29 Gallon - How good is the Visi-Jet skimmer?

zmazza · 04/04/2006, 07:57 AM

I've got a 29 gallon FOWLR (Future reef tank). I'm wanting to buy a skimmer, and am looking to save some money. I've used visi-therm stealth heaters for quite some time. I'm really impressed with their heaters, and based on that, I don't think their protein skimmers would be that far off quality wise. They've got one at my LFS for around 50 dollars. I know I can get it a little cheaper online, but I'm all about supporting my LFS, and after shipping, I'm just saving a few bucks. Plus I'm impatient. Haha!

Has anyone ever used this skimmer? How good is it?

oldimpala · 04/04/2006, 08:41 AM

Sorry; but I'm gonna be a little blunt about it.

It's crap.

I run a Tunze Nano DOC skimmer. Silent (In my bedroom), pulls out lots of gunk. Ultra reliable.

There are some good in-tank skimmers; look in the Nano forum; they'll be able to steer you in the right direction.

-Andy

HowardW · 04/04/2006, 08:45 AM

<<< Sorry; but I'm gonna be a little blunt about it.

It's crap. >>>

Agreed...... don't waste money on cheap ineffective equipment. Get a Remora, Coralife, Bak-Pak, Deltec, Euro, ASM, or something that will actually do what's it's supposed to.

zmazza · 04/04/2006, 08:55 AM

What kind do you recommend that's under 60 dollars? Can I get any of those at PetSmart? Or will I have to order them?

DiViNeLeFT · 04/04/2006, 09:28 AM

i have a coralife super skimmer 65 on my 29 g and it does great. I got it from fosters and smith for about $80 shipped. they were having a sale at the time.

zmazza · 04/04/2006, 09:41 AM

Does sound like a great deal but spensive.

Maker · 04/04/2006, 02:28 PM

If you are truly on a budget (I know I am) then look at Aquatraders.com. They have a bakpak I knockoff for very cheap. The bakpak I was an okay skimmer but needed some small mods to get it skimming well.

Link to bakpak mod:

http://www.reefcentral.com/diy/bakpakmod.htm

Essentially you run an airstone thru the baffles to add a little more bubble action to the reaction chamber. The other thing to do is use a Maxijet 900/1200 w/ a venturi kit.

As always remember that you get what you pay for.

Maker

zmazza · 04/04/2006, 02:34 PM

So is the visi-jet REALLY that bad or is everyone super hardcore reefers that pay super high prices for the luxurious stuff? Not being rude or anything, just wondering. Why is the visi-jet so bad? I just want a skimmer and it's in my price range. I could buy it today, otherwise I'm going to have to wait for awhile.

Will the visi-jet not get the job done on a 29 gallon?

DiViNeLeFT · 04/05/2006, 09:39 AM

As Maker stated, you get what you pay for. I considered getting a Visi-jet since it was the cheapest skimmer that actually looked like it worked. I chose to go with the more expensive CSS65 since through my research just about everyone said that the skimmer is one of if not the most important part of a marine setup and if on a budget to try to cut costs other places and get the best skimmer one can afford.

trmiv · 04/05/2006, 11:12 AM

Like other's have said, the Visi-therm is crap, plain and simple. I've seen this thing in action, I could blow finer bubbles through a straw.

Why waste (and yes, you would be wasting) $50 on a visi-therm skimmer when you can get a pretty decent skimmer in the Coralife Super Skimmer 65 for $89? That CSS65 would do a respectable job on a 29 gallon without having to spend a fortune. Yes there are much better skimmers than the CSS 65, but at $89, it does a hell of a job on a small tank. I have a friend who runs a CSS 65 on a 29, and it pulls out some gunk.

A skimmer is an important piece of a equipment for a reef, spend a little more and get the right piece of equipment the first time. Because trust me, if you spend $50 on that visi-therm in a couple of months you'll realize what waste it was, and not be able to re-coup any costs by selling it. Then you'll still end up spending $89 to $200 on a good skimmer. Save up for a few months, do more water changes in the meantime, and get the right skimmer for you the first time.

michaeldaly · 04/05/2006, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Agreed...... don't waste money on cheap ineffective equipment. Get a Remora, Coralife, Bak-Pak, Deltec, Euro, ASM, or something that will actually do what's it's supposed to.

Not all cheap skimmers are crap. Also not all expensive skimmers are good

trmiv · 04/05/2006, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by michaeldaly
Not all cheap skimmers are crap. Also not all expensive skimmers are good

True, not all cheap skimmers are crap, but Visi-therm IS crap. The person you quoted mentioned the coralife, which is cheap and not crap.

saltym3 · 04/05/2006, 06:02 PM

is the css 65 a hang on skimmer? I am looking at it for my 29 but trying to figure out if it would fit behind my tank or not. Anyone have any pics of it installed or dimensions?I only have about a 7"x7" cutout on the back of my hood for my current aquaclear filter which is just for circultation which i am planning on dumping.

jawaiianmon · 04/05/2006, 06:23 PM

CSS65 is a Hang on skimmer, not sure of size though.

