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| Reefing Equipment Discuss Lighting / skimmers / pumps, pretty much anything that helps us run our tanks |
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08-16-2008, 08:44 PM
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#1
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Plankton
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: portland oregon
Posts: 18
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need some protein skimmer help
what is a good protein skimmer for a 55 gallon reef with a 20 gal sump. i'm looking for somthing that has a footprint that will fit in a 5 1/2" by 12" area. i have an etss reef devil model PS-AE01RD that wont fit in the space. i would like one that sits in my sump, not an external one. any ideas?
thx, guys
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08-16-2008, 09:04 PM
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#2
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spaceman spiff
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: south of Dimples
Posts: 10,636
Reviews: 72
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AquaC EV120 should fit. I built a little riser to stick the pump under the skimmer. It has about a 4"x8" footprint, but the output is on the 4" side so it may need to keep that in mind before you buy (I'm not sure what your config looks like).
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08-17-2008, 11:04 AM
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#3
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Plankton
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: portland oregon
Posts: 18
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do you know any cheaper spots to pick this skimmer up. it will work perfect. the best price i can find it for is here http://www.mopsdirect.us/cgi-bin/Sof...l?E+us+Froogle
if you know a cheaper place please let me know. i have been looking for a used one, but they are tuff to find. they are either already sold or wont ship.
thx, |
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08-17-2008, 12:01 PM
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#4
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spaceman spiff
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: south of Dimples
Posts: 10,636
Reviews: 72
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Can't say I've seen it cheaper, but good luck on the search!
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08-17-2008, 01:16 PM
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#5
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Plankton
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: St.Charles Il.
Posts: 48
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__________________
Paul`EM 
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08-17-2008, 01:55 PM
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#6
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This Space For Rent!
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Kansas City, MO
Posts: 2,213
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I've not owned one, but I'll second the octopus based on what I've seen and heard.
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08-17-2008, 02:09 PM
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#7
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spaceman spiff
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: south of Dimples
Posts: 10,636
Reviews: 72
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The octopus may be a good option, indeed. I've used the AquaC, but I tend to like needlewheel skimmers more, so definitely something look into if you can get it to fit.
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08-17-2008, 03:31 PM
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#8
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Plankton
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: portland oregon
Posts: 18
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i think i like the aquac, looks to be better constructed. I dont like the idea of the needle wheel. just more moving parts in saltwater than need to be there. anybody have any takes on this. also, how hard would it be to clean out the needle wheel if needbe. i found a aquac ev120 for $185. its new. and he will ship it. and it has the John Guest fitting.
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08-17-2008, 04:01 PM
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#9
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This Space For Rent!
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Kansas City, MO
Posts: 2,213
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rider
i think i like the aquac, looks to be better constructed. I dont like the idea of the needle wheel. just more moving parts in saltwater than need to be there. anybody have any takes on this. also, how hard would it be to clean out the needle wheel if needbe. i found a aquac ev120 for $185. its new. and he will ship it. and it has the John Guest fitting.
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I much prefer a needle wheel or a mesh impellor...finer bubbles and more of them = better skimming IMO/IME.
Don't want this to sound wrong but do you understand the difference? The needle wheel is just the style of the impellor...no more or less moving parts...and as for cleaning it's just a matter of pulling of the front cover off the pump, which should be part of your routine maintenance every few months anyway.
When I built my DIY skimmer I started with a regular impellor...then went to a needle wheel (huge improvement)...and ultimately modded to a mesh (even better/finer bubbles).
Based on my own experience and reviews I've read/heard I would go for a needle wheel in a heart beat. The down side to the Octopus is I think the work better with a gate valve (which you would have to add) but that's easily done. Does the EV your looking at have a pump with it? You could always run a needle wheel pump on it (retail I don't think they come with a pump).
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08-17-2008, 04:13 PM
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#10
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Plankton
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: portland oregon
Posts: 18
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no, it doesnt have a pump with it. i would have to buy somthing. i will have to look into needle wheels more. so do you think a needle wheel pump would work with a ev?
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08-17-2008, 05:17 PM
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#11
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This Space For Rent!
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Kansas City, MO
Posts: 2,213
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rider
no, it doesnt have a pump with it. i would have to buy somthing. i will have to look into needle wheels more. so do you think a needle wheel pump would work with a ev?
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I don't know why not, but I've never owned an EV either so I can't say for sure. Really all the needle wheel does is "chop" the air up into finer bubbles, so I can see no reason why it wouldn't work so long as the pump has enough volume of both water and air.
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08-17-2008, 06:53 PM
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#12
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Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: spartanburg, south carolina
Posts: 4,961
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octopus skimmers are a great value. Stay away from the terminator skimmers. From what I've heard they are a waste of money.
__________________
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08-17-2008, 07:28 PM
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#13
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Non-Hypocritical
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Hillbillyville Alabama
Posts: 8,064
Reviews: 11
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rider, whats more important than needle wheel, mesh mods, and other things is that the pump should be matched to the skimmer. If the manufacturer suggest pumpX or an equivalent, then that is what you should use. At least until you get your feet wet with them and can know what effect changing the pump is truly having on the skimmer.
The needle wheel impeller is simply a flat plate with little needle looking stubs protruding that chop up the air bubbles. If you have a maxijet powerhead, take the head off of it and look at the impeller in it. It has a paddlewheel style impeller. The needlewheels simply do a better job of chopping up water (or so they tell me).
Octopus is an awesome skimmer.
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08-17-2008, 07:30 PM
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#14
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Plankton
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: St.Charles Il.
Posts: 48
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hng
octopus skimmers are a great value. Stay away from the terminator skimmers. From what I've heard they are a waste of money.
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Really? I was bout to buy on for my 31g reef. Its a high demand with plans of SPS and higher bio load. But a skimmer rated at 300g on a 60g system...
What do you think? I need to have one that can sit next to the sump.
__________________
Paul`EM
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08-17-2008, 09:06 PM
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#15
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Non-Hypocritical
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Hillbillyville Alabama
Posts: 8,064
Reviews: 11
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PEMfish, be careful about oversizing the skimmer. If the skimmer is way over-rated for the bio-load, then there won't be enough DOC's in the water for the foam head to form properly and the skimmate will simply cake on the neck of the skimmer and eventually make its way back into the water unless you are diligent about cleaning it.
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