$1,000 Skimmer Budget

[drparker]

2 years ago when I was looking, I was trying to decide between BK and SRO. Based on the first few who got the SRO I decided that it met my requires and was in the high quality you get what you pay for range. No doubt the BK is high quality but I decided I was getting in to the law of diminishing returns with the BK. Diminishing returns means more and more money for smaller and smaller improvement.

I used the difference towards Ecotech Vortech pumps.

Great customer service on the SRO. I had a issue with the magnet on my BB pump two months ago. Sent them a pic and two days later a new pump was at my door.

[pentrix2]

Originally Posted by mchud

Not to start a fight Usc-fan but there are a lot of good choices for a skimmer in that price range and below. The Octopus line are nice units but there are other choices. The only answer you give is the 5000 no matter what question is asked. My advice is to read some of Mojo's reviews. And read up on other peoples reviews. I am in the same place right now and went another direction on a skimmer choice. Good luck on your choice.

Which direction did you go with your skimmer?

[karsseboom]

Originally Posted by mchud

Not to start a fight Usc-fan but there are a lot of good choices for a skimmer in that price range and below. The Octopus line are nice units but there are other choices. The only answer you give is the 5000 no matter what question is asked. My advice is to read some of Mojo's reviews. And read up on other peoples reviews. I am in the same place right now and went another direction on a skimmer choice. Good luck on your choice.

He's rights man there really is no other skimmer that will out perform the Sro line of skimmer for that price.

[mchud]

I am not saying it was bad, All i was saying is there are a lot of choices. And there really is not a best one. I went with one of Jon Warners units. Is it any better or worse who knows. And i own 2 octopus skimmers and they do a great job.

[karsseboom]

Originally Posted by mchud

I am not saying it was bad, All i was saying is there are a lot of choices. And there really is not a best one. I went with one of Jon Warners units. Is it any better or worse who knows. And i own 2 octopus skimmers and they do a great job.

What reef octopus skimmers have you owned. There a big difference from the older models like the nwb compared to the Sro line.

[solitude127]

Originally Posted by USC-fan

And you dont think i could find many thread complaining about ATB skimmers? My goodness how many redesign are they at now??

And how many designs has Reef Octopus been through in the past few years? How many different pumps have they had? Where is their pump made? For ATB and BK, they know that the "pond" pump works great, so why fix it?

[mchud]

1 Sro. And 1 lx 1000 for a frag tank. And they work great. My god people all i said is there are a lot of great choices in the price range he is looking. And it is like world war 3.

[USC-fan]

Originally Posted by solitude127

And how many designs has Reef Octopus been through in the past few years? How many different pumps have they had? Where is their pump made? For ATB and BK, they know that the "pond" pump works great, so why fix it?

I don't know what you keep going on about. Atb / BK are not a good value.

If you want that pond pump skimmer than get the SWC XTREME 300.

I would never suggust someone spend double the price for a sticker. Nothing special about these skimmer.

Btw the way sro skimmers are in the same place ipad / iPhone / just about anything else you buy.

[dlp211]

I don't have experience with the different lines of skimmers, but when I asked Mojo what the best bang for my buck was going to be for a 180, SRO 3000 is what he recommended. I have to say, that I have not been disappointed. It pulls a dark and smelly skinmate and cleans really easy.

I pulled the whole thing to do a vinegar bath which was difficult, but not impossible, and since I only plan to do it every 8 months or so, it's not a huge problem.

HTH
Dave

[jason2459]

Originally Posted by dlp211

I don't have experience with the different lines of skimmers, but when I asked Mojo what the best bang for my buck was going to be for a 180, SRO 3000 is what he recommended. I have to say, that I have not been disappointed. It pulls a dark and smelly skinmate and cleans really easy.

I pulled the whole thing to do a vinegar bath which was difficult, but not impossible, and since I only plan to do it every 8 months or so, it's not a huge problem.

HTH
Dave

Same here and got the SRO3000 for my 180 too. Couldn't be happier and for once I'm not thinking about how to tweak it out more or what Skimmer to try out next. Sure there are several other Skimmers to look at that are still a good bang for the buck but for me the SRO made the most sense. Decent price, good quality, great warranty, good customer service and pulls in a ton of air and water that is matched just right to the body and neck.

