what is so bad about ebay skimmers?

corbett_n · 10/27/2008, 01:19 PM

What makes a Jebo skimmer like:

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-JEBO-Aquariu...arms=72%3A1424|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318

so bad. It looks like it has all the parts I was just wondering what the differences are?

cdness · 10/27/2008, 01:54 PM

well let's see... I don't see a mention of a needle wheel or mesh wheel pump. Also there is no bubble diffuser. It might be an OK skimmer with a few mods on it. Never tried one though so I can't be sure.

nikon187 · 10/27/2008, 02:06 PM

pump looks like garbage. No wattage numbers as well as no needlewheel. Says works in both salt and fresh water (i thought skimmers didn't work in FW) I wouldn't buy it

corbett_n · 10/27/2008, 02:16 PM

It probably is crap, I just don't understand why someone can't mass produce a cheap effective skimmer. Everything people know and mod to their skimmers, you would think they could put out a decent skimmer that doesn't cost $300. Just curious

aquaman67 · 10/27/2008, 02:28 PM

corbett_n · 10/27/2008, 02:39 PM

thats funny

E.intheC · 10/27/2008, 06:00 PM

although I agree with you on the "why can't they make a cheap skimmer?" argument, I think part of it is caused by the "it's a luxury".. meaning.. why is a brand new boat 10x the price of a 2 year old boat? etc etc

chucksta1 · 10/27/2008, 07:40 PM

It's not an "ebay" skimmer... it's a "Jebo" skimmer, sold on ebay. LOL ...

Anyway.. The differences include, but are not limited to...

Extruded plastic as opposed to cast acrylic.

Quality of welds.

Unsafe motors prone to failure * check this site for the horror stories about an in tank failure of Rio pumps..

Availability of replacement parts and service.

There's more, but I think you get the idea. A better way to ebay a piece of equipment on ebay is to figure out which one you want and then price shop. A lot of times the price at the LFS you shop at can be beaten by thirty percent or more. A lot of name brand skimmers can be purchased at the lowest price from ebay and it's a great place to find a used one. So is the buy and sell forum on this site.

Good luck!

scrmbld33 · 10/27/2008, 07:43 PM

just FYI skimmers dont work in FW, jebos are very hard to dial in and are poor performing. they may be better with mods but i would look into another brand

ClownReef® · 10/27/2008, 08:27 PM

Well...Its not a bubble king

Craftsmanship is one of the biggest issues.. I wouldn't trust a crappy made piece of equipment in my system..

Thats just me though..

jenglish · 10/27/2008, 09:58 PM

I have seen decent skimmers on ebay. You just have to know your brands. I think that a octopus is a good middle ground on skimmers. They are cheaper than a bubble king and better than a seaclone. I don't even mind buying them new

10/27/2008, 01:19 PM	#1
corbett_n Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: SC Posts: 1,271	what is so bad about ebay skimmers? What makes a Jebo skimmer like: http://cgi.ebay.com/New-JEBO-Aquariu...arms=72%3A1424\|66%3A2\|65%3A12\|39%3A1\|240%3A1318 so bad. It looks like it has all the parts I was just wondering what the differences are?

10/27/2008, 01:54 PM	#2
cdness Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Fargo, ND Posts: 870	well let's see... I don't see a mention of a needle wheel or mesh wheel pump. Also there is no bubble diffuser. It might be an OK skimmer with a few mods on it. Never tried one though so I can't be sure. __________________ 125G Reef, 40G sump, Marineland 4500 returns, Dart Closed Loop, OM 4-way, LED and Apollo LED Red River Valley Reefers - Fargo, Moorhead, Grand Forks Reef Club -http://redrivervalleyreefers.com Current Tank Info: 75G display, 20G sump, Additional 10G Fuge, drilled, Ocean Runner 6500 for closed loop, Catalina Aquarium CA4000 Return pump, MSX 160 Skimmer

