Looking to upgrade skimmer. Down draft, needle wheel, venturi, spray, cone, which one

[ReefHog]

I will be moving the contents of my 90 gallon soft coral reef into a new 220 gallon after the holidays. I run a AMS G2 on my 90 gallon which works great. Really no complaints aside from the venturi clogging every so often. More than doubling the size of the tank, I will need a new skimmer. It seems that everyone has different opinions as to which skimmers are superior. Since the only skimmers I have personal experience with are standard venturi and needle wheel types I am a little overwhelmed with all the types of skimmers. I am not afraid to purchase something I am not familiar with, I just want to be sure I am going with the best option for my application. My 220 will house several softies, zoas and some hardy sps. I will also have several fish, so I would say it will be a mid to heavy bio load. I have $400-$500 budgeted for a new skimmer. I have come up with several different type skimmers and would appreciate some opinions and/or pros and cons regarding them.

AquaC-EV240 (spray injection)

Octopus Extreme Skimmer w/pump - Model 250 (mesh wheel/pin wheel)

AE Tech- ETSS > Evolution 500 (down draft)

NAC-66 Bubble-Magus (mesh wheel)

Eshopps Protein Skimmer > Snow Series Cone Protein Skimmer

[metalhead]

I've heard nothing but good things about the Octopus extreme.

[gregony]

Don't forget about Lifereef out of Morrison, CO.
You've probably already researched the finer points but in case you haven't -
the Aqua-C, ETSS, Beckett style (MRC, Barr, PM Bullet) seem to be the best but they all require a mongo pump to run. Lifereef requires a slightly smaller pump, but it's still a big pump. I don't know how interested you are in saving electricity.
The needlewheel skimmers are the least effective, but they get the job done and use the least amount of electricity doing it. Way less electricity. Just FYI, you would want a larger ETSS than the Evo 500. Either EVO750, Sumpbuddy 60, or 600XLR, but don't forget to add 150 more to those prices for the pump you need to run those. The only one in your price range would be a Sumpbuddy 60. (Which looks like a really good skimmer).

Penn St published a skimmer study a few years ago and found that all skimmers remove all the waste they are capable of removing competently(it seems protein skimmers only remove 30% of organic waste in any event). The best was the limewood (their test only lasted one day, so they could ignore the total PITA that an airstone skimmer is), followed by the downdraft, venturi, then needlewheel. Of course, newer needlewheels have certainly improved, but until another study is conducted who can truly say what's best.
Just remember meshwheels need to be replaced and their random nature makes getting them to work consistently a bit of chore (as reported, I've never owned one myself).
I haven't personally seen an Octopus or SWC in action, everyone on the forums seems to like them a lot, but I have seen a Lifereef. It's amazing to watch it. This little bitty stream of little tiny bubbles comes into the column and just explode when they get near the top of the column. It produces an amazing amount of waste with very little foam middle down in the column. You can hardly believe its working, but it produces a dearth of skimmate. Its hypnotic. I spent 10 minutes in my LFS watching the silly thing run. I couldn't hear it at all. Just the water coming out of the outlet back into the tank.
I've seen a video for all the ones you mentioned above (youtube has them) and they all seem capable. Don't forget the Hydor 1000 is under $500. That's a pretty mean skimmer too.
There's probably too much to choose from once you get over $400.
I'm up for a new skimmer in a couple of months myself (can you tell I've looked into them) and I was leaning toward a Sicce or Bubbleblaster pump version of Octopus or SWC. (for a 90g) It's hard to stay away from those ETSS' though. I nearly carpet bagged a Evo750 off ebay. The winner outbid me with $162.50.

[ReefHog]

Well I definatly like the fact that the pump is included with the Octopus, Bubble-Magus & Snow series (cone shape skimmer). The Octopus & Snow series actually have the pumps located inside the skimmer itself for a much smaller footprint. And the smaller electricity cost don't hurt. Thaat being said, electricity cost will not make my decission unless the skimmers are very comprable. I just was not sure if down draft skimmers were that superior since I never owned one. The sumpbuddy60 does look like a nice skimmer. Since we are on the subject, let me push it a little further with a few more questions.

Isn't the AquaC a spray injection...not down draft skimmer? Is one better than the other?

Does a "cone" shape reaction chamber really make any difference or does it just look cool?

It's my understanding that pin wheel/mesh wheel skimmers still use a venturi. The impeller is just different...no? My ASM G2 has a pin wheel and still draws in air from what I figured was a venturi.

It seems like every year there is a new latest-and-greatest skimmer on the market. I remember when the down draft skimmers came out many years ago. Then the pin wheel which was improved to a mesh wheel. Next was the recirculating skimmers. This year it seems the cone shape skimmers are all the rage. Wow, my head is spinning.

