ER RS-80 promo review

Newreeflady · 02/19/2007, 09:46 PM

Here is the review I wrote in the PA forum. . . I wrote this up yesterday I think. I measured the skimmate from the last couple days, about 1/3 cup, stinky wet skimmate. I just rinsed the cup, and i've made several small adjustments, but it's not completely dialed in, but this was great for the first 48 hours of setup.

Hi, I just set the skimmer up yesterday. I would be happy to give you a 1 day review, which I will update over the week...:

So Far:

Noise Level:
I had heard it was loud, and I disagree. I have worked hard to make my system silent, and I don't care how silent you think your system is, if you have an overflow, this thing won't make a difference. It isn't loud, imo. In fact, due to the way they have set up the return to go underwater, it is quite nice as there is no splashing noise at all.

Build Quality:
This is a nicely built skimmer. I've owned a few, here are the units i've owned in the past from recent to a few years back:
1) RS 80 (current)
2) Bubble Master 150
3) CPR Bakpak II w/maxijet
4) PM HOT-1

In build quality, i'd rate them best to worst 1 > 4 > 2 > 3

Cool Features:
-The outlet adjustment angled pvc pipe: This means, as you adjust, the noise level doesn't change, and the adjustments are rather fine which should allow for one to adjust to their liking with fair accuracy.

-All PVC build outside the body. I just had the BM150 and that thing looked like the output arm was just waiting to be broken off as it was just glued thin acrylic. This acrylic is thicker, and they use pvc parts for the fittings, and arms, et. I think it will be far more durable.

-Euro-lock on cup: Very nice, I have the clearance, but if one didn't you truly need no clearance above the cup to remove it. And, it's easy to remove.

Production:
Now, this has not even been running a full day, so i'll keep you posted. So far, I have nearly approx 1 cm of wet skimmate. It started to foam up to the top right away, then I put my hand in the tank and the oils collapsed it. Note, I did not rinse the skimmer in vinegar or other. I checked this morning and it had not overflowed and seemed to be producing a little. I will readjust this evening and check again tomorrow. I don't have time to sit around the house adjusting my skimmer all day, so ymmv (you might dial yours in sooner.)

SO FAR I'M PLEASED AND HOPEFUL... More updates to come. Thanks to Jeremy for the recommend.

I should add, I almost couldn't fit this in my sump. It is within the size it said it fits in. I would say that size is very accurate for the footprint, so be sure you have a little more space than they say to allow for room between your walls, et. If this thing were 2 cm larger in either direction, it wouldn't fit in my sump. whew!

Also, PA packaged the unit very nicely (i'd expect nothing less from them.) Additionally, ER did a nice job in boxing it themselves, so the combination of packing from the factory and PA could probably have survived a nuclear war (j/k, but really, very nice job.)

Choosing a skimmer is hard work, and usually you make some mistakes along the way (I know I have)... I like this one so far.
-A

Fish'InMN · 02/19/2007, 10:32 PM

Good review, no disagreements anywhere. There were a couple posts mentioning a "loud" pump, but I think some of these people were receiving old-style impellers and even non-Sedra pumps, so those should all be read carefully. Again, spot-on review, keep us updated on your yummy skimmate collection.

Seriously though, this thread is worthless without pics!

Marty

CasinoBob · 02/19/2007, 10:59 PM

I have recently purchased a RS-80 and mine is LOUD. I can hear it one floor up. Should I contact ER, or is there something I can do?

Newreeflady · 02/19/2007, 11:43 PM

Marty,

I'll post pix soon...

Bob,

What pump did you rec'v? I would say there is a problem if it is loud, I can't hear mine from 10 feet away.

-A

CasinoBob · 02/19/2007, 11:44 PM

I'm not sure, I'll have to check in the morning. I just found a thread that says alot of bad impellers were shipped out a couple months ago. I guess I"ll have to check that too.

mjsnook · 02/20/2007, 09:37 AM

Do you think that the RS80 would keep up with a moderate to heavily stocked 65 gallon tank? I have been looking at this skimmer on PA web site for a good while and have almost bought it twice but have held off to this point.

