Remora Vs. BakPak2R - An Unscientific Comparison

[FishDaddy]

For about a week I've been running a Remora on my 55 (replaced a Knop) and a Bakpak2R on the newly setup 38. Each is running with the
supplied Rio. (Rio 800 on Remora and Rio 600 on BakPak).

The Remora began skimming almost immediately and was by far the easiest to set up. Just put the Rio on, hang it on the tank and plug it in! The BakPak has produced very little foam and does have pieces and parts to assemble but is easy enough to do. Both are well made. The Remora has a smaller profile and uses less space behind the tank. The Remora body is dark while the BakPak is clear so the dark Remora should have less chance of algae growth inside the body. The Remora is just a slight bit louder than the BakPak but this could be due to the larger pump. The Remora is much less noisy than the Knop it replaced. The Remora was about $30 more at Premium Aquatics, where I got both skimmers. This cost difference is cut to $15 because of an extra $15 for a bubble trap for the BakPak. The Remora doesn't need one at this point in time.

This can't be considered an equal comparison in performance as there are differences in the tanks to consider:

The 55 is a 2 year old reef with 3 fish, lots of coral and inverts. Food goes into the water column and Kalk is dripped for all topoff water.

The 38 has been setup for approx. a month and is a FOWLR with only a 6" Chainlink Moray and some snails. Food goes directly into the Morays mouth! Obviously, there is more stuff to skim in the 55.

Bear in mind, this is only about a week's observation but I'm very impressed with the Remora.

I have a MJ 1200 with venturi that came off the Knop so I do have the option of switching pumps around to see if the BakPak does better with either the Rio 800 from the Remora or the MJ. I'll give them another couple of weeks before making any changes because I'm interested in comparing the two as delivered.
Dick



[This message has been edited by FishDaddy (edited 11-16-2000).]

[Canadian]

Tadashi,

The Remora would be a lot more efficient and less noisy if you replaced the supplied Rio with a Maxi Jet 1200.

------------------
Andrew

Check out my tank at http://canadianreef.homestead.com/Home.html

[Tadashi]

I also did this comparison with opposite results. Although the Remora skimmed more material the CPR marterial was darker. I placed both on a 55-gal cycling 92 lbs of LR and 95 lbs of dead sand. So far the CPR has been out skimming my Remora both were on tanks prior to this experiment for at least 4 months.

I like the CPR because it is quieter and the return section allows me more room to place heaters, carbon, thermometers, etc.

The Remora is also harder to clean. The CPR also allows me to adjust it easier and to return to the previous adjustment after cleaning. The CPR I can remove the bulkheads to get to the hard to reach areas.

Althought the smokey acrylic reduces algae build-up it also makes it harder to see into the skimmer to ensure it is working properly. Instead of algae I have tons of sponges growing in the Remora.

I did a comparison at:

http://www.geocities.com/ktchinn/skimmer.html

The new Remora Pro may be better with the stronger pump.

If you modify either skimmer remember that the skimmers were designed for their pumps the stonger pump may create too much wet foam. I did have great success with inserting an air stone in the CPR but changing it out every 3 months was a pain.

Also after reading about skimming and the analysis of the stuff in the collection cup. It contains alot of phyto and zooplankton. Since then as long as my nitrates, ammonia, and nitrites are zero I try not to overskim my tanks.

------------------
"It is not the size of your tank but the motion of your ocean." (at least that is what the wife keeps telling me)
My Itty-Bitty Reef site

[FishDaddy]

Tadashi,
Thanks for the direct comparison. Side by side on the same tank is a better method. My BakPak2R is on a new tank as mentioned.
The BP has now been running 10 days on the 38 and is producing a small amount of nice foam; remembering that the BP is on a month old tank with little gunk in it as yet while the Remora is on a 2 year old established 55. There's more to skim in the 55.
The return section on the 2R must be different than yours. There is no room to fit a heater as the interior return tube takes up all the space; only about 3/4" clear on either side of the tube. I do have a bag of carbon in there.

Two aspects of the BP do require just a bit of extra maintenance: The sponge block at the base of the interior return pipe and the sponge in the bubble trap. Not a biggy but something else to attend to. The Remora doesn't need a bubble trap. These sponges always harbor 'pods, baby snails and other critters that I hate to lose when the sponge is rinsed. I had that problem with the bubble trap sponge on the now-demised Knop. I would first rinse the sponge in tank water and try to siphon off as many of these critters as I could. Their numbers probably don't impact the tank but it seemed a waste to just flush them.
Cleaning the sponge on the BP's interior return tube requires removing the tube from a tight space. I have heard others mention the difficulty of reaching some areas of the Remora for full cleaning and this might offset the sponge maintenance but it seems a bath in white vinegar would take care of any hard to reach plastic.

Though each of these skimmers make a different sound, I can't detect any appreciable difference in noise except for the slightly stronger Rio on the Remora that would affect my choice between the two.

As for overskimming, I don't think either of these skimmers, even with an upgraded pump, is going to be too much for a tank in the 55 gallon range.
What I would like to see the skimengineers at AquaC and CPR do is to design a HOB that would incorporate surface skimming without adding the box contraptions.

Canadian,
I think you're right about the MJ upgrade for either of these two. The one I ran on the Knop sure made a difference over the OEM Rio 800. Even if the Rio's were adequate in power, IMHO and IME, MJ's are much better in quality and longevity. Both of mine will eventually get the MJ1200's.

All in all, either of these seem to be good skimmers for tanks up to 55 gallons or so.
Dick

[Tadashi]

Your right!!! My rio800 just died so I replaced it with the MJ1200. Much better. More quiet and better skimming. I still do not think it makes up for the return space in the CPR 2. Since I do not have a sump I need that to keep my tank clutter free.

I do not use the sponge on the CPR and do not have a bubble problem. It stopped kicking out bubbles after the 1st month.

The only maintenance I do is srub the coralline off the sides so I can see my thermometer and heater.

I use the CPR 2 as a reverse cycle refugium with macros.

I have the 2R on my 12-gal nano. I have my heater in there and can fit a carbon bag when needed. It is tight but do-able.

------------------
"It is not the size of your tank but the motion of your ocean." (at least that is what the wife keeps telling me)
My Itty-Bitty Reef site