[gregony]

I've never used an Aqua-C but its hard to imagine them hanging around as long as they have if customers weren't obtaining satisfaction from them. According to the website the spray injection nozzle works like putting your thumb over a garden hose. It sounds like they're just pressurizing the input - hence the big pump. The EV-240 is almost always sold with a MAG18. A nice pump that costs 150 dollars and sucks up 140W. Aqua C sells a bunch of EV series skimmers and Remoras, and they are expensive, but people are willing to spend the money on them.

Charlie swears by his SWC cone. Other people have ponied up big bucks for them.

A "venturi" style protein skimmer uses an actual venturi injector. It's different than just poking a hole next to the impeller. I'm not good at explaining it. The lifereef for instance has the pump, then the injector. My CPR backpack has the air inlet then the pump. It's still considered a venturi skimmer, but, its not a true venturi skimmer. I haven't seen the Sedra's up close and personal, but I believe they would have to get the air in, before the pump or else what would the needlewheel chop up? Also, if you notice, true venturi skimmers push the air down into the reaction chamber from the top, there's a lot more pressure than with a needlewheel pump. They can't push the air up because they would need a mongo pump to do so. Even bigger than downdrafts!
Downdrafts let air in right before the reaction column (where the bio balls are put in) and then they splatter the mixture down the column with enormous force. Becketts use a beckett injector which is similar to a venturi. It needs the same amount of pressure to work as a downdraft, thus a mongo pump. I've seen MRC's on youtube and they work really well. Some have complained of leaks though, and the customer service is supposed to be kind of shoddy. And how about those Bermuda Aquatics using the Sheitlziszkkilkklssszzz injector?

From what I've read and seen, for large tanks, nothing works as well as a downdraft with an appropriate sized pump. That said, a 220g, even though its huge in my opinion, is not that big a tank, and for the money the needlewheels, whether recirc or not, are more efficient. Though you are starting to get to the edge where it may make more sense to go with a downdraft. The cones are obviously just needlewheels with a smoother reaction. Less random turbulence and all that. Many of the cone skimmers also have very nice pumps with them, which adds to the performance and the cost.

Speaking of latest and greatest. Check out the new Deltec SC2060's at Deltecusa.com. Way overpriced, but they sure are pretty. (and, like, 25W or something crazy)

[metalhead]

A "venturi" style protein skimmer uses an actual venturi injector. It's different than just poking a hole next to the impeller. I'm not good at explaining it. The lifereef for instance has the pump, then the injector. My CPR backpack has the air inlet then the pump. It's still considered a venturi skimmer, but, its not a true venturi skimmer. I haven't seen the Sedra's up close and personal, but I believe they would have to get the air in, before the pump or else what would the needlewheel chop up? Also, if you notice, true venturi skimmers push the air down into the reaction chamber from the top, there's a lot more pressure than with a needlewheel pump. They can't push the air up because they would need a mongo pump to do so. Even bigger than downdrafts!
Downdrafts let air in right before the reaction column (where the bio balls are put in) and then they splatter the mixture down the column with enormous force. Becketts use a beckett injector which is similar to a venturi. It needs the same amount of pressure to work as a downdraft, thus a mongo pump. I've seen MRC's on youtube and they work really well. Some have complained of leaks though, and the customer service is supposed to be kind of shoddy. And how about those Bermuda Aquatics using the Sheitlziszkkilkklssszzz injector?

Here's a pic of one in action, you can see the injector just to the left of the collection cup... It's a great skimmer btw!

[metalhead]

Good info Gregony

It sounds like you've really researched this... Thanks for sharing!

[gregony]

Sorry, I get to typing and its hard to stop. What pump are you using on your BA. That's a BPC03 right?

[gregony]

Reefhog,
Somebody just put a very lightly used Deltec AP851 on ebay for 300 min bid plus 76 s/h. Also there's a new Octopus xtreme300 for 375 or b/o with free shipping. Just thought you might want to know.

[ReefHog]

gregony,

Thanks. I actually saw those skimmers last night. I hate buying stuff like that used though. I have looked at a god awful amount of videos, forum threads, and reviews. I think I have narrowed it down to the Sump Buddy 60 or the Super Reef Octopus XP2000 or XP5000. The XP2000 seems to be rated for 180 gallons to 300 gallons depending on which website you look at. Funny how that works. The XP5000 would be more than enough. A couple guys compared the XP2000 to the ATB-840 (almost identical spec wise). I understand that an XP3000 will be coming out soon, so I might hold out for that one if I decide to go with the Octopus. BTW, I have read that quite a few guys have issues with Sicce pumps not re-starting properly after being shut down for one reason or another. Maybe something minor but I just thought I'd mention it. The BBMaster pumps come with a 3year warranty which I do like.