Best HOB skimmer

[Darth]

So I decided to bite the bullet and save for a new skimmer I have a 56 gal tank and right now using a seaclone 150 ( I can hear the gasps already) But it has worked very well for me, it produces lots of nasty skimate, but that is neither here nor there. So I have to see if what all the hype is about better skimmers or are they really just more expensive, and since no one is going to say here try this, if you like it you can buy it. or if you don't like it after a week return it. So I am currently saving my milk money (timmy's money, boy am I cranky) So I am leaning towards the dual pump octopus, that reef canada sells. Unless there is something better, and or more affordable. Any and all input is appreciated

[saltynewb]

I have HEARD good things about Aqua C remora, with the additional skimmer box mod. I know that tandao runs it on his 150G

[Tyler.L]

i got one and its awsome darth pick one up one of the better investments you could have, also theres some better hob like sthe Bakpak etc...

[Darth]

well I am looking at the best I can get for around 200-250, I have seen some used remora for about 100, but is it worth it to buy a new one or should I buy used??

[Tyler.L]

get a used one they'd already be broken in and upgrade the pump also the filter box i dont know if its worth it to get or not cause the micro bubbles subside after a little break in time

[Darth]

I know adam was selling one with a rio 1700 pump for under $100, it was just missing the o ring for the cup but I can replace that

[saltynewb]

Dont know if still available, but I think Ray had one for sale w/ Mag 7 pump. I believe it was remora Pro model.

[RossW]

I do not have either but I have heard that the dual pump Octopus is a more efficient skimmer than the Remora.  If I buy a skimmer I will go with Octopus.

[pitabread]

The Deltec MCE-600 is regarded as one of the best HOB skimmers out there.  Of course, it'll set you back about $500-600.

I use a Coralife Super Skimmer 125.  It's got it's ups and downs, but has been decent for the money (couple hundred).  One thing I would recommend is modding the outflow because the stock bubble trap box kinda sucks.  I have mine modded to flow into an Aquaclear 110, which makes for more even disbursement in the main tank.

[Darth]

see my thing is if I am gonna spend a couple hundred bucks, I don't feel I should have to mod anything. I want to get a good one at a reasonable price, that will perform as it's suppoised to. I can get a css-65 with a mod, for like $100, but I will only hem and haw and wonder if I can do better.
I just cleaned the sponge on my seaclone 150 at 5pm last night, now less than 24hrs later this is what I get


So as you can see when I say the seaclone works well for me I am not kidding so I really want something that is going to outperform this

[RossW]

So as you can see when I say the seaclone works well for me I am not kidding so I really want something that is going to outperform this

To be the devils' advocoate... do you need a better skimmer?

Keep in mind, this is coming from a guy who is not sure he is going to skim at all, although I suspect I will once I have the money.

[redbelly]

Even the ccs 65 is a huge upgade from the seaclone 150. Have a look here:
http://ovas.ca/index.php?topic=14218.0

The Octopus is better yet again.

As for the Deltec HOB I have only heard great reviews about them as well but i have never tried one myself.

[Agnate]

Yeah, I'm thinking I'm going to pick up a HOB Octopus when I get my skimmer, as you can supposedly keep your heater in it (as it's pretty large), plus the pump is internal, so you don't see it in the tank.  You could also use the filter area in the Octopus as a small refugium, you just have to skip on the sand bed portion (ie. just add some live rock rubble and chaeto). 

[pitabread]

see my thing is if I am gonna spend a couple hundred bucks, I don't feel I should have to mod anything. I want to get a good one at a reasonable price, that will perform as it's suppoised to. I can get a css-65 with a mod, for like $100, but I will only hem and haw and wonder if I can do better.

To be frank, a couple hundred isn't that much for a skimmer.  You're talking a piece of equipment that can fetch thousands for high end models.  And that said, the Coralife will do it's job stock.  It's just that the diffuser box takes up a lot of tank real estate, so modding it to get rid of the box is again, imho, a good thing.

So as you can see when I say the seaclone works well for me I am not kidding so I really want something that is going to outperform this

Unless you are having water quality issues, I wouldn't bother switching.  And again, a couple hundred isn't going to get you a top of the line skimmer.  AquaC's and Coralife's may be decent, but they still have their issues as I'm sure some browsing at ReefCentral will attest.

[Darth]

To be frank, a couple hundred isn't that much for a skimmer.  You're talking a piece of equipment that can fetch thousands for high end models. 

yes thousands for large reefs, we are talking a 56gal HOB skimmer it's not going to run into the thousands.

[pitabread]

yes thousands for large reefs, we are talking a 56gal HOB skimmer it's not going to run into the thousands.

Fair enough, but I was pointing out that in terms of pricing, there aren't many ~$200 models.  Most decent skimmers for what you want will be in the $250 to $500 range.

Also FWIW, the advice I received when I was skimmer shopping was to buy one rated well above the tank size I'd be using it on.  I also have a 56 gallon and opted for the Coralife 125 instead of the 65 after being warned the 65 probably wouldn't cut it.  Naturally everything depends on bioload, but better safe than sorry I suppose.

[Tyler.L]

darth check aquariacanada
http://aquariacanada.com/Classifieds/showproduct.php?product=476&cat=3

[RossW]

Here is a little comparison I did of prices of Coralife and Octopus:

The Octopus DNW are not sold as HOB but I have heard you can mod them to hang.


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[Darth]

now will a better skimmer help with coral growth and what not? Will it help to keep algae a bit more under control between water changes

[speckledmind]

With Skimmers, ( and pretty much everything else in Saltwater ), you have to get past the Myths, and there are tons of them coming from retailers and users.

No two tank is the same, so what ever the equipment you use there is a great chance it will work differently for different users.

There are two things to consider in a skimmer, and what you can get out of it,
- a lot of wet skim ( of witch is not worth much because it's simply water ).
or
- a lot of dry skim ( that's the stuff you want to pull out of your tank ).

Bottom line is, keep it simple and keep it fun, if it does the work don't sweat it no matter what it's called or how much you paid for it.

The Seaclone has been put down for years ( like a lot of other equipment ), but the bottom line is that it works.

Here is what my Seaclone 150 skims out on a regular basis, on my 50 Gal. tank.

PS : I cleaned the cup a few days ago.

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