Set it and Forget it Skimmer?

[tnorthern]

No I am not looking for one made by Ron Popiel, I am curious if there is such a thing as a set it and forget it skimmer. I am a compulsive tweaker and tinkerer when it comes to my tank and equipment, unfortunately I have a job that requires me to travel pretty much every week and my pregnant wife doesn't need to be messing with the tank everyday beyond normal feeding.

I am currently running an ETSS Reef Devil Deluxe on my 135 gallon SPS reef. I really like the downdraft skimmer because once it is dialed in it does a good job, in the long run as we add bio load to the tank I know this is not nearly enough skimmer for my tank. My main complaint with this skimmer is how long it takes to build foam after I feed, I timed it today and it was 1 hour and 15 minutes until it had a foam head started again. With three feedings a day that means it is only skimming about 20 hours out of 24.

So, seeing as how debating skimmers is like debating if Chevy, Dodge, or Ford makes a better truck, I am looking for feedback from users that have owned different types of skimmers and the amount of constant maintenance or tweaking that they had to do.

[allsps40]

My Octopus is set and forget. Havent messed with it except to clean in over a year.

[Reefer07]

IMO there is no skimmer that is set and forget. I have had mainly smaller tanks and skimmers but I have tried 4 different kinds of skimmers. A couple bad ones and a couple decent quality ones.
IMO the octopus worked great except if you didn't clean the collection cup every couple days it just stopped working. I liked to run my skimmer high but it still needed to be cleaned too often.

[reef_doug]

My ATI BM250 was horrible until I put on the Red Demon wheels. Now it's very consistent. Only maintenance is emptying the cup.

[chefzif]

I agree there is no skimmer that will not need a little tweek, I have an Octopus 2000 extreme and it works great as long as you keep the water level consistant, but that goes for any skimmer. The other two skimmers are the Bubble King 180 or the Alpha 170 are great skimers and always produce skim. They both have the red dragon pumps! They are top of the line! will work for a tank up to 200g with a decent load.

[outy]

my SWC 250 recirc fead from my drain plumbing need not be touched and skims well even when dirty

[moondoggy4]

Old school Euro Reef with the riser for control. For your tank I would get the the CS 135 model aka CS6/2.

[Stanley-Reefer]

Euroreef RS 135 and RS 250 are truly set and forget. Clean the neck 2-3x/week and pull it every 6 mos and clean the body, pump.

2-3" of skimmate every 2-3 days

guaranteed

unfortunately they are no more

[allsps40]

Originally Posted by Reefer07

IMO there is no skimmer that is set and forget. I have had mainly smaller tanks and skimmers but I have tried 4 different kinds of skimmers. A couple bad ones and a couple decent quality ones.
IMO the octopus worked great except if you didn't clean the collection cup every couple days it just stopped working. I liked to run my skimmer high but it still needed to be cleaned too often.

I clean my cup about every week or so. Like I said I never have to mess with the water level unless I want to skim wetter. Skimmers to stay away from due to constant adjustment; Coral Life had one needed tweaking every few days, Rea Sea and Seaclone. But the last 2 are total crap anyways. Octopus NW skimmers, Deltec, ASM, EuroReef, Bubble King are all great skimmers that dont need alot of adjustment.

[tnorthern]

Thanks for the feedback so far guys, I guess I should clarify that I am NOT looking for a magical skimmer that needs not be touched in the entire time I own it. I didn't get a reef tank because I was afraid of maintenance! I am looking for something that doesn't need the water level played with all the time or Beckets that need to be cleaned once a week to keep working. Cleaning the collection cup is a given, although with my waste container I don't have to empty too often, just run my brush down the neck every couple days.

I should also say that my sump level is constant on the skimmer side and I run an ATO on the opposite side of the sump. I think ideally I want a skimmer that I can run external next time around to make cleaning and access easier.

[khaosinc]

Originally Posted by Stanley-Reefer

Euroreef RS 135 and RS 250 are truly set and forget. Clean the neck 2-3x/week and pull it every 6 mos and clean the body, pump.

2-3" of skimmate every 2-3 days

guaranteed

unfortunately they are no more

I think Reef dynamics or something is an offshoot of what euro reef was? I love both of mine.

I'm also fond of external skimmers for the very reason I don't like playing with water levels and the like.

[THE ROOK]

My MSX 200 is has not been adjusted more than 2-3 times in the last 6 months. I run it with the purple pinwheel. One thing I've learned is to not shut it off. Mine has only been off those 2-3 times. It really prolongs the pump life IMO.

I'm sure there are better skimmers but this one has served me well the last 2 years.

[RcToners]

My reeflo 200 is a set it and forget it skimmer. I dont need to ever touch it.

[Rwinfrey]

contact tunze there master doc skimmers series has a self set deal supposedly you can't overflow it and it's tunze so you know there will be great support

[cindre2000]

I have to say my I-Tech 100 is set it and forget it; as long as my sump level is constant. Though you will have to remove it from the sump every couple of months to clean all the crud that builds up below the neck of the collection cup.

[NyReefNoob]

if you like the reef devil the look at the sump buddy 40 or 60. very compact and killer skimmers, 2 of the best skimmers ive owned out of 19, but then again hard to beat the bk's and a few f\s on here also

[ostrow]

tnorthern in my experience, which includes most of the types of skimmers mentioned on this thread, you already own the brand that is the most hands-off skimmer out there.

My ETSS recovers from feeding much more rapidly than did any of the needlewheel/meshwheels I've ever owned.

And when it recovers, it vastly outperforms all of them by a wide, wide margin. If you need to go to a larger model do that, but you'll be disappointed if you move away from the decisive advantage in water-processing capacity of the ETSS.

[tnorthern]

Originally Posted by ostrow

tnorthern in my experience, which includes most of the types of skimmers mentioned on this thread, you already own the brand that is the most hands-off skimmer out there.

My ETSS recovers from feeding much more rapidly than did any of the needlewheel/meshwheels I've ever owned.

And when it recovers, it vastly outperforms all of them by a wide, wide margin. If you need to go to a larger model do that, but you'll be disappointed if you move away from the decisive advantage in water-processing capacity of the ETSS.

Part of me was thinking that to be honest. I do like my skimmer but I know it won't be enough down the road. This is my first reef tank and the ETSS is the only skimmer I've owned so before I invest in another I want to see what else is out there.

[mojo~]

I would look at the ATB 840 v2 ora bk mini 180.

These two are the most maint free you can get. The bk mini #1 and the atb is a very close second. only because the mini has the ease of just grabbing the collection cup. no tight seals. No adjustments either way you go.

Have owned almost all popular skimmers out. These two are built well, quiet and the easiest to maintain.

Mojo~

[SnowManSnow]

Bubble King Mini 200 or 180. I have the 200 and once you set the water level thats IT. Just remove the cup when its full and put it back.

you get what you pay for

[Rwinfrey]

ATB baby the olny real way to skim. I just thought if you were away the tunze can't overflow

[NyReefNoob]

mojo has also owned i do believe the sump buddy 40 which is made by etss also, for the size that skimmer kill's any skimmer mentioned for tank size capacity, down fall use's alot of electric, mag 7 or 9 to drive it, own a bk mini 160 myself do love the skimmer but for the $ alot more skimmers for less $ that will perform as well

[tnorthern]

So far Bubble King and Euro Reef are leading the pack, any ETSS owners want to share more experiences? I may have to go used so I won't be out too much if I end up disliking the output.

[pbnj]

ASMs.

[buy_baff]

I have great sucess with octo skimmers. The two I own are preaty much set and forget.