mudplayerx
Active Member
I purchased visi-jet by Aquarium Systems for a very cheap price a few months ago. It turns out it was cheap because it is a complete piece of garbage. While searching the internet for skimmer brand ratings, I came across this helpful article. I would like to share this with the people on this board:
Protein Skimmer Impressions
By Steven Pro
In this particular column, I wanted to briefly go over some of the models of protein skimmers that I have used over the years and give you my impression of their installation, performance, and any ongoing maintenance or reliability issues I found with them. I am not going to discuss protein skimmers in general, why you should use one, or how the various technologies differ. If you need information like that, take a look at my suggested reading list at the bottom.
Below are all the brands and models I have used. They are listed in alphabetical order, not by some sort of ranking of performance. It is my wish that as newer brands or models come onto the market, that this listing be updated by me or other experienced hobbyists and industry professionals. What makes the electronic media so useful is its ongoing ability to be updated and edited, versus an in-print publication
This is by no means a complete listing of every conceivable unit out there. They are merely the ones I have personally used. Also, I did no true comparative testing, a la Consumer Reports. This is purely a collection of my experiences and impressions of each. Lastly, I have never been employed by any of these manufacturers. Nor have I ever received any money or free products from any of these companies. This is solely unabashed, unbiased information from a fellow aquarist and industry professional, with over a decade’s worth of experience in keeping marine ornamentals.
Advanced Acrylics Excalibur Models:
These are a very inexpensive alternative in the skimmer market. The smaller models can be purchased for just over $100 dollars from several online vendors, making them an attractive choice for a new hobbyist setting up their first marine aquarium. They are very easy to install and have an elegant, yet simple manner of making adjustments. These models use the same kind of method of adjusting skimmate production as Euro-Reef skimmers. The pumps run full blast, as does the air intake. The user merely raises or lowers the water/air mix in the skimmer body to adjust the production.
While these are nice units at a good price, I have a few words of warning. I have seen recommendations that the HV-1 (hang-on) and SV-1 (in sump version) models can handle up to 100 gallons. While they are good performers, I would say a more accurate rating would be up to 55 gallons. Their larger brethren, HV-2 and SV-2 models suffer from the same exaggerated ratings. Either would be a fine performer on up to a 90 gallon aquarium, but more would be pushing it, in my opinion. My only other gripe would be with the use of Rio powerheads. I am not a fan of this brand due to reliability issues that I have experienced. I have swapped out the stock Rio on several HV-1 units for an Aquarium Systems Maxi-Jet 1200 with venturi air kit and was very pleased with the performance. It was every bit as good as the stock Rio, perhaps even slightly better, with a much greater anticipated useful lifespan.
Aqua-C Remora and Remora Pro:
I would have to say these are some of my absolute favorite hang-on style skimmers. They are extremely easy to install and adjust for maximum performance. They also are well built, sturdy, and reliable. One note about reliability, I have only used these skimmers with the pump upgrade options (Maxi-Jet for the regular size Remora and Mag-Drive 300 for the Pro). I have never used them with the stock Rio pumps. Also, the skimmer cup can be removed with ease for cleaning, and the manufacturer’s stated tank size recommendations are accurate, in my experience.
AquaMedic Turboflotor:
These skimmers are a fine performer at a reasonable price. Their major downfall is their lack of clear installation instructions. Frankly, these are some of the worst instructions I have ever had to read, likely because of poor translation from German into English. This is truly a shame, because it takes away from an otherwise decent skimmer.
Aquarium Systems Seaclone:
While the ‘New & Improved’ 100 and 150 models are a significant improvement over the first Seaclones to be offered for sale, they still perform exceptionally poorly. There are a tremendous number of hobbyists advocating various Do-It-Yourself methods to improve this type of skimmer and many of these in-the-field modifications found there way into the newer models. Unfortunately, they still just don’t work well enough for me. They are difficult to adjust such that they produce any skimmate at all. Even once they are adjusted properly, they tend to be finicky and require further tuning to continue to produce. And lastly, even when they are working, their production is paltry, watery, and inconsistent. Regardless of how attractive the price is, I don’t recommend anyone purchase one of these. In fact, my opinion is, these skimmers are a blemish on the reputation of an otherwise highly regarded company.
Aquarium Systems Visi-Jet:
I don’t believe these skimmers are being made anymore, but I still see them available through a few mail-order catalogs and several ---- vendors. What can I say about this unit? They were made before the Seaclone and one could say that the Seaclone was a significant improvement over the Visi-Jet. Since I don’t have a high opinion of the Seaclone, I really think the Visi-Jet is a poor choice. I would not recommend this skimmer to anyone. It is amazing a company as large and reputable as Aquarium Systems has not been able to find a way to effectively mix air and water.
