Protein skimmer -- where to start

[bjlled]

I am looking for a protein skimmer for a 125gallon tank + ~55 gallon sump/refugium. The only skimmer I've ever used was a remora, because thats what everyone told me to get.. best period hands down for that application.
I have no idea where to start/what to look for/how to shop for this skimmer. Please help.

 

[spiderwoman]

What is your budget?

 

[veeraj87]

google it or use a famous marine page that i cant tell you otherwise ill get in trouble but hint is it has marine and depot in its name ... pretty reliable or go to ur lfs it might be cheaper

 

[bjlled]

I dont have one. I want to understand what I am buying and why I am choosing A over B, C, D, or E.

 

[bjlled]

I want to understand Internal vs External vs Internal/External. Recirculating vs Not recirculating. What is better, and why. I dont know what else to look for in a skimmer, to compare this one and that one, I have no idea what is better.

 

[natclanwy]

If you liked the remora you should look at AquaC's EV series its operation is similar to the remora since they both use the water injection to create foam. I just upgraded my skimmer to the EV-180 and so far it is great took me a couple of days to get it broke in and producing good foam and now it just pulls consistant green nasties out of the water daily. The biggest difference between the two is that the remora is a HOB model and the EV series need to be run in a sump. They also can be mounted outside the sump if you need that feature to save space in the sump, but if you are using a 55 for a sump you should have plenty of room for the skimmer in the sump.

 

[sciknen]

get an octopus im gettin one for my 55gal
ive heard alot of very good things from people
they are made out of acrilic not cheap plastic liek asm
ill be puttin it in my sump i have to build

 

[bjlled]

I've heard I can do a lot better for my money than the AquaC EV180. I want to understand the skimmer designs so I can make a decision.

 

[bjlled]

I've read an article about the various kinds of protein skimmers. It seems as if the needlewheel is the most advanced, however the needlewheels can have reliability issues, because the needlewheels have a tendency to break. That being said, one should make sure that there are replacement needlewheels available.
I still dont understand this recirculating vs non-recirculating.... or internal vs external, and why you'd choose one over the other.

 

[1journeyman]

Originally Posted by bjlled
http:///forum/post/2506053
I've heard I can do a lot better for my money than the AquaC EV180. I want to understand the skimmer designs so I can make a decision.
I'm a huge fan of Aqua C for what it is worth. They work great, and really are rock solid. The fancier a skimmer tries to get, the more parts that get clogged and break...

 

[1journeyman]

Part of the choice of skimmer will be dictated by where you are going to place it. Height and footprint, as well as space needed to remove collection cup all need ot be looked at.
Where are you putting the skimmer?

 

[natclanwy]

I cheated and picked up the EV-180 used with a pump for $215 shipped, I don't know if you can do better for the same money or not it all depends on which reviews you read. I chose the EV-180 because of its design over all other things, I like the idea of not having a venturi to clog, and I am not totally convinced that recirculating skimmers are much better than a standard venturi skimmer, and I have no experience with ETSS's downdraft skimmers. Probably the best performance for your dollar would go to airstone driven skimmers they are far simpler to set up and use and most are fairly inexpensive with the air pump being the most expensive part plus the need to regularly buy new airstones since limewood doesn't last very long in skimmer duty.

 

[bjlled]

I will be putting the skimmer in the stand. I have 24" of height. It could go in the sump or not in the sump. Doesn't matter. I'm concerned with performance and reliability.
I understand the "If theres more to it, there's more to break". Thats _really_ logical.

