Let's rank HOB skimmers

[Reefbox]

http://www.aquacave.com/reef-octopus...lvue-2346.html

What do you think of this Octopus HOB skimmer? I like the fact that is comes with the Sicce pump.

Any other skimmer suggestions for tanks in between 30-50 gallons?

I also want to look @ the Eshopps HOB skimmer.

[Reefbox]

After studying that Octo HOB skimmer a little closer I'm starting to like it more.

I will definetely want to drill the collection cup and have a drain go to a 5 bucket.

[tkeracer619]

Why would you drill a HOB for a 50g tank for a 5 gallon bucket? You are not going to remove 5g of skim mate out of 50g of water. You could however remove all of the water in the tank the pump can suck out and put it in the floor.

If you have to go this route use a much smaller collection container and an Auto top off inside the container. IF the skimmer overflows it will shut it down before harm is done.

[Gene0514]

My cheap Odyssea ps-75 works well on my tank
nice dark brown to almost black skimmate

[the other tang]

I have a old remora skimmer that is the real deal....just too small for my new tank. I highly reccomend it. it will skim wet or almost sludge depending on the setting. Do you need a used one?

[jenglish]

From people I have talked to that had the Octo and the Remora, the Octo blows the Remora out of the water. I have a HOB octo and love it, even though it is one of the cheaper ones with the Resun pumps.

[Peale]

I have the Eshopps-100H PSK on my 65g and it is awesome. It pulls a lot of nasty skimmate everyday and the break in period was very short.

[Reefbox]

tkeracer,
I do fill a 5 gallon bucket (for years) with skimmate out of a 30-50 g tank or even a 10g for that matter. i do continuous automated water changes.

I also have a float switch(s) in the 5 gallon bucket skimmate collector to shutoff the skimmer, when filled,eliminating an overflow. I have setup alot of aquariums and figured out automated failproof methods of maintaining many tanks @ once.

So it looks like the Octo HOB and Eshopps are top for HOB. and a remora @ number 3.

[bluetang66]

I've been using one since December, and so far it's been a very good skimmer. i am going to drill the cup that's the only thing i would change about it.

[Reefbox]

Bluetang, How do you control the water height in the skimmer? Did u have to add a valve to the outlet?

[Johnny C]

I have experience with almost all of the Octopus skimmers. The one you linked is okay, but I like this model a LOT better. Why? The pump is a lot more reliable, it's external, and this model seems to overall be built a lot better. If your willing to deal with the red acrylic, the new Octo HOBs work amazing. HTH

[bluetang66]

Originally Posted by Reefbox

Bluetang, How do you control the water height in the skimmer? Did u have to add a valve to the outlet?

I didn't add a valve but i did turn the out flow pipe back toward the back of the skimmer that seemed to take care of what bubbles that comes out of the outflow.You can also raise the level of water by placing a piece of coarse foam below the outlet pipe, i've never messed with it much because the bubbles aren't that bad.

[j tavares]

aquamedic multi does great for me

[c_fowler]

Red Sea Prizm deluxe tops my list. I've used several different HOB skimmers and this one collects the darkest gunk and leaves no bubbles.. 5 out of 5

[mr9iron]

I have the Warner Marine H1 version 2 HOB on a brand new tank and it's doing rather well.

Here is the skimmer



Here is the tea colored skimmate with absolutely nothing in the tank but 35 pounds of base rock and sand. This was taken 36 hours after it broke in.

[Reefbox]

Which Octopus HOB is the quietest?

Thanks

[kc350twin]

Hang On This!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[mr9iron]

Originally Posted by kc350twin

Hang On This!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Braggert!

[kc350twin]

Ha, Just playing around. Couple beers in me and clownin'

Many choices these days for Hang-ons. I like the Deltecs, ATB's, Warner Marines, and Octos. Just not that Octo Hang-on cone. (Awful!!!!!!!!!!!)

[Tonynlo]

Octopus 800s was very good to me. Only downside was the power cord was short. At first there were a ton of microbubbles in my tank until it was fully broken in. Took about a week to break in and it started to pull out some nastyness! I have upgraded tanks so I unfortunately unhooked the skimmer and have it sitting in my basement or else I would have taken a picture of the skimmate for you. It is such good skimmer that I am debating on whether or not I want to sell it. PM me if you want to hear more about my experience with the 800s, I'd be happy to chat.

[Crush Coral]

I have a Bermuda Rogue. It works very well. Get dark green tea. Only draw back is that I get micro bubbles. They can be eliminated with the provided scrubby pad to put in the outlet, but it becomes a detirus trap and has to be cleaned every couple days. Any other Rogues out there?

[kc350twin]

WM still has a H1 Demo for $180. Nice skimmer

[arrowheadpuffer]

Lets put it this way, I started with a remora pro w/ mag 3 and surface skimmer, then tried to upgrade to mag7, still I was getting chunky tea like skimate and not much.

I then went from a 80g to 90g reef ready and got a Coralife SuperSkimmer 220. Even though the superskimmers are supposed to be cheap junk, it skimmed 1000x more than the remora pro w/ mag 7.........

[rob.mwpropane]

I know it doesn't compare to the rest, but I have a 150 seaclone on a 20 and it does just fine for as cheap as it was... just sayin....

[Reefbox]

Crush Coral, That foam pad will be a detritus trap. That was the first thing i thought about.

Micobubbles are not acceptable in my tank. Has anyone made a baffle or some other modification to eliminate that bubble pad?