AquaC vs New Cheaper Euroreefs

[Alchamex]

I just recently bought an AquaC EV90 for my 75gal tank, but now I'm thinking of returning it (its still in the mail) and getting one of the new cheaper Euroreef Skimmers...the "G-Force" skimmers seen on Marine Monsters (www.marine-monsters.com). My only concern is that the g-force skimmer is about 4x the size of the AquaC. I was going to put the skimmer in my sump/refugium, but I can't put the g-force in there cause it would take up the whole thing. But I still might get it. Anybody have any comments on these skimmers? My tank is a 75gal FOWLR that might go reef in a few years (few being the key word there). Thanks.

Alch

[ohenry]

I'm running an AquaC EV-90 with a Mag 5 pump and it's great. Really putting out some dark liquid after a very brief breakin period (about a day!).

[Alchamex]

IsaaX, thanks for the welcome!! [img]/ubb/embarass.gif[/img]

ohenry, how big is your tank?

[ohenry]

55 gal, the EV 90 will do well with your 75

[BigA]

If you return it(which I wouldn't) watch out for the re-stocking fee...might be as much as 20%.

Regards,
BigA


[This message has been edited by BigA (edited 08-30-2000).]

[IsaaX]

I'd stick with the AquaC because everyone has said good things about their skimmers. I have their Remora and I am very happy with the way it performs. The AquaC's may cost a lil more but IMO it's money well spent. AquaC tends to underate their skimmers. Their skimmers can handle more than their max gallon ratings. If you really want to save some money, you can go with a Remora Pro if you don't mind having a "Hang On the Back" skimmer. They are very efficient.

By the way, WELCOME to reefland! [img]/ubb/smile.gif[/img]

[This message has been edited by IsaaX (edited 08-30-2000).]

[Alchamex]

Thats the problem...the AquaC cost me $314 and the G-Force is only $300, but there's a 15% restocking fee if I return the AquaC. The G-Force is supposedly a much better skimmer (from what I hear anyway), and its rated for a much larger tank...but the footprint is huge. I think I'm going to stick with the AquaC.

Thanks for the replys guys.

[Alchamex]

Oh, one more thing, does the AquaC have to be placed in the sump? What I mean is, does it leak or something?

[ohenry]

The Aqua C does not have to be placed in the sump. It can reside external to the sump. The installation instructions are very clear on setting it up

[Shabbis]

Yes, my Remora Pro is on my 100 gallon. AquaC tends to underrate their skimmers. The Remora is good for tanks up to 75 gallons and the Remora Pro is good for tanks 75+ gallons. Don't be fooled by the size, these small units pack a punch.

[Ironreef]

I don't belive aquac overrates their skimmer. The remora is still a puny skimmer. Look at the pump a 100g can only be turned over 2x in an hour not much at all

[Soundman]

Ironreef,

The Remora In question is the pro model. It comes with a Rio 1400 that does something like 365gph. If you switch out the Rio for a MJ 1200 you get something like 395gph. Keep in mind there is no air being drawn in with the water as in a venturi type skimmer. This allows for the pump to fully reach it's spec. I am looking at the Remora Pro for my reef (55g) and don't think it is puny. It is twice has more than twice the reaction chamber size as my Knop. At 18' tall by 7.5" wide it is not small. My Knop is only 18" tall and 3" wide.

I would like to know of any personal experiances that you have with Aqua C skimmers. All I have heard from everyone except Jeff's Exotic Fish is that it's great. Jeff's has not tried it yet.
[img]/ubb/fish.gif[/img]

[Shabbis]

I have the AquaC Remora Pro on my 100 gallon and it has been perfect after the one-week break in period.

[Alchamex]

Shabbis,

you have the remora pro on a 100gal? heh, I was afraid it wouldn't be powerful enough for my 75gal. [img]/ubb/raspberry.gif[/img]

I bought the EV-90 for my tank.

[BigA]

I have never read anything negative about the EV-90. I think they might suggest drilling a hole in the top of the reaction chamber if you going to plumb it outside the sump.

