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View Full Version : Used HSA 1000 skimmer?


saltysteven
02/26/2008, 04:26 PM
How do you guys rate this skimmer? Its a HSA1000 by marine tech and its from 1998
What do you think its worth?
sorry about the angle i tried to correct but it keeps flipping backhttp://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y87/saltysteve/hsa1000.jpg

saltysteven
02/26/2008, 05:48 PM
oh i guess it did post right side up- good. so does anyone have an opinion about these?

Toyota Guy
02/26/2008, 06:35 PM
I have the new model of that skimmer. I can't say enough good things about it. Make sure you have a good pressure rated pump on it and you should be all set.

vette68
02/26/2008, 07:32 PM
I just picked up a used HSA 1000 skimmer myself. And I can't say enough good things about it. It has to be the best skimmer I've ever seen. I was previously using a 48" venturi skimmer with a 1" Mazzei venturi, and it won't even come close to the HSA. And the model I have is the exact same one you're looking at: the older model. The only reason for the newer model is because it's cheaper to manufacture than the older model like this. The newer model has the beckett external to the skimmer instead of threading through the middle. But both will work equally well. The only thing missing off that one is the gate valve on the outlet at the bottom. You'll need one to control the water level in the skimmer. Other than that, like Toyota Guy said, make sure you have a big pump for it. I wouldn't power it with anything less than 1000 GPH. I'm using an 4-MDQX and it works great, rated around 1300 GPH.

Now about the price, try to get it as cheap as you can. It's missing the gate valve, so that knocks down the price. I got mine for $200 with the pump so go down from there....

If it were me, I'd grab it. Definitely worth the money....

saltysteven
02/26/2008, 09:37 PM
im definately thinking about it.
I currently have a 5.5 L gaint for a pump and the skimmer I have is a ETSS Sting Ray skimmer rated for i think 300 gallons. its an older one and its a good size, its down draft is 36'' and the skimmer part is 24''
The guy i got it from had it made by ETTS but they never came out with that model but its basically a ETSS 600 with a shorter downpipe. Im not sure if the HSA1000 would be a large upgrade but anyway heres some pics:

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y87/saltysteve/DSC02995.jpg http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y87/saltysteve/DSC02984.jpg http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y87/saltysteve/DSC02977.jpg
and here is the newer model 600
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y87/saltysteve/ETSS600.jpghttp://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y87/saltysteve/DSC03004.jpg http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y87/saltysteve/DSC03005.jpg

vette68
02/26/2008, 10:58 PM
Although I'm sure your ETSS skimmer is a nice skimmer, I can guarantee you the HSA would be a significant upgrade. You can tell a skimmers relative efficiency by how thick the white foam is that it produces. I can still see through parts of the water column on your ETSS skimmer because the bubbles aren't thick enough. On the HSA, there is no way. The micro bubbles are so thick it looks like milk. A beckett is far more efficient at producing micro bubbles than bio balls. I can hardly tell where the water level stops and the foam layer begins, it's that thick. I've been running my system for 10 years on the venturi skimmer and thought it was an awesome skimmer. And it is a very nice skimmer. But it doesn't even come close to removing as much crap as the HSA. I know I sound like a commercial, but I really am impressed with how well this thing works. And I don't think you'll find anyone that is unhappy with theirs.

On mine, the water level is about 3 inches down from the bottom of the collection cup, but it's practically impossible to see.
http://simply-saltwater.com/images/DSC005731.JPG

Find out, too, if the collection cup is included. That's a nice feature. If the skimmer overflows, or the collection cup gets full, there's a ping pong ball that floats up and blocks the escape of air. This forces the water level back down into the skimmer, keeping anything from overflowing all over the floor. Very nice.
http://simply-saltwater.com/images/DSC005711.JPG

Anyhow, good luck with your decision. I know I'm slightly biased in what I'd do....

bernie lyons
02/26/2008, 11:00 PM
Excellent skimmer . go for it !!!
bernie lyons

saltysteven
02/27/2008, 12:29 AM
i know you can see through parts of the water column right now because i just did a slight water change but usually its pretty milky white.
so you think itll be a large upgrade?
the guy has two of them but wants 600 for the pair or 350 for one-
that seems like a little to much, right?

saltysteven
02/27/2008, 10:10 AM
bump ^

vette68
02/27/2008, 05:36 PM
Yes, I definitely think this would still be an upgrade. You really won't find a more efficient skimmer than a beckett.

As far as price, that seems a litttle steep. Now, I'm being devil's advocate so you can get a better price. It is a 10 year old skimmer, it's missing some key parts (especially the gate valve). And a new gate valve is at least $30.00, or more for a better one that can be taken apart and cleaned, like the ones that come with it originally. And it appears that it's also missing the external collection cup. So, with those things, there's no way I'd pay $350 for it. And even once you get it (work with me here), it's going to cost you another $150 for a pump. So, by the time you put everything together, at $350 plus extras, you could just about buy a new one with the new design. I don't really think the new design is anything more than just easier to manufacture, but use that as well. Tell them this is the old design, so argue it's less efficient than the new design (even though I'm sure they're identical). I'd offer him $200 and see what happens. But there's no way I'd pay $350 for a used skimmer like that, missing what it's missing. Now I got a deal on mine because it was my Uncle that sold it to me. He had a 300 gallon reef he dismantled, so he practically gave me the skimmer...

But let us know what happens....

saltysteven
02/28/2008, 12:51 AM
k ill offer him 200 but he probably wont do that. i wont pay 350 either - i guess we'll see

saltysteven
02/28/2008, 07:17 AM
well he said $250 for the skimmer would be the lowest he'll go. Im not sure if this is a good deal or not- i think i have a valve gate for it and i have the pump it would be nice to get the whole thing complete with that external cup.
so what do you think?

saltysteven
02/28/2008, 08:07 AM
anyone think 250 is a good deal on this skimmer in its condition?

saltysteven
02/28/2008, 01:27 PM
anyone..... ???

saltysteven
02/28/2008, 07:35 PM
anyone..... ???

saltysteven
02/29/2008, 09:20 PM
anyone..... ???

OnlyCrimson
02/29/2008, 09:25 PM
sadly i don't know, but ill bump this and maybe someone will chime in

bernie lyons
02/29/2008, 10:06 PM
Go for it !!! It is still a good buy considering the HSA - 1000 's capability . bernie lyons

saltysteven
03/02/2008, 07:49 AM
i think i might pick it up and see. do you think a LG 5.5 would be good to run? is it too much?

Wolfgang
03/02/2008, 09:43 AM
I'd say go for it! It's a great Skimmer!A Mak 4 is a really good match for the Skimmer.
The ETSS you have, the Downdraft tube looks Longer than the new 600, Not Shorter!!!
Looks like a great Skimmer as well!
-Wolfgang

saltysteven
03/02/2008, 09:24 PM
wolfgang- yes your right i did mix that up it is a way longer downdraft tube.