Anyone own a Bill Wann (aquarium engineering) skimmer?

Easttuth · 02/01/2017, 05:57 PM

I'd like to hear some independent reviews of his skimmer before I move forward with any more research.

Thank you

Breadman03 · 02/01/2017, 06:24 PM

I'm not much help, but he did just start offering a neck and cup washout system.

Easttuth · 02/01/2017, 08:49 PM

I saw that. I can't imagine it's worth the money though. $900 additional cost. But man it does look awesome

scubadan206 · 02/03/2017, 10:15 AM

Bill lives about 15 minutes from me. He sells enough stuff locally, but I think most of it is commercial operations.

Humongous · 02/14/2017, 12:50 AM

I have one,pm me if you have any questions.

worm5406 · 02/14/2017, 10:23 PM

I would like to hear about it too.

Diokhan · 02/15/2017, 11:38 AM

I have one, and have had if for 4-5 years. One nice thing about Bill is he is always striving for continuous improvement. If he finds something that works better, it gets incorporated into the next build and so on, rather than keep building the same initial design forever.

One tip would be to run the waste into a collection vessel of some kind and not fill the cup. I setup a five gallon bucket with a lid. One the lid is a level sensor that kills the air to the skimmer when the bucket is full. When the air is killed, no more skimmate, so no flood.

I clean the neck once a week, though I should do it more. It is kind of a pain to have to be on a ladder to clean the neck and cup. If you have the ability to run a neck cleaning system, do it. I don't have a drain near mine to be able to do this, even if I had the ability.

I'm currently running it at a 1.5 minute dwell, or about 16 GPM of flow into the skimmer.

Elricsfate · 02/15/2017, 01:17 PM

$11,300 for a skimmer? Come on.

Diokhan · 02/16/2017, 04:02 PM

You must be referring to the 24" model. The RK2 75 PE which is also a 24" model, lists for $10k though you can find it for less. The thing about the Aquarium Engineering skimmers is they use forced air inducted needle wheel pumps where RK2 does not. The difference is better foam and a large decrease in power consumption.

When I was buying a large skimmer, it was the negative feedback I was getting on RK2 that led me to Bill when I was trying to find an alternative.

The one I have is a 12" model. I also forgot to mention that I have it vented to the outside. It's fed 40 lpm of air which needs to go somewhere. I'd much rather have stinky humid air going outside than in my house. Overall, I'm happy with it. I hope this helps out those interested.

MobileLightning · 03/23/2018, 06:26 PM

I purchased 1 in November and expect it any day. I like the autowash a lot. Once here, I'll share info.

Regards,
J

hedgedrew · 03/23/2018, 06:41 PM

I own one too !! Haven’t seen it work yet. Has to be great

ravi197699 · 03/24/2018, 05:07 AM

Bill Wann builds equipment like a tank, He offers grarantee not warranty, If you brake it he will fix it or replace it, I have not seen any company that offers anything like this, Even if I buy top notch product ie. Red Dragon, reef octopus etc, I am planning on getting skimmer for my build from him, in another words, it is 1 time investment and that is about it, I have sent him email recently (nothing in regards to buying) but general question and he replied to my question very next day, that says alot about person/ reefer/ business owner

02/01/2017, 05:57 PM	#1
Easttuth Registered Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Mount Dora Posts: 634	Anyone own a Bill Wann (aquarium engineering) skimmer? I'd like to hear some independent reviews of his skimmer before I move forward with any more research. Thank you __________________ Build Thread: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2486203

02/01/2017, 08:49 PM	#3
Easttuth Registered Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Mount Dora Posts: 634	I saw that. I can't imagine it's worth the money though. $900 additional cost. But man it does look awesome __________________ Build Thread: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2486203

02/14/2017, 12:50 AM	#5
Humongous Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Boise Idaho Posts: 93	I have one,pm me if you have any questions. __________________ The glass is neither half full or half empty, it was simply engineered wrong in the first place. Current Tank Info: 10.5'L x 5'W x 30"H

02/14/2017, 10:23 PM	#6
worm5406 Not afriad to admit wrong Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: South of WashDC in Maryland Posts: 7,774	I would like to hear about it too. __________________ Stock:LPS/SPS\|1 hippo\|4 OC Clown\|4 Pepp shrimp\|2 Brittle Star\|3000+ Copepods\|10+ MiniBrittle\|8+ Bristle Worm\|2 Anemone\|100+ mini-feather\|4 boys 14,21,22,22 Current Tank Info: Tank:300g Mixed Reef 300+lb LR\|4" LS\|5x MP40W\|75g fuge\|5x RadionPRO\|RO DB250 skimmer\|Apex

02/01/2017, 06:24 PM	#2
Breadman03 New Old School Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Luzerne County, PA Posts: 3,293	I'm not much help, but he did just start offering a neck and cup washout system.

02/03/2017, 10:15 AM	#4
scubadan206 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Kenosha WI Posts: 985	Bill lives about 15 minutes from me. He sells enough stuff locally, but I think most of it is commercial operations.

02/15/2017, 11:38 AM	#7
Diokhan Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 22	I have one, and have had if for 4-5 years. One nice thing about Bill is he is always striving for continuous improvement. If he finds something that works better, it gets incorporated into the next build and so on, rather than keep building the same initial design forever. One tip would be to run the waste into a collection vessel of some kind and not fill the cup. I setup a five gallon bucket with a lid. One the lid is a level sensor that kills the air to the skimmer when the bucket is full. When the air is killed, no more skimmate, so no flood. I clean the neck once a week, though I should do it more. It is kind of a pain to have to be on a ladder to clean the neck and cup. If you have the ability to run a neck cleaning system, do it. I don't have a drain near mine to be able to do this, even if I had the ability. I'm currently running it at a 1.5 minute dwell, or about 16 GPM of flow into the skimmer.

02/15/2017, 01:17 PM	#8
Elricsfate Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Fredericksburg, Va Posts: 482	$11,300 for a skimmer? Come on.

02/16/2017, 04:02 PM	#9
Diokhan Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 22	You must be referring to the 24" model. The RK2 75 PE which is also a 24" model, lists for $10k though you can find it for less. The thing about the Aquarium Engineering skimmers is they use forced air inducted needle wheel pumps where RK2 does not. The difference is better foam and a large decrease in power consumption. When I was buying a large skimmer, it was the negative feedback I was getting on RK2 that led me to Bill when I was trying to find an alternative. The one I have is a 12" model. I also forgot to mention that I have it vented to the outside. It's fed 40 lpm of air which needs to go somewhere. I'd much rather have stinky humid air going outside than in my house. Overall, I'm happy with it. I hope this helps out those interested.

03/23/2018, 06:26 PM	#10
MobileLightning Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Posts: 14	I purchased 1 in November and expect it any day. I like the autowash a lot. Once here, I'll share info. Regards, J

03/23/2018, 06:41 PM	#11
hedgedrew Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 2,159	I own one too !! Haven’t seen it work yet. Has to be great

03/24/2018, 05:07 AM	#12
ravi197699 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 567	Bill Wann builds equipment like a tank, He offers grarantee not warranty, If you brake it he will fix it or replace it, I have not seen any company that offers anything like this, Even if I buy top notch product ie. Red Dragon, reef octopus etc, I am planning on getting skimmer for my build from him, in another words, it is 1 time investment and that is about it, I have sent him email recently (nothing in regards to buying) but general question and he replied to my question very next day, that says alot about person/ reefer/ business owner