Skimmers.....I just don't get it

[erikncyndi]

This hobbie is definitly not for someone who likes to save $$$$$$$, It just dosen't stop does it. So this is tonights overwelming lack of knowledge that is haunting me. What is the real differance in all these skimmers. It seems that everyone on this board has a hated and loved brand and there are even thoes that DIY it. So when it comes down to it you either spend $500 on what seems to me to be a plastic tube with a pump or you go to HD and buy some PVC and a toilet flange. It dont get! how can these simple looking (yet simple enough to make) devices that all pretty much look the same be so different. Is it in the operator, ls it how you fine tune it or is it just that these high end skimmers are made of special protien attracting plastic. Can someone make any sense out of this, because it makes none to me.

Erik

[depitch]

Hi

I think thak it is dependent on your budget as well as experience with skimmers. I started with a cannister filter and HOB Skimmer by RED SEA for my 75gal reef tank. Due to raising nitrate levels at the end of year 2 I changed fitlters to sump with built in venturi skimmer by pro clear.

The choice of skimmer is a personal preference; needle wheels and venturi are the most popular.

I like venturi skimmers they are easy to adjust and the usual area that clogs is the small opening for the air flow into the pump or pipe used to create venturi effect.

Skimming is the most effective technique IMO to filter salt water. U can get a good buy on a skimmer at websites like www.aquacave.com or similar sites u can find good deals. Ebay is also a place if u time to check bids.

There are articles on this site and at diy.com with plans if u r a DYI person.

I hope this helps

Doug.

[mushumatt]

an Air stone CC skimmer can be made for like $100 and skim as good as euro reefs h& S and such. But height is the main factor and it has to be adjusted daily. It also has to do with the pump and how much LPH it pulls out how much watts it takes to run it. Efficency of the pump and many other factors.

[Geoff]

i like to DIY all of my skimmers. all of the skimmers i make are pressure driven skimmers. my current skimmer is an eductor driven skimmer. total cost in acrylic and other parts minus pumps is less than $100. this skimmer will outskimm any skimmer costing prolly 3 to 4 times as much.

i am not a fan of the needlewheel and recirc skimmers. i feel the object is to skimm as much water as possible, not to skimm the same water in the skimmer as much as possible.

G~

[jadefox]

Well this is an old forum, but it's always fun to bring the protein skimmer back to the forefront. I have to say that there is a lot of overpriced garbage out there (and the most overpriced garbage IMO is the so-called cheap (and cheaply made) venturi skimmers). Needle wheels? Hmmmm...more bubbles, but less flow due to the needle wheel impeller. That doesn't seem right. In terms of production skimmers, I think spray injection give the most bang for the buck (I just tested an EV, and I love it). Nonethless, it's a lot of bucks. You might want to check out these articles with Jason Kim of AquaC for more info:

Kim on Protein Skimmers - Jason Kim Walks the Aquarist through the Basics of Skimming

Venturi and Needle Wheel Skimmers - Two of the Most Popular Skimming Technologies Explained

[tufacody]

Based on how well my Aqua Pro C Remora does, I may be looking into the EV as well

[jadefox]

Originally Posted by tufacody

Based on how well my Aqua Pro C Remora does, I may be looking into the EV as well

I did not test the Remora, but boy have I heard good things.

[ChrisPrusha]

I have had an EV-240 for over 6 years, and I've been very happy with it.

That said, everyone still has their favorite.

[Frank2926]

"It dont get! how can these simple looking (yet simple enough to make) devices that all pretty much look the same be so different. Is it in the operator, ls it how you fine tune it or is it just that these high end skimmers are made of special protien attracting plastic. Can someone make any sense out of this, because it makes none to me."

I think there are few things that make a skimmer expensive or lets say inexpensive. I think the first is research and development. The high end skimmers seem to be tested more and thus changed and improved until they work at the highest level. R&D costs a lot of money, for labor,parts etc.
What does R&D get us as an end user? a skimmer that works great, right out of the box with no modifications needed. These skimmers also usually come with some very good customer service.
Then there is the pump. Most if not all of the high end skimmer manufacturers seem to modify the pumps to produce the most air possible.
I do not think there is a pump on the market that can produce enough air to make a skimmer work well without a lot of modifications. All of these modifications cost money as well. Usually labor. One of the other reasons seems to be the dollar is so weak against the Euro. The dollar is just getting killed in countries where skimmer manufacturers are willing to do some R&D. Oh and lets not forget shipping. Shipping from Europe is Expensive! Not to mention the time it takes. Time is money right?
There are choices though, more and more of them everyday. Becketts and venturis are inexpensive, but they require lots of adjustments and if you do not adjust them they are not working. They also usually require large pumps though and if you ad the price of the pump to the cost of the skimmer. well not so cheap anymore, and thats not even including the cost of the extra electricity each month. Airstones are another choice, again high maintenance though. They do not require as much adjusting but they do require frequent changing of air stone and cleaning of the large air pump the require. Thats why needle wheels seem to be the most efficient. The most efficient needle wheels are re-circulating. They do not require much tinkering, can go outside a sump, are easily fed from a drain, which is the most effective way to skim, and the flow thru your sump does not matter as much to them.
Be careful when you hear skimmer recommendations. Like best skimmer I have ever owned. Or look at my skimmate! Ask yourself or the poster, how many and what different skimmers have you owned? Or is that skimmate pic from a tank you are curing live rock in? and how much have you modified that skimmer?
The newest skimmer that seems to be making some waves is the MSX from marine solutions. http://www.marinesolutionsinc.com/catalog/index.php
Inexpensive and now seems to be working well, without any modifications. How is it inexpensive, well it seems to me (IMO)they did no R&D whatsoever. All of the first batch of buyers had to send their pumps back to be modified. The pump problem seems to be rectified now. The ati bubble master is also a good skimmer, now, lots of changes were made in the early days. Again a skimmer maker that let the buyers do all the R&D.
FYI I have owned. Prizm, EVC, ETSS, Euro Reef and a Deltec.
Which worked the best? Deltec, it was by far the most expensive but not much more than a Euro reef .

[hng]

Welcome to TRT Frank2926!