04/04/2006, 07:57 AM	#1
zmazza Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: East Tennessee Posts: 638	29 Gallon - How good is the Visi-Jet skimmer? I've got a 29 gallon FOWLR (Future reef tank). I'm wanting to buy a skimmer, and am looking to save some money. I've used visi-therm stealth heaters for quite some time. I'm really impressed with their heaters, and based on that, I don't think their protein skimmers would be that far off quality wise. They've got one at my LFS for around 50 dollars. I know I can get it a little cheaper online, but I'm all about supporting my LFS, and after shipping, I'm just saving a few bucks. Plus I'm impatient. Haha! Has anyone ever used this skimmer? How good is it?

04/04/2006, 08:45 AM	#3
HowardW Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Aurora, IL Posts: 1,763	<<< Sorry; but I'm gonna be a little blunt about it. It's crap. >>> Agreed...... don't waste money on cheap ineffective equipment. Get a Remora, Coralife, Bak-Pak, Deltec, Euro, ASM, or something that will actually do what's it's supposed to. __________________ Florida live rock addict

04/04/2006, 08:55 AM	#4
zmazza Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: East Tennessee Posts: 638	What kind do you recommend that's under 60 dollars? Can I get any of those at PetSmart? Or will I have to order them? __________________ 29G FO 30G Reef Stand and Canopy Design by kelley_mc®! REEF - n. A peculiar glass box which is also a vacuum for time and money. "That reef just stole my wallet!" Current Tank Info: 30 Gallon Reef - Gold Stripe Maroon Clown Pair

04/04/2006, 02:34 PM	#8
zmazza Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: East Tennessee Posts: 638	29 Gallon - Will the visi-jet skimmer get the job done? So is the visi-jet REALLY that bad or is everyone super hardcore reefers that pay super high prices for the luxurious stuff? Not being rude or anything, just wondering. Why is the visi-jet so bad? I just want a skimmer and it's in my price range. I could buy it today, otherwise I'm going to have to wait for awhile. Will the visi-jet not get the job done on a 29 gallon? Last edited by zmazza; 04/04/2006 at 02:49 PM.

04/05/2006, 11:12 AM	#10
trmiv Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 3,082	Like other's have said, the Visi-therm is crap, plain and simple. I've seen this thing in action, I could blow finer bubbles through a straw. Why waste (and yes, you would be wasting) $50 on a visi-therm skimmer when you can get a pretty decent skimmer in the Coralife Super Skimmer 65 for $89? That CSS65 would do a respectable job on a 29 gallon without having to spend a fortune. Yes there are much better skimmers than the CSS 65, but at $89, it does a hell of a job on a small tank. I have a friend who runs a CSS 65 on a 29, and it pulls out some gunk. A skimmer is an important piece of a equipment for a reef, spend a little more and get the right piece of equipment the first time. Because trust me, if you spend $50 on that visi-therm in a couple of months you'll realize what waste it was, and not be able to re-coup any costs by selling it. Then you'll still end up spending $89 to $200 on a good skimmer. Save up for a few months, do more water changes in the meantime, and get the right skimmer for you the first time. __________________ Current tank: Red Sea Reefer 350 Deluxe, Avast Marine Pegleg 180 skimmer, Gyre 150, Eheim 1262 return

04/04/2006, 08:41 AM	#2
oldimpala Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 571	Sorry; but I'm gonna be a little blunt about it. It's crap. I run a Tunze Nano DOC skimmer. Silent (In my bedroom), pulls out lots of gunk. Ultra reliable. There are some good in-tank skimmers; look in the Nano forum; they'll be able to steer you in the right direction. -Andy

04/04/2006, 09:28 AM	#5
DiViNeLeFT Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hornell, NY Posts: 225	i have a coralife super skimmer 65 on my 29 g and it does great. I got it from fosters and smith for about $80 shipped. they were having a sale at the time.

04/04/2006, 09:41 AM	#6
zmazza Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: East Tennessee Posts: 638	Does sound like a great deal but spensive.

04/04/2006, 02:28 PM	#7
Maker Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Lafayette, Indiana Posts: 81	If you are truly on a budget (I know I am) then look at Aquatraders.com. They have a bakpak I knockoff for very cheap. The bakpak I was an okay skimmer but needed some small mods to get it skimming well. Link to bakpak mod: http://www.reefcentral.com/diy/bakpakmod.htm Essentially you run an airstone thru the baffles to add a little more bubble action to the reaction chamber. The other thing to do is use a Maxijet 900/1200 w/ a venturi kit. As always remember that you get what you pay for. Maker

04/05/2006, 09:39 AM	#9
DiViNeLeFT Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hornell, NY Posts: 225	As Maker stated, you get what you pay for. I considered getting a Visi-jet since it was the cheapest skimmer that actually looked like it worked. I chose to go with the more expensive CSS65 since through my research just about everyone said that the skimmer is one of if not the most important part of a marine setup and if on a budget to try to cut costs other places and get the best skimmer one can afford.

04/05/2006, 06:02 PM	#13
saltym3 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Miami Posts: 274	is the css 65 a hang on skimmer? I am looking at it for my 29 but trying to figure out if it would fit behind my tank or not. Anyone have any pics of it installed or dimensions?I only have about a 7"x7" cutout on the back of my hood for my current aquaclear filter which is just for circultation which i am planning on dumping.

04/05/2006, 06:23 PM	#14
jawaiianmon Premium Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Satellite Beach, FL Posts: 200	CSS65 is a Hang on skimmer, not sure of size though.