I think your best bet is this skimmer here can be a hang on and in sump easy to use really effective low maintence and a reliable skimmer;
Coralife Super Skimmer Needle Wheel
lance
I am starting a 55g tank and am looking for a skimmer. Being new I kind of want to keep things simple to start off. I was thinking of a hang on unit that in time I could move to a sump. Any info or reviews and/or applications in which you are using your skimmers would be great. Thanks
I think your best bet is this skimmer here can be a hang on and in sump easy to use really effective low maintence and a reliable skimmer;
Coralife Super Skimmer Needle Wheel
lance
http://s704.photobucket.com/albums/ww49/lancelesko/
http://www.youtube.com/user/CoralMan24
www.marinebreeder.org
Quarantine quarantine quarantine your tank's will thank you and so will your corals u'll also avoid a lot of aggravation with pests, predators, or disease's that come on coral's or live rock or fish
Thanks for the help. I will look into
Hi Bryan and to TR. I use an old school Red Sea Berlin Classic skimmer and have been pleased with it. That model has been replaced by this RedSeaFish.
Carmie
Only disasters happen fast!
Carmie's 54 Corner Tank
Carmie's Cube
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your welcome
lance
http://s704.photobucket.com/albums/ww49/lancelesko/
http://www.youtube.com/user/CoralMan24
www.marinebreeder.org
Quarantine quarantine quarantine your tank's will thank you and so will your corals u'll also avoid a lot of aggravation with pests, predators, or disease's that come on coral's or live rock or fish
I was actually looking at a berlin skimmer on ebay.
http://s704.photobucket.com/albums/ww49/lancelesko/
http://www.youtube.com/user/CoralMan24
www.marinebreeder.org
Quarantine quarantine quarantine your tank's will thank you and so will your corals u'll also avoid a lot of aggravation with pests, predators, or disease's that come on coral's or live rock or fish
I have never had a problem with the impeller shaft in the 4 years I have had my skimmer.
Carmie
Only disasters happen fast!
Carmie's 54 Corner Tank
Carmie's Cube
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your very lucky I have gone through several both at home and at work as well as my friend who worked with them had alot of problems with the skimmers and really wasn't too much for them but if your not having problems then hey you got 1 out of 1000 that actually does the work.
lance
http://s704.photobucket.com/albums/ww49/lancelesko/
http://www.youtube.com/user/CoralMan24
www.marinebreeder.org
Quarantine quarantine quarantine your tank's will thank you and so will your corals u'll also avoid a lot of aggravation with pests, predators, or disease's that come on coral's or live rock or fish
Thanks for the input. You have been helpful and given me a good place to look.
anytime
lance
http://s704.photobucket.com/albums/ww49/lancelesko/
http://www.youtube.com/user/CoralMan24
www.marinebreeder.org
Quarantine quarantine quarantine your tank's will thank you and so will your corals u'll also avoid a lot of aggravation with pests, predators, or disease's that come on coral's or live rock or fish
Lance, how do you maintain the pump on your skimmer?
Carmie
Only disasters happen fast!
Carmie's 54 Corner Tank
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I clean it monthly take it completely apart as suggested by manufacture clean it real good but also treat it with the uttermost care to not disturb the shaft's position in any way re-assemble and put back together I do weekly, work and daily depending on what system and what skimmer i am working on. How bout yourself?
lance
http://s704.photobucket.com/albums/ww49/lancelesko/
http://www.youtube.com/user/CoralMan24
www.marinebreeder.org
Quarantine quarantine quarantine your tank's will thank you and so will your corals u'll also avoid a lot of aggravation with pests, predators, or disease's that come on coral's or live rock or fish
About the same. I pull all of my pumps and powerheads monthly, disassemble and clean them, reassemble and then run them for an hour or two in a bucket of vinegar water before returning them to my tank. I think the vinegar really helps slow the build up of calcareous material in the impeller housing and on the impellers.
Carmie
Only disasters happen fast!
Carmie's 54 Corner Tank
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I agree I like to use white vinegar and never use bleach on anything at all I'm not thrilled with bleach or trust it.
lance
http://s704.photobucket.com/albums/ww49/lancelesko/
http://www.youtube.com/user/CoralMan24
www.marinebreeder.org
Quarantine quarantine quarantine your tank's will thank you and so will your corals u'll also avoid a lot of aggravation with pests, predators, or disease's that come on coral's or live rock or fish
I would look at the CPR Bak-Pak line of skimmers. They are very reasonably priced and work quite well.
