Best external skimmer

[sschafer]

Actually Riotfishdude, if you are using a Mag you must have tried to save a few "bucks" because that is certainly an inferior pump for an Aerofoamer. The Mag pumps are not pressure rated and can not compete with Iawakis on a beckett skimmer.

-Steve

yup,if a few bucks here and there is a concern,definitely go with the inferior skimmers,i spare no expense,i want the best,and thats the Aerofoamer hands down,even that comparison link does it no justice,and the mag24 would only be needed in the 48" skimmers,the 24 inch one's are fine with a mag12....Riot....

 

[sschafer]

Mike,

The Euro-Reef CS8 and CS12 series now come in external versions. I have the insump CS8-3 on my 120 (+200 worth of sum and refugium) and really like it. I looked at all the skimmers and if I was going to go with a Beckett skimmer I would have gone with a MyReef MR-3. It is a lot less expensive then the Aerofoamer and IMO just as good. Andy was also very responsive to my questions etc. I ended up going with the Euro-Reef for two reasons. 1) I have never heard anything bad about them and everyone that has one thinks they are great. 2) I needed a new skimmer right away and Andy had a couple of weeks backlog. I do not regret for a second getting the CS8-3.

JMO,

Steve

Thanks everyone for your replies. It is still a tough decision to make but I know it is going to have to be an external skimmer and I am looking more towards an aqua c or an aerofoamer. Its a tough choice but like wolfman said 250 bucks is a lot more for the aerofoamer. Any more info would be great. Thanks

 

[Riotfishdude]

nope,just cant be bothered with external pumps,the mag is doing great,but if Iwaki is your thing,i understand, they are great pumps,we can debate that one in the "what is the best external pump" thread when it arises....

wolfman,sorry to sound sarcastic,the title of the thread is "what is the best external skimmer" and not "what is a good skimmer but costs a little less then the best"...as to the title of the thread it seems that you do agree with me (and hopefully have seen an Aerofoamer in action).....

"Thanks everyone for your replies. It is still a tough decision to make but I know it is going to have to be an external skimmer and I am looking more towards an aqua c or an aerofoamer. Its a tough choice but like wolfman said 250 bucks is a lot more for the aerofoamer. Any more info would be great. Thanks".......

You can buy a 624 Aerofoamer for $499 (maybe less if you shop online suppliers,that is the reefconcepts price) that will suit you extremely well,you dont have to buy the higher priced models,that knocks $100 of that claim......

check out Ebay and the for sale forums at RC and here,you will find many people always selling there AquaC and euro reef skimmers,very rarely will you find an Aerofoamer for sale...there is a reason for that...you will thank me later.....Riot....

 

[Riotfishdude]

oh,and by the way,i am not knocking the aquac and euro reef skimmers,they are both good brands and if you decide to go with one,they are good,just wanted to answer your question on the title of this thread though,and i did.....Riot.....

 

[Ben1]

I have used both the Euro-reef CS8-3 and the Aqua-C ev 120. I now use the ev 120 on my 40 tall and a bullet 3 from PM on my 75. I like the bullet much better then the euro-reef or the aqua c skimmer. It IMO pulls out the largest amount of dry foam and that is what I like. I also like the waste collector that can be used with the beckett and aqua c skimmers.

If I was to start over I would either get a PM Bullet or a MRC becket style skimmer, to me these seem the best. FWIW the Aqua C pulls the lightest foam of all three skimmers for me.

HTH

 

[ChrisRD]

edit

 

[ChrisRD]

Riot...

In this thread some folks clearly thought a larger pump would be "best" on your skimmer. It's also quite apparent that you bought your Aerofoamer used for a very low price.

In a previous post you were looking to buy a skimmer that was "good" (your words) at the time, but is now "inferior" by your definition...

So, for a guy who said "i spare no expense,i want the best" that doesn't seem to add up.

the title of the thread is "what is the best external skimmer" and not "what is a good skimmer but costs a little less then the best"

So you don't consider things like initial cost, price vs. performance, energy efficiency, etc. to be factors as to what is "best" when making equipment purchases (or recommendations)?

From the links above it seems, at the very least, you consider price (when it's your money)...

You can buy a 624 Aerofoamer for $499

Right, it's $500 for the skimmer and another $100 for the pump which brings us to $600. You can get the equivalent ER for $350, the MRC for $400 and the PM for $480 (and those prices include the pump).

