Precision Marine Bullet 2 (Beckett)

[platapus]

Im trying to decide on a protien skimmer for the 180g reef Im planing. I think I found what Im looking for..(Precision Marine Bullet 2 (Beckett))

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-03/fm/index.htm

Does anyone one this board use one of these Precision Marine Bullet 2 (Beckett) protien skimmers, and if so, lets hear what you think of it?

What size tank is it on?

How heavy is your bio load?

Thanks

[scubadude]

Hi platapus

I dont have a PM but I have been researching this heavy and I know for sure I will be building some DIY beckett skimmers soon and will basically be modeling a PM....they are great skimmers from everyone who I have heard of using them and it sounds to me (dont quote me though) that the PM2 is pretty close for the size of your tank. Just remember w/ these beckett skimmers will pull alot out if you give them a hefty pump, the more water flow you give it the more bubbles it will create thus pulling more out of your tank. The DIY beckett skimmers that im thinking about I may put an AM3K on them and throttle them down until I find the skimmate level I want to collect. So I guess my answer would be to oversize your pump a bit and you will be able to skim at the level you want as long as you have a throttle valve to control the output of the pump.

[Ironreef]

I had a B2 a mag18 is all the pump it can handle. A mak4 will run the bubble thicker but it's to m uch pump =flooding. I tee off my pumps to my refugium and cal reactor so it doesn't matter. but my mag18 gos to the cal reactor and refugium. I have the gate valve 7/8 open. IME becket skimmers don't require huge pumps until you get taller than 24" with/or a bigger diameter... like 8". I have a B2 on a 120g and have a refugium. I feed heavy have a heavy coral load medium fish load. dsb,LR ect.. A 180 I would concider that not heavy skimming. But my b2 doesn't get much work. I probally get 1/4c a week of dark skimate. Maybe it's the refugium. But I would prefer a b3 for a 180g= you can skim less but if you have a small skimmer it's hard to skim more. But if you don't have room another option is to have one made with 2 beckets. But just buy one. and cap the other. If it's not enough skimming you can add another becket and increase the skimming . But a b2 maybe enough in a proper maintaned tank or one without a large fish load. i mean ppl go skimmer less. you can always add a refugium which imo is amust skimmer or not JMO