What's so wrong about RedSea Prizm Skimmer???

[panosb]

Basing my reef-future at your plentiful experience, I would like to set my new question to this forum...I'm about to start my first reef aquarium, having gathered my basic equipment, which is:
- ~250lt (water volume) cubic tank (LxWxH = 70x60x70 cm)
- external canister filter (SERA - 1300lt/h)
- 3 powerheads (one at 1400lt/h and another two at 900lt/h)
- fluorescent illumination(for the beginning 4x25W HighOutput T5's-NOTE:planning for a combination with MH!)
- ReverseOsmosis unit
- salt (RedSea)
- LR & aragonite+LS to be purchased...

And my concern is about this essential piece of equipment :
"the SKIMMER"! I have spent endless hours making my market surveys and reading many threads in several forums. The essence I've got until now is a general disappointment about the RedSea Prizm Skimmer(the hang-on, triangle-shaped one). In contrast, the LFS I've chosen to cooperate with, regards this skimmer as a remarkable choice...
What is your experience-opinion about this Skimmer and would you introduce this to me, taking into account my tank's volume and this skimmer's relatively low cost? Does this choice raise any efficiency problems or operational flaws? Would RedSea Prizm be inappropriate as my first skimmer? PLZ, try to be as specific as possible!

 

[Anonymous]

I believe there are other skimmers that are superior to the RedSea Skimmer. I base this claim on anecdotal evidence only, but there's a lot of it. Can I ask how much the RedSea is?

 

[Juck]

The Prizm works,, no doubt about that,,,, I have one myself. What is wrong is the tank size rating given by the manufacturer. They say it is rated for a 90g tank, which is plain ridiculous,,, and the 300g rating for the Prizm Pro is pure fantasy.

I've used my Prizm on several reefs,,,a well-stocked 75g,,,, a 12g Nanocube,, a 37g clown grow-out tank and (currently) my 29g office reef.

It worked fine on the 12g and works adequately on the 29g. I've also used a CPR Bakpak on all these tanks and it is far more efficient than the Prizm.

The Prizm is kinda noisy too,,, and a little fiddly to set-up 'just right'.

If you're married to the idea of a Hang-on skimmer then I would look at the AquaC Remora or (if money is no object), the Deltec Hang-on.

 

[danmhippo]

Noise and gallon rating is two of the biggest complaint I have for Red Sea as well. I've used several makes of skimmer, and I could only recommend 2 for your tank. Euroreef and AquaC. If space allows, I would choose AquaC 150.

I am more partial to AquaC, but lots of fellow reefers on this board swears by Euroreef.

However, I have a question on your choice of external canister filter for the reef tank. If I were you, I would not use any canister filter at all.

 

[Anonymous]

I wil lsecond the Euroreef but its not a hang on.

I have the BAKPAK on my 15G nano and it works good.
_________________
Methadone Rehab Forum

 

[panosb]

I'm talking about the simple Prizm, which rates ~100gal(or 90gal) and comes with the price of approx.
EURO 170 (consider the same amount in US$)

 

[Anonymous]

Prism is a Prism. Loud and I don't think they do that much for there price.

Look into the CPR Bakpak or the Aqua-C Remora
_________________
Rohypnol Rehab Forum

 

[Anonymous]

<---big fan of AquaC...check out the remora.

 

[Anonymous]

Remora or remora pro. If you have the room the overflow works well on the Remoras as well.
Andy

 

[Anonymous]

Remora Pro is for bigger tanks than the Remora...is that how it works?

 

[ChrisRD]

Remora Pro is for bigger tanks than the Remora...is that how it works?

Yes, the Remora Pro is a larger skimmer than the Remora.

 

[wayne in norway]

I have a prism and it skims away quite happily. It is noisy though, and fiddly to setup, and mine flooded when I dared to try to up performance a bit just after xmas. Plus the tank sizes as everyone else states are hopelessly optimistic. And at 170 Euros you're being robbed.

Unfortunately you'll find the much vaunted Remora and CPR's are nearly impossible to get in Euroland, so try to get a Tunze or Deltec instead. Equally nice, available, and you won't have to replace the pump to work with 220/240 volt electricity

 

[JustReefIt14]

what about the red sea berlin skimmers? im thinking about getting the classic model for my future 120g.

 

[Anonymous]

Thats a lot of Euros. What country are you from?
If you buy it, consider that you will (for sure) be buying another one bigger, better soon.

 

[hillbilly]

what about the red sea berlin skimmers? im thinking about getting the classic model for my future 120g.[/quote

I think you could do much better than a "Berlin". These things are very hard to adjust, and they need adjusting often. I have heard they can be modifed to work, but what's the point? Why not buy a good skimmer and have it skim out of the box? Good skimmers you ask? EuroReef, Lifereef, Schuran, Deltec, Aqua Medic to name a few, many good ones out there.

 

[narny]

Deltec MCE600, don't mess about just get one.
Went through 3 skimmers on my way to this one
and i'll never ever go back !!!

 

[fishfanatic2]

I have a prism, it's not that loud IMO, works pretty well, but I wouldn't use it on anything above 50 gallons. The Pro I wouldnt go above 110. The manufacter claims are bogus.

 

[SnowManSnow]

I recommend the AquaC Remora HOT skimmer. I own one and am very pleased with it. The LFS that so strongly suggests the Prism simply wants to make a big sell... thats why they love it so much! Keep in mind too that many ppl who work in LFS don't really have a clue about reef keeping outside the store (I'm sure there are also many exceptions so don't shoot me).