View Full Version : $250-$300 Skimmer plug and play 150 heavy ld. mixed reef BUYING TONIGHT!!!
reefpimp#1
02/26/2008, 06:57 PM
$250-$300 I have a 150 gallon heavy loaded sps mixed reef. I've looked at and almost bought the ASM G-3 but looks like alot of modding and some dissappointment. also am looking at the Octopus RPS 2000 I think its called. Or any others in this price range that are readily available. YOUR HELP IS NEEDED!
P.S. I have a fish room so height is not an issue and am deffinatly open to both insump and out of sump skimmers.
luke33
02/26/2008, 07:24 PM
There is nothing plug and play that will do what you are looking for. The closest thing i know of that is available right now would be a das ex2 for 400bux + shipping.
reefpimp#1
02/26/2008, 07:27 PM
no $300 skimmer will run my tank?
what about $350
I'm leaning towards the octopus cause if i can keep it out of my sump i dont have to upgrade my sump.
Shawn D
02/26/2008, 07:35 PM
Octos arent exactly plug and play, they would take some modding to perform like a das would the das can be run external just like the octo
reefpimp#1
02/26/2008, 07:36 PM
are the das $300 and rated for a 150?
if so where can i find one?
USC-fan
02/26/2008, 07:38 PM
DAS ex-1 is under $300 but that is pushing it with that skimmer. I know some have use it on tanks as big as 180gals. But I would spend the extra $100 and get the EX-2.
The cheapest place to buy them is on this ebay store:
http://stores.ebay.com/Aquarium-Designs-LLC
Rwinfrey
02/26/2008, 07:48 PM
you could look at some used skimmer's or a beckett style skimmer if you have an extra pump lying around.
Rwinfrey
02/26/2008, 07:51 PM
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1330134
fuzz1974
02/26/2008, 07:58 PM
I thought you said you were going ASM. Proof is in the pudding bro, you saw mine...... Right out of the box, no mods no nothin..plug in play u say...you got it
Fuzz
reefpimp#1
02/26/2008, 08:01 PM
the alure of the octopus is that its a recirc and mainly it can be an external skimmer so i wouldn't have to change my sump right away. spend a little more money now on a bigger skimmer and wait till later for the sump.
luke33
02/26/2008, 08:23 PM
The das ex2 pulls 1000lph air and is external for 400bux. The octo is 340+ and pulls 368lph air.......not to great. You can mod it to pull 950lph which would be sufficient but the das ex2 is much more efficient. 70w compared to 30w.
reefpimp#1
02/26/2008, 08:25 PM
where can i find the ex2? I have exactly $390 to spend thats shipped to my door. how about the msx200?
kdblove_99
02/26/2008, 08:35 PM
I would also get the DAS. Petorama.net has them but think they are $429. but you can get them new on ebay for $400
luke33
02/26/2008, 08:55 PM
The msx200 would be an awesome fit at 350bux but its an internal skimmer and they won't be in for another month.
cubsare1
02/26/2008, 09:22 PM
I was in the same boat and ordered the das 2 today mainly because the msx will not be available for a while (backorder). The das shipped was $415.94.
reefpimp#1
02/26/2008, 09:31 PM
What do you guys think of the Octopus nw200 recirc. And the Octopus ext200?
rbursek
02/26/2008, 09:45 PM
A fool is born every day, do the reseach and the money, nothing comes cheap, or easy, spend more, get it done right in a week or too!
reef2
02/26/2008, 09:49 PM
get the das ;)
reefpimp#1
02/26/2008, 09:54 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11952526#post11952526 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rbursek
A fool is born every day, do the reseach and the money, nothing comes cheap, or easy, spend more, get it done right in a week or too!
