What skimmer are you using? Are you happy with it?

[luis angel]

I'm running Eshopps S-120

 

[JeffB418]

Reef octo hands down

 

[spsick]

Got another Ultra Reef Akula for my new tank and both models have been the most consistent, never overflowing or finicky skimmers I’ve ever owned.

 

[Idech]

Simplicity DC240. Very quiet and does a good job. I wish I had gotten the size up though but this is my first skimmer and I was lacking experience.

 

[skey44]

Reef octo is good. I really like my ultra reef

Ultra reef FTW here.

 

[Imrahilwjz]

Due for cleaning. I bought this used and it was probably broken in when I got it. The pump (a Sicce) did fail and release copper into the water, but I have no idea how many miles it had on it. It's also possible that it froze since the tank crashed during an ice storm

 

[Koty]

I have the Maxspect MJ400. Very quiet and efficient It has two issues: Needs to be hooked to its own 5 min delay surge protector as it will overflow after a power outage. Also its water level control knob stopped working long time ago. I do no fix it as I run it extra dry.

 

[Lloyd Heilbrunn]

Coralife 220 in a HOB set up on a largely fish only 150 without a sump.

Let me get to the good News first, when it got set up, it skims pretty well.

However, to get it set up I had to do way too much DIY **** for my taste.

I hate the DIY ****, I'm the least handy person in the United States…

First of all, the pump is extremely heavy, and only connected to the skimmer body intake with plastic tubing over nozzles.

It kept falling off, until I found a plastic connector in a hardware store, and still was a PITA to fasten it on.

Secondly, the outtake from the skimmer, kept leaking at the connection, and I had to seal it with silicone tape at the suggestion of my friend at the LFS.

Thirdly, it stops producing bubbles inside the skimmer body, every once in a while, because the two air intakes seem to get clogged.

Not a good product for the money, IMO.

Unfortunately, it seems like HOB choices are limited.

Another issue that I just remembered was that I had to have the lid specially made at plastic company because the footprint into the tank was ridiculously big.

 

[cperry7467]

Anyone with a reef octo ext they want to share pictures of? Curious to see how they're plumbed and laid out. Trying to plan mine out.

 

[Luisn17]

Reef octopus 250 and love it. I had a bashsea 8-30 which is a power house but hard to clean and very noisy in comparison to the octopus.

 

[Aquariumaddictuk]

I'm using a nyos quantum.
Good performance & strong build quality but does have a tendency to vibrate if not stripped down & cleaned every month or so.dialling in has been a bit of a pain & it does need adjustment sometimes several times weekly.
I do find myself tempted by deltec units when I see them running.

 

[Reefer_Marc]

Used to have a skimz skimmer, not too happy with it. It was very finnicky and hard to control, in the 5 years i had it i had to replace the pump, which was like 200 dollars as well. It was not too easy to take apart to clean it, the screws were just cheap plastic and actually broke off, which prevented me from controlling the waterflow after. No connector on the silencer to put on a co2 scrubber or something, so you have to disconnect the silencer to connect that. Cup was not too wasy to screw off, so parts of the waste just fall down in the water again. It also got some other problem, and while i was on holiday it stopped skimming (maybe a little before that already), and when i came back my nitrates were up and my lps couldnt be rescued anymore

Switched to a red sea dc skimmer, since i already have other of their equipment, and its very convenient with their app. I can control lights, wavemakers, ATO and can monitor the temperature all in one app.
Also the drain i find incredibly useful. Its a long hose with a valve at the end, so no need to dismantle anything on the skimmer. Theres also a little brush inside, and if you turn the lid it cleans the inside. Also a sensor to turn down the power when the cup is full and it sends notification to the phone.
So far, can definitely recommend!

 

[EliMelly]

I have Red Sea DC skimmers in both of my tanks. I bought into the RedSea ecosystem when returning to the hobby late last year after 22 hiatus. These skimmers seem to need a lot more care, tweaking, etc then I remember every doing long ago. They work but I’d probably look elsewhere if doing over.

I had one I think they stink, I made the mistake of buying into the Red Sea ecosystem big mistake. The ultra reef skimmer I have now is absolutely amazing.

 

[Freenow54]

currently I have a Red Sea Nano AIO skimmer in my tank. Gets the job done. However, whenever my wife and I upgrade our tank we are going to have to get an actual skimmer. That is why I’m asking this question. What skimmers have you used before/currently are using. Are you satisfied with your skimmer, or do you wish you went with a different one.

Depending on your setup a hang on the back I have a Eshops which I like was told Octo makes a better one. In my larger setup have an in sump Octo which works great

 

[Heart of Dixie]

I have been running the same Lifereef for years. It is simple, easy to adjust and does the job making tiny bubbles. Any 900 gph pump gets the job done.

 

[jft]

Spent a fortune on skimmers! Tried Lifereef, Ultrareef, Bubble magus, Tunze and Reef K2. Always went back to REEF OCTO , WELL MADE , THEY work well and Fair Priced!I felt the others mentioned were some cheaply made and overpriced, Now only use reef octo all the time !Wish they were made in The USA and Not china!

 

[EliMelly]

Spent a fortune on skimmers! Tried Lifereef, Ultrareef, Bubble magus, Tunze and Reef K2. Always went back to REEF OCTO , WELL MADE , THEY work well and Fair Priced!I felt the others mentioned were some cheaply made and overpriced, Now only use reef octo all the time !Wish they were made in The USA and Not china!

Interesting on the Ultra Reef I was under the impression it was one of the best in the game

 

[lubeck]

Ultra reef here

 

[skey44]

Wow surprised to hear someone has compared ultrareef and reef octo in real life and would say ultrareef was cheaply made. My ultrareef is the heaviest skimmer I’ve ever felt for its size. It also has some really neat design features that make the cup a lot easier to clean and remove. I haven’t taken the pump out for cleaning (it’s due) but it looks like it has nice Ti screws to get into it and remove the pump.
Reef octopus has always felt very Chinese, the acrylic even seems like low grade Chinese knock off acrylic to me. They work and get the job done but I would not praise their build quality compared to something like the vertex cone skimmer I had before, or this ultrareef akula.
My last reef octo was a SRO EXT 300. While it was a brilliant performer, nothing comparable as far as build quality to the ultra reef. Also the bright red they always use looks like a 10 year olds bmx color. I grew out of it when I was in my teens. I prefer the aesthetic of the all white PVC the ultra reef uses (base and lid are PVC not acrylic which is why it’s so heavy).
Oh and last I’ve never had a skimmer so efficient as my ultrareef akula. It goes in and comes right back out. Densest bubbles you’ve ever seen and virtually nothing sets it back as far as knocking the head down. I have been leaving it off for 6 hours a day just to try and get some nitrate in the tank.
The gate valve they use for adjustment is also clearly labeled and allows for very fine adjustment of the skimmate.

 

[jft]

Well made but no difference in skimming compared to reef octo which is Almost 300 dollars cheaper!