want to replace my bakpak - suggestions?

[xxxbadfishxxx]

i have had my bakpak skimmer for 3 years, i want to replace it, it is just way too loud, it skims too much or nothing at all, it has micro bubbles..... I am looking for a quiet, reliable (skims good, no flooding issues), skimmer at a decent price.

I plan on upgrading to a 120 within a 1-2 year timeframe, so adding a sump is just not logical right now, i would rather stick to a HOB.

I really want it to be quiet. From when i started i remember considering the AquaC Remora, any other options?

[airq33]

I have a Remora Pro with a Mag 5 pump that does great on my 55 gallon, but there are a lot of people here who will bash Remora. It's very plug-and-play, but you will still get some micro bubbles, and have some noise to content with. Overall though, I'm very happy with mine.

You may also want to consider a HOB Octopus. They really seem to give you the most for your money. I know several people that use them, and they are very happy with their performance. You will also find them much cheaper new, than the Remoras.

[xxxbadfishxxx]

what about noise and microbubbles with the octopus? is it a problem?

[xxxbadfishxxx]

does Octopus even make a HOB?

[PSam]

Deltec mce600.

[SWSaltwater]

Octopus HOB is very nice, NW pump and lots of fine bubbles, little to none make it back to the tank. Good foam tower.......

[dhnguyen]

Originally posted by xxxbadfishxxx
...I am looking for a quiet, reliable (skims good, no flooding issues), skimmer at a decent price....

such a thing does not exist for a HOB skimmer period.

Even the ridiculiously expensive (re: $400) Deltec MCE 600 will occasionally flood for no apparent reason

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...5&pagenumber=2

And definitely stay away fro the Aqua C Remora. No offense airq33 but people who typically think the Remora is a good skimmer are usually newbies and haven't experienced what a real skimmer can do. The Remora is an expensive mediocre skimmer at best. There are tons of better HOB skimmers out there that will cost less.


The Octopus HOB line

http://www.aquacave.com/detail.aspx?ID=495
http://www.aquacave.com/detail.aspx?ID=1011
http://www.aquacave.com/detail.aspx?ID=1013


Aquamedic T1000 multi (kinda expensive and large but works well)
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...85&pcatid=8185

Typhoon (may be your best bet since the cup less design doesn't allow for flooding)
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...0&pcatid=13910


Heck even the cheapo Odyssea skimmers wil work much better than a Remora
http://www.aquatraders.com/index.asp...ROD&ProdID=245
http://www.aquatraders.com/index.asp...ROD&ProdID=319

[Flint&Eric]

if you read my thread you will see why it overflowed...as would have any other skimmer. the only issue is the siphon could not keep up with it because i had the skimmer set skimming so wet.

even with that i would suggest the deltec mce 600, it without a doubt the best HOB skimmer out there. expensive yes, but it performs and microbubbles and noise are not an issue.

another one to look at is the tunze 9010.

eric

[jimbo045]

I use a Coralife one on my, 120,20, and 55. They are great. JD

[xxxbadfishxxx]

thanks for all your replies. Yeah the BakPak is just all out loud. whether vibrations, trickling, or just sucking air, if its not one thing its another. Then some days, it just skims nothing. I want a quiet or at least quieter skimmer.

I heard decent things about the typhoon and its dirt cheap, but is it loud? and how does it skim compared to others? What about microbubbles.

yeah, unfortunatly i would rather pay to have a sump and maybe a euroreef RS80 compared to spending the same amount on a deltec. I heard people expect the Berumda to be decent, but no real reviews on it.

I heard the tunze are also decent but a lot of micro-bubbles.

[airq33]

And definitely stay away fro the Aqua C Remora. No offense airq33 but people who typically think the Remora is a good skimmer are usually newbies and haven't experienced what a real skimmer can do. The Remora is an expensive mediocre skimmer at best. There are tons of better HOB skimmers out there that will cost less.

I can only speak from personal experience with Remora. I purchased it used for $100. My Nitrates are always <5 ppm. It delivers consistent performance, and I've never had a problem with it flooding. Here is a shot of my collection cup after a few days.



It definitely pulls out a lot of waste. If that is mediocre, then I am content with a middling skimmer. Maybe your experience with Remora has been different, but I feel it outperforms any other skimmer I could have gotten for that price. I will agree though, that there are more economical skimmers out there which perform well. That's why I recommended the HOB Octopus. I can't see the Odyssea or Typhoon outperforming the Remora, but I've never seen them in action either.

Respectfully,

airq33

[dhnguyen]

That's not much for a few days worth airq33 especially given how small the Aqua C Remora's cup is too

A couple shots of half a day's worth of skimmate from my $30 cheapo JEBO 180 skimmer (when I had it)


And I consider this a POS skimmer.

[xxxbadfishxxx]

Thanks for your replies. What i want is a consitent skimmer that doesnt skim one day and not another. A skimmer that has little to no chance of overflowing, an economical skimmer and one that is at the very least a little quieter then the bakpak.

[xxxbadfishxxx]

octopus?

[Flint&Eric]

that skimmer does not exist and quite honestly, even with in sump skimmers as "economical" part of the search... is tough to find.

if you want to quiet your back pack and improve performance, power it with a mini jet or put a silencer on the intake of your current pump, buy a luft pump and use a limewood air stone...

the rest are no improvement over the bakpak except for the mce imo.

[xxxbadfishxxx]

can you point me to a silencer? If you do add an air pump and limestone do you open the air on the pump feeding the skimmer? I did the maxijet upgrade and got the venturi feeder and when its completly closed its quiet, but super loud when you open it up, would a silencer solve this? Would an air pump and limestone make just as much noise?

[Flint&Eric]

well if you buy a cheap air pump it will be noisy, but putting something like a mouse pad underneath will quiet vibration of any pump. the luft pump+limewood will definitely improve performance.

you make the silencer. all you need is a film canister, filter floss, and a drill to drill the hole for the air line and holes for air to pass through... it's a muffler....

look at BM and BK's to get an idea.

[USC-fan]

Get a sump, you will be happier in the long run....