Thanks,

Mike

CasinoBob · 02/20/2007, 11:39 AM

Just called ER's customer service and talked to Chip. He is sending me the new impeller no questions asked. Just have to return the old one in the box provided. As for the rest of the skimmer, its running great! (Just loud).

Great Customer Service!!

stevebla · 02/20/2007, 11:47 AM

I have had a rs 80 for 4 days now and am happy with it. The venturi nozzle was glued in backwards but knocked it out with a punch and off i went. I have a bit of noise but better after a few days.

stratos21ss · 02/20/2007, 12:57 PM

...what pump does the RS-80 promo use and does it differ from the standard RS-80?

_Matt

dmo · 02/20/2007, 12:57 PM

CasinoBob, please let us know your results with the new impeller.. I'm very interested

Newreeflady · 02/20/2007, 02:14 PM

Mike, try asking Jeremy in the PA forum. I haven't run the skimmer long enough to comment on that.

Bob, wow, great to hear that they have good service!

Matt, the pump I got is a Sedra (is it a 3500 I think.) I don't know about the non-promo.

-A

beansbro1 · 02/20/2007, 05:17 PM

can you share with us your water depth. i got my rs80 promo from premium about 2 weeks or so ago/ it ws a little loud at first but now i cant hear it at all im still playing with mine but all in all i love it works great. ill post some pics later

beansbro1 · 02/20/2007, 05:20 PM

can you share with us your water depth. i got my rs80 promo from premium about 2 weeks or so ago/ it ws a little loud at first but now i cant hear it at all im still playing with mine but all in all i love it works great. ill post some pics later . from what i understand the promo and the regular rs80 are exactly the same (specs , pump , everything) the only difference is the promo is extruded acrylic while the other is cast . the cast is supposed to be stonger but let me tell you this thing is well biult . i have no fear of breaking it.

beansbro1 · 02/20/2007, 05:21 PM

sorry for the double post

David Grigor · 02/20/2007, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CasinoBob
I have recently purchased a RS-80 and mine is LOUD. I can hear it one floor up. Should I contact ER, or is there something I can do?

Could very well be that your hearing vibrations of the pump against the bottom of the sump or simliar. First I'd find something to place underneath it to dampen any vibrations it may cause.

If it's the air slurping sound then there are mods out there to dampen that as well for less than a dollar in pvcs parts or a decent needle valve will also help. I found that the needle valves from usplactics.com ( smc brand about $10 ) are much better then the little orange one that comes with the unit. More precise, helps dampen the noise more and doesn't clog as easy.

I have a couple of these skimmers ( RS80 - 3 months old and a CS80 over a year old ) I've been pretty pleased with them overall. But with the same budget I'd probably go with a larger diameter skimmer body ( as long as limited sump space is not an issue ) of a competitor brand skimmer so that with modifications it can be upgraded more if/when needed to handle additional capacity. With the 5" skimmer body there is only so much you can do to it in the event you out grow it's capacity.

CasinoBob · 02/20/2007, 05:50 PM

I'm really hoping its just the bad impeller. If I lift the skimmer off the bottom there is no change in the noise. I've adjusted the air intake, and also removed it and really no change there either. Thanks for the advice though. I'll keep everyone posted on the results of the new impeller once it comes in.

Thanks everyone!

beansbro1 · 02/20/2007, 05:51 PM

pics
[IMG]

[/IMG]
[IMG]

[/IMG]

piscivorous · 02/20/2007, 06:13 PM

My promo from Premium Aquatics came with a Gen-x pump....not a Sedra. I feel that it is pretty loud, but seeing that it is my first skimmer I don't have anything to compare it to. I can certainly hear it from the next room though.......

Newreeflady · 02/21/2007, 04:01 PM

Ok, now I can't get this thing to pull anymore skimmate. I know the tank is funky, i've got algae galore and cyano is now taking hold.