~BigA

[JG]

I have an EV-150 on my 58 Oceanic and it does a hell of a job!! However in a couple of years a plan on getting a bigger tank.

Would I be able to use this skimmer on a 120g tank? I know it's rated for over that, but I like to skim HEAVY and I'm not sure if 120g would be pushing it for this skimmer.

[Ironreef]

Soundman I didn't say anything bad about Aquac skimmer even though it took 3 tries to get it right. They have been out and went through different modifacations. I was just comparing them to all the top end skimmers which is a good comparison for them. Remora is puny 365gph?? Which would turn over a 75g 4x. I would use a etss reefdevil or a Aqua 90/150 on a 75g. You want good skimming if you plan on feeding your fish.Maxijets lose power when you put a venturi attactment on them so you lose power. I've done it and can tell, the rio has more punch even if its a crappy powerhead and I would never use one again. 4x turnover is nothing if you want good skimming. I use a bullet 2 with a mak 4 on my 120g =9x turn over. The only additives I use are kalk, esv I feed heavy monthly w/c and the corals thrive. So I'm not overskimming. Which i don't belive will happen if you keep fish and feed heavy. never has for me. the knop is a crappy skimmer and is junk IME. Yeah all the modifacations for aquac were minor like bubble escaping,salt creep ect. I just know ppl in the area that have all kinds of different skimmers and me personally liked Bullet ones better because of the crasftmanship and the kicka** becket injector. And when comparing all the top end skimmers some of them were pretty equal but Bullets use a better gatevalve and I don't like the idea of a spray inductor not being able to get to to clean. its selfcleaning unless they changed that. Its better to get a big skimmer cuz you can lesson your skimming but if you get a small skimmer its harder to increase if needed.But you can also go skimmerless also.IME heavy skimming is easiest way to keep a reef.And any skimmer is good if you get nice thick small bubbles. When buying a skimmer most ppl rate them 2/3 of given rating. Just my experiance and opinion. but if you go to SWC (lfs) they use a gemini800 on their 125g but i didn't like etss as much. Big skimmers rule ime. But you have a 55g which would be 6x turn over so the big remora would be fine. I would rather use the aquac90 but you need hangon?? And the maxijet does lose power I put one on my cpr the venturi and the design of it make it not bubble as much as the rio. The maxi900 i used didn't = the rio800 so it won't come close to the bigger rio IMO. You can try it but you will see when you get it. I use the cpr with a maxi900 on my 20g works nice.cpr is puny also wasn't strong enough for my55g but I had a heavy fish load. This is why I went for a big skimmer its the easy way



[This message has been edited by Ironreef (edited 09-02-2000).]

[Soundman]

Hello,

I have a budget of around $400 to upgrade skimmer. I have no sump and only 5" space behind tank. i would like to add sump but don't think I can get all equipment needed for $400. The small space behind my tank says no roon for a Turbofloater, or similar large HO. I am kinda stuck with the Remora Pro IMO. I would rather have a sump.
[img]/ubb/fish.gif[/img]

Also there is much debate as to the desired thru put of a skimmer.

[Ironreef]

I'm sure you'll be happy with the remora pro. For a 55g it will work great but for above 75gal like its rated is pushing it. 2/3 rating is good for any skimmer. Except red sea they seem to way over rate. But it all depends on load. You can go skimmer less its all how you set it up.What I didn't like about Euroreef is that its INsump only. I like choice. Das is either in sump or out of sump. I have my skimmer insump now but I went for options. And when I compared bullet to euroreef the bubbles seemed the same to me.Ets had them huge bubbles, i didn't like them. but when you see all those Ets 1000 at SWC (lfs) the do look sweet. It's really like buying a chevy or ford it doesn't really matter as long as they do the job. But we know which is really better.

[Ironreef]

FWIW HSA 1000 is rated up to 1000g tank with less gph per the above post. And Bullet 2 is rated at 250g with 500gph but the HSA is 44" and the B2 is 24"tall which contact time plays and important role. The taller the skimmer the better even when turn over is less. I would have got the bullet3 but I had to keep mine under that stand cuz I'm a whimp.(wife says so) But the b2 is good for me my puny tank is only 120g.