EuroReef vs. ASM G-series vs. ???

capman · 05-11-2006, 11:13 PM

I have not shopped for or bought a skimmer in something like 8 or 9 years.

I have not thought much about skimmers in about 8 or 9 years.

I know almost nothing about current thinking about skimmers.

When I last shopped for skimmers, the cool, new, super-nifty, super-effective skimmers were the then-newfangled ETS downdraft skimmers. That is what I bought (and then within 6 months stopped using in favor of an algal turf scrubber). I also had a larger ETS donated a few years later, and that is what I have been using on my 500 gallon multi-tank system (but it is a skimmer that worked well previously on a 180 gallon tank, and it is rather inadequate for a 500 gallon system).

SO, what is the current conventional wisdom about skimmers?

Are the Euroreefs (and other similar designs) now considered the top of the line, most effective skimmers out there (replacing the downdraft skimmers at the top of the ranks)? This seems to be what I am hearing, and it also sounds like they are much more stable in their operation than the downdraft skimmers (my smaller downdraft in particular is sort of a pain in the neck...hard to get tuned just right!)

If so, what is the evidence that demonstrates the superiority of the EuroReef design over other skimmers?

What about the ASM G-series? Sounds like they are are less ruggedly constructed, but otherwise similar to the EuroReefs. Do they really operate as efficiently (and are they as stable) as the EuroReefs?

The price savings for the ASM seem dramatic, which makes them very appealing to me. Is there any good reason to get a EuroReef rather than an ASM?

mtfatwork · 05-11-2006, 11:25 PM

IMO not unless you are planning on playing catch with it, interested in a name, or looking for a beckett skimmer (the newest technology) and I dont even know if euroreef has beckett skimmers. ASM are hands down the best skimmer for the money.. Untill you get up into the really big ones.

smeese · 05-11-2006, 11:34 PM

Go asm and save the money. They are both great skimmers from what I have heard. If I am not mistaken the ASM is a more flimsy plastic body than the Euroreef which is cast acrylic. I think the Becket technology Mary is refering to is the new recirculating becketts as becketts in general have been around for some time.

mtfatwork · 05-11-2006, 11:46 PM

thanks Steve, I should have been more specific about the becketts.

smeese · 05-11-2006, 11:50 PM

No prob. Mary. I knew what ya meant.

Bill if you are looking for one of those I think MRC started making them. The only downfall to MRC is needing a mag 18-24 for a feed pump

capman · 05-11-2006, 11:51 PM

OK, so the EuroReefs and ASM skimmers are basically venturi skimmers with nifty impellers on the pumps with little fingers that chop up the air into tiny tiny bubbles. Is that correct?

Then what is a Becket skimmer?

capman · 05-11-2006, 11:53 PM

Also, the descriptions of the EuroReefs at Premium Aquatics talk about how you can adjust the skimmer by moving a tube (foam rider tube or something?) up and down. Do the ASM skimmers work this same way?

smeese · 05-12-2006, 12:11 AM

ASM are the same way yes. Jeffie works with Beckets and Trodder has one so maybe they will chime in with more info as I have never used on personally. I know they use and injector that may be similiar to a venturi but am not sure.

HFG · 05-12-2006, 12:37 AM

They are adjusted by raising the pipe, This effectivly raises the level of the water in the reaction chamber. The level of the water the skimmer is in, must remain consistiant. It is standard 1.5" pipe, I always replace the riser with a gate valve.

capman · 05-12-2006, 12:41 AM

HFG,

I'll have to take you up on your invitation soon and come down to see these skimmers in person.

HFG · 05-12-2006, 12:55 AM

You got mail. And to add to that:

1) In your case I would not look at anything with less than an 8" neck width.
2) 2 regular 8" models with 1 pump > 1 larger model or 1 recirculating model.
One advantage of a larger model is the cup is larger... but there are other modifications you can add to drain and stop over draining. Space can also be an issue increasing the potential value of a larger or recirculating unit.
3) Skimmer type run down:
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/20...ture/index.php

capman · 05-12-2006, 01:20 AM

Thanks for the link. Looks useful. Will have to read in detail another day though.

David Grigor · 05-12-2006, 01:44 AM

I would choose ASM over the Euroreef everytime. Having owned both. It is true about the cast acrylic over clear pvcs but that makes no difference to the performance. I prefer the ASM twist off collection cup over the Euroreef Union because the union always leaked on me and had to turn it real tight.

Like mentioned earlier post, quality construction doesn't really matter to me as this isn't the type of equipment that gets rough handled anyway.

Both use the riser tube but regardless which one you get you want to do the gate-valve mod to it. The riser is a pain especailly if you like to skim wet and you really can't get it raise quite high enough. With the gate valve mod it's much easier to do fine adjusting.

Becketts need a good pressure rated pump to be real effective. When I ran a bekett the Mak4 pump did a good job but does run 108W. While the Sedra9000 on the G4+ only 48w ( I tested both on my watt meter so was actual not rated watts by manufacturer ). To me there really isn't any advantages to a beckett as it also must be kept totally clean for it to perform. ASM/Euroreef is much more forgiving in that aspect.

capman · 05-12-2006, 02:04 AM

This cleaning business is another matter I have been wondering about. One of the big things I hate about the downdraft skimmers is that you need to wipe out the insides on a regular basis, because gunk builds up. This often requires removing the top section of the foam riser tube. This is not only sort of a messy, gross job, but it also takes a bit of time, and when push comes to shove and life gets really busy, this aspect of maintenance tends to get ignored by both me and my student helpers. It sounds like the Beckets have the same issue (and this impression is also based on some photos of some Beckett skimmers on one of the manufacturer's websites...the insides of these skimmers looked all brown and gunked up just like the insides of my ETS downdrafts).

So, are you saying that this (the gunking up of the insides of the skimmers) doesn't happen so much with the EuroReef/ASM style skimmers?

capman · 05-12-2006, 02:06 AM

As for the collection cup...

Is it possible to set these EuroReef/ASM skimmers up with a larger collection container (that effectively shuts off skimmate production when it is full) like with the ETS downdrafts?