Budget protein skimmer

[pro2k]

I am trying to find the best skimmer for the least amount of money. Best bang for yer buck kind of thing. Trying to keep it under $150. Any suggestions? I was think about the Turboflotor 1000. Thanks!

[jerryc]

If you wont under a 150 best to look at DIY the least expensive one that works
good [jmo] is going to cost over 240 at least.

You may get a good used one for that if you look around in the for sail forms hear and
other forums.

[pro2k]

No kidding?? This is for a 55 reef I thought I could get away for something a little cheaper. But, if it is vital, I will spend the $$$. Maybe I will look into the diy....

[jerryc]

No kidding?? This is for a 55 reef I thought I could get away for something a little cheaper. But, if it is vital, I will spend the $$$. Maybe I will look into the diy....

IF you don't wont to do the DIY look for a good used one u can get a good price
from someone upgrading

[dakar]

For under $150, you will not get much as far a quality goes, seems the $200ish mark is the most common starting point for most good to better skimmers, for example we're running a Berlin Turbo on the 180 now, that was right at $200, it works pretty good, I totally agree with Jerry, my DIY skimmer efforts have been really no less effective than the manufactured one, though I probably spent more building them than it would have cost to buy one, I did however learn a lot in the process so it was time and money well spent.

If you want to try your hand at building one there are tons of plans around, there are some very simple yet effective designs that really work, DIY venturi or airwood are the place to start.

I need to get caught up on a lot of things here and get my drawings and such together and document a lot of the things I've built thus far.

[Reptoreef]

Mine's a DIY... wouldn't go with a manufactured. IMO, you got the money and lack of time, go with the highest $$$ you can afford for a good job(ASM, Euro Reef, etc). As for DIY, look at a new unit at your LFS and make your own plans using gathered materials... the pump will be your greatest expense.

[Whoyah]

You can get a Aqua C Remora w/ MaxiJet or the Urchin for $163. You can get them at Marine Depot plus free shipping. I am not sure how many gallons you have all together but both they are rated up to 75 gallons. I know Jerry C has an Urchin on a 55 (sump size?) and he says it works awesome. Both have gotten awesome reviews by multiple reefers. I was going to buy the Remora but decided to bite the bullet and buy the AquaC EV-120 w Mag 5 do to my water volume (90ish). In fact, it is seating next to me, staring at me, wait for me to buy a new sump tank, which will hopefully be tomorrow. You might PM JerryC and get his thoughts on the Urchin.

Here is the link to Marine Depot.

http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium_protein_skimmers_aquac_remora.asp?CartId=

PS I am not against DIY anything in fact I have certainly done my share but sometimes its nice to just hook something up and have it work. Alot times I think my DIY project nickel and dime me to death.

[jerryc]

I wade get the pro for a 55 all Skimmers or overrated pro with a mag 3 or 5 will
do you a good job. I'm running the Urchin pro with a Mag 5 dose a good job for
me.
I Bought it used off of the sailing form at RC for 125 but you have to watch and look around to get a good price on them

[davejnz]

I just bought the new series Euro-reef skimmer for $200,a little more than the $150 your looking to spend but for the money its probably the best bang for the buck.

[BUGZME]

I just bought a asm-g1 and it's working great $229.00. spend the money, you'll be glad you did

[perpetual98]

I just got a Turboflotor 1000 with the Ocean Runner pump instead of the Rio and I spent $180. I don't have it set up yet though.

[pro2k]

I decided to bite the bullet and go with the Euro-Reef for $228. Hopefully this was a good decision!

[jerryc]

I decided to bite the bullet and go with the Euro-Reef for $228. Hopefully this was a good decision!

You shod be Happy in the long run. Haven't heard anyone that don't like the ER

[BUGZME]

You made a great choice! the money you soent is well worth it

[pro2k]

Well, I got my new euro-reef skimmer today and I was very happy about that......until I opened the box! To my dismay there were no instruction on how to set it up and adjust it. But worse than that, the damn thing is busted! The acrylic is cracked and the seal were the elbows are connected to the skimmer body are all jacked up......... (I don't think this happened during shipping either. The outer box is perfect and the actual skimmer box was perfect and surrounded in a sea of peanuts)

[pro2k]

skimmer body

[davejnz]

Is that the CS series?I just bought the same one and it came with an owners manual.I'd call the retailer back and tell them what happened.They shouldn't have any problems taking it back.It sure does suck to have to wait for it to get returned again.

[Reef_Angel]

Time to let your frustration be known to the dealer! Call them and insist that you needed that item yesterday!!!! You need the new one now! Have them next day air the new one as an EVEN EXCHANGE and send you a call tag to pick up the other one. Tell them you'll package the broken one back up per their instructions and have it ready for the pickup. You just really need the item you payed for and expected to be using. It's important that you be nice but just let them sense your frustration. If that person you are speaking to can't help you. ask them if there is someone else in that company that has the authority to do that?

