recommend a good skimmer

malawi · 02/17/2015, 03:19 PM

What do you guys recommend a H.O.B. skimmer for a 55gl tank.?

zn00py · 02/18/2015, 06:44 AM

Check these out

eshopps psk-100h
Reef Octopus BH90
Reef Octopus BH1000
AquaMaxx HOB-1

Sugar Magnolia · 02/18/2015, 06:53 AM

I used to run the Octopus BH100 but the large pump inside the tank was unsightly. Very efficient skimmer though. I recently switched to the Aquamaxx HOB1 and am very happy with it.

soulpatch · 02/18/2015, 08:26 AM

aquamaxx hob-1

Sgt Jonny Cat · 02/18/2015, 08:48 AM

I use the eshopps psk 100 hob for almost a year. It's a great skimmer.

Pigpen17 · 02/18/2015, 09:53 AM

I love my Aquamaxx-1 HOB. I love the look, the sound, the amount of poop.

A few words of warning. Get the new version with the bubble guard. I have been running mine for a month now and I still have bubble issues, and make sure it will fit on your lip. After all my research it was 1/4" off.

soulpatch · 02/18/2015, 09:55 AM

make sure the bubble tip fits your location if that is route you wish to go. I am in a biocube and it would not readily fit in my rear chamber. It now sits in my parts bin...

I got around all bubbles by draining into my media rack which works perfectly.

Branespikin · 02/18/2015, 02:07 PM

I had the CPR bakpak. It was good pulling out gunk but it was never ending with the microbubbles. I hear the Aqua C Remora is great.

eddiereefs · 02/18/2015, 02:11 PM

eshopps and aquamaxx are both good, i like the eshopps better it pulls darker skimmate for me plus bigger pump

jason2459 · 02/18/2015, 02:17 PM

Bigger pump is not always better... Need to find the right size body with the right size pump for your system particularly if going with the popular needle wheels. Some good brands that don't break the bank that I like or have liked or generally get great reviews are Aquamaxx/JNS, seaside aquatics, eshopps, vertex, ATB, and some reef octopus. ATB being the most expensive on there but they are very well balanced and great quality. Seaside probably the cheapest as they use bubble magus bodies but use a much better pump that they match up well with the body. Aquamaxx/JNS and Vertex just gets consistantly good reviews and seem well balanced with a good pump. Eshopps some of their skimmers have good pumps but the one I had was a cheap pump with a mesh wheel I didn't like. Reef Octopus generally gets good reviews too but have to watch out for the pump being to big for the body but generally good brand.

Besides all that my favorite hob skimmer I had used on my 55g was a bubble magus.

Edit: It was this one
http://www.marinedepot.com/Bubble_Ma...PSHONW-vi.html
Though it was quite, produced very well, and best balance to my tank and bioload I still don't like the atman pump it comes with as they don't have the most reliable track record. Just FYI full disclosure.

SandyB · 02/18/2015, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zn00py

Check these out

eshopps psk-100h
Reef Octopus BH90
Reef Octopus BH1000
AquaMaxx HOB-1

I've had the eshopps on a 65 gal for over a year. Works great.

jason2459 · 02/18/2015, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SandyB

I've had the eshopps on a 65 gal for over a year. Works great.

Does the psk-100h still come with the mesh wheel? I had that one and it was a good skimmer except for the mesh wheel I didn't like as it would collect debris way to easily compared to needle wheels.

SandyB · 02/18/2015, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jason2459

Does the psk-100h still come with the mesh wheel? I had that one and it was a good skimmer except for the mesh wheel I didn't like as it would collect debris way to easily compared to needle wheels.

It does, and I do have to keep it rinsed very well. If I start to have trouble at all the first thing I do is rinse it. Since I have a canister filter, I make sure I do a water change every 2 weeks, usually if I rinse it very well at each water change, I don't have any problems.

jason2459 · 02/18/2015, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SandyB

It does, and I do have to keep it rinsed very well. If I start to have trouble at all the first thing I do is rinse it. Since I have a canister filter, I make sure I do a water change every 2 weeks, usually if I rinse it very well at each water change, I don't have any problems.

Yeah, besides that it was a good skimmer. Very similar to the NAC5e except the NAC5e has a needle wheel.

uncleL · 02/18/2015, 06:08 PM

I have a AquaC Remora Pro S on my 90 gallon mixed reef with Mag 3 pump and drain tube!

eddiereefs · 02/18/2015, 06:42 PM

The new eshopps come with needle wheel with a sicce pump

curviceps · 02/19/2015, 03:27 AM

Quite happy with my Reef Octopus BH1000. Pump is external to the tank.

jason2459 · 02/19/2015, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eddiereefs

The new eshopps come with needle wheel with a sicce pump

That's really good news then.