I'm a fool for being poor?
must be nice to just get what ever you want, us poe folk gots ta do what we can.
the oct ext200 looks just like the mxs200 and has been getting good reviews from what i read. the ONW200 recirc seemed like it got descent reviews. Bottom line every skimmer there is under $400 that i have looked at (that are available) are beeing bashed by someone. I dont own an octupus so i dont know how they are first hand but i bet you dont either. So unless you got something to offer that us poe folk can get, your in the wrong room. Thanks anyway ;)
AzMandella
02/26/2008, 09:59 PM
Try looking at Top Fathom. I have had one for 4 yrs and it works great. You can get one for 200 gal tank for $250.00 and a pump for $50.00 or so. They are venturi skimmers. Mine makes a nice dark brow to almost black skimmate. They are very easy to adjust. pretty much plug and play.
rbursek
02/26/2008, 10:04 PM
No I did not imply you where poor! I just wanted to get a point across, if the skimmer is not the right one, wait until you have some more $ching$ and get the right one, not what i am going to order tonight with 250 -300 $Ching$
luke33
02/26/2008, 10:09 PM
TF=not good. You can make a nw200 be able to handle a 150g tank fairly easy. Look around at the octo threads. For a diy guy, its the best bang for teh buck around. The best bang for the buck plug and play skimmer is easily the msx line. Unfortunately they are out of stock for a month. So imo you have a few options. Mod the nw200 thats 200bux. Wait for a month or so and get a msx200 for 350bux. Or get an external das ex2 right now.
rbursek
02/26/2008, 10:17 PM
Poor, do you have an inferiority complex? What makes you think I am not? I struggle on 1600.00 a month!
rbursek
02/26/2008, 10:21 PM
And that icludes a 880 a month tax and morgage plus utilitis.
reefpimp#1
02/26/2008, 10:27 PM
I do like the msx200. I take it you dont like the recircs or just not the octopus RPS. I just read a review and lee seemed to say the new extnw200 far out performs the nw200. problem is if i wait a month for the msx200 everyone will hate that by them and be pushing something else. unfortunatley at this time I cant spend over $400 witch is far from the $250 i started at a couple hours ago so the DAS2 is currently out.
USC-fan
02/26/2008, 10:31 PM
No, Recirc IMO are the best needle wheel skimmer designed. The octopus recirc are just not that good compare to other skimmers like the DAS ex-2.
For your tank I would get the DAS ex-2 or the msx200. Those are by far the best bang for you buck.
I would wait for the msx if that is the only one you can afford. I wouldn't settle for a lesser performing skimmer.
Its only a month, just do bi-weekly 5% water changes until you get a new skimmer.
reefpimp#1
02/26/2008, 10:35 PM
I guess the point is nobody wants to give you opinions on skimmers. The one they have seems to be the one to get. I have had the same nonworking CSS220 for 3 years because every time i try to resarch one and it starts to look good for one someone else tears it down. so every skimmer has reviews from GREAT!!! to SUCKS!!! it seems to irritate everyone so much they just buy a skimmer knowing its either gonna be great or suck. so you get unhappy skimmer owners with the same lack of info they started with.
reefpimp#1
02/26/2008, 10:36 PM
is there any way to find out when the next batch of msx200 skimmers will be available?
USC-fan
02/26/2008, 10:42 PM
I would check the MSX club thread. I sure someone been keeping track of the shipment dates..
Fishbulb2
02/26/2008, 10:42 PM
Big skimmers that can handle heavily loaded 150g tanks are either very expensive or require some effort on your part to get them to perform to their peak. So they aren't typically plug and play. Many people run tanks without skimmers so maybe you are better off waiting a couple months to wait for the MSX200 to get in stock or something.
AzMandella
02/26/2008, 10:43 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11952781#post11952781 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by luke33
TF=not good. You can make a nw200 be able to handle a 150g tank fairly easy. Look around at the octo threads. For a diy guy, its the best bang for teh buck around. The best bang for the buck plug and play skimmer is easily the msx line. Unfortunately they are out of stock for a month. So imo you have a few options. Mod the nw200 thats 200bux. Wait for a month or so and get a msx200 for 350bux. Or get an external das ex2 right now.