So, it is in 9" of water, i've adjusted the angled pvc to all the way closed, and still omthing. It foams all the way up, but it for some reason won't spill liquid over. thoughts?

-A

bamann345 · 02/21/2007, 04:18 PM

It seems you havent had the skimmer too long. I have a 6-1 and I wasnt happy with it for the first month. After the skimmer was broken-in it has pulled tons of stuff out.

Give the skimmer some time to break in and I bet you will be happy with how it performs.

William

Newreeflady · 02/21/2007, 06:09 PM

Ok, i'll just give it time at this setting.

How often should I clean the cup? Does it help it skim better to rinse it, or to use a brush when cleaning.

thx

Angela

Jim_S · 02/21/2007, 06:19 PM

When the neck gets dirty, you should clean it out. The skimmer will loose a little performance when the neck builds up skim.

Like this

As far as the cup, only deal with it when its full.

After it has broken in, if you set it wet, the neck doesn't collect as much wate.

Like this

As your skimmer breaks in, you will see results. There are proteins in the water, and the skimmer wants to pull them out, it just won't/can't until it's broken it.

My recommendation would be to set it low, and check the results after 2 more weeks. Let the skimmer work, and don't adjust it. Don't clean it unless it starts overflowing.

I've had a bunch of different skimmers, and they all took what seemed like FOREVER to work.

HTH

Good luck

Jim

sgallagher7 · 02/21/2007, 07:03 PM

Just received my 80 today from marine depot. First off, they did a great job packing it. No problems at all. Man was I jacked. I couldnt wait to put this baby in a vinegar bath (thats all I have. Tank is not up yet, and stand is being made). Took 5 minutes to put together, and fired it up! Man was it great to see. The pump is quiet, the air hose has just the slightest hiss. All these things will be muffled by a stand. Im just staring atvinegar bubbles, and smiling. Boy does this hobby get addicting!

Newreeflady · 02/22/2007, 11:33 PM

Jim,

The neck is really dirty and it's only been 2 or 3 days since I cleaned it last.

I have the turning pvc set to closed, so it would be as wet as it could be at this setting, but like you said it's just not broken in. I'm thinking I should clean the dirty neck, though, yeah?

Thx,
-A

schneijt · 02/22/2007, 11:48 PM

If you have the wedge pipe set all the way to "closed" and there isn't water overflowing the cup, then something's not right... I'd take the pump off, take off the venturi, and make sure nothing is impeding the impeller or causing a loss of pump performance. It also wouldn't hurt to give the pump a bit of a soak in vinegar. If the pump isn't overflowing the skimmer at the "closed" setting, then I think there might be a pump issue.