 

[natclanwy]

Originally Posted by bjlled
http:///forum/post/2506128
I've read an article about the various kinds of protein skimmers. It seems as if the needlewheel is the most advanced, however the needlewheels can have reliability issues, because the needlewheels have a tendency to break. That being said, one should make sure that there are replacement needlewheels available.
I still dont understand this recirculating vs non-recirculating.... or internal vs external, and why you'd choose one over the other.
A recirculating skimmer uses a dedicated venturi pump to inject air into the skimmer instead of using the same pump to bring water from the tank and inject air. These types of skimmers either need to be gravity fed or a second pump is used to circulate the water throught the skimmer.
Choosing an internal skimmer or and external skimmer depends on your sump design, I think most skimmers have the ability to be set up either way. An external skimmer would be mounted outside the sump to save space inside the sump. An internal skimmer is placed inside the sump with the advantage if the skimmer overflows it just overflows back into the sump instead of on the floor.

 

[flricordia]

Originally Posted by bjlled
http:///forum/post/2506157
I will be putting the skimmer in the stand. I have 24" of height. It could go in the sump or not in the sump. Doesn't matter. I'm concerned with performance and reliability.
I understand the "If theres more to it, there's more to break". Thats _really_ logical.
Then go with a bare-bones model like the Kent nautilus powered by a Magdrive 7. That's what I use and there is nothing to break and it works great. Rated upto 300g. If you have a heavy fish load expect to dump the smelliest, darkest skimmate imaginable daily.

 

[bjlled]

Originally Posted by natclanwy
http:///forum/post/2506165
A recirculating skimmer uses a dedicated venturi pump to inject air into the skimmer instead of using the same pump to bring water from the tank and inject air. These types of skimmers either need to be gravity fed or a second pump is used to circulate the water throught the skimmer.
So other than price, why wouldn't you choose a recirculating skimmer?
Originally Posted by natclanwy
http:///forum/post/2506165
Choosing an internal skimmer or and external skimmer depends on your sump design, I think most skimmers have the ability to be set up either way. An external skimmer would be mounted outside the sump to save space inside the sump. An internal skimmer is placed inside the sump with the advantage if the skimmer overflows it just overflows back into the sump instead of on the floor.
Preventing messes would be #1 important. I guess the skimmer could leak... or overflow. Are there any advantages functionally to an external skimmer? Are there any disadvantages to an internal skimmer?

 

[natclanwy]

I'm just not totally convinced they are that much better than a standard venturi for the cost plus it still has a venturi. My venturi skimmers needed constant attention to keep the venturi and the airline attatched to it free of salt creep to keep them performing at their peak. I think I would almost go to an airstone driven skimmer before going back to a venturi. I have a CPR SR4 venturi skimmer and it worked well but it worked even better when I used it with an airstone and high capacity air pump than it ever did with just the venturi.
I don't think there is any performance to be gained by using an external skimmer, and functionality ultimately depends on your sump design and how much room you have.

 

[bjlled]

Are the Needlewheels still venturis? The needlewheel just makes the bubbles smaller from the venturi?
For Relatively maintenance free, nonadjustable great simple operation the AquaC EV is the way to go? With the Remora I bust out the injector brush once a month and I'm good. I dont like that I cant really clean the inside of the Remora. I dont think with the EV that will be an issue, right?

 

[natclanwy]

Yes the needle wheels still have venturis they just chop the bubbles up even more than a regular impeller does.
IMO I think AquaC EV is the way to go but I know others on here have different opinions and I know that there are other skimmers out there that perform equally or even better probably than the EV, but its pretty hard to beat the simplicity of the EV's maintence its even easier than the Remora the injector is threaded so all you have to do is remove the hose from the pump and unscrew the injector clean it and reinstall it. I can reach most of the inside of the skimmer and I have fairly large hands but I don't think you would ever get much build up in the bottom of the skimmer that a vinegar bath wouldn't take care of and I doubt you would have to do that very often.

 

[bjlled]

For the money these Octopus Skimmers look really good. My issue with them is they are throwing all sorts of models out there now. Theres the Octopus Needlewheel, the Octopus Recirc, the Octopus Xtreme, and now an Octopus Pro is coming out, which has a different pump. They all look like a good value. I just have no idea which one to go with.
I currently use a remora, and what I don't like is that I can't do anything if its not producing. But otherwize I like it. Maybe the AquaC EV series is for me?