Skimmer Experience

[rrasco]

What skimmer does everyone run on their large tanks? Reef Octopus always seems to come up so I was looking at a Reef Octopus 8 for my 210.

[Big_Pun]

Octo with bubble blaster pumps are great. I run sea side aquatics cs-1(rated at 150g) uses sicce psk-600 pump that's super quiet and awesome. they make a bigger model with psk-1000. bubble magus makes great skimmers also atman pumps are high quality German pumps, also efficient and quiet.

[Europhyllia]

I use ASM with needlewheel on everything. I know they are not the 'in' skimmer right now but I've tried others and just keep coming back to these. They just work in any water level and are easy to maintain. I had much snazzier ones too like Elos and Aqua-C.

[FireWater]

I have no complaints with my Octopus Super Space Saver 1000. Pulls plenty of nasty stuff out.

[Big_Pun]

also look for a skimmer that is easy to clean, it's very important to be able to completely clean them. I love that I can pull out my skimmer and dissemble the whole skimmer to clean it properly .

[rrasco]

So the CS2 is what you would recommend? I have seen these come up quite a few times in various places around the interwebs with nothing but praise...they must be good devices.

http://www.saltysupply.com/Sea-Side-Aquatics-CS2-Skimmer-p/ssa1113.htm

[Big_Pun]

get it from socaltropicalfishoutlet they are affiliated with sea side and great customer service if you ever have issues. just my 2 cents

[cowboy572]

I run a completely different style of skimmer. I run the Precision Marine Bullet 1 on my 90 which uses a becket valve compared a needle wheel. Highly efficient but needs as large extermal pump to push the water through the valve at a high rate.

[kkiel02]

Reef octopus here. I don't clean the pump. Just empty the skimmer cup once a week when I clean my foam filters. I guess you could call me a lazy reefer. :)

These are the only skimmers I have used though so I don't have experience with other brands.

[rrasco]

Which Reef Octopus are you running Kevin?

[kkiel02]

I think it's the reef octopus extreme 250. Although it might be the 200, its been awhile since I bought it.

[afgun]

I run an old euro-reef RS250 (got it cheap) with a bubble blaster pump on my 210. Had to make my own muffler/air control for it, but it does a great job skimming and is quite adjustable. Works well in various depths of water too. I only clean the skimmate cup. Haven't cleaned the pump nor body in its year of service.

[rrasco]

I ended up getting a Bubble Magus NAC9. Have not set it up since the tank doesn't have water yet though.

[betiuminside]

I got the NAC6 for my 92Gal Corner tank FOWLR aggressive (porcupine, 3 triggers, eel, etc.) , I feed heavy and the water is Crystal clear! It's pulling a lot of junk! I clean it every 3 days because it's like 1/2 full..
IT took like one week to break in tho

[rrasco]

Awesome. I read nothing but great things about the NAC line. Is yours quiet? Is it running an atman pump?

[betiuminside]

very quiet! I really don't hear the pump at all... All I hear is water moving really... no BUZZZZZZ LOL.
mmmm not sure what is the pump brand, it's the one they sent! LOL. I know you can upgrade pump, but I didn't do it. I think Big_Pun did...
Always welcome to come by and look at it... I am on 281 north north! LOL... Overlook pkw and Canyon Springs

[350gt]

My reef octopus 200 is a pain, I wanted to have it turn off at night through the reef keeper but every time I restart it, it makes racket till it gets going, sometimes I am unsure if it will even go at all if I dont plug the pump inlet with my finger...... then it gets going and its a beast, I replaced the pump recently and it does its job.....

Its great at what it does, just wish it would start up normal..

[rrasco]

very quiet! I really don't hear the pump at all... All I hear is water moving really... no BUZZZZZZ LOL.
mmmm not sure what is the pump brand, it's the one they sent! LOL. I know you can upgrade pump, but I didn't do it. I think Big_Pun did...
Always welcome to come by and look at it... I am on 281 north north! LOL... Overlook pkw and Canyon Springs

Sweet. Looks like the NAC6 comes with the Atman PH2500. IIRC, Big Pun runs a Seaside CS-1, I almost got the CS-2, but wanted something rated a little higher so I could overskim. I have not run this yet, but it sure looks beautiful.

http://www.rrasco.com/AquaticPics/210reef/IMG_0955.JPG

[BBQHILLBILLY]

Just put it on the shelf with the other pretty collectibles.:bigsmile: Its never gonna look like that once you skim.

I use an old 220 Coralife skimmer. Works great. I have it feeding a 5 gallon bucket. I have to work some plumbing to get the hammer to feed it. soon.

[rrasco]

This thing was WAY too expensive to sit on a shelf. LOL