Skimmer comparison - 12 different skimmers - Page 15

96p993 · #**351** 01/16/2005, 09:48 PM

double your pleasure!!

OUinLA · #**352** 01/16/2005, 11:37 PM

John, I haven't updated the brackets in a while because the skimmers keep growing. Right after I posted tha last bracket (weeks ago) I learned that many other companies wanted to get involved. So I am not sure what skimmers are at Dave's or if there are anymore on the way. Like I mentioned, Dave is really busy right now but hopefully around mid week he can give me and updated list and I will make a more current bracket.

"Bubble King vs. the Patriots" LOL

littleprince · #**353** 01/17/2005, 01:07 AM

Is the Via Aqua pump not with the Seio impellor? That was my understanding of what made it so good?!

cmagallon · #**354** 01/17/2005, 01:08 AM

I'll check the impeller in the morning.

Quote:

Originally posted by littleprince
Is the Via Aqua pump not with the Seio impellor? That was my understanding of what made it so good?!

jpeavytx · #**355** 01/17/2005, 01:09 AM

.

JohnM99 · #**356** 01/18/2005, 04:04 PM

Was a Pacific Coast Import needlewheel included in the list? Not much available to read on these - looks like a reasonable design, with a low price -
http://www.pacificcoastimports.com/p...83B296840&c=24
These are now being sold at Premium Aquatics
http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merch...pacificskimmer

That's all you need - more suggestions! Like another hole in the head.

OUinLA · #**357** 01/19/2005, 12:26 AM

John, I don't think we have that skimmer available to us

littleprince · #**358** 01/19/2005, 09:52 PM

Hey, how come this thread is all but dead?
And so is the reef frontiers one?
The web cam has not worked for me for days.
Whats going on?
I was excited to hear about the Via Aqua.
Also has anyone verified the impellor in use on the pump?

arconom · #**359** 01/19/2005, 10:24 PM

I think there was some network tweaking going on.

moonpod · #**360** 01/19/2005, 11:18 PM

Dave's been having all kinds of trouble with his home network and server etc...

chriscobb · #**361** 01/20/2005, 01:22 AM

What are the results so far??? I honestly would like to know why the price is so high on the Deltecs'???? From pics i've seen they don't look that great.....JMO

OUinLA · #**362** 01/20/2005, 03:51 AM

Chris, are you looking for results of the current batch of skimmers or the previous two batches? First round the Aqua C advanced and in the second round the ETSS advanced. There are no results other than those.

Maybe Doug can answer more about the Deltec pricing but they are very good skimmers and the Eheim pumps are modified.

crab0000 · #**363** 01/20/2005, 08:48 AM

When will the results and pics from the second round be up? I keep checking the Reef Frontiers thread, but there hasn't been anything on there lately.

moonpod · #**364** 01/20/2005, 10:37 AM

Steve, I know that Dave has been really busy with work lately (contrary to popular belief reefkeeping is not his fulltime job) and he's been having all kinds of problems with his home network and server which has eaten up more time while he fixes it.

Chris, the price differences first off are not all that great once you compare to other recirculating skimmers. But yes, they do still cost more. Once you've seen a sedra driven skimmer vs an eheim driven unit you'll see the difference. It's not an even playing field--the eheim just seems to work that much better. I have NOT seen the smaller aquabee units (H&S or Deltec) or the newer dolphin run ERs as yet (though that will change shortly), but I don't expect that much difference from the dolphin pumps. Frankly, the Dolphins IMO, aren't a whole lot different than the Sedras. They both are made somewhere across the pacific pond for cheap and then brought over here and "adapted". JMO, but the change to dolphin is to just make 'em "different" and MAYBE to help accomodate for the "new" needlewheel they are making, though that doesn't really make sense b/c they say it will retrofit into the older sedras....which makes one think that there isn't really any significant difference in how the old sedras and the new dolphins "spin" the wheels....

