Xtreme MSX Series Skimmer Owners Thread

dgill · #1 01/06/2008, 01:10 AM

The new Xtreme MSX Series from Marine Solutions have arrived. There are three models: MSX 160, 200, and 250. Back in early December I pre-ordered the MSX 250 and it just arrived. Here are detailed pics:

Here is a close-up of the neck. There is a silicone ring that is recessed inside and the tube of the cup extends slightly (1/2") and fits down inside the black ring. Its snug and I expect the silicone ring will need to be kept clean and and lubricated to make it easy to get the cup off when needed. The cup does have a built in drain. Note the thickness of the black ring and the quality of the routing and finish work. Very good IMO.

One other nice feature, at least on the MSX 250 (not sure about the smaller versions). The bubble plate is actually two pieces and I expect this helps prevent the plate from cracking if the thumb screw is overtightened. Nice touch but maybe ATI and others do this as well?

dgill · #2 01/06/2008, 01:12 AM

Unfortunately I won't have action shots for several weeks as this will be for a new tank I have arriving early next month.

Please share your action shots!

badazztealcobra · #3 01/06/2008, 01:16 AM

GREAT pictures dgill.....

I ordered the MSX250 also, I should have it on Monday.... Im building a stand tomorrow and hope to have everything going by the end of the month... I actually cancelled an order on a BM200, because I was able to get the MSX250 for even less than it cost, so I'm hoping they'll work as well as I think they will based on their specs...

Hoping to see some 250 action shots soon... I've seen some of the 160 and they looked pretty good..... With the two pumps on the 250 it should be VERY nice....

What size setup are you going with dgill ??? Mines going on a 180 display with a 75 sump....

aninjaatemyshoe · #4 01/06/2008, 01:24 AM

Dgill, not to take this off topic, but are you a professional photographer or something? Those shots look like belong as ads in a magazine. The stark white background, the high-powered lighting... You even have the skimmer glistening with beads of water.

badazztealcobra · #5 01/06/2008, 01:26 AM

You should send them to marine solutions and have them put up on the MSX250 page....

luke33 · #6 01/06/2008, 01:35 AM

So what is the neck diameter anyhow, 5"?

dgill · #7 01/06/2008, 01:39 AM

Thanks for the compliments... I'm not a professional photographer but I've had lots of practice taking photos for eBay. The camera is a basic point-and-shoot Sony Cybershot DSC-H7 and the background is a white sheet tacked up to the wall and draped over a card table.

Rinsed the skimmer just before the photos since it had the usual styrofoam dust and debris all over.

BTW, when it came in I thought they sent me the wrong model. badazztealcobra - as you'll see the the box is super compact, but it is very well packed.

ThaNgBOm321 · #8 01/06/2008, 01:39 AM

holy cow.. i though he got those from a site... holy bajeebus...

YzGyz

dgill · #9 01/06/2008, 01:41 AM

luke33 - the INSIDE diameter of the neck is 5 1/2"

luke33 · #10 01/06/2008, 01:45 AM

Beautiful man......Oh, JTCrews went over to MS tonight and put an air meter on the 200 and voiola.....50scfh on the dot! So i'm guessing from the info the 160 does 20scfh, 200 does 50 and the 250 does 100scfh! Awesome! And you can get the 160 to do 50scfh if you mod it a bit more, but not sure if it can handle it, although an air valve will take care of that.

dgill · #11 01/06/2008, 01:50 AM

Yeah, I can't wait to get this thing fired up and luke I agree, huge potential for mods for those that like to tweak

dgill · #12 01/06/2008, 01:51 AM

badazztealcobra - I have a 210 low-iron rimless on order and like you I was looking at other high-end skimmers (inlcuding BK). I think we're going to be very happy with this skimmer.

JCTewks · #13 01/06/2008, 01:52 AM

the 160 should do 50 as well...I posted a reply to the Xtreme 160 thread that should remedy the 20scfh issue. And I forgot my air meter, but they told me they had a dwyer on it earlier that day and it was pulling 50. I'm going to try and get back up there this week and I'll dbl check that air reading....but i'm sure there will be plenty of pics and readings by then

JCTewks · #14 01/06/2008, 01:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by dgill
Yeah, I can't wait to get this thing fired up and luke I agree, huge potential for mods for those that like to tweak

Yeah, the Volutes on these are HUGE...you could get a lot of mesh in there

BTW, the bubble plates are in 2 pieces so that they can be removed from the skimmer completely for cleaning.

luke33 · #15 01/06/2008, 02:01 AM

100scfh.....who needs mods with those #'s! lol

aninjaatemyshoe · #16 01/06/2008, 02:04 AM

Would there be a way to recirc mod these? They are so nice looking for the price, but I can only go with a recirculating skimmer.

JCTewks · #17 01/06/2008, 02:16 AM

the Sicce's don't do well in open air...they will run hot and risk burning them up. the 160 sould be modded I bet just by enclosing the base and having the pump sit in a closed chamger below the skimmer.

saltydragon · #18 01/06/2008, 02:19 AM

hell yea... a recirc version would be sweet......but with the o ring on the neck like that i wonder how good it seals....

saltydragon · #19 01/06/2008, 02:23 AM

my sump has about 10" of water and i cant raise the skimmer ....im hoping someone can do a test run in 10" of water and see how it does....this is the only thing thats keeping me from ordering one right now.

aninjaatemyshoe · #20 01/06/2008, 02:31 AM

I would run it in-sump. I just want it to work so that I can feed it from my overflow and so it won't be affected by changes in the water level within the sump.

badazztealcobra · #21 01/06/2008, 02:33 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by saltydragon
my sump has about 10" of water and i cant raise the skimmer ....im hoping someone can do a test run in 10" of water and see how it does....this is the only thing thats keeping me from ordering one right now.

Theyre supposed to be in 8-10 inches of water... and if it does a little better at 8 or 9, just build a skimmer stand.... not a big deal.

mg426 · #22 01/06/2008, 02:36 AM

I am most likely going to get one, Probably the 160. Its going on a 125. If it will pull 20 LPM that is double what I am getting from my euro reef pump. I just hope the info keeps coming. !!!!

dgill · #23 01/06/2008, 02:58 AM

Bottom of the bubble plate after being removed. As JCTewks and hahnmeister obseved, this split-plate design allows the bubble plate to be easily removed through the neck of the skimmer.

Here is the area below the bubble plate. Note the clear acrylic deflector. I'm sure this helps eliminate the chance for microbubbles in the sump.

Here is one of the pumps with the pump cover removed. The mesh mod could have been a little better. This is the only complaint so far.

badazztealcobra · #24 01/06/2008, 03:07 AM

Great pictures..... I cant wait to see a 250 in action.....

dgill · #25 01/06/2008, 03:16 AM

Surely someone else has one of these up and running by now... please post pics!