02/17/2015, 03:19 PM	#1
malawi Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: New Orleans;Louisiana Posts: 354	recommend a good skimmer What do you guys recommend a H.O.B. skimmer for a 55gl tank.?

02/18/2015, 06:44 AM	#2
zn00py Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: NJ Posts: 90	Check these out eshopps psk-100h Reef Octopus BH90 Reef Octopus BH1000 AquaMaxx HOB-1 __________________ 40g breeder - Acans and favia heavy 20l frag tank - About 100 pieces of mostly LPS and monti caps

02/18/2015, 06:53 AM	#3
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	I used to run the Octopus BH100 but the large pump inside the tank was unsightly. Very efficient skimmer though. I recently switched to the Aquamaxx HOB1 and am very happy with it. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

02/18/2015, 08:48 AM	#5
Sgt Jonny Cat Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: North of Boston Ma. Posts: 685	I use the eshopps psk 100 hob for almost a year. It's a great skimmer. __________________ In the process of putting together a 150 gallon mixed reef. Ill keep you posted. Current Tank Info: 55 Gallon

02/18/2015, 09:53 AM	#6
Pigpen17 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Tacoma, Wa. Posts: 1,006	I love my Aquamaxx-1 HOB. I love the look, the sound, the amount of poop. A few words of warning. Get the new version with the bubble guard. I have been running mine for a month now and I still have bubble issues, and make sure it will fit on your lip. After all my research it was 1/4" off. __________________ Never trust a man with a castle in his tank. 56g Column \|Aquamaxx HOB-1 Skimmer \|Reef Breeders Photon 24 LED \|850gph Koralia (X2) \| Maxspect Gyre XF130

02/18/2015, 08:26 AM	#4
soulpatch Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Downingtown, PA Posts: 4,017	aquamaxx hob-1

02/18/2015, 09:55 AM	#7
soulpatch Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Downingtown, PA Posts: 4,017	make sure the bubble tip fits your location if that is route you wish to go. I am in a biocube and it would not readily fit in my rear chamber. It now sits in my parts bin... I got around all bubbles by draining into my media rack which works perfectly.

02/18/2015, 02:07 PM	#8
Branespikin Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: College Point, NY Posts: 55	I had the CPR bakpak. It was good pulling out gunk but it was never ending with the microbubbles. I hear the Aqua C Remora is great.

02/18/2015, 02:11 PM	#9
eddiereefs Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 575	eshopps and aquamaxx are both good, i like the eshopps better it pulls darker skimmate for me plus bigger pump

02/18/2015, 02:17 PM	#10
jason2459 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Iowa Posts: 9,671	Bigger pump is not always better... Need to find the right size body with the right size pump for your system particularly if going with the popular needle wheels. Some good brands that don't break the bank that I like or have liked or generally get great reviews are Aquamaxx/JNS, seaside aquatics, eshopps, vertex, ATB, and some reef octopus. ATB being the most expensive on there but they are very well balanced and great quality. Seaside probably the cheapest as they use bubble magus bodies but use a much better pump that they match up well with the body. Aquamaxx/JNS and Vertex just gets consistantly good reviews and seem well balanced with a good pump. Eshopps some of their skimmers have good pumps but the one I had was a cheap pump with a mesh wheel I didn't like. Reef Octopus generally gets good reviews too but have to watch out for the pump being to big for the body but generally good brand. Besides all that my favorite hob skimmer I had used on my 55g was a bubble magus. Edit: It was this one http://www.marinedepot.com/Bubble_Ma...PSHONW-vi.html Though it was quite, produced very well, and best balance to my tank and bioload I still don't like the atman pump it comes with as they don't have the most reliable track record. Just FYI full disclosure. __________________ rebuild and recovery log: No more red house, you'll have to click on my name and visit my homepage! You can check out my parameters at reeftronics dot net website and look for my username. Current Tank Info: 180g mixed reef w/ a beananimal overflow to a dolomite RRUGF. \| 20g long G. Smithii Mantis Tank Last edited by jason2459; 02/18/2015 at 02:30 PM.

02/18/2015, 06:08 PM	#15
uncleL Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: NC Posts: 411	I have a AquaC Remora Pro S on my 90 gallon mixed reef with Mag 3 pump and drain tube!

02/18/2015, 06:42 PM	#16
eddiereefs Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 575	The new eshopps come with needle wheel with a sicce pump

02/19/2015, 03:27 AM	#17
curviceps Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 38	Quite happy with my Reef Octopus BH1000. Pump is external to the tank.