ATB Econo 840 or Royal Exclusiv/Vertex Alpha 200 Cone

ento-reefer · 06/02/2009, 04:54 PM

I am looking to upgrade my skimmer and I have narrowed down my choices to these two. I need some help deciding. I am currently running the Octo extr 200.

Anyone have an opinion? Thanks.

THE ROOK · 06/02/2009, 05:02 PM

Alpha would certainly be my choice. You own the Sicce pump already. Those red dragon pumps are supposed to be near silent.

GSMguy · 06/02/2009, 05:21 PM

Alpha 170 or ATB 840 the 200 is too big for your tank.

I run the ATB and think it works perfectly on my sub 100G tank, the Mini Airstar is no longer a normal Sicce it has extensive modifications, including a new volute assembly pinwheel, and stand with rubber feet. the mini airstar is near silent as well.

ento-reefer · 06/02/2009, 06:29 PM

Thanks for the replys you two. I really respect your opinion GMSguy as I know you have extensive experience with skimmers. I am just about ready to pull the trigger on the ATB as I just finished reading the review by mojo. I want a plug and play skimmer that will simply work well. I am having problem with my Sicce pump starting in reverse and it is my understanding that the new volute assembly fixes this problem. Having the pump run close to silent is something else that I am looking for although noise hasn't been a huge issue for me.

In your opinion will this skimmer work well for my bioload? I have 10 fish: 7 wrasse, a pair of clowns, and a hippo tang, mostly sps with a few lps. I want to keep nutrients down without worrying so much if I am overfeeding.

Fishy Business has this skimmer on sale for $749/free shipping right now and I am sooooo close to just buying it and being done with it.

Thanks.

THE ROOK · 06/02/2009, 06:48 PM

You can get the Alpha 170 for $649 with free shipping. Never owned one but would love to try out one of those pumps.

ento-reefer · 06/02/2009, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by THE ROOK
You can get the Alpha 170 for $649 with free shipping. Never owned one but would love to try out one of those pumps.

I know, but I couldn't find any reviews as they are so new. I like the idea that the 840 has been around for a bit and everyone that has it seems to like it a lot. I think I am going to give the 840 a try and see how I like it.

James77 · 06/02/2009, 07:30 PM

I have the 840 and its a great skimmer. i know its cliche sounding, but it is the best I've owned yet out of a few H&S's, ER, Reeflo Orcas, Octopus, and ASM.

I have not had any starting problems at all with the Sicce. It is also very quiet.

ento-reefer · 06/02/2009, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by James77
I have the 840 and its a great skimmer. i know its cliche sounding, but it is the best I've owned yet out of a few H&S's, ER, Reeflo Orcas, Octopus, and ASM.

I have not had any starting problems at all with the Sicce. It is also very quiet.

Thanks for the feedback James77. I went ahead and got the 840. It is shipping tomorrow!

I will post my experiences once I get it broke in. Thanks for the input everyone.

GSMguy · 06/02/2009, 08:03 PM

wait till you pick up the pump, the volute is so thick it weights as much as the motor block,

You have a higher bioload than i do i would expect it to perform very well.

i have a friend who purchased the 840 as a stopgap fully intending to order the Vertex 200 but has not pulled the trigger yet, he still may but he is really liking the ATB and he didnt have to wait for it.

ento-reefer · 06/02/2009, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by GSMguy
wait till you pick up the pump, the volute is so thick it weights as much as the motor block,
You have a higher bioload than i do i would expect it to perform very well.

i have a friend who purchased the 840 as a stopgap fully intending to order the Vertex 200 but has not pulled the trigger yet, he still may but he is really liking the ATB and he didnt have to wait for it.

Thanks for the feedback GSMguy. What water level works best for this skimmer? I have my sump sitting at about 9", but I could easily lower it 1-2" or raise the skimmer as I have done with my extreme.

I am looking forward to seeing how this skimmer performs firsthand.

GSMguy · 06/02/2009, 08:29 PM

6.5"-7" works best

post some pictures in the ATB club when you get it.

killaACES · 06/02/2009, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by James77
I have the 840 and its a great skimmer. i know its cliche sounding, but it is the best I've owned yet out of a few H&S's, ER, Reeflo Orcas, Octopus, and ASM.

I have not had any starting problems at all with the Sicce. It is also very quiet.

I would have to disagree.

I have a 180G and I have owned the ATB 840, BK 200 Int, H&S A200 & 200, I would have to say that the best set and forget skimmer and also build would be H&S/BK, I just would never pay the price I did for a BK again because I do not believe that I got the extra performance for the $ that I did not already have with the H&S.
Even the quality and build would go to H&S/BK over any ATB. Between the 3 I owned, when it came to quality, performance, and overall set and forget it had to be the H&S, BK (it was finicky and is not a set and forget skimmer) then the ATB, but if you are limited on funds then get the ATB.

James77 · 06/02/2009, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by killaACES
I would have to disagree.

I have a 180G and I have owned the ATB 840, BK 200 Int, H&S A200 & 200, I would have to say that the best set and forget skimmer and also build would be H&S/BK, I just would never pay the price I did for a BK again because I do not believe that I got the extra performance for the $ that I did not already have with the H&S.
Even the quality and build would go to H&S/BK over any ATB. Between the 3 I owned, when it came to quality, performance, and overall set and forget it had to be the H&S, BK (it was finicky and is not a set and forget skimmer) then the ATB, but if you are limited on funds then get the ATB.