[tntman]

I just ordered an ATB Elegance 220.. its relatively new.. but from the specs.. it pulls 2000lph of air on just 34 watts... it should perform very well in my 120G display tank!

[tinkerman]

I have an sro xp 2000 on a 125 gal tank. Have been happy with it, customer service has been good. The one thing I don't like about it is you have to soak the hole thing to clean it, it would be nice if they made it come apart so you could clean bubble plate and clean around the bottom of the skimmer. I would stay away from skimmers with the sicce pumps as I would not be willing to deal with blowing in the air tube to get the skimmer to start.

[James77]

Originally Posted by 96p993

I dont think you are getting the best bang for the buck with the BK...Many have been a bit underwhelmed by their performance...Unless you are just dying to spend the entire grand

True with my experience of the Bubble Kings, way overhyped. I was able to get a great deal on a new one, so it was not as painful when I sold it to get a better performing one. They are the quietest skimmer I have used, and built real well, but it is just a skimmer. I use a SRO 2000 now, and it kicks the crap out of the BK I had.

[James77]

Originally Posted by pentrix2

I'm still new to this hobby, only about 1 year of experience. I tried things on my own and not ask anybody, in the end I'm always regretting and spent way more than I budgeted. I learned to stop acting like I know whats best and listen to the experts and the ones who has a lot more experience than I do.

Thank you so much for your help.

I'm one that has blown tons of money using the mindset of you get what you pay for. It is true in some cases, but alot of aquarium equipment is just overpriced crap with a bunch of fans defending it as the best. I have heard all the BS arguments of research and development of skimmers as though it were rocket science and non stop research was going on. Silly. No more for me, you will not get noticeable difference in performance by spending a ton more.

There are plenty of skimmers in the $500 or even less range that will perform beautifully on any tank. Spend the money on other equipment, or better yet, fish and coral. My current favorite is SRO. Lets see those expensive companies touch the 3 year warranty. With a few of them....Deltec and BK...the reveiws of the service are pretty mediocre as well.

[96p993]

Check these out....

http://www.fishtanksdirect.com/jnsproteinskimmers.aspx

I have the model 2 and LOVE it. It is dead quiet and skims very well. Plus I really like the combo of traditional and cone skimmer. Just another option

[James77]

Originally Posted by 96p993

Check these out....

http://www.fishtanksdirect.com/jnsproteinskimmers.aspx

I have the model 2 and LOVE it. It is dead quiet and skims very well. Plus I really like the combo of traditional and cone skimmer. Just another option

What size tank do you have that on? I saw mojo praise them as well, and a I am considering one just to try it out.

Dead silent.......is that with nothing else making noise?

The shark fins alone on the pump sell it.....

[Brando457]

I run the XP 1000SSS on my 75g w/ 75g sump and it is a great skimmer!

[96p993]

Originally Posted by James77

What size tank do you have that on? I saw mojo praise them as well, and a I am considering one just to try it out.

Dead silent.......is that with nothing else making noise?

The shark fins alone on the pump sell it.....

Dead silent in real world terms..I dont really care how loud it is by itself, its the entire tank running that matters to me. It took a couple days to have the pump break in but once it does (and my silencer hose mod) it is quieter than my Eheim 1262 (which is rather quiet).

I have mine running on about 120 total gallons, sps up top zoos on the bottom...I would have no issue putting it on a bigger tank if the time comes. It is simple to adjust and has great fine tuning...All around a great skimmer in my book.

And yes the fins are a nice touch

[solitude127]

Originally Posted by USC-fan

I don't know what you keep going on about. Atb / BK are not a good value.

If you want that pond pump skimmer than get the SWC XTREME 300.

I would never suggust someone spend double the price for a sticker. Nothing special about these skimmer.

Btw the way sro skimmers are in the same place ipad / iPhone / just about anything else you buy.

This is the first time chiming in about skimmers. Seem like you're the on beating on the dead horse about SRO skimmers.

And are you seriously comparing Apple, to Reef Octopus? Talk about comparing apples to oranges.

[tkeracer619]

An Askoll is a better pump then a bubble blaster. Why the hate?

