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  #1  
Old 12/31/2007, 11:31 AM
glenns glenns is offline
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Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Fort Worth, TX
Posts: 204
Need Skimmer Opinions.

Happy New Year everyone.

While out of town on Christmas vacation, my friend called to tell me my Remora Pro was leaking from the return ledge. So it looks like I may need new skimmer. This time, since I have a sump now, I want an in sump skimmer. So please give me your opinions for an in sump skimmer that is efficient, produces dark skimmate, has a small foot print, is ~18" tall, easy to dial in and reasonably quiet. Since AquaC has worked well for me so far, I've been reading opinions on the EV-120

My tank is 75G w/ 20G Long sump. 80 - 90 lbs of LR and a 5" DSB. A bunch of Zoos, Green Ricordia, Yellow tang, Coral Beauty , Klein's Butterfly, Yellow Tail Damsel and Lawn mower Blenny.

Thanks,
Glenn
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  #2  
Old 12/31/2007, 11:36 AM
JRaquatics JRaquatics is offline
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Location: Schererville, IN
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The aquaC 120 is a finicky skimmer and is not for everyone. But once you understand how it functions and have patience it is a solid performer. I had one one my 90gal for years.
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180 Gal Reefready, 75 gal Sump/Fuge, Reeflo 200 skimmer, 3 250 Reeflux Bulbs in Lumen Bright reflectors powered by coralvue electronic ballasts, PM Kalk reactor, 2 Vortechs, Geo 618 calcium reactor
  #3  
Old 01/11/2008, 12:25 PM
glenns glenns is offline
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Location: Fort Worth, TX
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Anyone using the Reef Octopus EXT 120? http://www.aquacave.com/detail.aspx?ID=1927

This is the only Recirculating skimmer I've found rated for my tank with a foot print that will fit into my sump's input chamber. If you have used this skimmer, does it do a good job of skimming your tank?

I've seen several posts about the DNW series, but I think that one is from a different manufacturer than the EXT 120.

Glenn
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  #4  
Old 01/11/2008, 01:00 PM
flipteg flipteg is offline
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i have one on my 30 gallon tank... it skims pretty consistently... you just have to make sure that you give the feed pump a constant water level as the skimmer is quite sensitive to changing water levels due to evaporation...

this is about 2-3 days worth of skimmate...
  #5  
Old 01/11/2008, 01:55 PM
glenns glenns is offline
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flipteg,

Thanks for the reply. I hope you don't mind a few additional questions. How loud is your skimmer? What is the minimum and maximum water level it requires? What water level offers the best skimming? My stand is not very tall. I think it would just barely fit. How much clearance would you say you need to remove the cup? Lastly, are you using as the feed pump?

Thanks again,
Glenn
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  #6  
Old 01/11/2008, 01:57 PM
grigsy grigsy is offline
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Try Euro Reef. They sell retail now and their skimmers are great.
  #7  
Old 01/11/2008, 01:57 PM
grigsy grigsy is offline
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Try Euro Reef. They sell retail now and their skimmers are great.
  #8  
Old 01/11/2008, 02:28 PM
flipteg flipteg is offline
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Quote:
Originally posted by glenns
flipteg,

Thanks for the reply. I hope you don't mind a few additional questions. How loud is your skimmer? What is the minimum and maximum water level it requires? What water level offers the best skimming? My stand is not very tall. I think it would just barely fit. How much clearance would you say you need to remove the cup? Lastly, are you using as the feed pump?

Thanks again,
Glenn
the aquarium is in a bedroom and i am a very light sleeper... i have my return pump turned all the way down to around 70-90gph because at 150gph, the sound of water trickling down the 1.25" flexible drain pipe won't let me sleep... it sounds like when there is light rain outside and the window is open...

the pump does hum, but light humming sounds doesn't really bother me... the most prominent sound that the skimmer make is a slight trickling sound from the water mixing with air and from the piping for the output... i said prominent but it is still very quiet... not even noticeable when the cabinet door is closed... when i open the cabinet door, the two sounds that i can hear the most is that water trickling and the 6" WalMart fan that i use for cooling... the fan and the skimmer makes about the same level of noise...

i think your question about water depth is about the in-sump version of the skimmer... i have the recirculating version so i can not comment on that... it does not matter what the depth of water is for the feed pump... the most important thing is to provide it with constant water level that will not change due to evaporation... i have a very simple 5.5 gallon refugium with no dividers... i solved the problem by cutting the top of a 1 gallon Gatorade bottle... i then put the main tank's drain pipe, the skimmer's output, and the skimmer's feed pump inside the Gatorade bottle...

for the 120, the clearance to remove the cup is less than 2 inches...

i am using a MaxiJet 600 for a feed pump... i still have a ball valve to restrict the flow and give me control on the flow through... for the size of my tank, the full output of the MaxiJet 600 is too much... actually, even the MaxiJet 400 will still be more than enough... i just happened to have a MaxiJet 600 handy...

here is a picture of the small space i have to work with in the 30 gallon Oceanic cube tank's cabinet...
  #9  
Old 01/11/2008, 02:48 PM
glenns glenns is offline
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Location: Fort Worth, TX
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I guess I did not think about running it externally. That would give me more of foot print. Since the needle wheel pump creates the bubbles, can you not provide the water directly from the over-flow?

grigsy, I did look at the Euro reef, but I don't think I can spend $500 right now. None if the internal models had a footprint small enough for the input chamber in my DIY sump/fuge.
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  #10  
Old 01/11/2008, 03:13 PM
thor32766 thor32766 is offline
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Chuluota, FL
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I have used aquac for a long time and swear by them.
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