My H&S A150 did pull some nasty skimmate on my old tank. I was not at all impressed with my 2nd H&S, the A200-2xF2001- the 2 aquabees. I couldn't get anywhere near the sludge I am pulling with the ATB.
Believe me, I'm not saying the H&S are garbage- they are great skimmers. The only 2 Ive owned were with Aquabees, and they were rather loud pumps. That retarded flap in the pump would CONSTANTLY hinder its performance. The air intake was also very annoying, but they have since come out with silencers you can purchase separately.
I also think the H&S have become overpriced, and they have had the same design for years with no real ne advancements. Obviously one could argue don't fix what ain't broke. However, with all the advancements in skimmers over the past few years- cones, bubbleplates, much higher air intake, etc- H&S has incorporated none of them, yet still charge a very high price for their skimmers.

ento-reefer · 06/02/2009, 09:57 PM

Money wasn't really a deciding factor except I didn't see a need to spend more than I did. Based on the research I have been doing the ATB 840 seemed like a good fit for my tank. I have never looked into the H & S skimmers as I was looking for a cone skimmer.

143gadgets · 06/02/2009, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by GSMguy

i have a friend who purchased the 840 as a stopgap fully intending to order the Vertex 200 but has not pulled the trigger yet, he still may but he is really liking the ATB and he didnt have to wait for it.

I wonder who that was....

06/02/2009, 04:54 PM	#1
ento-reefer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Delaware Posts: 332	ATB Econo 840 or Royal Exclusiv/Vertex Alpha 200 Cone I am looking to upgrade my skimmer and I have narrowed down my choices to these two. I need some help deciding. I am currently running the Octo extr 200. Anyone have an opinion? Thanks.

06/02/2009, 05:21 PM	#3
GSMguy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northern New Mexico Posts: 17,420	Alpha 170 or ATB 840 the 200 is too big for your tank. I run the ATB and think it works perfectly on my sub 100G tank, the Mini Airstar is no longer a normal Sicce it has extensive modifications, including a new volute assembly pinwheel, and stand with rubber feet. the mini airstar is near silent as well. __________________ Nick. Conehead. Shallow Reef club. Current Tank Info: 48"x27"x14" Envision Acrylic rimless, 6x39w ATi Sunpower, Custom ATB Deluxe Skimmer, 4x tunze nano stream,ATB flowstar 1500, ACJR, Tunze osmolator.

06/02/2009, 07:30 PM	#7
James77 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 8,158	I have the 840 and its a great skimmer. i know its cliche sounding, but it is the best I've owned yet out of a few H&S's, ER, Reeflo Orcas, Octopus, and ASM. I have not had any starting problems at all with the Sicce. It is also very quiet. __________________ Jim Current Tank Info: 120g Mixed Reef and 75g Freshwater

06/02/2009, 08:03 PM	#9
GSMguy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northern New Mexico Posts: 17,420	wait till you pick up the pump, the volute is so thick it weights as much as the motor block, You have a higher bioload than i do i would expect it to perform very well. i have a friend who purchased the 840 as a stopgap fully intending to order the Vertex 200 but has not pulled the trigger yet, he still may but he is really liking the ATB and he didnt have to wait for it. __________________ Nick. Conehead. Shallow Reef club. Current Tank Info: 48"x27"x14" Envision Acrylic rimless, 6x39w ATi Sunpower, Custom ATB Deluxe Skimmer, 4x tunze nano stream,ATB flowstar 1500, ACJR, Tunze osmolator.

06/02/2009, 08:29 PM	#11
GSMguy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northern New Mexico Posts: 17,420	6.5"-7" works best post some pictures in the ATB club when you get it. __________________ Nick. Conehead. Shallow Reef club. Current Tank Info: 48"x27"x14" Envision Acrylic rimless, 6x39w ATi Sunpower, Custom ATB Deluxe Skimmer, 4x tunze nano stream,ATB flowstar 1500, ACJR, Tunze osmolator.

06/02/2009, 05:02 PM	#2
THE ROOK Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Springfield, MA Posts: 2,100	Alpha would certainly be my choice. You own the Sicce pump already. Those red dragon pumps are supposed to be near silent.

06/02/2009, 06:29 PM	#4
ento-reefer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Delaware Posts: 332	Thanks for the replys you two. I really respect your opinion GMSguy as I know you have extensive experience with skimmers. I am just about ready to pull the trigger on the ATB as I just finished reading the review by mojo. I want a plug and play skimmer that will simply work well. I am having problem with my Sicce pump starting in reverse and it is my understanding that the new volute assembly fixes this problem. Having the pump run close to silent is something else that I am looking for although noise hasn't been a huge issue for me. In your opinion will this skimmer work well for my bioload? I have 10 fish: 7 wrasse, a pair of clowns, and a hippo tang, mostly sps with a few lps. I want to keep nutrients down without worrying so much if I am overfeeding. Fishy Business has this skimmer on sale for $749/free shipping right now and I am sooooo close to just buying it and being done with it. Thanks.

06/02/2009, 06:48 PM	#5
THE ROOK Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Springfield, MA Posts: 2,100	You can get the Alpha 170 for $649 with free shipping. Never owned one but would love to try out one of those pumps.

06/02/2009, 09:57 PM	#14
ento-reefer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Delaware Posts: 332	Money wasn't really a deciding factor except I didn't see a need to spend more than I did. Based on the research I have been doing the ATB 840 seemed like a good fit for my tank. I have never looked into the H & S skimmers as I was looking for a cone skimmer.