MY TF works great. No problems whatso ever and makes a real nice dark brown to black skimmate. Not much different than Euro Reef except its a venturi instead of a needle wheel impeller. I have not done a water change in 3 weeks and phosphate and nitrate are undetectable. The one thing you do have to do is drive it with a bigger pump than they recomend. It draws more air that way.
reefpimp#1
02/26/2008, 10:45 PM
I'm willing to do mods I am just not looking to put a bunch of money into a skimmer thats brand new just to make it run decent.
USC-fan
02/26/2008, 10:48 PM
The mods are REALLY inexpensive.
Luke33 have some great walk through thread for modding these skimmers.
reefpimp#1
02/26/2008, 10:53 PM
which skimmer? If willing to mod are the recirc octnw200 worth it or nor really. I just ask cause I would like to go with an external sump model. But if in sump nis the way to go Iwill make it work.
USC-fan
02/26/2008, 10:57 PM
Not sure if he done the recirc one yet but i know he done the insump model.
Maybe PM luke33 because he know a lot about modding these skimmers.
JCTewks
02/26/2008, 11:59 PM
Luke33 is the man to talk to...If you;re willing to mod, spend $200 on an OctoNW200, $20 on some plumbing and mesh, and get an external recirc skimmer for $220. It'll take some work (not much), but you'll get a great performing external recirc skimmer for around your initial budget.
reefpimp#1
02/27/2008, 06:21 PM
I got a friend at the local fish store to come down to $350 for a Turboflotor 5000 baby 48" with a 3500 ocean runner NW recirc and a MAG 7 drive pump. Not much info on these thought i would run it by to see if this with a couple mods would be better than the others at this price.
kentrob11
02/27/2008, 06:38 PM
The turboflotors work but the design is horrible. I think with your budget your best bet is to get the 200 and mod it to specs. Meshwheel mods are pretty easy to do and will have the skimmer working pretty well for you.
The reason there are so many differing opinions out there is that most people have not used or had personal experience with the entire hierarchy of skimmer options out there. Those with an ASM that works for them will recommend that until they experience a Deltec or other modified external with similar performance. The sad reality is that for a heavily stocked tank your size, There simply are no plug and play options that will adequately get the job done.
reefpimp#1
02/27/2008, 06:43 PM
I'm past the plug and play. If its an easy and cheap mod and will boost performance i'll do it.
Now I guess I'm looking for the best skimmer around $350 that can be easily and cheaply modded.
I guess i was hopeing that the turboflotor being so big (48"tall)and a $700 skimmer that a few mods would make it a monster.
kentrob11
02/27/2008, 06:47 PM
Tall doesn't necessarily mean better. That height kills off a lot of the air intake potential for that pump.
Pick up the 200 for 199 at premium and read up on the mods for it...
http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=CV-OCT-NW-200&Category_Code=Octopus
reefpimp#1
02/27/2008, 06:50 PM
I would prefer an external sump model but i can make due if its the better option. is the ONW 200 recirc an option or is it not as good as the 200NW
kentrob11
02/27/2008, 06:53 PM
They have a recirc model that's 379...That would put you at about 400 shipped to your door...
reefpimp#1
02/27/2008, 06:54 PM
ya found it on www.marinesolutionsinc.com for $339. Is this one as good or better than the NW200 after mods?
saltysupply
02/27/2008, 06:55 PM
I would say dnw200 or nw200
kentrob11
02/27/2008, 06:57 PM
I'd say you found your answer, pimp :-) You can still mod that pump with mesh and you'll have a great performing skimmer....
reefpimp#1
02/27/2008, 06:59 PM
saltysupply cant you beat that price? lol
reefpimp#1
02/27/2008, 07:20 PM
WAIT! I just found the new Octopus NW recirc EXT 200. Any news on if they are better?
kentrob11
02/27/2008, 07:21 PM
Link?
reefpimp#1
02/27/2008, 07:28 PM
Heres some info
http://www.thereefstop.com/index.php?_a=viewProd&productId=867
Heres a pic
http://www.jensalt.com/cgi-bin/ic/standard/ext-ps-200.html
kentrob11
02/27/2008, 07:31 PM
Even better....go for it
reefpimp#1
02/27/2008, 07:31 PM
I think thats the one.