-Joe

02/19/2007, 09:46 PM	#1
Newreeflady Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Ithaca, NY Posts: 4,840	ER RS-80 promo review Here is the review I wrote in the PA forum. . . I wrote this up yesterday I think. I measured the skimmate from the last couple days, about 1/3 cup, stinky wet skimmate. I just rinsed the cup, and i've made several small adjustments, but it's not completely dialed in, but this was great for the first 48 hours of setup. Hi, I just set the skimmer up yesterday. I would be happy to give you a 1 day review, which I will update over the week...: So Far: Noise Level: I had heard it was loud, and I disagree. I have worked hard to make my system silent, and I don't care how silent you think your system is, if you have an overflow, this thing won't make a difference. It isn't loud, imo. In fact, due to the way they have set up the return to go underwater, it is quite nice as there is no splashing noise at all. Build Quality: This is a nicely built skimmer. I've owned a few, here are the units i've owned in the past from recent to a few years back: 1) RS 80 (current) 2) Bubble Master 150 3) CPR Bakpak II w/maxijet 4) PM HOT-1 In build quality, i'd rate them best to worst 1 > 4 > 2 > 3 Cool Features: -The outlet adjustment angled pvc pipe: This means, as you adjust, the noise level doesn't change, and the adjustments are rather fine which should allow for one to adjust to their liking with fair accuracy. -All PVC build outside the body. I just had the BM150 and that thing looked like the output arm was just waiting to be broken off as it was just glued thin acrylic. This acrylic is thicker, and they use pvc parts for the fittings, and arms, et. I think it will be far more durable. -Euro-lock on cup: Very nice, I have the clearance, but if one didn't you truly need no clearance above the cup to remove it. And, it's easy to remove. Production: Now, this has not even been running a full day, so i'll keep you posted. So far, I have nearly approx 1 cm of wet skimmate. It started to foam up to the top right away, then I put my hand in the tank and the oils collapsed it. Note, I did not rinse the skimmer in vinegar or other. I checked this morning and it had not overflowed and seemed to be producing a little. I will readjust this evening and check again tomorrow. I don't have time to sit around the house adjusting my skimmer all day, so ymmv (you might dial yours in sooner.) SO FAR I'M PLEASED AND HOPEFUL... More updates to come. Thanks to Jeremy for the recommend. I should add, I almost couldn't fit this in my sump. It is within the size it said it fits in. I would say that size is very accurate for the footprint, so be sure you have a little more space than they say to allow for room between your walls, et. If this thing were 2 cm larger in either direction, it wouldn't fit in my sump. whew! Also, PA packaged the unit very nicely (i'd expect nothing less from them.) Additionally, ER did a nice job in boxing it themselves, so the combination of packing from the factory and PA could probably have survived a nuclear war (j/k, but really, very nice job.) Choosing a skimmer is hard work, and usually you make some mistakes along the way (I know I have)... I like this one so far. -A __________________ A university professor went to visit a famous Zen master. While the master quietly served tea, the professor talked about Zen. The master poured the visitor’s cup to the brim, and then kept pouring. The professor watched the overflowing cup until he could no longer restrain himself. “It’s overfull! No more will go in!” the professor blurted. “You are like this cup,” the master replied, “How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup.” Current Tank Info: 56g, 20g.

02/19/2007, 11:43 PM	#4
Newreeflady Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Ithaca, NY Posts: 4,840	Marty, I'll post pix soon... Bob, What pump did you rec'v? I would say there is a problem if it is loud, I can't hear mine from 10 feet away. -A __________________ A university professor went to visit a famous Zen master. While the master quietly served tea, the professor talked about Zen. The master poured the visitor’s cup to the brim, and then kept pouring. The professor watched the overflowing cup until he could no longer restrain himself. “It’s overfull! No more will go in!” the professor blurted. “You are like this cup,” the master replied, “How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup.” Current Tank Info: 56g, 20g.

02/20/2007, 09:37 AM	#6
mjsnook Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 169	65 Gallon med/heavily stocked. Do you think that the RS80 would keep up with a moderate to heavily stocked 65 gallon tank? I have been looking at this skimmer on PA web site for a good while and have almost bought it twice but have held off to this point. Thanks, Mike __________________ Thanks, Mike

02/20/2007, 11:47 AM	#8
stevebla Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: N. California Posts: 116	RS 80 promo I have had a rs 80 for 4 days now and am happy with it. The venturi nozzle was glued in backwards but knocked it out with a punch and off i went. I have a bit of noise but better after a few days.

02/20/2007, 12:57 PM	#10
dmo Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Seattle, Wa Posts: 154	CasinoBob, please let us know your results with the new impeller.. I'm very interested __________________ Daniel Current Tank Info: 90g reef

02/19/2007, 10:32 PM	#2
Fish'InMN Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: MN Posts: 398	Good review, no disagreements anywhere. There were a couple posts mentioning a "loud" pump, but I think some of these people were receiving old-style impellers and even non-Sedra pumps, so those should all be read carefully. Again, spot-on review, keep us updated on your yummy skimmate collection. Seriously though, this thread is worthless without pics! Marty

02/19/2007, 10:59 PM	#3
CasinoBob Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Iowa Posts: 69	I have recently purchased a RS-80 and mine is LOUD. I can hear it one floor up. Should I contact ER, or is there something I can do?

