Pondering the MONSTER skimmer

Ahhh.. You have big skimmer syndrome.
That gets around.

 

Ahem, the RC models of Euro-Reef are external. RC stands for recirc which means the needlewheels only recirculate the water within the body (water tight). You need another small pump to put water thru it.

 

http://euro-reef.com/products-csseriesrc.shtml

 

You could always add a second skimmer to take the load off the coral life. By the way, I'm glad to see the corallife skimmer to be working so well because I was thinking of getting the larger CL skimmer for my 120g. I'm also looking at the ASM.

 

Gresham I was looking at the ASM recirc setup. They don't offer it as a model but http://www.asmskimmer.com/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=1 sells ASM and offers to do the recirc mod for $20. I was still under the impression that the Sedra leaked if it was external. I was really hoping someone would chime in on the beckett skimmers...

 

Raven I think the CS220 would do great on your 120 FOWLR set up they are good skimmers.

 

As of now the options:

Coralife 220:
Pro-Already use to the coralife, twice as cheap as the other options.
Con-Not as big as I wanted to go.

ASM G4Plus:
Pro-If I were starting from scratch this would be a done deal. 8.5" dia and the Sedra 9000 sweet.
Con-not starting from scratch and getting the ASM involves redoing my sump.

EuroReef Recirc:
Pro-Functional everything I want a large external recirc needlewheel skimmer.
Con-Good lord the price. I have never seen the point of spending a couple hundred of dollar on an acrylic masterpiece when two weeks after you install in in looks like crap.

I am dropping the beckett for a 75g it just wastes too much electric and the monster pump needed are usually noisier.

The long shot: I am look into someone possibly building me a big air driven skimmer.

I still have a week and a half to think about it until I get the money

 

Becketts consume more electricity and are more prone to "shutting down" aka stop skimming then a needle wheel. Becketts get clogged far mroe often then a needle wheel as well.

ER may look pretty, but they are a truly superior skimmer then the ASM functanality (sp?) wise. The pump is quieter and draws more air. The skimmer can take more abuse and they're contruction will stand up to more abuse. For the money, ASM's are a beast though

 

Think the ER is out now too. The best reason to get the euroreef is the new line of pump the are replacing the sedra with. The "draws more air" Gresham was talking about. I have been doing some research. The inside the top of the line American made Euro's beats a Tawianese heart. That right the new ERs run on a Gen-X pump. I really don't understand it because I have not heard the best of thing about those pump. In beta test that ER did on the new RC models a stainless steel bit in the top of the pumps started rusting! That and EuroReefs almost hostile customer Serice has me scratching them off my list.

Heah I already own a skimmer from Pacfic Coast Import why would I pay $500 for a new one.

 

As long as you have this thread open. At long last I'm just finishing the sump/refug for my new 300 and need to add a skimmer. For a project this size I've been working with a local guy. He has a used external Nova 648 protien skimmer he is recommending for $200. It's supposed to be some 48" tall monster. I can't find anything on it. Before I open a new thread, does anyone know about it?