DAS EX-3 vs. ReefFlo Orca 200

scarter · #1 01/03/2008, 01:30 PM

I have narrowed my choices for a new skimmer:
ReefFlo Orca 200

or

DAS EX-3

I am currently running two ASM G-3's on a heavily stocked 200 gal (300 total gallons).
I think the asm's are just not cutting it, so I have decided to get a new skimmer.
I would like to discuss the pros/cons of each skimmer and also discuss efficiency and energy consumption.
The price of each skimmer is relatively close in comparison, so I would prefer not to consider price as a deciding factor.

Let me know what you guys think....

luke33 · #2 01/03/2008, 01:59 PM

Reeflo= 1500lph air at 120watts
Das EX3 = 1500lph air at around 70w

Reeflo=$850
Das= $700

Looks like the das is the winner to me.....

scarter · #3 01/03/2008, 02:22 PM

thanks luke, from my research the DAS is supposed to pull 1800 lph. I wonder why we have different measurements?

I feel that judging by lph alone is not a wise decision. there are many other factors that play into the design of a good skimmer.

bath can be ran externally?

scarter · #4 01/03/2008, 02:25 PM

Quote:

[i]<

Reeflo=$850
Das= $700

Looks like the das is the winner to me..... [/B]

The price of each skimmer is relatively close in comparison, so I would prefer not to consider price as a deciding factor.

kdblove_99 · #5 01/03/2008, 02:33 PM

DAS!

Father in LAw has a EX3 on his 210 heavily stocked and that skimmmer rocks!

luke33 · #6 01/03/2008, 02:34 PM

Both are recirc's so both can be ran externally. Actually thats the only way a reeflo will work. There both nice skimmers and will both do the job. I'd take the das if it were me buying the skimmer. But the one drawback is that Das may be hard to get in contact with if someting goes wrong, so it may be piece of mind to get the reeflo.

CATIII · #7 01/03/2008, 02:49 PM

I've been running an EX-3 on my heavily stocked 180 with a 50 gal sump for about 6 months now. If I had it to do all over again, I would have gone with a Reeflo. The 200 wasn't out at the time, so there was a big price difference between the DAS and a Reeflo.

The biggest problem I have with the EX-3 is I can't get it to skim wet enough. The only way I see me getting it to skim any wetter now is by adding a gate valve to the output. Also, they are louder than I expected. Even after quieting down the air intakes, the Aquabees make a constant swishing sound as they chop the air into fine bubbles. Lastly, the Aquabees have a hard time restarting, all 3 of them now. I have always had one that was a PIA to get going, but now I guess they all need cleaning, not that big of a deal I guess, but it would be easier if the skimmer body had a drain. Also, since I'm pushing more water through it then needed to try to make it skim wetter, if my power goes out and the Aquabees fail to restart(like always) when the power comes back on, my stand will most likely get flooded by water coming out of the venturi lines (I need to extend them, but I'm having a hard time finding the slicone tubing).

But other then that, it's been a pretty good skimmer!

HTH

Big D

JRaquatics · #8 01/03/2008, 03:18 PM

Honestly there is no comparison. The Reeflo is a monster compared to the DAS IMO. I tested a local reefers H&S with 3 Aquabs each pulling 5scfh =15.He was happy with his skimmer but ended up getting a Reeflo 250 and I am sure he would never turn back. I also have a DAS aquaB pump and it also only pulls 5-8 scfh. That was the reason I stayed with the King pump on my Aqua Euro because it pulled 10 scfh stock. I know I am pulling more than 40 scfh with the reeflo dart. I will test tonight for sure. But it is not all about the airpull you also have to consider parts, pump replacement, body design, and skimmer water volume.

sjm817 · #9 01/03/2008, 03:27 PM

I think I'd go with the Reeflo. Newer design with a diffuser. One pump to deal with instead of 3. My hesitation might be the 4" neck seems small for the LPH it pulls

luke33 · #10 01/03/2008, 03:31 PM

Yea, i hate when companies do that! But it does seem to work ok with the small neck. If the AB's only pull 5scfh thats terrible. I'd have to check on the das thread about that one though.

JRaquatics · #11 01/03/2008, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by luke33
Yea, i hate when companies do that! But it does seem to work ok with the small neck. If the AB's only pull 5scfh thats terrible. I'd have to check on the das thread about that one though.

I thought there was something wrong with the das AB pump I had bought but after getting the same results from 3 H&S AB pumps I was amazed. This just goes to show that airpull is only half of what makes a skimmer. Because my friends H&S worked great and had a solid head of foam. Still its night and day compared to the Reeflo 200 IMO.

The neck on the 200 is 5inches not 4in. Four inches was the pre production version Premium had.

scarter · #12 01/03/2008, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by JRaquatics

The neck on the 200 is 5inches not 4in. Four inches was the pre production version Premium had.