JCTewks
02/27/2008, 11:23 PM
Like I said earlier, spend $200 on a Octo NW200, recirc and mesh it for $20. You've now got an external recirc skimmer that will kick the pants off of a PS120...and you saved yourself $150 :D PM luke33 for a link to the NW200 recirc mod....He recircs every skimmer he gets :lol:
reefpimp#1
02/28/2008, 04:16 AM
So where do I even find one of these great DAS EX-2s?
USC-fan
02/28/2008, 05:47 AM
ebay has the cheapest price at $400.
reefpimp#1
02/28/2008, 04:13 PM
I checked there are none available. All the suggested skimmers are unavailable!
MSX200 UNAVAILABLE!!
DAS EX-2 UNAVAILABLE!! IF you can find a DAS EX-2 for $400 AVAILABLE i'll order it now. otherwise I'll just have to find something available.
JCTewks
02/28/2008, 11:31 PM
reefpimp....have you intentionally disregarded every post I have made? You have said you are willing to do some mods to a skimmer to keep it within your budget and still have a great performing skimmer. I have now mentioned the NW200 and mods at under $250 twice, and you continue ranting about how you can't find anything in your price range. just takwe out your card, and order the NW200 from www.marinesolutionsinc.com for $199...if you ask nicely they'll probably throw some mesh in there for ya too :D
reefpimp#1
02/29/2008, 03:32 PM
JCTewks
I appreciate the loyalty to the NW200 But as the thread has moved on I have said that i am looking for an external skimmer so i wouldn't have to upgrade/buy a new sump.
To all of your dissappointment I unfortunatly went with the DNW EXT200-PS due to the unavailability of some skimmers and an unknown gravitational pull. It was in my price range I liked the design only has a few minor mods (venturi, mesh) to be a good skimmer and its external so no sump change is needed. My 150 is not in my opinion heavy loaded I have alot of coral somes shrimp 2 clowns and a mandrin. I just wanted to be prepaired. If at a later date i do upgrade my tank and feel this skimmer isnt enough I will spend the money on the "IT" skimmer at that time. And since I'll be the only one to have this skimmer on this thread I wont be wrong bashing it if its as poor perfoming as everyone ASSUMES it will be. But I do appreciate the ideas, suggestions and critsizem.
I will let you know how it performs. ;)
luke33
02/29/2008, 03:40 PM
Who said it was a poor performer. They are nice skimmers for there price. But i don't think 660lph will handle a 150g tank. The mesh and venturi mod will be to much air for the skimmer to handle imo as well.
reefpimp#1
02/29/2008, 03:44 PM
I have asked around and talked to the guy at jensalt they all said u were the octopus mod man. ha thought these two mods would work but more than this might affect its ability.
So what do you think i can do as mods on this or isnt it modable in ur opinion?
Dont u think with a couple mods it will bring the 660lph up enough to be a decent skimmer?
JCTewks
02/29/2008, 11:28 PM
It's not a matte of getting enough air for the skimmer to work well...its a matter of the neck won't handle the air that is needed to handle your tank. THere's only one way to find out though....so let us know how the mods go and how the skimmer handles your system. We'll be happy to help you through the mods if you need it (looks like I just volunteered you Luke :D).
luke33
02/29/2008, 11:48 PM
So whats new........
JCTewks
02/29/2008, 11:55 PM
Don't worry, I always take care of the small skimmer guys you send my way :D
luke33
03/01/2008, 12:01 AM
lol, yea, gotcha!
reefpimp#1
03/01/2008, 01:13 PM
The neck size on both are 3.5"s and they look the same. The octo has an 8" chamber and they DAS has a 6" chamber.
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