Help IDing a Skimmer

[jamesbuf]

I need your guys help IDing a skimmer. The guy says its a euroreef, but I couldn't find an exact match anywhere on the net, so I don't know what size tank its rated for. It has the euroreef logo engraved on the collection cover plate. Its 30" tall and about 8.5" in diameter. It has a dolphin pump model dp-800 (with needle wheel inside), and I couldn't find a euroreef skimmer with that kind of pump anywhere. I found what looks to be a few matches on the web, but there are plenty of different ratings on a skimmer of this size. I guess it depends on what pump it is hooked up to?? It looks like this one but it doesn't have the square base platform and doesn't have the same design of outflow inside the skimmer. It also has a different pump.

 

http://marinedepot.stores.yahoo.net/eurore...--euroreef.html

 

Here are some pics of the skimmer.

http://www.wamas.org/forums/index.php?s=&a...um&album=35

 

The guy had it hooked up to a 180 gallon reef, a 55 gallon FOWLR tank, and a decent sized sump, which were all connected to one system, and he said it worked well for his system. He said he bought it from a LFS within 2 years. He said he ended up dropping a few grand on everything at one time, so he couldn't remember how much he paid for just the skimmer.

 

I know Euroreefs are great skimmers, so I'm basically trying to decide whether to use this one for my setup or stay with my ETSS evolution 500 downdraft skimmer. Thanks for any help that can be offered.

[dhoch]

I think it is a euroreef, just an older model....

 

Dave

[traveller7]

I know Euroreefs are great skimmers, so I'm basically trying to decide whether to use this one for my setup or stay with my ETSS evolution 500 downdraft skimmer. Thanks for any help that can be offered.

Euro's and ETSS are very different styles of skimmers, both can be very effective or ineffective depending on immplementation.

 

Not sure what your goals are, but I am not sure a used skimmer and unsupported "dolphin" pump is a good investment.

[dbartco]

an older cs8-3 maybe.

 

8" diam? Make a recirc mod and a gate valve and it will work even better....

 

Have one similar I am using, but a bit more updated pump. I doubt it is within 2 years though. For as long as I remember they have been using sedras, so the dolphiin is a repleacement or really old.

[ErikS]

Based on current models that would be a CS-180 (about what he had it on).

 

It's been just about 3 years since they quit using Dolphin pumps, nothing wrong with that pump at all (IMHO they're better than the Sedras & Genx's they use now - at the worst equal).

 

ER has been chasing their tails upgrading pumps to push more water & air through the design with no real success. They haven't gotten all that much better, moderate improvements - that's not a bad thing as they work pretty well.

 

If you were to direct feed the skimmer a recirc mod would net you about 15 - 20% increase in performance. If you have a sump with a smallish skimmer compartment likely improvment would be 10 - 15%.

 

If the pump fails you can always replumb it with a sedra (about $100).

 

Depending on price you got a good deal, if nothing else it's a good "tube" for mods & experiments.

 

Will it out perform your ETSS? Might, only one way to find out (if nothing else the pump might be cheaper to run)

 

Here's that model in it's current config: ER @ Premium Aquatics

[jamesbuf]

Euro's and ETSS are very different styles of skimmers, both can be very effective or ineffective depending on immplementation.

 

Not sure what your goals are, but I am not sure a used skimmer and unsupported "dolphin" pump is a good investment.

 

How much would you have paid for a 30" tall Euroreef skimmer? I thought $75 was a good price for this. Even if I were to to mod it or have it as a spare. Even though its an older model, I'm pretty sure its still worth way more than $75. Same basic design and skimming principles.

 

 

Based on current models that would be a CS-180 (about what he had it on).

 

It's been just about 3 years since they quit using Dolphin pumps, nothing wrong with that pump at all (IMHO they're better than the Sedras & Genx's they use now - at the worst equal).

 

ER has been chasing their tails upgrading pumps to push more water & air through the design with no real success. They haven't gotten all that much better, moderate improvements - that's not a bad thing as they work pretty well.

 

If you were to direct feed the skimmer a recirc mod would net you about 15 - 20% increase in performance. If you have a sump with a smallish skimmer compartment likely improvment would be 10 - 15%.

 

If the pump fails you can always replumb it with a sedra (about $100).

 

Depending on price you got a good deal, if nothing else it's a good "tube" for mods & experiments.

 

Will it out perform your ETSS? Might, only one way to find out (if nothing else the pump might be cheaper to run)

 

Here's that model in it's current config: ER @ Premium Aquatics

Thanks for the positive feedback. I figured it was either the one rated for 180 or 250. The link you sent was only for a 24" tall chamber, so I'm guessing/hoping that mine is the 250 model.

 

I think I'm going to hold on to it until I eventually find a 210gallon or 180gallon to upgrade to. After that, I'm either going to attempt to mod the euroreef and add a sedra 9000 to just flow into the chamber like the dolphin does (similar to how the asm G5 and G6 have multiple pumps), or try to add it as a recir mod. I might just try to sell the euroreef and ETSS downdraft and buy a new ASM G5 or G6. We'll see.

 

What is the difference between just using an additional needle wheel pump as a recirc as compared to using it as another pump going into the reaction chamber. I would think that increasing the flow and ammount of bubbles created would be better, but most of the newer skimmers I've seen are going to the recirc style. Go figure.

[traveller7]

How much would you have paid for a 30" tall Euroreef skimmer?

The seller would have to pay me to take it, I don't have the space and it is not a good fit for any of my current or future projects

 

If you have a use for it and like the price, congrats on the score. Noone else's opinion matters

[jamesbuf]

The seller would have to pay me to take it, I don't have the space and it is not a good fit for any of my current or future projects

 

If you have a use for it and like the price, congrats on the score. Noone else's opinion matters

 

What type of skimmer do you use? I'm just curious, because it seems like you have something against the euroreefs.

[traveller7]

What type of skimmer do you use? I'm just curious, because it seems like you have something against the euroreefs.

No prob with them at all

 

I have 2 applications on my current tanks:

 

1: sumpless, no overflow, no drilled holes = Tunze ReefPacks which I like alot for total efficiency.

2: must be driven by main return pump, reduce heat, and power consumption = downdrafts and becketts.

 

My statements reflect design issues, not brands

 

Full disclosure:

 

I am not a fan of Dolphin support, and pulled all out of service switched over to Sequence(including DP series).

 

I still have a used ETSS 800 for backup skimming. It is much too small and high maintenance for my application but runs like a champ for about a week prior to shut down. Dual beckett with easy removal reaction chamber required for this design.

 

If my design allowed a "Euro design", I would pre-order a Tunze Master DOC Skimmer 9440.000 today in hopes of easier cleaning, low power consumption(heat).