I keep thinking, one of these days i should upgrade from some of my Seaclone protein skimmers to one or two of the new fangled Cone Protein Skimmers. So I was wondering who has what, how big and how do you like it. Some things I’m always interested in is a small footprint, what make/size pump and impeller comes with it, and how available spare impellers are for the pump. You know, we can spend and arm and leg on a new skimmer, or find a cheap bargain model, but if the impeller self destructs and nobody sells a replacement for a reasonable price, we are hosed! Up the creek without a skimmer Paddle Wheel.
My 3 current systems are between 65-100 gallons capacity each including fuges. But i keep planning to upgrade the display tank to either a 120RR or 180RR and tie it into one of the other two frag systems. That could be a total system volume between 240 to 300 gallons on one skimmer and sump.
So what’s your experience, or research into the current crop of Cone Skimmers?
I have a Super Reef Octopus INT 1000 and it’s over kill for my small system and I still like it alot, very easy to fine tune as it comes with a gate valve mine is very quite and emptying and cleaning is a breeze.
Pump is a Bubble Blaster 1000 and has a three year warrantyy that is hassle free.
I was impressed with the swc cone that my neighbor bought. seems well made and easily adjustable fine-tuning of air/water… I think Pat and Bill both use the SWC’s
I have a bubble magus 3.5 cone on my small system that was given to me a couple years ago, it functions well and i added an air valve to help with tuning (thats because i have it in an inch deeper water then recommended) works good though.
[quote=“saltcreep, post:3, topic:5918”]
I was impressed with the swc cone that my neighbor bought. seems well made and easily adjustable fine-tuning of air/water… I think Pat and Bill both use the SWC’s[/quote]
I have 2 different SWC cone skimmers, 180 and 230 if I remember correctly. Love then both, they seem to do a great job of skimming. Best of all they are like the Ronco Rotisserie ovens… Set it and forget it. Clean the cup every Monday, it’s a crappy day anyway :FLUSH), and it’s all good.
Oh WOW! mostly SWC cone skimmers. Ive seen Bill’s in action and it looked really good and effective. So far, so good. how about Eshopps? or the diy Avast skimmer? Does anyone use one of these?
I think Nate at DPA has an eshoppes Ken… or maybe that was Jared ::
I forget the technical term, but the amount of air getting “pulled in” by the swc’s was the highest (last time i looked into it a few years back)
Billrob would you say your skimmer is over all quiet? I’m looking to get a new one and I’m between the SWC extream 160 Cone protein skimmer and the Reef octopus NWB150. And do you feel as you can control the micro bubbles pretty easy because thats one of the problems I have now, but it is pretty old. ::hitsthefan::
[quote=“Lynchie, post:12, topic:5918”]
Billrob would you say your skimmer is over all quiet? I’m looking to get a new one and I’m between the SWC extream 160 Cone protein skimmer and the Reef octopus NWB150. And do you feel as you can control the micro bubbles pretty easy because thats one of the problems I have now, but it is pretty old. ::hitsthefan::[/quote]
My skimmer is out of the sump in recirc mode and the air line pulls from outside I can’t really hear anything from it I hear the vortec pumps but hardly anything else
I can only hear either one of my SWCs if I shutoff all tank lights and fans, and return pumps. Then I have to open the stand doors, and get close to them. It helps if I turn off my MP-40 too.
Now if I could only get my overflows that quiet… :BB)
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