Kent Marine Nautilus Turbo Eductor Skimmer
- Thread starter arnjer
- Start date
Ok let me rephrase it what's the best skimmer I can get for 200.00
price range for my 90 I have put off upgrading for a couple of reasons and now am ready to get one I have done a search but want people's opinion on what works best. Sorry if I can't spend what others do on them
jerry
price range for my 90 I have put off upgrading for a couple of reasons and now am ready to get one I have done a search but want people's opinion on what works best. Sorry if I can't spend what others do on them
jerry
I have one running on my 120 show tank here at my store. I like several things not mentioned in that thread:
1) The collection cup is made of PVC so it's very durable. My sales rep stood on it, threw it on the floor, it does not break. I've got a Red Sea Berlin skimmer in my garage with a broken collection cup
2) The chamber is 5" instead of 4". This makes cleaning MUCH easier, as I can get my hand into it to give it a wipe, whereas with a smaller chamber, wiping it becomes a bit trickier.
Yes it says for systems up to 300 gallons, but I've always been told that the "rule of thumb" for skimmers is to divide that number in half. For a 300 gallon tank, I'd be looking for a skimmer for a 600 gallon system...this skimmer is no exception. At home my 55 has a hand made skimmer rated for a 200, and my 45 has a model 75. The 55 I maintain down the road has a skimmer rated for 150, and so on. As I mentioned I have this one on a 120, and it does just fine. I don't think I'd push it past a 150 though.
As to construction...once a skimmer is installed, how much abuse does it take? IMO the collection cup is the most at risk because it is removed, emptied and washed (or one hopes it is!), but the rest of the unit will stay pretty much in one place unless the hobbyist spends an inordinate amount of time fiddling in the sump.
As to the return pipe, it is adjustable, and there IS a clamp that you can use to fix the tube in place if you find the perfect level for the amount of skimmate you want. It's easy to adjust for wetter or dryer foam, and it is very easy to install.
For the price, I think it's a very good skimmer. NO it's not the Cadillac, top of the line, all the bells and whistles, but for the average hobbyist, I think it is good value.
JMHO
Jenn
1) The collection cup is made of PVC so it's very durable. My sales rep stood on it, threw it on the floor, it does not break. I've got a Red Sea Berlin skimmer in my garage with a broken collection cup
2) The chamber is 5" instead of 4". This makes cleaning MUCH easier, as I can get my hand into it to give it a wipe, whereas with a smaller chamber, wiping it becomes a bit trickier.
Yes it says for systems up to 300 gallons, but I've always been told that the "rule of thumb" for skimmers is to divide that number in half. For a 300 gallon tank, I'd be looking for a skimmer for a 600 gallon system...this skimmer is no exception. At home my 55 has a hand made skimmer rated for a 200, and my 45 has a model 75. The 55 I maintain down the road has a skimmer rated for 150, and so on. As I mentioned I have this one on a 120, and it does just fine. I don't think I'd push it past a 150 though.
As to construction...once a skimmer is installed, how much abuse does it take? IMO the collection cup is the most at risk because it is removed, emptied and washed (or one hopes it is!), but the rest of the unit will stay pretty much in one place unless the hobbyist spends an inordinate amount of time fiddling in the sump.
As to the return pipe, it is adjustable, and there IS a clamp that you can use to fix the tube in place if you find the perfect level for the amount of skimmate you want. It's easy to adjust for wetter or dryer foam, and it is very easy to install.
For the price, I think it's a very good skimmer. NO it's not the Cadillac, top of the line, all the bells and whistles, but for the average hobbyist, I think it is good value.
JMHO
Jenn
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