I Think this statement is incorrect. this is what I saw on the PA website:

Footprint: 14.5" x 17"
-Overall Height: 27.25"
-Chamber Size: 8" x 12" with 3.5" bubble plate (diffuser)
-Neck & Riser: 4" x 8" (note prototype has 3" neck, production model will have 4" neck)
Pump: Sequence Reeflo Dart Needlewheel (restricted)
Air Intake: 1500 LPH
Wattage: 100w - 125w
Water Flow Through: 200gph - 700gph
Tank Size: 150gal - 500gal
Intro Price: $849.95

scarter · #13 01/03/2008, 04:01 PM

JR, what skimmers have you owned in the past and how would you compare them to the reefflo?

I am assuming that either skimmer will blow away my 2 asm G-3's

starting to lean towards the reefflo, wondering if the jump to the 250 is worth it

luke33 · #14 01/03/2008, 04:27 PM

PA is where i got my info as well. I've looked over the skimmer there quite a bit and haven't seen it struggle with air and the neck. Its quite a beast. If the das really only pulls 15scfh in a 8" reaction chamber i'd pass.

ronharel · #15 01/03/2008, 04:42 PM

What kind of NW the AB of the DAS have?
Is it similar to H&S?
What is the cilinder size of the DAS?

luke33 · #16 01/03/2008, 04:44 PM

8" diameter for the ex3

USC-fan · #17 01/03/2008, 04:52 PM

DAS pumps don't pull 5lpm. I run my ex-2 at 450 lph per pump, that is all the 6in can handle.....

The DAS ex-3 is really similar to the H&S A200-3xF2001
http://www.finsreef.com/product.php?...cat=254&page=1

About the same size and uses the same pumps.

If you want the reeflo get the 250. A lot better skimmer....

DarG · #18 01/03/2008, 05:37 PM

The DAS Aquabee pumps pull about 500 LPH each or about 17.6 SCFH .

So the Das EX-3 would pull 1500 LPH total or about 53 SCFH ... all 3 pumps.

... assuming my math is correct.

Actually, they dont pull that much with the skimmer full, it's a little less. But they are all rated at max so the numbers are valid for comparison.

kdblove_99 · #19 01/03/2008, 08:03 PM

I really like the DAS skimmers. I have never seen a reeflo in person. So i cant really judge.

But for the money DAS is a winner

JRaquatics · #20 01/03/2008, 08:05 PM

I'm not saying anyone is wrong but I have a DAS AB pump and have tested the hell out of it. Couldn't understand why I couldn't get the pump to pull more than 8 scfh. So I went to my freinds house and tested his H&S and each pump pulled 5 scfhs. This is the reason I am still running the king pump instead of the AB on the Aqua Euro.

I have owned AquaC 120, Euro reef ES-5-3, 80 & 180, PM-1, ASM-2, AquaEuro 135 classic, Octopus 150 and 200. I have also owned oceanic, berlin and a few other poor performing venturis.

JRaquatics · #21 01/03/2008, 08:14 PM

I am not sure but something changed between the time Jeremy at Premium posted those stats and the current production.

You can see there is very little difference between the body and the neck size.

USC-fan · #22 01/03/2008, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by JRaquatics
I'm not saying anyone is wrong but I have a DAS AB pump and have tested the hell out of it. Couldn't understand why I couldn't get the pump to pull more than 8 scfh. So I went to my freinds house and tested his H&S and each pump pulled 5 scfhs. This is the reason I am still running the king pump instead of the AB on the Aqua Euro.

I have owned AquaC 120, Euro reef ES-5-3, 80 & 180, PM-1, ASM-2, AquaEuro 135 classic, Octopus 150 and 200. I have also owned oceanic, berlin and a few other poor performing venturis.

I find that really hard to believe....

Deltec, h&S and DAS all use the same AB pump.

I think you have lpm and scfh confused.

sjm817 · #23 01/03/2008, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by JRaquatics
I am not sure but something changed between the time Jeremy at Premium posted those stats and the current production.

Good info. 5" is more appropriate for that amount of air. I would definitely choose the Reeflo. Nice big collection cup too. Somebody needs to tell Jeremy to get his act together and fix the website!

JRaquatics · #24 01/03/2008, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sjm817
Good info. 5" is more appropriate for that amount of air. I would definitely choose the Reeflo. Nice big collection cup too. Somebody needs to tell Jeremy to get his act together and fix the website!

That is the sad thing about Premium, Jeremy is no longer with them.

JRaquatics · #25 01/03/2008, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by USC-fan
I find that really hard to believe....

Deltec, h&S and DAS all use the same AB pump.

I think you have lpm and scfh confused.

Sorry, I have a DWYRMB 0-50 SCFH Dwyer Meter. So it only reads in SCFH.
You can see it here as it is beeing pinned with the reeflo 250.