H&S A150-F2001 vs Deltec AP600 vs BM 200 - Page 3

Reef Sponger · 03/29/2007, 12:44 PM

I am doing the same research and been to both H&S and Deltec forums as well as the BM info thread every few days. I have a similar decision and I'm going to go with H&S because of quality and consistency. I'm just trying to get more feedback about a customized shorter model that I want to buy.

The BM doesn't look bad, but there is too much frustration over in that BM info thread from new owners. I'm not sure what is really wrong with their latest version of the 200, but my guess would be unexperience new owners not knowing what to do. In reading the posts of owners that took care of their problems, it just seems all they needed was a gate valve mod kit. When BM doesn't provide that kit up front with their equipment, it means their quality control still isn't consistent. This is just my observation.

Zoos · 03/29/2007, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Khaley
Skimming wet right now but if I lower the riser it does skim fairly dry. Frankly I like to get all the stuff out so I don't mind the wet skim. I coral feed twice a week and drop in a little food for my one neon goby. Its a 120 tank with about 240g total water volume. The beauty of having the basement sump is I don't have to stink up the rest of the house when I clean the skimmer. Just pop it into the basement sink. I don't even turn the skimmer off just let it overflow into the sump. Cleans up in a snap. I love this skimmer. (love the basement sump even more!)

I think the main advantage to the sump besides what yo said is the fact that you can gave a freaking 500 gallon sump on a 10 gallon tank.

Khaley · 03/29/2007, 09:21 PM

Reef Sponger - I agree that there are some issues but I truly think that most of the issues (with a few exceptions) have been break in related. My skimmer took about three weeks to break in. I just left it alone and waited it out. I think if I was more proactive about it, keep in mind I really didn't care because the tank was cycling with no light and no livestock, I would have gone nutty trying every mod out there. I would like the gate valve mod just for ease of use and the ability for a dryer skim but I could easily live with the skimmer working as is. I did contact Greg at ReefGeek and he said he would send me out the mod so I really have no customer service complaints. Everyone connected to the skimmer have been helpful and professional. For me the skimmer has worked as advertised.

Zoos my only complaint is the amount of water evaporation. About 2g a day and we haven't even hit the warm weather yet! Wonder where the water is going...lol I am going to enclose the sump so I minimize the condensation in the house. Been great in the winter keeping the dry air out but the added humidity in the summer won't endear me to the family. :-)

Zoos · 03/30/2007, 03:41 PM

Reef Sponger - I got your email, thanks for the heads up

Khaley - I can imagine you're getting a lot of evaporation, but I would just do what you said and cover them up some.

Reef Sponger · 03/30/2007, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Khaley
Reef Sponger - I agree that there are some issues but I truly think that most of the issues (with a few exceptions) have been break in related. My skimmer took about three weeks to break in. I just left it alone and waited it out. I think if I was more proactive about it, keep in mind I really didn't care because the tank was cycling with no light and no livestock, I would have gone nutty trying every mod out there. I would like the gate valve mod just for ease of use and the ability for a dryer skim but I could easily live with the skimmer working as is. I did contact Greg at ReefGeek and he said he would send me out the mod so I really have no customer service complaints. Everyone connected to the skimmer have been helpful and professional. For me the skimmer has worked as advertised. :-)

Without seeing one in production, but just the photos & videos on the BM info thread, these seem like an excellent in sump unit. But there's obvious quality control problems with the BM250 when it was first introduced and problems with the BM200 now. Judging from what everyone has written on the threads, the problems seem like an easy fix, but very difficult to sort through as so much frustration among the new owners. I would need to agree that I haven't read any negative comments on customer service here. BTW, your skimmer photos is one of the very few that demonstrates good dry skimming on the BM200 without any mods, but you seem to be in the minority.

Also, I don't see any negative comments on customer service for H&S either, but Deltec has at least 2 bad threads on poor customer service that is currently on their forum, so my conclusion with them is mixed review. I'm almost convince that H&S would work best for me because of quality construction, warranty, cost of replacement parts & pumps, and consistent customer service. My only observation about H&S owners is that they don't respond as eagerly to helpout or post photos or videos of their units as Deltec and BM owners.

03/29/2007, 09:21 PM	#53
Khaley Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: CT Posts: 128	Reef Sponger - I agree that there are some issues but I truly think that most of the issues (with a few exceptions) have been break in related. My skimmer took about three weeks to break in. I just left it alone and waited it out. I think if I was more proactive about it, keep in mind I really didn't care because the tank was cycling with no light and no livestock, I would have gone nutty trying every mod out there. I would like the gate valve mod just for ease of use and the ability for a dryer skim but I could easily live with the skimmer working as is. I did contact Greg at ReefGeek and he said he would send me out the mod so I really have no customer service complaints. Everyone connected to the skimmer have been helpful and professional. For me the skimmer has worked as advertised. Zoos my only complaint is the amount of water evaporation. About 2g a day and we haven't even hit the warm weather yet! Wonder where the water is going...lol I am going to enclose the sump so I minimize the condensation in the house. Been great in the winter keeping the dry air out but the added humidity in the summer won't endear me to the family. :-) __________________ "If everybody is thinking alike, then somebody isn't thinking." Current Tank Info: 120g reef, ATI BM200, Vortech pumps, 2x400w 14k EVC MH/2x54wT5's, 150g basement sump

03/30/2007, 03:41 PM	#54
Zoos Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 1,334	Reef Sponger - I got your email, thanks for the heads up Khaley - I can imagine you're getting a lot of evaporation, but I would just do what you said and cover them up some. __________________ "The only thing that interferes with my learning is my education." Current Tank Info: None.

03/29/2007, 12:44 PM	#51
Reef Sponger Moved On Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: TX/USA Posts: 696	I am doing the same research and been to both H&S and Deltec forums as well as the BM info thread every few days. I have a similar decision and I'm going to go with H&S because of quality and consistency. I'm just trying to get more feedback about a customized shorter model that I want to buy. The BM doesn't look bad, but there is too much frustration over in that BM info thread from new owners. I'm not sure what is really wrong with their latest version of the 200, but my guess would be unexperience new owners not knowing what to do. In reading the posts of owners that took care of their problems, it just seems all they needed was a gate valve mod kit. When BM doesn't provide that kit up front with their equipment, it means their quality control still isn't consistent. This is just my observation.