crab0000 · #**365** 01/20/2005, 10:48 AM

Hmmm, wonder if I could retrofit an Eheim to be a recirculating pump on my ES8-2 while maintaining the Sedra in it's normal configuration? Anyone think it would be a worthwhile mod?

moonpod · #**366** 01/20/2005, 11:01 AM

no b/c the eheim is gonna cost serious bank.

crab0000 · #**367** 01/20/2005, 11:03 AM

Oh well, maybe another Sedra.

moonpod · #**368** 01/20/2005, 11:05 AM

that'll be easy enough. You need to get some of those uniseals and get out your DIY gear and go for it.

rufio173 · #**369** 01/20/2005, 11:18 AM

Hey moonpod,

How much better would you say the eheim pumps work when compared to the sedras? I mean, I've heard ratios as high as 3 to 1 and honestly, I just can't believe that. It seems too ridiculous because the eheim needlewheel does not look significantly different than the sedra needlewheels. They look similar in size and the needle configurations are only slightly different.

Since you own both, did you get a chance to look at the differences between the two needlewheels? Does anyone have pics of the differences between the two needlewheels.

Peace,
John H.

crab0000 · #**370** 01/20/2005, 11:39 AM

Just have to find time between teaching, master's classes and a 3 year old

. One day ( I hope).

delv · #**371** 01/20/2005, 12:07 PM

I've got both the Eheim 1260 needlewheel and Sedra 9000 needle wheel...the wheels look similar. I haven't counted the pins or measured their distances but look similar. I've noticed an improvement in the Eheim (Deltec really) over the Sedra (or Dolphin...very similar).

d.

rufio173 · #**372** 01/20/2005, 12:10 PM

Hey Delv,

Thanks for the observation... I really just find it hard to believe some of the reports out there of an H&S or Deltec outstripping a Euro-reef by 3 to 1, when physically, there seems to be very few differences between all three designs. You can only optimize so far with these things.

Peace,
John H.

AJtheReefer · #**373** 01/20/2005, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by moonpod
no b/c the eheim is gonna cost serious bank.

And I bit confused over this. It is my understanding that the Eheim pump used on most of the European skimmers is the 1260/1262 model with a neddle wheel? I can buy those online for 120 dollars or so (no needle wheel of course).

Based on some of the Deltec skimmer's price, it looks like these pump add $200+ to the price of the skimmer (AP600 vs APF600).

I'm confused to why the huge jump in cost.

rufio173 · #**374** 01/20/2005, 12:35 PM

Actually AJthereefer,

If you were to buy a pump alone, you would be paying about 500 dollars for each eheim 1260 pump with needlewheel. That's the price they charge for replacement pumps.

There have been a lot of reports out there that the eheims with needlewheels are heavily modded in house, but then you get reports that nothing but a needlewheel has been stuck in the impeller. I really don't know what to make of it... but I doubt anything they could do to the pump would substantiate the kind of price they are asking for those pumps. But alas, if you've got the money, why not get the "best". Honestly, I'd rather get a Bubbleking if I were going to pay out that kind of cash, where I know each pump has been heavily modded and tested in house.

I know many will disagree with me on the bubbleking statement, but when you get up to prices over 2000 dollars, there is very little difference in price between the skimmers and the ratings.

Actually, has anybody been following mojoreefs air driven skimmer with the "advanced" synthetic air diffusers from aquatic eco. I'm really thinking about giving it a go. Seems to be a really neat idea, and the best air injection per watt ratio. It'd be cheap to implement as well.

Peace,
John H.

delv · #**375** 01/20/2005, 12:36 PM

I dunno about a threefold jump in skimming power. I would be hard pressed to say any more than it works better...It's more stable and its adjustability is much greater (perhaps due to the stability, not just the air valves included in the Deltec).
The companies have decided that is what they want to charge for their needlewheel/mopdification of the Eheim...that's the primary reason they are expensive.

d.