What skimmer are you using? Are you happy with it?

[luis angel]

I'm running Eshopps S-120

 

[JeffB418]

Reef octo hands down

 

[spsick]

Got another Ultra Reef Akula for my new tank and both models have been the most consistent, never overflowing or finicky skimmers I’ve ever owned.

 

[Idech]

Simplicity DC240. Very quiet and does a good job. I wish I had gotten the size up though but this is my first skimmer and I was lacking experience.

 

[skey44]

Reef octo is good. I really like my ultra reef

Ultra reef FTW here.

 

[Imrahilwjz]

Due for cleaning. I bought this used and it was probably broken in when I got it. The pump (a Sicce) did fail and release copper into the water, but I have no idea how many miles it had on it. It's also possible that it froze since the tank crashed during an ice storm

 

[Koty]

I have the Maxspect MJ400. Very quiet and efficient It has two issues: Needs to be hooked to its own 5 min delay surge protector as it will overflow after a power outage. Also its water level control knob stopped working long time ago. I do no fix it as I run it extra dry.

 

[Lloyd Heilbrunn]

Coralife 220 in a HOB set up on a largely fish only 150 without a sump.

Let me get to the good News first, when it got set up, it skims pretty well.

However, to get it set up I had to do way too much DIY **** for my taste.

I hate the DIY ****, I'm the least handy person in the United States…

First of all, the pump is extremely heavy, and only connected to the skimmer body intake with plastic tubing over nozzles.

It kept falling off, until I found a plastic connector in a hardware store, and still was a PITA to fasten it on.

Secondly, the outtake from the skimmer, kept leaking at the connection, and I had to seal it with silicone tape at the suggestion of my friend at the LFS.

Thirdly, it stops producing bubbles inside the skimmer body, every once in a while, because the two air intakes seem to get clogged.

Not a good product for the money, IMO.

Unfortunately, it seems like HOB choices are limited.

Another issue that I just remembered was that I had to have the lid specially made at plastic company because the footprint into the tank was ridiculously big.

 

[cperry7467]

Anyone with a reef octo ext they want to share pictures of? Curious to see how they're plumbed and laid out. Trying to plan mine out.

 

[Luisn17]

Reef octopus 250 and love it. I had a bashsea 8-30 which is a power house but hard to clean and very noisy in comparison to the octopus.

 

[Aquariumaddictuk]

I'm using a nyos quantum.
Good performance & strong build quality but does have a tendency to vibrate if not stripped down & cleaned every month or so.dialling in has been a bit of a pain & it does need adjustment sometimes several times weekly.
I do find myself tempted by deltec units when I see them running.

 

[Reefer_Marc]

Used to have a skimz skimmer, not too happy with it. It was very finnicky and hard to control, in the 5 years i had it i had to replace the pump, which was like 200 dollars as well. It was not too easy to take apart to clean it, the screws were just cheap plastic and actually broke off, which prevented me from controlling the waterflow after. No connector on the silencer to put on a co2 scrubber or something, so you have to disconnect the silencer to connect that. Cup was not too wasy to screw off, so parts of the waste just fall down in the water again. It also got some other problem, and while i was on holiday it stopped skimming (maybe a little before that already), and when i came back my nitrates were up and my lps couldnt be rescued anymore

Switched to a red sea dc skimmer, since i already have other of their equipment, and its very convenient with their app. I can control lights, wavemakers, ATO and can monitor the temperature all in one app.
Also the drain i find incredibly useful. Its a long hose with a valve at the end, so no need to dismantle anything on the skimmer. Theres also a little brush inside, and if you turn the lid it cleans the inside. Also a sensor to turn down the power when the cup is full and it sends notification to the phone.
So far, can definitely recommend!

 

[EliMelly]

I have Red Sea DC skimmers in both of my tanks. I bought into the RedSea ecosystem when returning to the hobby late last year after 22 hiatus. These skimmers seem to need a lot more care, tweaking, etc then I remember every doing long ago. They work but I’d probably look elsewhere if doing over.

I had one I think they stink, I made the mistake of buying into the Red Sea ecosystem big mistake. The ultra reef skimmer I have now is absolutely amazing.