Best Skimmer for $400-500?

[burton14e7]

Subject pretty much sums it up. I'm going to start collecting equipment for a 120 and my skimmer budget is going to be around 400-500. Doesn't matter if it's in sump, out of sump, gravity fed or whatever, I just want the best in that price range and I can build around it. With out mods preferably.

[Percula9]

If you have a budget that size then a Euro-Reef or bermuda would suit your needs well.

[uhuru]

DAS EX2??

[burton14e7]

I've actually never heard of DAS, do you have a link to their website??

[afelder]

If you can affords an extra $50-75 I would get a Bubble Master

[Reefjunkee]

I Myself would look for a good used high end skimmer.I bought a like new euroreef cs8-3 from a fellow reefer who just has to have the BEST of everything so He bought a $1000 H&S and sold Me the ER for $200.SUCKER!!!!!Just My opinion.I have saved a ton of $$$ this way and now I have mostly top of the line stuff at a fraction of the price.Maybe next year I can pick up a nice H&S real cheap when a new model comes out!!!

[LobsterOfJustice]

I would look into a external beckett skimmer (MRC-2 or 3), powered by a large pressure rated pump. www.myreefcreations.com

[JCTewks]

www.protein-skimmer.com

they can make you a custom skimmer that will handle that tank very well for that price range. They also sell some that will do the job nicely.

[USC-fan]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10532424#post10532424 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by uhuru
DAS EX2?? we have a winner.

This is the same exact skimmer h&S sells for $1300... :eek1:

[mkarston]

I would check out Bermuda Aquatics:
http://www.bermudaaquatics.com/bpshobby.htm

I just picked up the 8c for my reef (~270 gal of total water volume).
They are really well built and inject a ton of air.

[ranran]

Here is a link for the das ex 2 skimmer. its a great skimmer for the price
http://stores.petorama.net/Detail.bok?no=74

[LobsterOfJustice]

Well I think this pretty much sums it up. With 9 replies you got 8 different answers :D .

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10535508#post10535508 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Kb-smoker
we have a winner.

This is the same exact skimmer h&S sells for $1300... :eek1:

??

[ranran]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10536244#post10536244 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by E-A-G-L-E-S
??

http://www.finsreef.com/product.php?productid=16137&cat=253&page=1

I am not sure this would be the closest match but it is bigger then the das ex 2

[kodyboy]

I second the DAS ex-2

[burton14e7]

Wow there really is a price gap between the das ex-2 and the H&S.

[klam114]

H&S are great skimmers, you don't ever hear much complaints, if any on them. But they are out of your budget. For something close to your budget and if you want great performance similar to H&S, I would go with the ATi Bubblemaster 200.

[Fishdude1984]

i say get the DAS ex-2, i believe that they are the same as deltec AP's (the bought patent rights i believe, but i may be wrong) anyways good skimmers for a great price

[RichConley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10549143#post10549143 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Fishdude1984
i say get the DAS ex-2, i believe that they are the same as deltec AP's (the bought patent rights i believe, but i may be wrong) anyways good skimmers for a great price

Theyre not the same either. Theyre based on the previous generation of Deltecs. Is there a real performance difference? I dont know, but theyre not the same.


Still a great deal though.

[pjf]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10549449#post10549449 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RichConley
Theyre not the same either. Theyre based on the previous generation of Deltecs. Is there a real performance difference? I dont know, but theyre not the same.


Still a great deal though.
Are there significant differences between the current generation and the previous generation of Deltec skimmers?

[BrokeColoReefer]

I like becketts, the MRC-R series are really good in that price range.

[RichConley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10551120#post10551120 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pjf
Are there significant differences between the current generation and the previous generation of Deltec skimmers?

I have no idea, but deltec and Das both make it pretty clear that theyre not the same.

Its probably some very small changes that dont make very much difference, but I'm sure there is some difference.

[Jim_S]

There is also a big difference in quality control on the DAS skimmers. They're built cheaply compared to their more expensive cousins. Lots of crooked collection cups and cheap bonding... Once again, does this make a difference in performance? Probably not. But they are definetly NOT the same. Silimar, yes.

For me, I look for the whole package. Well built, good pumps, customer service, etc., etc.

Others prefer to shop based on price, and thats fine. I'd say for the $400-$500 price range you're not gonna find a better performing skimmer than the DAS.