02/19/2007, 11:44 PM	#5
CasinoBob Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Iowa Posts: 69	I'm not sure, I'll have to check in the morning. I just found a thread that says alot of bad impellers were shipped out a couple months ago. I guess I"ll have to check that too.

02/20/2007, 11:39 AM	#7
CasinoBob Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Iowa Posts: 69	Just called ER's customer service and talked to Chip. He is sending me the new impeller no questions asked. Just have to return the old one in the box provided. As for the rest of the skimmer, its running great! (Just loud). Great Customer Service!!

02/20/2007, 12:57 PM	#9
stratos21ss Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Alexandria, Va Posts: 76	...what pump does the RS-80 promo use and does it differ from the standard RS-80? _Matt

02/20/2007, 02:14 PM	#11
Newreeflady Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Ithaca, NY Posts: 4,840	Mike, try asking Jeremy in the PA forum. I haven't run the skimmer long enough to comment on that. Bob, wow, great to hear that they have good service! Matt, the pump I got is a Sedra (is it a 3500 I think.) I don't know about the non-promo. -A __________________ A university professor went to visit a famous Zen master. While the master quietly served tea, the professor talked about Zen. The master poured the visitor’s cup to the brim, and then kept pouring. The professor watched the overflowing cup until he could no longer restrain himself. “It’s overfull! No more will go in!” the professor blurted. “You are like this cup,” the master replied, “How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup.” Current Tank Info: 56g, 20g.

02/20/2007, 05:17 PM	#12
beansbro1 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: indiana Posts: 214	can you share with us your water depth. i got my rs80 promo from premium about 2 weeks or so ago/ it ws a little loud at first but now i cant hear it at all im still playing with mine but all in all i love it works great. ill post some pics later

02/20/2007, 05:20 PM	#13
beansbro1 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: indiana Posts: 214	can you share with us your water depth. i got my rs80 promo from premium about 2 weeks or so ago/ it ws a little loud at first but now i cant hear it at all im still playing with mine but all in all i love it works great. ill post some pics later . from what i understand the promo and the regular rs80 are exactly the same (specs , pump , everything) the only difference is the promo is extruded acrylic while the other is cast . the cast is supposed to be stonger but let me tell you this thing is well biult . i have no fear of breaking it.

02/20/2007, 05:21 PM	#14
beansbro1 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: indiana Posts: 214	sorry for the double post

02/20/2007, 05:50 PM	#16
CasinoBob Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Iowa Posts: 69	I'm really hoping its just the bad impeller. If I lift the skimmer off the bottom there is no change in the noise. I've adjusted the air intake, and also removed it and really no change there either. Thanks for the advice though. I'll keep everyone posted on the results of the new impeller once it comes in. Thanks everyone!

02/20/2007, 05:51 PM	#17
beansbro1 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: indiana Posts: 214	pics [IMG][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG]

02/20/2007, 06:13 PM	#18
piscivorous Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Groton, N.Y. Posts: 801	My promo from Premium Aquatics came with a Gen-x pump....not a Sedra. I feel that it is pretty loud, but seeing that it is my first skimmer I don't have anything to compare it to. I can certainly hear it from the next room though.......

02/21/2007, 04:01 PM	#19
Newreeflady Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Ithaca, NY Posts: 4,840	Ok, now I can't get this thing to pull anymore skimmate. I know the tank is funky, i've got algae galore and cyano is now taking hold. So, it is in 9" of water, i've adjusted the angled pvc to all the way closed, and still omthing. It foams all the way up, but it for some reason won't spill liquid over. thoughts? -A __________________ A university professor went to visit a famous Zen master. While the master quietly served tea, the professor talked about Zen. The master poured the visitor’s cup to the brim, and then kept pouring. The professor watched the overflowing cup until he could no longer restrain himself. “It’s overfull! No more will go in!” the professor blurted. “You are like this cup,” the master replied, “How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup.” Current Tank Info: 56g, 20g.

