REEF OCTOPUS CLASSIC 2000 HOB review?

[nanomania]

Is anyone using this skimmer? I was looking for bh90, but its not availabke here in india, the 2000 hob is available. Is it good? Will i get the same drak thick skimmate?

 

[Mandrew]

I used the Bh1000 for a few years and was impressed. It pulled out thick dark skimmate If properly adjusted

 

[nanomania]

I used the Bh1000 for a few years and was impressed. It pulled out thick dark skimmate If properly adjusted

Was reading a few reviews, and a few suggested removing the elbow to keep the water level from overflowing. Also sometimes the bubbles would leak from the sides of the cup. Is tht true?

 

[Mandrew]

I never had an overflowing problem *except* when turning off the skimmer then turning it back on. Occasionally I would have to start and stop it a few times to insure it didn't overflow but once it was up and going I never had an issue. They come with a gasket that goes around the base of the cup, which doubles as a level selector per say, that prevents water from leaking up through the cup BUT I did notice salt building up around that gasket which means it must have leaked there a little bit. So both of those statements were true with mine but they weren't a hassle to me, didn't cause any serious issues and were manageable problems so to speak.

 

[nanomania]

I never had an overflowing problem *except* when turning off the skimmer then turning it back on. Occasionally I would have to start and stop it a few times to insure it didn't overflow but once it was up and going I never had an issue. They come with a gasket that goes around the base of the cup, which doubles as a level selector per say, that prevents water from leaking up through the cup BUT I did notice salt building up around that gasket which means it must have leaked there a little bit. So both of those statements were true with mine but they weren't a hassle to me, didn't cause any serious issues and were manageable problems so to speak.

What about the elbow of the inlet? Some suggest to remove it. Would u recoming 2000 or bh90 on a 450l low stock reef?

 

[Mandrew]

From what I've seen of the bh2000 it looks like the same basic design as the bh1000 if I'm not mistaken. So at that point I would recommend it. I've not used the bh90 but I did see someone recommending it on here not too long ago. As far as the elbow I'm not sure which one you're talking about and I never took any parts off of mine.

 

[nanomania]

From what I've seen of the bh2000 it looks like the same basic design as the bh1000 if I'm not mistaken. So at that point I would recommend it. I've not used the bh90 but I did see someone recommending it on here not too long ago. As far as the elbow I'm not sure which one you're talking about and I never took any parts off of mine.

Kool. I think if i dont get the bh90, will go for 2000

 

[ahiggins]

I have one for my 40 gal frag tank-light stock/light feeding. Barely pulls any skimmate. I end up turning it off for 12 or so hours every other day or so. Its mostly quiet. I do notice sometimes after feeding fish eggs (when it goes crazzzzzy) that bubbles will come out of collection cup cover because theres holes there.
Overall, I really like it. I ended up putting a filter sock on the return pipe (originally because of the micro bubbles) and it acts as a mechanical filtration :)

 

[Mandrew]

Kool. I think if i dont get the bh90, will go for 2000

If I remember correctly the BH90 is like a cone skimmer that hangs on the back? Which seems like it would be better than the square bh2000 anyways. Personally I don't think you can go wrong with any reef octopus skimmers.

 

[nanomania]

If I remember correctly the BH90 is like a cone skimmer that hangs on the back? Which seems like it would be better than the square bh2000 anyways. Personally I don't think you can go wrong with any reef octopus skimmers.

True, thts y i wana go for bh90.

 

[nanomania]

I have one for my 40 gal frag tank-light stock/light feeding. Barely pulls any skimmate. I end up turning it off for 12 or so hours every other day or so. Its mostly quiet. I do notice sometimes after feeding fish eggs (when it goes crazzzzzy) that bubbles will come out of collection cup cover because theres holes there.
Overall, I really like it. I ended up putting a filter sock on the return pipe (originally because of the micro bubbles) and it acts as a mechanical filtration :)

Does it produce a lot of sound???