Jim

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10551735#post10551735 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jimdogg187
There is also a big difference in quality control on the DAS skimmers. They're built cheaply compared to their more expensive cousins. Lots of crooked collection cups and cheap bonding... Once again, does this make a difference in performance? Probably not. But they are definetly NOT the same. Silimar, yes.

For me, I look for the whole package. Well built, good pumps, customer service, etc., etc.

Others prefer to shop based on price, and thats fine. I'd say for the $400-$500 price range you're not gonna find a better performing skimmer than the DAS.

Jim

I agree. A Orca skimmer custom built from protein-skimmer.com is a great option as well in that price range.

[Deuce67]

Orca skimmer is so slammed with work right now, dont expect a quick turnaround. I would have to say 4 to 6 weeks at least. Im on week 4 waiting for my custom skimmer from Orca. No signs of it being shipped anytime soon.

[klam114]

burton14e7, what is the best skimmer for that price range? :lol:

[burton14e7]

I have no clue :) I'm building a 120 and researching everyday. I was using the post to lead me in the right direction. I've been hearing good things about DAS EX2's but a friend of mine that owns an LFS is saying that yeah there are tons of super good skimmers he could sell me but that I should stick to a Euro Reef because if i need a replacement part on the others I could be looking up to a month to get it where as ER I can just drive 15 minutes down to Laguna Beach where they're at if I really need a part that a store doesn't have on hand. It is a valid point and I'm not necessarily DIY inclined...wrong hobby eh? But I did wonders with a dremel and a tunze 6025 :)

[kodyboy]

DAS ex-2 for $400 really is great and the aquabee pumps are not that hard to find (but sometimes hard to get due to other issues).

[jman77]

DAS ex-2.... Ditto

[HBtank]

DAS EX-2 will beat any skimmer in its price range right out of the box.

Good luck getting the box in one peice though... lol

[burton14e7]

The ati bubblemaster is very sexy looking though....but the DAS is cheaper :) The tank will be a BB SPS tank if that sways any of your opinions.

HB, is that mammoth in your avatar? I'm moving to Dallas TX in a few weeks and I'm going to miss snowboarding greatly. I'll be flying home weekends to make bear trips with the buddies.

[Lumamae]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10566751#post10566751 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by klam114
burton14e7, what is the best skimmer for that price range? :lol: I think that's the point, there isn't just one! :lmao:

I would go with the BM200 as it really seems to outdo any of the ERs. In our local forum, several ER owners have testified how the BM skims circles around ER. I think the single Sicce pump on the BM even outdoes the 2x AB pumps on the DAS in terms of air draw.

[Jim_S]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10745680#post10745680 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Lumamae
I think that's the point, there isn't just one! :lmao:

I would go with the BM200 as it really seems to outdo any of the ERs. In our local forum, several ER owners have testified how the BM skims circles around ER. I think the single Sicce pump on the BM even outdoes the 2x AB pumps on the DAS in terms of air draw.

I've read through that thread. Just to clarify, most are comparing their "older" ER or "smaller" ER to a BM. Most BAR members aren't comparing apples to apples if you know what I mean :)

Of course a BM160 will out perform an RS80 or a smaller deltec or whatever other smaller, lower air-drawing model they choose to compare it to. It draws more air.

But what confuses me most is how they are comparing??? There really isn't a way to do so....

"Wow, this BM sure pulls out more skimmate than my old skimmer"...... so what does that mean exactly? Is the skimmate wetter? Have they measured DOC concentrations in the skimmate? Is the skimmate "better" somehow? What is the BM doing that a similarly sized skimmer can't do?

How do you like your BM Lumamae?

Jim

[HBtank]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10745501#post10745501 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by burton14e7
The ati bubblemaster is very sexy looking though....but the DAS is cheaper :) The tank will be a BB SPS tank if that sways any of your opinions.

HB, is that mammoth in your avatar? I'm moving to Dallas TX in a few weeks and I'm going to miss snowboarding greatly. I'll be flying home weekends to make bear trips with the buddies.

That's just up at Snow Summit on West Ridge when it used to be the best park in Bear. I never will figure out why they decided to ruin that park and devote all their energy to BM. I will always miss some of the hits I grew up on there...

I think that is from around 2001.

Burton for life though, best there is.

Bummer that you have to move. I could never do it, I would die without some type of water nearby to ride on, frozen or liquid :)