What's The Most Important

[dayzofspeed]

if there was one item not to skimp on in a marine set up what would you say it was, also on a side issue i've been looking at skimmers on ebay and i've seen quite a few TMC V2 skimmers advertised are these any good, I know most people here reccommend the Deltec MCE, all your suugestions welcomed as always...........kevin

 

[ben1987]

the tmc skimmers are entry level skimmers, so not the best! The v2 400 is actually the pick of the bunch. I'd reccomend a second hand deltec though!

I think skimmers are one area not to be skimpt on. Lighting is the other JMO

 

[ozzie2011]

I agree with Ben, if its hangon I have read a lot of people who experienced the 400 to be quite loud and the cup overfilling, wet floor. MCE 600 is one of the best hangons but rarely come up used and at £280 new is a fair amount for spend.

Ive just bought a used Aqua medic 1000 blue, which is doing a good job at the minute and at about £130 isnt going to break the bank.

Good powerheads or if you can afford a Vortech are what I recommend as flow is one of the most important things in the tank in my eyes

 

[HappyGeorge]

The wish to be included coupled with a lack of any experience for a sensible suggestion would lead me to say

1) Glass - without glass you have nowhere to stick your powerheads.
2) Water - without water you will be forever replacing your livestock.
3) Silicone - without silicone 1) has a problem coping with 2).

Any help? No thought not.

 

[dayzofspeed]

The wish to be included coupled with a lack of any experience for a sensible suggestion would lead me to say

1) Glass - without glass you have nowhere to stick your powerheads.
2) Water - without water you will be forever replacing your livestock.
3) Silicone - without silicone 1) has a problem coping with 2).

Any help? No thought not.

hmmm ok George, but i already have those(gonna have to think carefully about how i phrase my questions with happygeorge about)lol

taking this forward with skimmers for the time being i am assuming i should be avoiding the ones coming out of Hong Kong on ebay? also can you overskim? i.e just seen one for a 2500l tank minus the pump, is it the pump that gives the volume you can skim? i have a 240l tank

 

[ozzie2011]

I have always bought skimmers that rated much higher than my tank

Im currently running an aqua medic turboflotor blue 1000, rated for tanks upto 700ltrs on my 250 ltr system.

 

[kj23502]

are you looking for a hang on then? Or in sump external?

My item not to skimp on would be the water going into your tank. Without good water you don't have a good foundation to begin with.

 

[dayzofspeed]

i am planning on using a sump,the plan is that i am going to build a custom cabinet, then decide what's going to be in the sump, definately a dsb and a fuge, before sorting out the tank as i dont want to rush into setting up the tank then trying to squeeze in a sump (the juwel cabinet doesn't lend itself to a sump anyway), does having a sump change which skimmers i should be looking at?

 

[ozzie2011]

Some are hang on only, others are hangon and sump compatible like mine, some are sump only

 

[ben1987]

I usually buy skimmers rated to two or more times my tank volume. Though deltecs actually do pretty well on the tank size they are rated for!

 

[dayzofspeed]

i'm thinking about having a go at building a diy skimmer and probably the sump will be diy also so, apart from the tank its looking like a lot of diy coming up, good job i'm not in a rush. I know i could probably buy one off ebay cheaper than building my own but where's the fun in that

 

[ozzie2011]

Good luck to you on that decision

Look forward to seeing the progress

 

[dayzofspeed]

well hopefully i will manage ok without pulling out too much hair, my diy skills are now a little rusty. The cabinet should be fairly straightforward as i am hoping the sump will be, but the skimmer is a different proposition, as i still dont fully understand the mechanics of the bloody things, so if that goes tits up i will resort to buying 2nd hand, fingers crossed