CPR Bak-Pak’s:
While not being in the same league as, for example, an Aqua-C Remora, the CPR Bak-Pak 2 and 2R are still nice hang on units at a good price. The Bak-Pak’s are in fact an excellent compromise in a small package. They are not the most efficient skimmers on the market, nor does the included bio-bale make them the best Wet/Dry available, but they are the best combination of those two technologies in a tiny footprint. My biggest complaint with these is their stock use of the Rio powerhead, but an Aquarium Systems Maxi-Jet with a venturi air kit is interchangeable with the stock Rio. Making this substitution should give you a more reliable unit, and at the same time, not detract from the skimmer’s performance.
CPR SR2:
The SR2 is simply an in sump version of the Bak-Pak. It has many of the same pluses and minuses of CPR's hang on style skimmers. Again, it is a nice compromise in a tiny package and at a good price, but simply not the best.
E. G. Danner/Supreme Skilter:
While Skilter filters are incredibly inexpensive, their cheap purchase price is reflected in their performance. They are easy to install and operate, but their very short reaction chamber, coupled with their paltry production of bubbles makes them ineffective. They are a number of hobbyists who have added wooden airstones and air pumps to these units to increase their production. However, once you do all that work and spend that additional money, you have crept up into a different price range, making other skimmers more attractive. My advice would be to invest in a better unit from the beginning.
Euro-Reef CS Series:
These skimmers are beautiful in their simplicity. They are also amazing in both the quantity and the consistency of their product (producing a full collection cup of dark, thick, foul-smelling skimmate every few days when properly installed and adjusted). Installation is a breeze; they are plug and play right out of the box. And, the company’s newly revised sizing recommendations are correct, if not rather modest. My only complaint is with removing the collection cup. The union fitting makes zero clearance possible in tight situations, but the number of turns to remove it is unnecessary. It would be more convenient if they could come up with a one complete turn removal, but this is a trivial complaint in comparison to the performance of the unit as a whole.
Euro-Reef ES Series:
These are ostensibly the same thing as the CS series protein skimmers, although the materials differ. They use the same patented needle wheel technology and the same pumps. The difference is the CS is made of cast acrylic, while the ES is made of cheaper extruded acrylic. This change does not affect the performance, only the purchase price, making these models a real bargain.
Red Sea Berlin Classic Line:
The Berlin line of skimmers can be separated into two different technological classes; the venturi driven Classics and the aspirating Turbo models. The Classic was the original design, and while it was priced reasonably and easy to install, it was difficult to clean and adjust. The ones that I used all tended to suffer from the same ailments. The venturi seemed to attract an unusual amount of calcium deposits and was therefore easily clogged. This venturi was not removable, necessitating taking the entire skimmer off of the tank to be soaked in a vinegar bath to dislodge the obstruction. Furthermore, the air adjustment screw was cheap and inaccurate. Instead of a true needle valve to regulate the air intake, the Berlin Classic relies on a plastic bolt which when tightened merely compresses the neoprene airline.
Protein Skimmer Impressions
By Steven Pro
In this particular column, I wanted to briefly go over some of the models of protein skimmers that I have used over the years and give you my impression of their installation, performance, and any ongoing maintenance or reliability issues I found with them. I am not going to discuss protein skimmers in general, why you should use one, or how the various technologies differ. If you need information like that, take a look at my suggested reading list at the bottom.
Below are all the brands and models I have used. They are listed in alphabetical order, not by some sort of ranking of performance. It is my wish that as newer brands or models come onto the market, that this listing be updated by me or other experienced hobbyists and industry professionals. What makes the electronic media so useful is its ongoing ability to be updated and edited, versus an in-print publication
This is by no means a complete listing of every conceivable unit out there. They are merely the ones I have personally used. Also, I did no true comparative testing, a la Consumer Reports. This is purely a collection of my experiences and impressions of each. Lastly, I have never been employed by any of these manufacturers. Nor have I ever received any money or free products from any of these companies. This is solely unabashed, unbiased information from a fellow aquarist and industry professional, with over a decade’s worth of experience in keeping marine ornamentals.
Advanced Acrylics Excalibur Models:
These are a very inexpensive alternative in the skimmer market. The smaller models can be purchased for just over $100 dollars from several online vendors, making them an attractive choice for a new hobbyist setting up their first marine aquarium. They are very easy to install and have an elegant, yet simple manner of making adjustments. These models use the same kind of method of adjusting skimmate production as Euro-Reef skimmers. The pumps run full blast, as does the air intake. The user merely raises or lowers the water/air mix in the skimmer body to adjust the production.
While these are nice units at a good price, I have a few words of warning. I have seen recommendations that the HV-1 (hang-on) and SV-1 (in sump version) models can handle up to 100 gallons. While they are good performers, I would say a more accurate rating would be up to 55 gallons. Their larger brethren, HV-2 and SV-2 models suffer from the same exaggerated ratings. Either would be a fine performer on up to a 90 gallon aquarium, but more would be pushing it, in my opinion. My only other gripe would be with the use of Rio powerheads. I am not a fan of this brand due to reliability issues that I have experienced. I have swapped out the stock Rio on several HV-1 units for an Aquarium Systems Maxi-Jet 1200 with venturi air kit and was very pleased with the performance. It was every bit as good as the stock Rio, perhaps even slightly better, with a much greater anticipated useful lifespan.
