Skimmer suggestions needed

R

river rat

Guest
1st off I know that you need a good no make that a great skimmer, due to money problems (g/f loosing her job) I can't afford the top of the line skimmer. What would be my best bet for one in the $200 dollar range. I have a 225 FOWLR (100lbs live rock 60 lbs of lbs and another 100 lbs. of soon to be l/s). Have a small sump 25 gal; I will soon making a 55 sump with a refugium in the middle of it. So if anyone has any suggestion I would much appreciate it.
Thanks
David
 

bas12547

Member
I do not have a cheap suggestion, just one to avoid. I bought a seaclone because it was cheaper. It cleans well, but I have had several battles with leaks. Wasn't designed by a plumber.
Brian
 

marinerock

Member
HEY RIVER....
KENT MARINE NAUTILUS TE TURBO-EDUCTOR PROTEIN
SKIMMER W/ A MAG-DRIVE #700 PUMP....
EXCELLENT SKIMMER...HIGHLY RECOMMEND...
REGARDS...
MARINEROCK
 

toddpolish

Member
I bought the KM Nautilus TE too....still researching and buying equipment (so I haven't seen it in action yet). Glad to hear that it has gotten good reviews here...
 

steve40

Member
I use a seaclone and it works very well and for your size tank I think it would be in the $200 range. There have been a couple of stories of them leaking but it hasnt happend to me yet. Definately recomended.
 
R

river rat

Guest
thanks for all the input, i got a AQUA MEDIC, got a good deal. I'll see how it does.
David
 

marinerock

Member
HEY TODD...
ONE THING WHEN YOU FINALLY HOOK IT UP....
ADJUST THE WATER LEVEL IN THE COLUMN ABOUT 1/2"-1"
BELOW THE BOTTOM OF THE BLACK COLLAR ON THE WATER COLUMN...
THATS THE BOTTOM OF THE COLLAR THAT THE CUP SITS ON...
IF YOU DO IT THIS WAY ... THE SKIMMER WILL PULL THE
FILTHIEST GUNK OUT OF THE WATER INSTEAD OF JUST
SO-SO DIRTY WATER....
IF YOU NEED ANY HELP WITH IT...JUST LET ME KNOW
REGARDS....
MARINEROCK
 

toddpolish

Member
Marinerock,
not sure I understand what you're saying. how to adjust the water level...???
couple other things...
Kent Marine suggests using Rio 2100 with this...well...we all know how Rios are junk...so I bought a mag drive 7 to power the Nautilus TE...
seems like the Mag Drive is a lot stronger of a pump than the rio and both are about the same GPH. is this right...what gives???
also, I hooked up the Mag to the Nautilus te (tested it in the sink - my tank's plumbing not done) and it seemed that the outflow from the skimmer produces a lot of bubbles. Is it possible to have a direct tube from the TE's outflow to the return pump???? and would this even solve the bubbles problem?
 
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