looking for feed back or review of kent skimmer

[Ranran]

Has anyone used or seen a kent nautilus ex skimmer? The 30''x8'' model is rated for a 400 gallon tank and runs off of a mag 12 I have a 190 gal tank and am looking to upgrade my skimmer. Please let me know
Randy

[Minnreefer]

Is this the skimmer? http://www.thereeftank.com/reviewpos...hp?product=193 I can't say much about that skimmer, it looks good but I don't think it is the best one out there. HTH

Jon

[Ranran]

Thats it! they come in three sizes. The one I am looking at is 30''x8'' and rated for a 400 gallon tank. I do not think they are the best out there. however it could be the best for the money.
Thats what i want to find out.

[reefcam]

How much are they? My first impression was, what is the deal with the tubes in the skimmer body. Looks like another hard part to clean.

[Ranran]

I can get the 400 gallon rated skimmer for about 250 thats about a third to half for other skimmers rated for that size tank. but i want it to work. i dont want to replace it in six months. kents a pretty good product line i just dont know about there skimmers.
Randy

[Minnreefer]

I found it for $199 at www.premiumaquatics.com. I think that it would work fine for you, probably not the best skimmer out there but it should work. I personally would pobabl recomend a www.myreefcreations.com MR2 skimmer, but it is more money and the pump is more money.

HTH

Jon

[RTaylor]

My dad has one, don't know which size, on his 90. he likes it.





RT

[Ranran]

Thanks for the heads up on price, but I would support my lfs for an extra 30. then buy on line and the other skimmers looks great but now your talking 379+70 for and extra injector that they recomend. The question still remains is the more expensive skimmer that much better or does it just cost more?
Dont you just love these decisions we get to make?
Randy

[Minnreefer]

I can't say how well that skimmer does, and I support you spending the money at a LFS if they treat you right and help answer your questions. I only mentioned a Myreef skimmer because I know that they work well. We also have and have had a turbo floater and a Berlin skimmer which both work fairly well. I hope that confuses you some more

Jon

[JennM]

Originally posted by reefcam
How much are they? My first impression was, what is the deal with the tubes in the skimmer body. Looks like another hard part to clean.

They have redesigned the EX from that photo -- the venturi tube is in another place now, not up the center like in that photo. It's on the black acrylic box part on the base. My only complaint was that it was a bit noisy and we fashioned a "muffler" with some cotton and a bit of rigid tubing and it's quiet now. I've been using a TE for a year now, LOVE IT. We put an EX 24" on a 180 that we installed and it smokes. Customer is very happy with it. Very easy to clean, easy to adjust. (Sorry Andy) but I like these better than MR skimmers (I have an MR3), much more user friendly, no leaks, and doesn't need as much firepower to do a great job.

I'm always interested in what constitutes a "better" or "great" skimmer in the eyes of a hobbyist -- price? Size of pump needed? how complicated it is (looks).... IMO if it pulls the gunk, it's a decent skimmer...if it's user friendly, that makes it even better.

All I know is with a minimum of tweaking, my Nautilus TE pulls thick brown-black skimmate (peeew), it's easy to adjust, it's easy to clean and the price seemed middle-of-the-road and I didn't need a mega-pump to do it (mine has a mag 7) the EX we installed has a mag 12.

I maintain a variety of tanks with a variety of skimmers -- from expensive and complicated, down draft and venturi, to simple and inexpensive, and of all of them the Nautilus series is the one I like (no this is not a paid endorsement!!!), because it does what it is supposed to, and it's simple to use.

Jenn

[Ranran]

Thanks for the feedback guys. I must say I am currently useing a turbo floater multi and it is a super easy scum sucking machine, but i feel it is a little under rated for a 190 reef. I think I will try the kent skimmer and I'll let you know how it compares.
Randy