HOB Skimmer options...

SHOmuchFUN · 04/22/2008, 12:01 PM

I have a 33gal tank and don't have a sump.
I would like to add a skimmer to my system, as I'm growing more SPS. I had originally bought a Deltec MCE300 but received it broken and wasn't impressed with its build quality.

My only main concern is that I don't want a huge pump sitting in the display, as a 33's real estate is fairly coveted. The tank is also only 12" deep, so the pump/strainer cannot sit in the sand

Anybody have any decent options for me?
I was thinking about getting the CPR Skimmer/Fuge combo with a light. Also was considering the Octo BH100F or whatever model it was, but don't want a pre-skimmer box because my topoff switches sit in the tank itself and don't want to modify them to work inside a skimmer box.

lark · 04/22/2008, 12:12 PM

I may not be completely up to date on what's out there, but my general understanding is that if you want no pump in the tank, you're looking at the octopus or the deltec. Did you consider the mce600, or has your experience with the mce300 soured you on that option?

Otherwise, with an in-tank pump, people seem to like the Bermuda Rogue. You can also tweak some decent performance out of the cprs, but you need to mod them a bit and the collection cup is pretty small. And it's not going to be like the others.

Seems like, on balance, if you don't want to try the mce600, the octopus is your best option or the rogue if you want tolerate a pump in the tank.

SHOmuchFUN · 04/22/2008, 12:26 PM

I'm considering the MCE600, but it's expensive. After seeing the 300, I'm not completely motivated to spend another $200+ more on the 600 in hopes that it is better built. I do like the fact that you can run media with a 600.

lark · 04/22/2008, 12:41 PM

I've never seen an mce300, but I owned an mce600. (Recently sold it on the used equip. board). I couldn't set it up, because I was short about 1/4" behind my tank, but build quality was not an issue. The thing is a tank. It's a somewhat weird design -- the cup works a bit differently from a typical collection cup, but people really say it's a good skimmer.

GSMguy · 04/22/2008, 02:02 PM

SHO the MCE300 and 600 dont even look like they come from the same company...

i have both the 600 blows the 300 away in every aspect of design it is fantastic and sets the bar for HOB skimmers

the other contender is the yet to be released ATB multi i will be testing it against both of my deltecs sometime in the next month or so but it looks like it will be about the same price as the MCE600 when it is released. i think it will hang with or out perform my MCE600 but time will tell.

the euro is strong it sucks for us, but it would not make me resort to a venturi Design with heavy power hungry pumps hanging into the tank. and a giant "bubble catcher" taking over even more tank real estate (bermuda)

GSMguy · 04/22/2008, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SHOmuchFUN

Anybody have any decent options for me?
I was thinking about getting the CPR Skimmer/Fuge combo with a light. Also was considering the Octo BH100F or whatever model it was, but don't want a pre-skimmer box because my topoff switches sit in the tank itself and don't want to modify them to work inside a skimmer box.

the fuge/ skimmer combo is a joke really its much better as just a fuge without the microbubbles from the crap skimmer

and the pre skimmer box on that CPR fails epicly

silverking · 04/22/2008, 02:12 PM

tunze nano 9002 is not a bad choice for the price does sit in the tank but doesn't take up that much room.

GSMguy · 04/22/2008, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by silverking
tunze nano 9002 is not a bad choice for the price does sit in the tank but doesn't take up that much room.

i think they do about 150LPH of air while the MCE600 does 400 and the ATB with mesh should do 500LPH reliably with low power consumption in the 7-11watt range.

luke33 · 04/23/2008, 02:10 PM

I'd go with the 100f and i'd just remove the prefilter box. You don't have to use it as its removable. Its a good price and will be plenty for that size tank. I know they just came in at marine solutions today. So they are finally in somewhere!

04/22/2008, 12:01 PM	#1
SHOmuchFUN Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Vermont Posts: 4,461	HOB Skimmer options... I have a 33gal tank and don't have a sump. I would like to add a skimmer to my system, as I'm growing more SPS. I had originally bought a Deltec MCE300 but received it broken and wasn't impressed with its build quality. My only main concern is that I don't want a huge pump sitting in the display, as a 33's real estate is fairly coveted. The tank is also only 12" deep, so the pump/strainer cannot sit in the sand Anybody have any decent options for me? I was thinking about getting the CPR Skimmer/Fuge combo with a light. Also was considering the Octo BH100F or whatever model it was, but don't want a pre-skimmer box because my topoff switches sit in the tank itself and don't want to modify them to work inside a skimmer box. __________________ Erik Engstrom President, Vermont Marine Aquarists. Current Tank Info: Custom 180gal, 6x80w ATI T-5s, (2) Tunze 6025, Vortec MP40w, MSX200 w/ red demon, controlled by AcJR.

04/22/2008, 12:26 PM	#3
SHOmuchFUN Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Vermont Posts: 4,461	I'm considering the MCE600, but it's expensive. After seeing the 300, I'm not completely motivated to spend another $200+ more on the 600 in hopes that it is better built. I do like the fact that you can run media with a 600. __________________ Erik Engstrom President, Vermont Marine Aquarists. Current Tank Info: Custom 180gal, 6x80w ATI T-5s, (2) Tunze 6025, Vortec MP40w, MSX200 w/ red demon, controlled by AcJR.

04/22/2008, 02:02 PM	#5
GSMguy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northern New Mexico Posts: 17,420	SHO the MCE300 and 600 dont even look like they come from the same company... i have both the 600 blows the 300 away in every aspect of design it is fantastic and sets the bar for HOB skimmers the other contender is the yet to be released ATB multi i will be testing it against both of my deltecs sometime in the next month or so but it looks like it will be about the same price as the MCE600 when it is released. i think it will hang with or out perform my MCE600 but time will tell. the euro is strong it sucks for us, but it would not make me resort to a venturi Design with heavy power hungry pumps hanging into the tank. and a giant "bubble catcher" taking over even more tank real estate (bermuda) __________________ Nick. Conehead. Shallow Reef club. Current Tank Info: 48"x27"x14" Envision Acrylic rimless, 6x39w ATi Sunpower, Custom ATB Deluxe Skimmer, 4x tunze nano stream,ATB flowstar 1500, ACJR, Tunze osmolator.

04/22/2008, 12:12 PM	#2
lark Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 535	I may not be completely up to date on what's out there, but my general understanding is that if you want no pump in the tank, you're looking at the octopus or the deltec. Did you consider the mce600, or has your experience with the mce300 soured you on that option? Otherwise, with an in-tank pump, people seem to like the Bermuda Rogue. You can also tweak some decent performance out of the cprs, but you need to mod them a bit and the collection cup is pretty small. And it's not going to be like the others. Seems like, on balance, if you don't want to try the mce600, the octopus is your best option or the rogue if you want tolerate a pump in the tank.

04/22/2008, 12:41 PM	#4
lark Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 535	I've never seen an mce300, but I owned an mce600. (Recently sold it on the used equip. board). I couldn't set it up, because I was short about 1/4" behind my tank, but build quality was not an issue. The thing is a tank. It's a somewhat weird design -- the cup works a bit differently from a typical collection cup, but people really say it's a good skimmer.

04/22/2008, 02:12 PM	#7
silverking Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: North Ridgeville, OH Posts: 361	tunze nano 9002 is not a bad choice for the price does sit in the tank but doesn't take up that much room.

04/23/2008, 02:10 PM	#9
luke33 Moved On Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 8,375	I'd go with the 100f and i'd just remove the prefilter box. You don't have to use it as its removable. Its a good price and will be plenty for that size tank. I know they just came in at marine solutions today. So they are finally in somewhere!