has anyone tried this

[Aquariareview]

 

I am putting a 40 gal reef tank bedside and this has been recommend to me.

EcoSystem Pro Series Hang on with CPR skimmer

• Has anyone here used one?
  
• Does anyone here know anyone that has used one?
  
• If so how well did it work?
  

 

they are not a lot of money ($400) but I don't want another piece of useless aquaria junk in storage.

[treesprite]

Does the water go through the skimmer before or after it goes through the refugium?

[reefhunter]

before. Many of us run the same type of thing without the skimmer. I dont know about the skimmer but CPR fuges are good quality.

 

I would consider a HOB Refugium and a HOB high end skimmer like a deltec... but this is probably would work depending on what you are keeping.

[Der ABT]

I had a skimmer that used those collection cups when i first started, often had overflow issues where skimmate would drip outside the tnak and smell the whole room up, not to mention needing to replace the orings often, wasnt a big fan, in fact i prefered the coralive 125 over it.

looks pretty cool though, if you painted the back of the tank and blocked the light you could even run opposing light schedules

[Boret]

$400 is too much $$ for what you are getting there.

 

If you have the space you can put a sump under your tank inside the stand, you can add a skimmer to it and you can have a section for a refugium. Lighting a refugium doesn't require expensive lighting.

 

As Der ABT mentioned, it is a pretty crappy skimmer.

 

I can see the appeal of not having to drill your tank or use an overflow box, but if you haven't setup your main tank yet I would drill it, use a smaller tank as sump and get a decent skimmer.

[Aquariareview]

I can't have a sump below because of the placement. I could build the refuge without much stress and and buy a good HOB Skimmer.

I have almost always have had big systems so I don't know a lot about small skimmers. What is the best HOB skimmer Cost no object.

[treesprite]

I was thinking more about the need for a skimmer to be before rather than after the fuge part, but should add that the CPR skimmer on my clown tank isn't that great. I used to have an airstone - driven counter current skimmer that worked almost as well as my CPR skimmer.

[jason the filter freak]

skip it get a good hob skimmer, remora, tunze, deltec and then a separate fuge

[epleeds]

What is the best HOB skimmer Cost no object.

 

 

I have a deltek MCE600 and love it. Kicks butt over the remora and backpack. Cost just under $300 used. there were a few on reefcentral for under $275 last month. Also, you could use the MCE300 too, which is cheaper...

Edited December 23, 2009 by epleeds

[Sharkb8]

I would agree with epleeds. I too had an MCE600 and it worked wonderfully even on a 90g. Also had a CPR large 'fuge HOB and I liked both very much. I got my 'fuge on eBay - secondhand blemished version. Looked just like new to me and worked just as well, but much cheaper. The MCE will set you back some coin, but it is a long-lasting commodity and holds its value well over time.

[Aquariareview]

Merry Christmas everybody.

I just bought a deltec and I am building a hob fuge I will post pics when its finished. refuge will hang on back and it's top is 2 inch above the water level of the main tank. small powerhead pumps it into bottom of one end of refuge, water flows 20 in across and then a small overflow drains it back into main tank.

I built one 12 years ago and it was not that hard.

my plan is 20 in long, 13 in deep and 5 in wide. LED lighting. some mud and sand mixed in fuge with some good macro algae.

bought scrap plastic sheet (1/4 inch thick) today for $20 will start next month.