Bubble blaster is a copy. They are comparable but the Bubble Blaster is still a Chinese knock off that has more start up issues, rust issues, so far we know of at least one that "caught fire", and impeller swelling issues. Sure its a great pump and I wouldn't think twice about purchasing one but its not an Askoll. Never has been and never will be. Its an excellent performing knock off. I am sure after a few years the issues will be worked out.

Sorry to be so blunt but having handled many different versions of these pumps on many different skimmers (every one mentioned in this thread) I can confidently say you are at a minimum exaggerating the pond pump aspect of the Askoll. Laguna is a brand the pump is sold under but the pump is made by Askoll which is a high quality pump manufacturer in Italy with production numbering in the millions each year.

A Red Dragon is a modified version of the same askoll motor block.

A Bubble Blaster is no more custom made for skimmers then an askoll. Do you honestly think they wound the motor block for skimmer pumps? Dude they don't sell enough skimmers to pay for a factory to build motors. Don't believe in the marketing hype. It is a motor block that has been modified to be used as a skimmer pump.

Here is your reef octopus factory in china. Doesn't look like they have the type of facility to produce motors. Could be a different part of the factory but my guess is just like RE they are purchasing a motor block and modifying it or having the factory modify it for them. Only difference is their motor block is probably much less expensive then the Askoll yet they are commanding roughly the same price as SWC. Which is a more accurate knock off of the Red Dragon and uses the real Askoll motor block.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fU0EGMBfI8

Air volume does not always equal better performance. The people who have made a lot of money designing skimmers will tell you that with complete confidence. If that was the case we would all have swc 120 cones with bb 10000 pumps maintaining our 2000g reefs. The SRO/XP 5000 skimmers are probably the best bang for the buck on the market right now for a 300g tank but it is not the only skimmer out there.

How many times has Reef Octopus changed their design?

Double the price for a sticker and then you mention iAnything????? HAHAHAHA now I know your wasted on something.

[karsseboom]

Psk pumps are the one with start up issues not the bubble blaster. How many threads have been started about the psk start up issues? The bubble blast pump on the Sro line of skimmer is the main reason to buy it and the 3 yr warrenty. Who care of they ripped off some else design when the skimmer is pulling some massive gunk for a relative good price. Maybe that sounds bad to some but this is just how things go, nothing's original anymore.

[jason2459]

The new Sicce 600 and 1000 are just fine and much better then the 2500 with the 600 being the same air flow and the 1000 several 100 more lph of air. I would stay away from anything using the old pks2500.

As for ATB I hear nothing but good things about their customer support and skimmers and they are constantly updating them. I have had great response times from ATB myself even though I don't own anything from them but have had some questions and they responded back right away on the weekends. Vincent or Victor I believe the US rep and distributor.

[jason2459]

Originally Posted by tkeracer619

...
Bubble blaster is a copy. They are comparable but the Bubble Blaster is still a Chinese knock off that has more start up issues, rust issues, so far we know of at least one that "caught fire", and impeller swelling issues. Sure its a great pump and I wouldn't think twice about purchasing one but its not an Askoll. Never has been and never will be. Its an excellent performing knock off. I am sure after a few years the issues will be worked out.

...

What is the bubble blaster a copy of? Not sure I've see the design before on anything else. From my understanding is they designed the pump for skimmer use but also make as a standard water pump as well. I believe they use GE plastics and molding. They did have a major issue with their impellers swelling and fixed it. Their customer support is great and will replace with no questions as I had to do it myself with a hy2000. The rusting was due to stainless steel being used and they have also since started using titanium screws and will send out a replacement set free of charge with out requiring the originals be sent back. Again just experienced that with the hy2000 and my new hy3000 already had the titanium screws.


Edit: Mag drives have used stainless steel screws for years and have always had rust issues. No one ever changed it other then end users dabbing on some silicone. It's nice that coralvue listened to the customer and is swapping out for titanium screws. (cost being absorbed by coralvue)

[KafudaFish]

Originally Posted by USC-fan

BK and atb are old and out dated....

Both run on pond pumps. The sro is the latest and greatest. Plus they don't cost an arm and a leg.

But if you just want to blow money than get whatever but they will perform less then the skimmer I posted.

Just curious but why do you run a DAS skimmer that came out around 2008?

[96p993]

Originally Posted by KafudaFish

Just curious but why do you run a DAS skimmer that came out around 2008?

From what I read the DAS skimmer was used on an OLD tank...