 

[Riotfishdude]

you are correct,like many i had no idea that there were these Aerofoamers out there,when i started my tank i took home a skimmer i picked up for next to nothing at my store to start,then my store burnt down,and it was time to move up,i know that AquaC skimmers and such are good and always available for sale used,didnt see much sense in paying full price when like i said they are always for sale used (makes ya wonder why. :lol: ,so i posted on a few boards that i was looking to pick a good one up,later found out about these Aerofoamers after seeing them listed on the MOPS website here in Canada (only distributer of these units here i know of),did some reading up on them online,then came across a guy that had a few month old one that he set up for a customer (aquarium maintence guy),guy didnt want the maintenance of the skimmer,he set up an Eco-system skimmerless instead,and sold me this beast as a good price,after running it now,like many that have not seen one i can truely say that there is no better skimmer (i will add IMO now,since it is such a big deal that even searches have to be done,lol),and any tank i setup from here on will have one wether i have to pay retail (i hate that,its been years) or not..."spare no expense"....but hey,i'm no spokesman for some skimmer company in north carolina,use whatever skimmer you want,couldnt care less..in mine from here on it will be Aerofoamers......Riot.....

 

[t gallo]

dollar for dollar you cant go wrong with ref concepts skimmer's.

 

[t gallo]

you can either install in the sump or external , aero foamer 830 powered by a iwaki 70 = great skimate

 

[t gallo]

it really pulls a lot of organics out of the water.

 

[Mikef1]

I have pretty much made a decision on the aerofoamer 824 but reef concepts doesnt have the pumps on their website or at least I didnt notice them. I was thinking of going with a mag 24 and feeding the skimmer from my sump. Is this the best rout to go with an external?

 

[t gallo]

a mag 24 should be more then fine, i feed mine from the sump the only thing you should be aware of is the skimmer produces tons of micro bubbles so be sure to have plenty of baffles in place in your sump or they will end up in your tank. i ran the drain from the skimmer in a plastic container wich sits inside my sump this way the air bubbles leaving the skimmer have to go to the surface , it helps but baffles are required depending on the pump your using , the stronger the pump the more bubbles leaving the skimmer.

 

[sschafer]

Mike,

You are better off going with a pressure rated pump if possible. I like, and use, Iwakis. They are an external use only pump though. Don't think I have ever seen an internal pump/powerhead that was pressure rated. The other nice thing about Iwaki pumps is that there is almost no heat transfered to the water. You will see a temperature increase using the Mag.

-Steve

I have pretty much made a decision on the aerofoamer 824 but reef concepts doesnt have the pumps on their website or at least I didnt notice them. I was thinking of going with a mag 24 and feeding the skimmer from my sump. Is this the best rout to go with an external?

 

[Mikef1]

I ended up ordering a aerofoamer 824 from reef concepts, I figure this way I will be happy with the skimmer and not wish I had have gotten the aerofoamer just like I do with everything else. I just ordered the skimmer but did not get a pump yet and was thinking of just getting a mag 24. Who has the best prices you guys have seen on these? I dont want to spend the money on an Iwaki even though I know they are a better pump but they arent submersible like the mag 4.

 

[Riotfishdude]

ah,i see the error in my ways,it is a 624 Aerofoamer that i have,not the 824 i was told i had,thats why the mag12 is working so well with it.....

great choice on the Aerofoamer!,with seeing the production from mine i can only imagine what you will be getting with that 824,you will be very happy with Frank as well,great guy,unbeatable customer service....

good luck with your tank!,that Mag24 will do well i'm sure....Riot....

 

[Mikef1]

Riot, How much does your 624 pull out on an average per day.

 

[Riotfishdude]

i have it adjusted to pull out the foam extremely dry,while looking at the foam as it bubbles up from the chamber it looks beige,when i touch it with my hand,it is dry and very black,have to scrub my hand to get it off my skin,i have a line running from the drain into an old IO bucket (cut a hole it the middle of the lid and squeezed the line into it),been getting around a gallon a week of black sludge into the IO bucket,along with the thick black sludge that i wipe from around the collection cup every few days,its killed off my algae prob in a couple weeks and really cleared my tank water,you will be thrilled i'm sure.....Riot....

 

[RGibson]

Yes MRC skimmer can be used external and the best pump to used is the Iwaki MD40 RLT it works well with one Beckett 1408 injector. RGibson

 

[RGibson]

mrc skimmer will pull out dark sludge two cups per day every day. RGibson