Dalua skimmer feedback

1Bigfish · Sep 16, 2020

Hello fellow reefers!
I’m looking for anyone’s feedback on the dalua great white 7 dc pump skimmer particularly the noise level of the pump and of the skimmer itself (air noise).
I am currently using the Nyos 160 skimmer, I bought it based on its “silent operation” claim. It’s the loudest piece of equipment I am using, the pump hum and air noise.
The dalua gw 7 has caught my interest with a dc pump and silent operation claims.
Is anyone using this skimmer and how do you find the noise? Does it skim lots of smelly stuff?
Thanks for your feedback

jamo130788 · Sep 16, 2020

Following

gerards_reef · Sep 20, 2020

Following as well

1Bigfish · Sep 20, 2020

iamgant said:
Following as well

Nobody seems to be using this skimmer?

ksed · Sep 20, 2020

Not very popular here!

1Bigfish · Sep 21, 2020

ksed said:
Not very popular here!

Why not very popular?

AcanthurusRex · Sep 21, 2020

If you want to buy a skimmer with limited support why not a Deltec?

ksed · Sep 21, 2020

1Bigfish said:
Nobody seems to be using this skimmer?

This is why

1Bigfish · Oct 4, 2020

To those that were following my post. The dalua gw7 dc skimmer rocks.
I decided to go out on a limb and order this skimmer and try it. I tell you I am sure glad I did, this skimmer is quiet. So quiet my eco tech m2 return pump seems loud.
No micro bubbles for a break in period, within a few hours I had nasty skim in the cup.
This skimmer will be replacing my nyos 160 which is loud and does not skim as well as this skimmer does.

ksed · Oct 4, 2020

What water depth are you running it in?

1Bigfish · Oct 5, 2020

ksed said:
What water depth are you running it in?

I’ve got it at 7”

ksed · Oct 5, 2020

1Bigfish said:
I’ve got it at 7”

Interesting! Their website says recommended height of 4-6 inches. Seems low to me.
What level do you have the pump running at? Eg full power?

1Bigfish · Oct 5, 2020

ksed said:
Interesting! Their website says recommended height of 4-6 inches. Seems low to me.
What level do you have the pump running at? Eg full power?

There was a paper inside the box that suggested a height of 7” for a dryer skim and 10” for a more wet skim. I went with 7” and works great. Yes 4-6” seems kinda low.
I have the pump set at level 3

ksed · Oct 6, 2020

Does it have 5 levels?
Also is the outlet wide open or halfway closed.

1Bigfish · Oct 6, 2020

ksed said:
Does it have 5 levels?
Also is the outlet wide open or halfway closed.

The instructions for the pump say it has 20 levels. With the outlet half closed, level 3 seemed to work good for me. Are you thinking on buying one of these skimmers?

ksed · Oct 6, 2020

1Bigfish · Oct 6, 2020

ksed said:
Yup

You’ll be happy with it.
I’ve used vertex omega 150, swc 160, eshopps x160, quantum nyos 160 and this one is the most quiet

Gudhjem · Oct 20, 2020

Thanks for the review Bigfish.

I'm frustrated by the general lack of silent equipment available, and having been struggling to find a quiet small skimmer. The Reef Octopus skimmers with Varios pumps are good -- Varios are my quiet go to return and skimmer pumps -- but they don't make a small enough skimmer with a Varios for my new tank. I bought the Reef Octopus Essence S-130 based on RO's quality Varios pumps, hoping the smaller pumps they use would also be good, and because many users are saying it's silent, but mine is most defintely not silent. It's loud and vibrates horribly. That one gets relegated to a garage tank, while I look for another.

I'm down to the Dalua DC like you bought, or the Deltec 600i. I have a Deltec Fleece Roller and the build quality is excellent. There seem to be few users of either though, so your impression of the GW carries weight.

1Bigfish · Oct 20, 2020

Gudhjem said:
Thanks for the review Bigfish.

I'm frustrated by the general lack of silent equipment available, and having been struggling to find a quiet small skimmer. The Reef Octopus skimmers with Varios pumps are good -- Varios are my quiet go to return and skimmer pumps -- but they don't make a small enough skimmer with a Varios for my new tank. I bought the Reef Octopus Essence S-130 based on RO's quality Varios pumps, hoping the smaller pumps they use would also be good, and because many users are saying it's silent, but mine is most defintely not silent. It's loud and vibrates horribly. That one gets relegated to a garage tank, while I look for another.

I'm down to the Dalua DC like you bought, or the Deltec 600i. I have a Deltec Fleece Roller and the build quality is excellent. There seem to be few users of either though, so your impression of the GW carries weight.

The dalua dc is a great skimmer, 3 weeks of use and it is still so quiet I don’t know it’s there, except to clean the nasty skimmate it makes.
I believe Deltec makes top notch gear as well, I’ve never used any to comment on.
Let me know how you like either skimmer you decide on

Gudhjem · Oct 27, 2020

I decided to go with the Dalua DC skimmer. I'm happy I did.

Overall build quality is solid, but it does lack some polish. The increase/decrease on the control are opposite convention, and the controller does not offer a decent way to mount it. The air hose to venturi connector is weird. in fact, there really isn't one; the hose just sits loosely in a hole in what appears to be a 3D-printed part. Surprisingly, seems to work though. The assembly to adjust the water level is really loose. Doesn't affect operation, but makes it seem flimsy.

That said, it's early, but it seems to skim very well. The attached pic is after a day on a very light bio-load tank.

Also, it is quiet. It's as quiet as any skimmer I've used, maybe the quietest, at least on par with the RO Varios pump skimmers, and MUCH quieter than the RO Essence-130 (which is not quiet at all).

So, for me, the minor polish issues are secondary. Great skimmer.