Skimz or reef octopus - Page 2

rounder45 · 08/12/2014, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by capn_hylinur

To add as of last week reef octopus has come out with a new pump on their skimmers.
It's speculative as to why but personally I'm glad because it has reduced the footprint of the 200 which allows it now to fit in some of the old sumps

I really like the new aquatrance pumps(noise is low, performance is high, rare earth magnet). They replaced all the older models that had sicce pumps with the aquatrance. Not to mention the NWB series.

GroktheCube · 08/12/2014, 10:45 AM

Hooking up a bubble blaster to an NWB series skimmer is also an option. I set up an external NWB with a BB pump for my GF's 65, and it works very well.

Speedfreak95 · 08/12/2014, 06:29 PM

Grokthecube do you have any pictures of that set up? Guess I'm gonna put skimz on one side of a quarter and reef octopus on the other can't decide haha

GroktheCube · 08/12/2014, 07:19 PM

I'll get some. It's not very exciting, coralvue sells a plumbing kit to hook up the bubble blaster.

rounder45 · 08/12/2014, 07:52 PM

A bubble blaster on an nwb= SRO. I own an SRO1000 and plan to change it to an aquatrance pump... The bubble blaster is just too much pump(air and water combined) for this body imo. It is darn finicky.

GroktheCube · 08/12/2014, 08:29 PM

It was much cheaper than an SRO :-p.

It works extremely well for her, but she runs it externally, so that might have something to do with it. Very consistent, doesn't collapse too badly when food goes into the tank, doesn't go too nutso from sand getting stirred up, generally a very well behaved skimmer.

Speedfreak95 · 08/15/2014, 01:43 AM

How about just the way it comes out of the box? Haha. For 230 looking to keep it the way it is for awhile

wideawake · 08/15/2014, 07:51 AM

I had a Skimz SM180 that had 2 aquabee needle wheel pump. One pump seized after a few years of use and it was hard or expensive to get a replacement pump, even from the makers in Singapore.
Other than the Skimmer the FR products are good value.

rounder45 · 08/15/2014, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Speedfreak95

How about just the way it comes out of the box? Haha. For 230 looking to keep it the way it is for awhile

Stock nwb is all you will need.

ramon1181 · 08/15/2014, 08:30 AM

I have been using a reef octopus skimmer for 4 years still going strong

wildman926 · 08/15/2014, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rounder45

A bubble blaster on an nwb= SRO. I own an SRO1000 and plan to change it to an aquatrance pump... The bubble blaster is just too much pump(air and water combined) for this body imo. It is darn finicky.

They draw too much air, making the bubbles too large. Put a valve on it and it will work like a charm. A very old problem, something I personally found and fixed. over 2 years ago. It is posted in their forum here. Do a search of "valve" in Coralvue's section here.

rounder45 · 08/15/2014, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wildman926

They draw too much air, making the bubbles too large. Put a valve on it and it will work like a charm. A very old problem, something I personally found and fixed. over 2 years ago. It is posted in their forum here. Do a search of "valve" in Coralvue's section here.

If it worked like a charm you would not have replaced it ....

lower air and the velocity inside the skimmer is still too aggressive. pump is just too much for the nwb110 neck. If this had a true 3" neck instead of the stepped neck, gold. ... Still it works super well long as I have the bubbles merge into foam about 1" or so below the neck. Nice dry, dark skimmate. Rather it would produce dry in the neck though... For cleaning purpose mostly. I did lower air draw, using a smaller dia airline.

wildman926 · 08/15/2014, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rounder45

If it worked like a charm you would not have replaced it ....

lower air and the velocity inside the skimmer is still too aggressive. pump is just too much for the nwb110 neck. If this had a true 3" neck instead of the stepped neck, gold. ... Still it works super well long as I have the bubbles merge into foam about 1" or so below the neck. Nice dry, dark skimmate. Rather it would produce dry in the neck though... For cleaning purpose mostly. I did lower air draw, using a smaller dia airline.

How do you know my intentions then? Although I don't need to explain to you, but I replaced them looking for better performance, and found it with my AquaMaxx Skimmers.

After I pointed out this issue with the skimmers, Coralvue decided to restrict the air on subsequent models.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeremy@CoralVue

The new skimmers are already coming with restricted venturis so please use cation when restricting the airline.

1fishkeeper · 08/15/2014, 02:18 PM

I love my skimz its very well made and heavy duty.

rounder45 · 08/15/2014, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wildman926

How do you know my intentions then? Although I don't need to explain to you, but I replaced them looking for better performance, and found it with my AquaMaxx Skimmers.

After I pointed out this issue with the skimmers, Coralvue decided to restrict the air on subsequent models.

My fail!!! I was trying to make a joke...

What was the air draw measurement after you closed it down?
I believe coralvue made the venturi input slightly smaller... thus reducing both air and water. folks still have problems.. take your aquamaxx 300 pump and put it in your 200... that is similar to the sro vs nwb pump to body balance differences.

