!!!! STUPID LAG!!! __________________ The urge to save humanity is almost always a false front for the urge to rule it. H.L. Mencken Ben. Current Tank Info: 180g sps, 90g cube clam biotope.

04/01/2007, 10:01 AM	#22
kodyboy Moved On Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 2,990	bergy, Yep I am looking at an aerofomer 624 for $300 for a 150 gallon heavily stocked reef. I will also need a pump, so the genx is out. Woud this skim my tank more effectively than this: http://www.reefnut.com/reefshop/prod...roducts_id=114 which is about $290 with shipping thanks

04/01/2007, 08:07 PM	#24
kodyboy Moved On Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 2,990	Ben, Do you think a bermuda bps-3c could really skim a heavily stocked 150 reef? It is a tiny skimmer. I have an ASM G3 on it and it does not do the trick. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1083693 it looks like an older model 630 with some newer mods $300 shipped seems reasonable to me, if I can get the cash, but how good a skimmer is it and can it compare to the cheap needlewheel that I linked (there is a large forum on it, called the aquaeuro classic 400 and it looks really good, I looked over some smaller units and they appear well built too) http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1070192 check out the thread thanks for the help

04/01/2007, 10:31 PM	#25
bergzy Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: OC CA USA Posts: 5,299	hmmm, IF a bps-3c 'could' skim a heavily stocked 150 is unknown to me as i only use their HOB on a 110g. but what i will say about the deceivingly small size of a bermuda is: my 110g is heavily stocked with coral (a lot of softies and lps and two sps that are doing very well) with a lot of live rock and it seems to be doing an incredible job on just a mag 3. i have an aqua c remora and it is garbage compared to the bermuda hob. there is a thread on some larger bermudas...perhaps you can locate those. the aquaeuro is gaining a lot of momentum and appears to be very popular in a pretty short time. would i get it.....ehhh, i waffle on needlewheels...not because they dont do a good job at skimming...i think they do an incredible job at it... the problem i have with nw's is that they usually use a very limited pump selection. yes, one is suppose to get a skimmer sized to your system...BUT when i started with my 180g...it was lightly stocked and my reef concepts 830 with an iwaki 55rlt was great at skimming. but...as my reef matured, the 55rlt wasnt keeping up so all i did was swap it out with the 70rlt. get my drift? thus, pump replacement is might not be as simple with skimmers that use a (somewhat) proprietary pump for their skimmer. i personally do not like the hassle of nw pump replacement. yes, they may last for years...but when (and it is a when and not an 'if') it breaks on you...getting one can be a pain...esp 'if' the pump is discontinued. it may be as simple as an impeller replacement OR in my case where the impeller seized in the pump and i was unable to get it out. toss the whole pump in the garbage. it took me a while (back then) to locate another nw for it...but now...nw pumps are more readily available. what i do love about nw is the noise...the lack of it...but i dont care about noise as all my equipment is located remotely in my garage. hopefully, i am a little helpful so far... __________________ The urge to save humanity is almost always a false front for the urge to rule it. H.L. Mencken Ben. Current Tank Info: 180g sps, 90g cube clam biotope.