Protein Skimmers

[Sherri]

Anyone know who is still building protein skimmers??? Thanks :)

[caferacermike]

Deltec and Euroreef are still building great skimmers. Sorry couldn't help myself.


Ace still builds them. I think I remember Matt saying he was busy with other projects but still offered to help another individual.

[Bill S]

Ace... I have one he made for me. It rocks.

[Sherri]

Thanks....not happy with my 1 yr old AquaC EV-180 at all.....will get hold of Ace.....

[matt]

I have materials for one calcium reactor left, and then I'm hanging up my router....too busy. I totally understand about the aquaC. Just a couple of years ago, Jason (aquaC owner) was calling the EV skimmers the "most powerful in sump foam fractionators ever made".

Things change in this hobby pretty fast.

[Sherri]

Very fast. Really disappointed in it....especially for the price paid.

[caferacermike]

Sherri just so you don't feel like the only one, I bought a Remora Pro with all the goodies, it let me down. If it wasn't spotless on the inside of the foam tower it wouldn't produce anything. Felt like money wasted.

[Sherri]

I hear ya Mike...this guy isn't producing ANY foam....slap*....I shoulda had a V8! lol

[don-n-sa]

Hi Sherrie,

Just wanted to give you a little input on skimmers. I have gone through my share of skimmers so I feel that I can help.

Let me guess, your skimmer is either not producing , or produces some when it is first cleaned, but after that , nothing right?

I recommend a needle wheel type over any other one...only problem is that there is a ton out there, so you still have decisions to make. Don't get me wrong, the beckett type skimmers work, even better than the needlwheels in a lot of cases. The problem is that they work their best when they are clean and adjusted correctly. I don't know about you, but I do not enjoy cleaning my skimmer out every couple of days. I prefer once a week...or two! They can also be a pain to get adjusted just right. Of all the beckett owners that I have talked to , these are their main complaints.

Back when I was looking for a new skimmer, like you I was frustrated with my current one that I spent well over $600 for...it worked, but only when it was clean and adjusted just right. I bet your aqua-c works for a few days then...nothing!

I got lucky when mikey-boy abruptly had to sell his system...I ended up with a great skimmer for a great price.It is a recirculating needlewheel skimmer that produces some nasty stuff. It was also easy to adjust and get going, but what really puts the icing on the cake is the ease of cleaning. It literally takes LESS THAN 5 MIN!!! All I have to do is cut off the air supply and remove the collection cup, spray it out, wipe dry and I am done!! This is all done while the skimmer is still running.( thanks nacl-h20!! ) ;)

I am not going to post the kind I have because there are plently of needlewheel skimmers to choose from and some are better than the one I have, but if you want to stop by just let me know.

After all that , I bet Ace could make a heck of a needlewheel recirc now that the pumps are readily available.

Donny

[Sherri]

Thanks Donny...very interesting...I'm not that knowledgable on skimmers...so info is appreciated. I have a Pan World External Magnet Pump working it....480gph - the EV180 needed 420gph.

And yes!!! It works for a few days and then nothing. Really frustrating. I'll check into the needlewheel & post what I end up doing....thanks again! :)

[Bill S]

Don is correct about skimmers - I have to pull the mine apart every 4 or 5 days. But, it takes about a minute - Ace specifically designed it this way. If a snail or piece of caulerpa gets in it, it quits working. As for cleaning, NO I don't have to clean mine. It's nasty, but I don't clean it.