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Skimmer for 90 gal reef

T

tgee

Hi Folks,

I’m another newbie here on njreefers. I’ve done a lot of reading and lurking, but still have some questions, so I hope you don’t mind. It seems there’s never just one correct answer to many reef questions. I guess that’s good – it gives you options, but can also be confusing. Anyway, I’d like to hear some opinions to help make up my mind.

I picked up a new Oceanic reef ready Ultimate 90 from Allquatics (thanks Carlo!). Someday I hope to put water in it. I intend to ease my way through this and start with some soft corals and hopefully work myself up to other stuff. For now, I’m still researching and deciding on equipment, which brings me to my question of the day - which protein skimmer?

For now, I’m trying to decide between a Tunze 9010 or AquaC EV-120 (with Mag 5 pump). Can anyone offer advice on why one of these may be a better choice than the other, or suggest something else entirely? I plan on using a 29 gallon glass tank as a sump, divided into three sections – skimmer, refugium and return.

Nice little forum here… thanks in advance.

Tom
 
Hawkeye

Hawkeye

welcome!!!!!!!!!!!!

I personally like the aqua-c - but it does take some time to "break-in" so that initially it looks like a total lost cause... :p I did read that some folks attach a mag 7 instead- something to consider.

I set up a ev120 on my 55 reef tank...I know - it was overkill but I had been shopping with an eye out towards upgrading down the road and keeping the skimmer. Of course - I am now not breaking down the 55 (gave it to my dad). I think the skimmer is really easy to maintain, gets gunks out like crazy (compared to the top of the line Seaclone!!! LOL...sorry sarcasm from me on the seaclone).

That stated - I have used tunze streams and their auto-top-off - and well, I really like them as a company. They are expensive- made worse by the US dollar floundering when compared to the Euro. It doesn't help that oil prices are high making the devices more expensive (shipped from Germany). To me - exemplary customer service isn't enough to describe them.

If you do go for the tunze - let me know how it goes...I'm setting up a 120. I myself have been reading around and trying to figure out what makes the most sense.

Oh and if you can wait - consider signing up as a member and joining us in a group buy - you'll save some money. ;)
 
JohnS_323

JohnS_323

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
Hi Tom,

Welcome to NJRC. I can't answer your questions but know there are quite a few people here who can. I just wanted to say hi and let you know we're glad you found us and stepped out from lurking! Your plan to ease your way through this is a good one. Research is the key to success in this hobby.
 
MikeNapoli

MikeNapoli

Hi Tom,

Welcome to NJRC.

Have you considered ASM brand skimmers? Everyone that has one is pretty happy from what I hear and it's less expensive than the ev-120 and the tunze. I don't think i've heard any feed back on the Tunze and phil likes his ev-120 so there's positive feed back on that one.

With a sump your size (depending on how you organize your baffels) you can fit an ASM g1x which is rated for 150gallons and a footprint of 8.5x11 or an ASM g2 which is rated for 200 gallons and has a footprint of 10x11 and 21 1/4" high. Both of these will cost less than the ev-120 and are rated for higher volume.

Hope i'm helping and not confusing your decision.
 
P

pgordemer

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
I have owned a few of the EV series and quite like them (as well as BermudaAquatics and ASM). Like all skimmers, there is a break-in period and a tuning period. The tuning of an EV series can be a pain as the air control is not very sensitive (tiny change gets big reaction), but once tuned, you never touch it unless you are changing/cleaning pumps.

That aside, the recommended pumps for the EV series is underpowered. IE, an EV-120 recommends a Mag 5. Works fine, but a Mag 7 is makes it spectacular. The EV-180 recommends a Mag 7, but a Mag 9.5 is lights out.

That said, a EV-120 with a Mag 7 will work great on a 90. If you have the extra bucks consider a EV-180 with a Mag 7, this give you lots of expansion room and if you over stock a bit you will have breathing room. There is rarely such thing as a skimmer that is too big. (ok observers, lets not get technical about skimmers taking out trace elements, that for another discussion, we don't want to scare him off.)

Like all else in this hobby, skimmers are like religions, once someone has picked their skimmer, getting them to change is tough, and everyone elses skimmer is garbage :eek:
 
S

sinkingbeach

Hi Tom, although I respect Mike's opinion I disagree with him here, I ran a ASM G-2 on my 90 for aprox. 6 months and was not pleased with it's performance. If you do decide to go with a ASM get at the very least the G3.