Aqua-C Remora and Remora Pro:
I would have to say these are some of my absolute favorite hang-on style skimmers. They are extremely easy to install and adjust for maximum performance. They also are well built, sturdy, and reliable. One note about reliability, I have only used these skimmers with the pump upgrade options (Maxi-Jet for the regular size Remora and Mag-Drive 300 for the Pro). I have never used them with the stock Rio pumps. Also, the skimmer cup can be removed with ease for cleaning, and the manufacturer’s stated tank size recommendations are accurate, in my experience.
AquaMedic Turboflotor:
These skimmers are a fine performer at a reasonable price. Their major downfall is their lack of clear installation instructions. Frankly, these are some of the worst instructions I have ever had to read, likely because of poor translation from German into English. This is truly a shame, because it takes away from an otherwise decent skimmer.
Aquarium Systems Seaclone:
While the ‘New & Improved’ 100 and 150 models are a significant improvement over the first Seaclones to be offered for sale, they still perform exceptionally poorly. There are a tremendous number of hobbyists advocating various Do-It-Yourself methods to improve this type of skimmer and many of these in-the-field modifications found there way into the newer models. Unfortunately, they still just don’t work well enough for me. They are difficult to adjust such that they produce any skimmate at all. Even once they are adjusted properly, they tend to be finicky and require further tuning to continue to produce. And lastly, even when they are working, their production is paltry, watery, and inconsistent. Regardless of how attractive the price is, I don’t recommend anyone purchase one of these. In fact, my opinion is, these skimmers are a blemish on the reputation of an otherwise highly regarded company.
Aquarium Systems Visi-Jet:
I don’t believe these skimmers are being made anymore, but I still see them available through a few mail-order catalogs and several ---- vendors. What can I say about this unit? They were made before the Seaclone and one could say that the Seaclone was a significant improvement over the Visi-Jet. Since I don’t have a high opinion of the Seaclone, I really think the Visi-Jet is a poor choice. I would not recommend this skimmer to anyone. It is amazing a company as large and reputable as Aquarium Systems has not been able to find a way to effectively mix air and water.
CPR Bak-Pak’s:
While not being in the same league as, for example, an Aqua-C Remora, the CPR Bak-Pak 2 and 2R are still nice hang on units at a good price. The Bak-Pak’s are in fact an excellent compromise in a small package. They are not the most efficient skimmers on the market, nor does the included bio-bale make them the best Wet/Dry available, but they are the best combination of those two technologies in a tiny footprint. My biggest complaint with these is their stock use of the Rio powerhead, but an Aquarium Systems Maxi-Jet with a venturi air kit is interchangeable with the stock Rio. Making this substitution should give you a more reliable unit, and at the same time, not detract from the skimmer’s performance.
CPR SR2:
The SR2 is simply an in sump version of the Bak-Pak. It has many of the same pluses and minuses of CPR's hang on style skimmers. Again, it is a nice compromise in a tiny package and at a good price, but simply not the best.
E. G. Danner/Supreme Skilter:
While Skilter filters are incredibly inexpensive, their cheap purchase price is reflected in their performance. They are easy to install and operate, but their very short reaction chamber, coupled with their paltry production of bubbles makes them ineffective. They are a number of hobbyists who have added wooden airstones and air pumps to these units to increase their production. However, once you do all that work and spend that additional money, you have crept up into a different price range, making other skimmers more attractive. My advice would be to invest in a better unit from the beginning.
Euro-Reef CS Series:
These skimmers are beautiful in their simplicity. They are also amazing in both the quantity and the consistency of their product (producing a full collection cup of dark, thick, foul-smelling skimmate every few days when properly installed and adjusted). Installation is a breeze; they are plug and play right out of the box. And, the company’s newly revised sizing recommendations are correct, if not rather modest. My only complaint is with removing the collection cup. The union fitting makes zero clearance possible in tight situations, but the number of turns to remove it is unnecessary. It would be more convenient if they could come up with a one complete turn removal, but this is a trivial complaint in comparison to the performance of the unit as a whole.
Euro-Reef ES Series:
These are ostensibly the same thing as the CS series protein skimmers, although the materials differ. They use the same patented needle wheel technology and the same pumps. The difference is the CS is made of cast acrylic, while the ES is made of cheaper extruded acrylic. This change does not affect the performance, only the purchase price, making these models a real bargain.
Red Sea Berlin Classic Line:
The Berlin line of skimmers can be separated into two different technological classes; the venturi driven Classics and the aspirating Turbo models. The Classic was the original design, and while it was priced reasonably and easy to install, it was difficult to clean and adjust. The ones that I used all tended to suffer from the same ailments. The venturi seemed to attract an unusual amount of calcium deposits and was therefore easily clogged. This venturi was not removable, necessitating taking the entire skimmer off of the tank to be soaked in a vinegar bath to dislodge the obstruction. Furthermore, the air adjustment screw was cheap and inaccurate. Instead of a true needle valve to regulate the air intake, the Berlin Classic relies on a plastic bolt which when tightened merely compresses the neoprene airline.