Overgrown · 09/25/2014, 03:46 PM

Skimz has potentially the worst customer service I've ever experienced in the world of reef aquaria. After the ceramic shaft cracked on my Skimz Eden ES5000 impeller after TWO months of use, I attempted to contact them no less than 5 times via email. After no response, I finally just paid the ludicrously priced hundred dollars to pick up a new impeller from Aquacave. I never heard back. Third world customer service. Literally, considering they're HQ'd out of Singapore, I believe. To the proud Skimz owners, I salute you. Just pray something doesn't break.

Fury165 · 09/25/2014, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Overgrown

Skimz has potentially the worst customer service I've ever experienced in the world of reef aquaria. After the ceramic shaft cracked on my Skimz Eden ES5000 impeller after TWO months of use, I attempted to contact them no less than 5 times via email. After no response, I finally just paid the ludicrously priced hundred dollars to pick up a new impeller from Aquacave. I never heard back. Third world customer service. Literally, considering they're HQ'd out of Singapore, I believe. To the proud Skimz owners, I salute you. Just pray something doesn't break.

This....
I loved my SM 121 until the impeller started acting up. (Would start in reverse 90% of the time and was starting to crack.) Skimz even had a replacement campaign and wanted everyone to contact their distributors for free replacement impeller. ok fair enough, until the N.A. Distributor told me to contact Skimz Singapore. After numerous emails they finally responded to me and said to contact my local distributor.

Long and short of it, the authorized distributor AND Skimz wasHed their hands.. I'll never buy Skimz again.

08/12/2014, 06:29 PM	#28
Speedfreak95 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Tampa Posts: 56	Grokthecube do you have any pictures of that set up? Guess I'm gonna put skimz on one side of a quarter and reef octopus on the other can't decide haha __________________ Always wanted a salt tank.. Now that I'm running I realize why people constantly upgrade bigger haha :/ Current Tank Info: 65 gallon drilled tank, reef octopus nwb 150, jbj ato, 20 gallon sump, filter sock, 2-3 inch sand bed, 4 bulb t5, 2 hydorkoralia power heads, glass tops (front always open), eheim heater, bulk reef 75gpd ro/di with 50 gpd upgrade kit

08/15/2014, 01:43 AM	#32
Speedfreak95 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Tampa Posts: 56	How about just the way it comes out of the box? Haha. For 230 looking to keep it the way it is for awhile __________________ Always wanted a salt tank.. Now that I'm running I realize why people constantly upgrade bigger haha :/ Current Tank Info: 65 gallon drilled tank, reef octopus nwb 150, jbj ato, 20 gallon sump, filter sock, 2-3 inch sand bed, 4 bulb t5, 2 hydorkoralia power heads, glass tops (front always open), eheim heater, bulk reef 75gpd ro/di with 50 gpd upgrade kit

08/15/2014, 02:18 PM	#39
1fishkeeper Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Spanaway, WA Posts: 1,101	I love my skimz its very well made and heavy duty. __________________ "You can run but you will only die tired" U.S. Army Snipers

08/12/2014, 10:45 AM	#27
GroktheCube Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 2,063	Hooking up a bubble blaster to an NWB series skimmer is also an option. I set up an external NWB with a BB pump for my GF's 65, and it works very well.

08/12/2014, 07:19 PM	#29
GroktheCube Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 2,063	I'll get some. It's not very exciting, coralvue sells a plumbing kit to hook up the bubble blaster.

08/12/2014, 07:52 PM	#30
rounder45 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 301	A bubble blaster on an nwb= SRO. I own an SRO1000 and plan to change it to an aquatrance pump... The bubble blaster is just too much pump(air and water combined) for this body imo. It is darn finicky.

08/12/2014, 08:29 PM	#31
GroktheCube Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 2,063	It was much cheaper than an SRO :-p. It works extremely well for her, but she runs it externally, so that might have something to do with it. Very consistent, doesn't collapse too badly when food goes into the tank, doesn't go too nutso from sand getting stirred up, generally a very well behaved skimmer.

08/15/2014, 07:51 AM	#33
wideawake Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Malaysia Posts: 31	I had a Skimz SM180 that had 2 aquabee needle wheel pump. One pump seized after a few years of use and it was hard or expensive to get a replacement pump, even from the makers in Singapore. Other than the Skimmer the FR products are good value.

08/15/2014, 08:30 AM	#35
ramon1181 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 81	I have been using a reef octopus skimmer for 4 years still going strong

09/25/2014, 03:46 PM	#41
Overgrown Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 250	Skimz has potentially the worst customer service I've ever experienced in the world of reef aquaria. After the ceramic shaft cracked on my Skimz Eden ES5000 impeller after TWO months of use, I attempted to contact them no less than 5 times via email. After no response, I finally just paid the ludicrously priced hundred dollars to pick up a new impeller from Aquacave. I never heard back. Third world customer service. Literally, considering they're HQ'd out of Singapore, I believe. To the proud Skimz owners, I salute you. Just pray something doesn't break.