I switched over to a MRC 1 and have been extremely happy ever since. The MRC http://www.myreefcreations.com is a external skimmer, so you would have to reconfigure your layout if you went with this. Unfortunately I can't give you an opinion on the AquaC or Tunze skimmer do to lack of experience with them, although being a tunze pump owner I can tell you the service is second to none, any issue I've ever had I would just pm "rvitko" http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/member.php?s=&action=getinfo&userid=787 and the problem was solved immediately.
 
T

tgee

Thank you all for the warm welcome and opinions!

Is the break-in/tuning period of EVs significantly more of a pain than other skimmers? I've seen this mentioned before, and I'm not sure it's something I should really be worried about. I don't mind a little tweaking (I have tools and I'm not afraid to use them ;D), as long as it's not an ongoing thing it shouldn't be a problem.

I haven't looked too closely at ASM, but I had looked at MRC. They recommend a Mag 12, which struck me as being a lot more pump than other skimmers in the same range, but I suppose moving more volume is always better?

A lot to think about! Sounds like if I go with EV120 I should bump up to a Mag 7, and even consider stepping up to EV180. I think I'll hit the MRC site again and give them another look.

Thanks everybody… it all helps!

Tom
 
D

depitch039

Ditto on welcome Tom. ;D

Octopus skimmers are a good choice as well.

MRC is a good skimmer but the company owner may be in some legal trouble.

All the skimmers you mentioned are good, the final decision will come down to price and ease of operation. As a newbie you may not want to tweek a complicated skimmer every other day.

JMO

Doug 8)
 
Phyl

Phyl

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
depitch039 said:
MRC is a good skimmer but the company owner may be in some legal trouble.
Click to expand...

Just to bring that around full circle, MRC was sold to a new owner the next day after that news spot hit the "presses". The new owner has already taken over and is serving both existing and new customers without issue, as far as I know. Smart move, otherwise I'm sure they'd be out of business today.
 
B

bconn

Hi,

We picked up a few pieces of MRC equipment. Can anyone link more information about the company troubles that were mentioned in previous posts?

I am not aware of any of this. We did notice that the company was sold a few months back.

Thanks!
 
C

chase33

tgee said:
Is the break-in/tuning period of EVs significantly more of a pain than other skimmers? I've seen this mentioned before, and I'm not sure it's something I should really be worried about. I don't mind a little tweaking (I have tools and I'm not afraid to use them ;D), as long as it's not an ongoing thing it shouldn't be a problem.
Click to expand...
No tools are necessary. Let me say this. I have the EV 180 on a 120 gallon tank. I couldn't get it to skim with the mag 7 (waste of money on the 7). After 6 months I finally bought the mag 9.5 and it still took a while to get it dialed in properly. All in all it took me 9 to 10 months to get it where it should be. Personally I will never buy another one. I think the 180 will be too powerful for you 90 gallon tank. If you go with one from the EV series go for the 120. Though there are others who think and have experienced otherwise, this is my opinion based on my experience.
 
Hawkeye

Hawkeye

that's too bad chase - what skimmer are you looking into now?

I'm surprised no one suggested a EuroReef-which a really popular brand on some forums...
 
C

chase33

I seem to finally have it dialed in correctly. The skimmer along with the pump (mag 7) cost me close to $400 a year ago and I'm not ready to purchase a new one yet. I'm still working with it. Give me 6 more months and I'll let you know if I purchase a new one. i heard of the EuroReefs initially but look into others due to the high cost. From what I've read here on numerous occasions is the MRC's seem to be very good. Most seem to love them. I'd look into those the next time. I believe the 180 is probably a good skimmer for a larger tank. If I had a 180 gallon with a larger bio-load it would probably be a great skimmer. I'm wondering if my bio-load in the 120 is large enough for it.
 
T

tgee

Euro-Reef was on my short list for while, but I think the higher cost is what made me look closer at the others. The argument could be made that it's not THAT much more money, but I have to draw the line somewhere.

The MRC looks interesting as well, but to be honest the history of the previous owner leaves me uncomfortable. I know the company has new owners, but it still wouldn't feel right - need a little more time.

Leaning towards the Tunze 9010 at the moment.
 
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