AquaC EV-180 or Bullet 1

Hi Guys,

I was wondering if anyone would recommend either the AquaC EV-180 over the Marine Bullet 1, or vice versa. I have a Marineland skimmer now and I am not really crazy about how sensitive it is or if it is doing its job. Any pros and cons of either? Thanks!!!

Regards,
Ivy

 

Either one of those is much much better performing then the marineland. I had a marineland skimmer in one tank and then have a bullet skimmer now and it runs circles around that marineland skimmer. I do have the bullet 2 model but at my shop I have a bullet one and its a huge improvement over what you have.

 

I'm not hatin'.... I have no doubt either would be better, but honestly I would not go with a injection skimmer. Plenty of stories of them being finicky, and my experience with my EV was the same. Although to be fair I did not have a real constant water level with the EV. It just alwaysa needed tuning.

Needle wheels give nothing up to injection skimmers and use much less power in the process.

 

Thanks guys! If you don't recommend one of the injections, which would you recommend? I am looking for something that is user friendly and pretty easy to set. The water level in my sump is pretty stable now. Thanks!!!

 

AquaC and Precision Marine are great companies and make good skimmers, just power hungry.

Octopus seems to be the most popular and tested. Vertex by Alpha is making a big name for themselves for being the best bang for the buck and a very well designed skimmer. Warner Marine is a great company with cylinders and cones, Octo just came out with their cone. MSX is another good brand with great cones and cylinders. Can't go wrong with any of them. If money is not a concern any thing by ATB, Bubble King or Alpha rocks.

The best thing I like about the two needle wheel skimmers I have had is that they are truly set and forget. I clean my K2 once a week. My BK Mini ran awesome. Founds it's venturi about half closed with calcium and it still ran great. No change after it was clean. Even Precision Marine makes cylinder needle wheels, but I don't really see anyone running them. Just their Bullets.

 

I have found my Bullet 1 to be a consistent pain in the butt. Many other folks have had good experiences with them, but I would not buy another. This does not make them a bad skimmer. It does a good job, is just high maintenance for me. I will be buying a needle wheel skimmer which uses less power to do the same job more consistently and effectively in the very near future.

 

I have been running the AquaC EV-180 on a 75 gallon DT with a 30 gallon sump. It performed very well.

We have change the marine system over to a 120 gallon DT with a 55 gallon sump and 30 gallon refugium and chose to go with a PM Bullet-3...we are likely to overstock the new tank as we like the fish...

 

Thanks again for the replies guys. I am looking for any feedback at all and appreciate it. I looked at the bubble king prices, and they are pretty steep. I am sure they are great but I am looking for something slightly less expensive. Which Octopus model would you recommend? They seem to have quite a few. Are they pretty easy to set up and are they sensitive? Thanks again!!!!

 

Bubble Kings are the Rolls Royce of skimmers. High end does not equate to performance. They are built like tanks and are beautiful to boot. They are just poop catchers though. Good poop catchers.

A Octo Ex 160, Vertex IN-100. MSX-160 Warner Marine AS-150. The Vertex IN-100 would be a good match. The others are a little on the big size for you... not TOO big.... plenty of room to upgrade in the future. easily handle a 90-120. (Same as a EV-120 and Bullet 1) Generally most folks will buy twice as big as they need for future room. More than that is a waste of money space and power.

This is for your 55g right?

 

Thanks again Powerman. This is for my 55. I am really just looking for a skimmer that will work and am not that worried about the money. I thought that the Marineland was okay, but I just don't know anymore. Do you have experience with the Octopus skimmers? Thanks again!!!!!