Need advice on a new skimmer

[Squee]

We have a 55 gal reef tank, no refugium. Have been using a Red Sea Prism hang-on-the-back Skimmer for quite a while but it's on it's seen better days and it's time for a new one. I'd like one that's does a good job, not too noisy and since it will go in the main display, not too um... ugly? :-)

What do you guys reccomend? Tanks alot! ;;

[Reefland]

Hi Squee,

Bermuda Aquatics has a decent Hang On skimmer, as does AquaC (the remora pro). I think I would go with the Remora Pro myself.

[Squee]

Wow... that was fast, ... thanks I'll look at both of those.

[SouthBayPhoto]

I've also seen rave reviews about the Remora Pro, so I don't see how you could go wrong with that.

I actually had to go with the Coralife Super Skimmer w/needle wheel, but it hasn't come in yet, so I can't tell you if it's any good or not. LOL I heard it was a pretty darn good skimmer for the money, so we'll see.

Oh, and by the way....Welcome to Reefland!

[charlie]

Remora pro!!!! With the Mag 3, a little unsightly, but it will really kick some butt in a 55.

[Samper]

SouthBay.....the Coralife super skimmers are pretty popular around here due to their cost. I've seen them running on a 60g a 125 and a 180. The 125 and 180 have had some problems that I associated with the skimmer being inadequate for the system bioload. The 60g is rocking along just fine.

They can be extremely touchy to dial in.

[charlie]

That's why I like the remoras. They seem to be a plug and play unit. Mine only took about a week to get to going on pulling some really nasty stuff out. There wasn't any dinking around with it at all.

[SouthBayPhoto]

Believe me, I was going to go with the AquaC Urchin Pro for my 90 g. However, what happened is I ordered the Seaclone 100 from Big Al's Online BEFORE reading on this forum that they were basically crap. So, since it didn't arrive yet at that time, I sent it back the day it arrived without even opening it. Well, you can't get your money back at Big Al's Online, only a gift certificate. Sooooo, I basically had to pick from what skimmers they had (unfortunately no AquaC's). I did a search here on the skimmers they carried and the best review I found (for what they had) was the Super Skimmer. Thus, for my 90g, I got the 220g needle wheel one. It should be here Fri. Hopefully I'll be able to dial it in and run it okay. (going to use it on my 46 until my 90 is ready)

If I could have gotten my money back or had the extra money to just buy the Urchin Pro outright, I would have gone through a sponsor here (such as Marine Depot). That'll teach me to do full research prior to purchasing.

[charlie]

Hey man, you live and learn. Maybe it will work out, who knows. If it doesn't it just goes into the "what I should have done" file. Believe me, there isn't one of us who hasn't been in that file before!!!!!!

[SouthBayPhoto]

Well, if I find out it doesn't work that great on the 90, then, at a later date, I'll just buy a much better one and transfer this one back to the 46. So, I guess there is light at the end of the tunnel if it comes down to that.

[Squee]

Thanks you guys for all the advice. I went with the Remora Hang on with drain fitting and maxi jet 1200 pump. I ordered it from Marine Depot through the sponsor link. Couldn't find any locally.

It's only January and I've already had to replace a broken aquarium, and now the skimmer. Oh and the heater in December. Pretty soon I'll be all new again! :-)