Best Venturi Skimmer Under $450 [?]

Berlibee · May 19, 2016

Thank you! :)

nitro · May 19, 2016

Another +1 for life reef this skimmer just works and works well..
Nitro

Paul B · May 26, 2016

$450.00? People spend $450.00 for a skimmer! OMG for $450.00 that skimmer would have to be made out of gold and Christie Brinkley, Angelina Jolie and Any one of the Victoria Secret Supermodels would have to personally deliver it to my house and take me out for drinks, twice.
I don't think that is likely to happen. Maybe they will take me out once, but not twice as that is absurd. :eek:

jason2459 · May 26, 2016

Paul B said:
$450.00? People spend $450.00 for a skimmer! OMG for $450.00 that skimmer would have to be made out of gold and Christie Brinkley, Angelina Jolie and Any one of the Victoria Secret Supermodels would have to personally deliver it to my house and take me out for drinks, twice.
I don't think that is likely to happen. Maybe they will take me out once, but not twice as that is absurd. :eek:

And $450 is a cheap skimmer...

Berlibee · May 26, 2016

I don't know ... 450 sounds just like a good big skimmer price for me. It's expensive but normal market price.

mcarroll · May 26, 2016

???

for a 50 gallon tank?!?!?

If there something out there that can make $450 for a 50 gallon skimmer seem "normal" then I clearly am taking the wrong prescription! o_O:p

Seriously a $100 used AquaC Remora or Urchin is all it would take to skim that volume of water very very well. $200 if you want to insist on brand new.

Paul B · May 26, 2016

I think mine cost me about twenty bucks to make. :D

I guess I am just cheap. :(

Berlibee · May 26, 2016

mcarroll said:
???

for a 50 gallon tank?!?!?

If there something out there that can make $450 for a 50 gallon skimmer seem "normal" then I clearly am taking the wrong prescription! o_O:p

Seriously a $100 used AquaC Remora or Urchin is all it would take to skim that volume of water very very well. $200 if you want to insist on brand new.

:D

jason2459 · May 26, 2016

mcarroll said:
???

for a 50 gallon tank?!?!?

If there something out there that can make $450 for a 50 gallon skimmer seem "normal" then I clearly am taking the wrong prescription! o_O:p

Seriously a $100 used AquaC Remora or Urchin is all it would take to skim that volume of water very very well. $200 if you want to insist on brand new.

I was being more sarcastic then anything as it was Paul I was replying too. The monitary cost is all relative. For a 50g yes that $450 budget has a LOT of options out there but not for a true venturi driven skimmer. DIY would be cheaper.

If going DIY this is where I got a couple mazzei injectors at a pretty good price
http://bigbrandwater-com.3dcartstores.com/search.asp?keyword=mazzei

Kynar 1" or 3/4" will do it. Make sure to take the spring and ball out of the air intake.

Berlibee · May 26, 2016

SVS2-24 is in this range :)

Paul B · May 27, 2016

jason2459 said:
I was being more sarcastic then anything as it was Paul I was replying too.

.

That's OK< I get that a lot. :D

Here is my venture valve for my 5' skimmer. I think it cost a buck or a little less. :)
It makes very fine bubbles. I am sure it would not fit in a commercial skimmer. At least I don't think so, but I never looked that close to a commercial skimmer.

Blitzie · May 27, 2016

Another very happy Lifereef owner here both skimmer and calcium reactor.

Plain and simple they just work

Berlibee · May 27, 2016

And why no one is talking about Deltec? :)

overclockwise · Apr 5, 2018

You can also look at Becket style skimmers like AquaC EV line. They're hard to find but once in a while I see them in shops listed for clearance prices ($100-$150 for an EV-120). Just add a Jebao DC Pump and you're looking at a non-needlewheel skimmer for about $160-$210.

EDIT: bah - necro =(

mcarroll · Apr 5, 2018

It happens. Enjoy the company. :D

Coincidentally I just noticed today that AquaC appears to have sold out to Cobalt.

Apotack · Apr 5, 2018

If you’re in that price range lifereef is a no brainer

Whipples · Apr 5, 2018

Another Lifereef vote! Picture provides all proof. Also, I have not cleaned the neck or cup other than using the drain valve since I installed it 4-5 months ago and I've made 1 adjustment since it broke in.