Protein Skimmer Impressions
I went with the coralife super skimmer. It has only been about a day running and it seems to be working. I am seeing a lot of micro bubbles entering back into my tank. I am not impressed with the big box sitting in my tank. It just seems to be collecting these bubbles until it over flows. Is there something else I could do that might not take up so much space and resolve the micro bubble issue. thanks for all the advise so far.
reef octopus also make a good skimmer for the money.
always go a least 3x the tank size rating. for example ... if you have a 50 gallon tank, get a skimmer for a 150 gallon tank. skimmers are usually over rated by at least 3x by the manufacturers.
lReef lKeeper (Bobby) Admin and Reefer
Water ...
Custom 4x2x1 60 gallon, 40B sump
Equipment ...
6x54w HO T5 fixture, 300+g rated Frankenskimmer, ATO, 3 Media Reactors (1 p04, 1 N03, 1 Carbon)
www.lmas.org
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http://s704.photobucket.com/albums/ww49/lancelesko/
http://www.youtube.com/user/CoralMan24
www.marinebreeder.org
Quarantine quarantine quarantine your tank's will thank you and so will your corals u'll also avoid a lot of aggravation with pests, predators, or disease's that come on coral's or live rock or fish
This advice is not always true. I think an (in sump) Euro Reef RS80 (rated at 420lph of air, manufacturer rated for a 80g tank) is a perfect match for a 55g, while a Octopus Extreme 160 (800+lph of air, with a grossly oversized neck) would be way overkill and would be very sporadic on a 55g. Likewise, a Vertex IN-100 (420lph air, rated 60-100g) would be perfect for a 55g, while the Vertex IN-180 720lph air, rated up to 180g) would be way way overkill.
For a 55g, I would recommend a minimum of 250 lph of air draw, preferably 400+ lph, and a skimmer that has a neck no larger than 3". The skimmer should have a minimal amount of turbulence, and the pump should be relatively efficient (less than 30w).
HOB skimmers are usually less efficient than in-sump or external models due to restricted body size or compromised design, so you will generally not get the same performance as an in-sump or external out of the same air numbers.
The best HOB skimmer (by many accounts) would be the Deltec MCE600. It is a very expensive skimmer, but sometimes you can find a used one for $300-$350. There is someone selling a near-brand new one on RC right now (including media box accessory) for $475.
Next best would probably be the Warner Marine H2 ($320), which was just refreshed with a bubble plate. Handles up to a 100g tank.
Third would probably be an Octopus BH-800S ($225), which has the popular Sicce 2500 pump. The Sicce pumps have a little problem with the impeller not working as well when it spins in reverse. This is due to the way the volute of the pump is designed. I would do your research to make sure there are no other issues with this HOB before buying. Here is a good review: http://www.fishlore.com/er_octopus80...einskimmer.htm
So those would be my 3 picks, in order of preference. Each one of these skimmers contains the pump, so you do not have an ugly pump or overflow box in the tank.
There is also another choice, the Bermuda Rogue HOB ($310). It is an injector skimmer, so the pump would be located in the tank. I really do not know much about these.
ATB also has a skimmer called the Multi-Skimmer. It is a cone skimmer, draws 300+lph of air, and is insanely expensive ($650). Seems to work well, and ATB has a superb reputation, but that price is beyond my ability to think straight.
Last edited by rroselavy; 11-08-2009 at 04:59 AM.
Oh, and do not overlook the Tunze 9005 or 9010 skimmer ($285-$366). Either would be installed in your tank, taking up a 4.4"x7" footprint. The 9010 is basically the same skimmer as the 9005, and is often recommended over the 9005 for its larger skimmer cup and in-sump conversion attachments included.
Twice in the past I have found a used or even near-new 9010 selling online for as little as $200. IIRC, there were some problems with some of the Tunze skimmers pumps (or fittings?) made in 2007, so I would determine the model year if possible and verify the performance that the seller has obtained when purchasing a used model.
This is an interesting blog entry into HOB skimmers. Don't forget to read the comments as well:
5 High Performance Hang on the Back Skimmers | glassbox-design.com
Just wanted to say thanks for all the input. I am new to this hobby but so far it seems like experience is very important. Until I have a little more of that it is nice to know that there are people out there to help me. Thanks
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