10/27/2008, 02:06 PM	#3
nikon187 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Edmonton Alberta Posts: 4,717	pump looks like garbage. No wattage numbers as well as no needlewheel. Says works in both salt and fresh water (i thought skimmers didn't work in FW) I wouldn't buy it __________________ ----------------- Current Tanks: New 210 custom 84 x 24 x 24, 60g sump, SWC 250 extreme with bubble blaster 5000, 2 vortech mp40, 2 vortech mp10, 12 T5, Water blaster 5000, warner marine bio pellets, 60g clownfish cube, red carpet anemone with a 25g sump,SRO octopus 1000sss, 250w radium, lumenarc large.

10/27/2008, 06:00 PM	#7
E.intheC Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 5,373	although I agree with you on the "why can't they make a cheap skimmer?" argument, I think part of it is caused by the "it's a luxury".. meaning.. why is a brand new boat 10x the price of a 2 year old boat? etc etc __________________ -Eric

10/27/2008, 07:43 PM	#9
scrmbld33 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: south jersey 08050 Posts: 2,394	just FYI skimmers dont work in FW, jebos are very hard to dial in and are poor performing. they may be better with mods but i would look into another brand __________________ a left over shrimp shedding is not "a sicilian message meaning luca brasi sleeps with the fishes" fish are friends, not food Current Tank Info: 90gal salt, 2 250mh 14k hamiltons 2 110 actinic, 127lbs LR,50lbs tonga 70lbs indonesia 7lbs tonga branch asm g3

10/27/2008, 02:16 PM	#4
corbett_n Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: SC Posts: 1,271	It probably is crap, I just don't understand why someone can't mass produce a cheap effective skimmer. Everything people know and mod to their skimmers, you would think they could put out a decent skimmer that doesn't cost $300. Just curious

10/27/2008, 02:28 PM	#5
aquaman67 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Tennessee Posts: 7,629

10/27/2008, 02:39 PM	#6
corbett_n Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: SC Posts: 1,271	thats funny

10/27/2008, 07:40 PM	#8
chucksta1 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: mississauga ont. Posts: 490	It's not an "ebay" skimmer... it's a "Jebo" skimmer, sold on ebay. LOL ... Anyway.. The differences include, but are not limited to... Extruded plastic as opposed to cast acrylic. Quality of welds. Unsafe motors prone to failure * check this site for the horror stories about an in tank failure of Rio pumps.. Availability of replacement parts and service. There's more, but I think you get the idea. A better way to ebay a piece of equipment on ebay is to figure out which one you want and then price shop. A lot of times the price at the LFS you shop at can be beaten by thirty percent or more. A lot of name brand skimmers can be purchased at the lowest price from ebay and it's a great place to find a used one. So is the buy and sell forum on this site. Good luck!

10/27/2008, 08:27 PM	#10
ClownReef® Bubbletrousing Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 1,872	Well...Its not a bubble king Craftsmanship is one of the biggest issues.. I wouldn't trust a crappy made piece of equipment in my system.. Thats just me though.. __________________ Waterbox Peninsula 5526 l Ecotech Radion XR30w G4 l Ecotech Vectra M1 l MP40QDW l Vertex Omega 180i l Tunze ATO l Apex Fusion l DOS l Trident l Ice Cap Scrubber

10/27/2008, 09:58 PM	#11
jenglish Marquis de Carabas Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Evansville, IN Posts: 2,523	I have seen decent skimmers on ebay. You just have to know your brands. I think that a octopus is a good middle ground on skimmers. They are cheaper than a bubble king and better than a seaclone. I don't even mind buying them new __________________ Jeremy Brown liquor never hurt anybody “Je n'ai pas besoin de cette hypothèse" Pierre-Simon Laplace I should want to cook him a simple meal, but I shouldn't want to cut into him, to tear the flesh, to wear the flesh, to be born unto new worlds where his flesh becomes my key. Current Tank Info: broken and dry