02/21/2007, 04:18 PM	#20
bamann345 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Columbia, SC Posts: 329	It seems you havent had the skimmer too long. I have a 6-1 and I wasnt happy with it for the first month. After the skimmer was broken-in it has pulled tons of stuff out. Give the skimmer some time to break in and I bet you will be happy with how it performs. William

02/21/2007, 06:09 PM	#21
Newreeflady Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Ithaca, NY Posts: 4,840	Ok, i'll just give it time at this setting. How often should I clean the cup? Does it help it skim better to rinse it, or to use a brush when cleaning. thx Angela __________________ A university professor went to visit a famous Zen master. While the master quietly served tea, the professor talked about Zen. The master poured the visitor’s cup to the brim, and then kept pouring. The professor watched the overflowing cup until he could no longer restrain himself. “It’s overfull! No more will go in!” the professor blurted. “You are like this cup,” the master replied, “How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup.” Current Tank Info: 56g, 20g.

02/21/2007, 06:19 PM	#22
Jim_S Timo Boll Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 5,333	When the neck gets dirty, you should clean it out. The skimmer will loose a little performance when the neck builds up skim. Like this As far as the cup, only deal with it when its full. After it has broken in, if you set it wet, the neck doesn't collect as much wate. Like this As your skimmer breaks in, you will see results. There are proteins in the water, and the skimmer wants to pull them out, it just won't/can't until it's broken it. My recommendation would be to set it low, and check the results after 2 more weeks. Let the skimmer work, and don't adjust it. Don't clean it unless it starts overflowing. I've had a bunch of different skimmers, and they all took what seemed like FOREVER to work. HTH Good luck Jim __________________ We will survive in this world of competition, shooting guns and our ammunition... Bradley Nowell Current Tank Info: We're recreating the ocean in our livings rooms. With that said, I've had some ups and downs.

02/21/2007, 07:03 PM	#23
sgallagher7 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 621	Just received my 80 today from marine depot. First off, they did a great job packing it. No problems at all. Man was I jacked. I couldnt wait to put this baby in a vinegar bath (thats all I have. Tank is not up yet, and stand is being made). Took 5 minutes to put together, and fired it up! Man was it great to see. The pump is quiet, the air hose has just the slightest hiss. All these things will be muffled by a stand. Im just staring atvinegar bubbles, and smiling. Boy does this hobby get addicting! __________________ Going to the dentist or reef tank? Hmmmm....... Current Tank Info: 75 Gal. Mix reef, 20 Gal sump. Euroreef 80 Skimmer, Reefbreeder photon 48 LEDS, Gyre 150 powerhead, Auto Topoff

02/22/2007, 11:33 PM	#24
Newreeflady Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Ithaca, NY Posts: 4,840	Jim, The neck is really dirty and it's only been 2 or 3 days since I cleaned it last. I have the turning pvc set to closed, so it would be as wet as it could be at this setting, but like you said it's just not broken in. I'm thinking I should clean the dirty neck, though, yeah? Thx, -A __________________ A university professor went to visit a famous Zen master. While the master quietly served tea, the professor talked about Zen. The master poured the visitor’s cup to the brim, and then kept pouring. The professor watched the overflowing cup until he could no longer restrain himself. “It’s overfull! No more will go in!” the professor blurted. “You are like this cup,” the master replied, “How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup.” Current Tank Info: 56g, 20g.

02/22/2007, 11:48 PM	#25
schneijt Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: West Des Moines, IA Posts: 497	If you have the wedge pipe set all the way to "closed" and there isn't water overflowing the cup, then something's not right... I'd take the pump off, take off the venturi, and make sure nothing is impeding the impeller or causing a loss of pump performance. It also wouldn't hurt to give the pump a bit of a soak in vinegar. If the pump isn't overflowing the skimmer at the "closed" setting, then I think there might be a pump issue. -Joe