Is this not the truth? :) I think we need to start standing up for ourselves in the market place, because there a policys in place for returns. If they can get a person to re-buy and totally go through the process of re-shipping and completeing another order, it looks better for them on paper at the end of the year in their returns department. Hope it turns out well for you and you get to enjoy your new Skimmer!

[Whoyah]

Pro2K, where did you buy the skimmer? I totally agree with Angel on the calling and asking for immediate and direct service. You just paid very good money for something that was probably shipped broken to you. I just went through an experience with Jeff's Exotics and ended up talking to manager to resolve the issue. When it was all said and done I ended up with a free Mg test kit ($26). You have very good pictures of the damage. You may want to consider taking pictures of the box to show that it was not damaged. DO NOT PAY ANOTHER CENT. They should pay for return shipping.

[pro2k]

I did call them (Marine depot) and they said they would send a new skimmer body via 2nd day air (because that's what the original came) and they would file a claim with UPS even though I doubt it was damaged during shipping. (Not a scratch or dent on the boxes). I told the guy I just spent $300 on live rock (from marinedepot live) and I needed that skimmer. Well, I got the order invoice this morning (thur) and low and behold they shipped it out GROUND and it won't be here until next tuesday. I've really have had a terrible experince with marimedepot (great at marinedepot live). Originally, I ordered the TurboFlotor1000 online, and called them the same day to cancel it and order the euro and they said there was no way to cancel it because the order was already at the warehouse being pkged. So I said I would just refuse it and pay for a second order of the euro. Well, I didn't get a shipping invoice for the Turboflotor until two days later. I think this is just freaking TERRIBLE order policy and tracking handling. He said there was no way to call over to the warehouse and have that order cancelled. And now the whole broken Euro thing............... :evil:

[Whoyah]

I am little confused, they said they would send the replacement 2nd day but the invoice says ground? I would call and talk to a manager. I was having problems with Jeff's until I got a manager on the phone and then it all smoothed out. Probably won't send out another new skimmer but maybe some credit.

[perpetual98]

I had a similar experience with a company that I was ordering tools for work for. I placed an order online and then called about an hour later to cancel it and she was snotty on the phone and said something along the lines of, "we're so fast in our shipping department that if you place an order online, you only have about 5 minutes to cancel it before it's shipped." WTF? Get a hold of the warehouse and have them pull the box from the UPS table and cancel the shipment on the manifest. It's easy. We do it where I work and you should see the troglodytes that work here. lol

[pro2k]

I know, it's just crappy business. I mean I ordered the Turboflotor Sunday night online and then called Monday morning to change it to the Euro and they couldn't do that because it was already boxed up at the warehouse. I said "well, I'll just buy Euro now and then refuse the other package." He did it but was even hesitant to do that. He was even nice enough to waive the RE-stocking fee! What even ****es me off even more is the fact that the Turboflotor I ordered on Sunday, tried to cancel on Monday but couldn't because it was already processed, didn't even ship out until Tuesday night! What a joke...... :evil:

I've never had a problem changing an online order with any other business. Is it like this at all fish stores?

[dakar]

Generally they'll have one office set up to process the orders, then they in turn shoot it off to the wharehouse who just take the shipping list and pack it up snd hand it to UPS or whoever. Each are generally very independant from one another so changing an order can be a royal pain, although it can work to your benefit on occasion.

[pro2k]

Here is pics of the skimmer and boxes...I don't think it was busted in shipping :!:

[davejnz]

Man,I wish i would have known that you were gonna order that particular skimmer,Premium Aquatics had them on sale for $200.Well,at least they're gonna get you a new one out.You might even want to tell them about Premium's prices,some retailers will match them and possibly refund the difference.I agree though,I think they sent it out already damaged.No way,that happened during shipping.I was under the impression that some online retailers just have them drop shipped straight from the manufacturer.I dont think that was the case here because i dont think they(Euro-reef) would have knowingly sent out a damaged unit.You might also want to contact them and explain the situation,i've heard they have great customer support.

[pro2k]

Since the replacement skimmer body didn't show today as promised I was thinking about just using the cracked one until the replacement gets here. I doubt MarineDepot will like it but they also said I would have a replacement today. Heck, I have $350 worth of live rock from them just fermenting in a tank with no skimmer. What do you guys think? Should I wait until Tuesday for the replacement or go ahead and use this one since they didn't get the replacement here today as promised. The rock has been in there for 4 days and is starting to stink!

[perpetual98]

You could do a water change on the live rock. It wouldn't hurt.

[pro2k]

I went ahead and started using and it cleaned the tank FAST! Crystal clear after two cup fulls of skimmed milk. Should I take off the airbubble diffuser filter on the outflow?