 

[ahiggins]

no, not really. More of a waterfall type sound from the return. The motor doesnt produce any sound.

 

[nanomania]

no, not really. More of a waterfall type sound from the return. The motor doesnt produce any sound.

Thanks

 

[nanomania]

Does the 2000 have toomuch bubbles issue? As it might create salt creep.

 

[Maritimer]

I've got a 2000 on my 65 gallon reef.

It _will_ overflow on restart if the elbow and bubble cup are attached. When I'm doing a water change, I remove the bubble trap / cup until after restart. When the power goes out, I have my son (if I'm not home) remove the cup until power is restored.

It does make a lot of bubbles for me, but a big part of that is that I feed the tank by adding food to the HOB refugium return, which is located right next to the skimmer's intake. As soon as a bit of food goes into the skimmer, the bubbles begin to flow . . . I find that if I wipe nearby surfaces down with RO/DI once a week or so, the salt creep doesn't become much of an issue.

I find that my skimmer is most effective if it's taking water right from the surface, which sucks air into the inlet. This does produce a slurping sound. Not a deal-breaker in and of itself, but I'm not in love.

It does pull some pretty nasty goo from the tank - so it gets to stay until the upgrade is completed, and may get moved to my quarantine tank after that.

~Bruce

 

[nanomania]

I've got a 2000 on my 65 gallon reef.

It _will_ overflow on restart if the elbow and bubble cup are attached. When I'm doing a water change, I remove the bubble trap / cup until after restart. When the power goes out, I have my son (if I'm not home) remove the cup until power is restored.

It does make a lot of bubbles for me, but a big part of that is that I feed the tank by adding food to the HOB refugium return, which is located right next to the skimmer's intake. As soon as a bit of food goes into the skimmer, the bubbles begin to flow . . . I find that if I wipe nearby surfaces down with RO/DI once a week or so, the salt creep doesn't become much of an issue.

I find that my skimmer is most effective if it's taking water right from the surface, which sucks air into the inlet. This does produce a slurping sound. Not a deal-breaker in and of itself, but I'm not in love.

It does pull some pretty nasty goo from the tank - so it gets to stay until the upgrade is completed, and may get moved to my quarantine tank after that.

~Bruce

What if the elbow is removed completely? As a few sayvthat it avoids overflow. & What if i add a small sponge instead? That might reduce bubbles i guess.

 

[Maritimer]

I don't know that removing the elbow could be done - it's the same piece that attaches to the acrylic side of the skimmer, which would leave water dribbling down onto the floor pretty much all the time?

You certainly could remove the extension that goes into the bubble-trap, but that leaves you with more bubbles in the display. Wouldn't be dangerous (in fact, it would probably be safer), but kind of unsightly.

There is a sponge that wraps around the cup, and does help with reducing bubbles - but it could use some assistance sometimes. (>__<)

~Bruce

 

[nanomania]

I don't know that removing the elbow could be done - it's the same piece that attaches to the acrylic side of the skimmer, which would leave water dribbling down onto the floor pretty much all the time?

You certainly could remove the extension that goes into the bubble-trap, but that leaves you with more bubbles in the display. Wouldn't be dangerous (in fact, it would probably be safer), but kind of unsightly.

There is a sponge that wraps around the cup, and does help with reducing bubbles - but it could use some assistance sometimes. (>__<)

~Bruce

I mean the inside elbow. Is that removable?

 

[Maritimer]

Ah ... I honestly have no idea. I've never tried to move it, and would be reluctant to try.

~Bruce

 

[ReeferReefer]

Just chiming in, I have been using the BH-2000 since 2015 with good success. I run it with no sponges at all and it does put off some bubbles. I don't use any of the caps or anything like that as the skimmer is in my back compartment of my 90g AIO. During my time with the skimmer I have found it to be reliable and produce good skim mate. I do find that it needs a deep clean at least once a year to perform well though.