Best HOB skimmer

[tandao78]

I have used a few HOB skimmer on my tank.. let see Seaclone, Coralife, Homemade one..AquaC remora. soon precision marine

The only one i find that is no hassle is the AquaC remora.  It produce a 2-3 cup a day and there is not much adjustment or fiddling you have to do.  How do i know it works best? i have a ORP Monitor that monitor the system health.  YES the remora without a doubt works best.

IF you can find a used one IMO it works the same as new infact sometimes better.  You always have to fiddle around a bit to get the new one to work properly

[littlelil]

I have a Tunze Nano skimmer and i don't find it very effective. However, I have never had another skimmer before so I don't have anything to compare it with. I always find a thick layar of brown crud on the surface on my water, and the collection cup water runs clear, no matter what setting i have it on, whether that be "collect more water" or "collect less water". Either way, the color of the water is never more than dark brown, yet still lots of brown stuff collecting on the surface!

I as well have heard good things about the Aqua Remora.

[redbelly]

Hey Lillian,
Do you have the tunze submerged to the waterline on the skimmer?
Do you have the external stand pipe on it? Not sure if the nano will even take the standpipe but...

The water level is critical on the skimmer without the standpipe just as it is on ever internal skimmer whether it by in your main tank or in the sump.

Also as you have method or surface skimming you will always have this layer on top unless you add something to remove it. A very simple solution is to just add a aqua clear filter and let it run with nothing in it.

[Darth]

Well I bit the bullet and upgraded the skimmer, I bought the single pump octopus with the surface skimmer

Patrick had this one and the dual pump, he said there is a dual pump with the surface skimmer, that he could have by end week, but me being impatient and my money burning a whole in my pocket, I opted for the single pump, as the reg dual pump the pumps hang in the tank, and they are huge.
So my first reaction was this thing is huge. Compared to the seaclone I was using. So Patrick went over with me the setup, seemed simple enough, as do most things when someone who knows what they are doing is showing you.

It took me a minute (well like 15) to figure out how to prime it (this being after Patrick had already shown me) So I got it going, and the first thing that impressed me was the design. This thing is really built well, for those of you out there who own a seaclone you know what I am talking about, the seaclone design is not that great. The u tube that hangs and holds the pump, is flimsy, and the connections (turn and lock type) aren't great. After having the connection arms leak a few times I never slept well always wondering if it was going to leak. The octopus there is no flimsy parts, real solid build. I like the octopus, as it seems to have thought of any problems that may arise, and the worst being micro bubbles, what they did was just put a simple sponge in the return chamber. Yes simple, yet genius. As far as the return chamber it is big enough to put media in, ie: carbon, phosban, live rock, cheato, or a heater. Eliminating the need for an aqua clear or similar, or even a fuge for that matter.

So after running it for now 24hrs this is what it has produced


mind you it has not even broken in yet. So in my humble opinion, if you use a hob, or plan on getting one, you will not be disappointed with the octopus.

[Agnate]

Glad to hear it!  It's what I planned on getting for my 75 gallon.  I'm not sure if it's really big enough for that, but like you said, I don't want two giant pumps on the interior of my tank if I can help it, so I'll just stick to this one.  Supposedly you can also fit your heater in it, which you might want to consider.  I'd be skeptical about putting chaeto in it, mostly because you require a light for it to grow, no?  Doing so would cause both chaeto and other algae growth, which could create problems (like a clogged return, etc.).  Using it for LR rubble, though, would probably work. 

[Darth]

This skimmer should work well for a 75g, there is a dual pump with a surface skimmer that has pumps inside the skimmer you will not be unhappy if you go with an octopus

[CA1]

Hi, I am just wondering how quiet this skimmer is. I need to get an HOB skimmer for my tank, but it's in the living room, so a quiet skimmer is a must.

[Darth]

I can't hear it at all. once the covers are on, you can't hear it. Mine is also in my living room, anyone who is curious is more than welcome to stop by and check it out

[T Bone]

I am very, very seriously considering that exact model.  Please keep updating this thread.

[Darth]

well after running the skimmer for 48 hours, it has already produced more skimmate then my seaclone has pulled in 2 weeks. My seaclone the sponge would get clogged after about a week and performance would drop, this skimmer def gets 2 thumbs up from me

[Zzippper]

I just bought the dual pump model:



... It's just starting to get past the break-in period and produce some really disgusting skimmate.
I have a feeling that I'm really going to like this skimmer... Much more than my CSS 65.

Z

[redbelly]

Can you post a pic once it breaks in?

[Zzippper]

Can you post a pic once it breaks in?

Will do!

Z

[Darth]

So it's been almost a week since the skimmer has been running, I emptied the skimmer cup twice, the first time it was about 1/3 to 1/2 full 3 days later (last night) it was FULL, I have since adjusted the height, in hopes to skim more dry then wet. The cup was full, but it was not just water, it was dark, not as dark as some skimmate I have seen, but it was not just tan water. The other thing I have noticed is my tank looks much cleaner, the water seems more crisp if you can picture that. And I have noticed a substancial growth in my montiopra and birdsnest frag. Since the skimmer was the only change made I would have to assume that is the reason. I have had little nubs of frags that have died off, and just figured they would just die off, and that would be it, well like the phoenix they have reborn. So much that I have noticed a difference in a week. Can a skimmer promote coral growth???