Easiest to maintain skimmer?

[daftwazzock]

I'm totally over my current skimmer (NYOS Quantum 160). Emptying and cleaning the skimmate cup is a very awkward process- there's nowhere to easily grip the cup, and if you accidentally twist it too hard (because there's nowhere to easily grip the cup) the skimmate will slosh out. Also, this is not a quiet skimmer no matter what people say. It produces a very audible hum from the cup rattling against the skimmer body- and the cup does not really fit into the skimmer body that well. Don't even get me started on the Torq.. NYOS is just an absolute hypebeast brand and I won't be getting any NYOS products again nor recommend them. It's clear they are more concerned with making their products look good rather than be functional.

I'm looking for a brand that has some kind of drain valve so you don't even have to remove the cup to drain it. I saw a video from BRS that also showed a skimmer cup with a built in 'wiper' to keep the walls clean but I cannot find this video. Does anyone know offhand which brand this is before I go watch a few hours of BRS product reviews to find the one I'm thinking of? I don't think it was Bubble Magus but i might pull the trigger on one of their skimmers if I can't find the one I saw on BRS.

 

[homer1475]

I'm not sure, but I don't think any skimmer comes with a neck cleaner. The avast swabbie works well, and can be retrofitted to any skimmer.

I have a bubble magus curve elite series, Great skimmer and the sicce pump is dead silent.

 

[daftwazzock]

I'm not sure, but I don't think any skimmer comes with a neck cleaner. The avast swabbie works well, and can be retrofitted to any skimmer.

I have a bubble magus curve elite series, Great skimmer and the sicce pump is dead silent.

Thanks, I looked it up on second thought I think what I saw on BRS was the avast swabbie

That bubble magus model has a drain valve right? Judging from this pic

 

[homer1475]

Yes they have an external drain plug.

 

[VikS]

Reef octopus regal series will be my recommendation. Comes with varios pump. Has been a workhorse for 4 years with minimal maintenance .

 

[homer1475]

Just make sure you get the ELITE series. The older series has a rock pump which is known to be very shoddy.

The elite line has a few improvements, but the biggest improvement is the sicce pump.

 

[Bryknicks]

I'm very happy with the coral box d300 skimmer. I upgraded to this four months ago and am very happy. It has a valve drain and float shut off in the skimmer cup for easy maintenance and protection.

 

[Big C]

Owned two Reef Octopus Regals as well. No issues >3 years with minimal maintenance...... (really bad at that ).

 

[MTBake]

Deltec. Manual cleaning head with dran line and valve to drain the cup. Easy to take apart for cleaning as well. Cant hear it running with cabinet doors closed.

 

[mtraylor]

The new red sea has what you are looking for. Not sure it will meet your quite protocol, but it has a drain and you can twist the top to clean the sides of the skimmer. The lid however is not friendly to remove, but you have a valve on the cup for drainage. Good luck.

 

[X-37B]

Tunze! The easiest skimmer to clean period.
Just lift off and clean.
You dont even have to turn it off.
Has anti overflow too!
They should be more popular.
I run a 9410dc on my 120 and a standard 9410 on my 45 frag system.
Just turn on and they skim.
Have not touched the air setting, only thing to adjust since I set it up 9 months ago.
At 6 months took it out cleaned it, put it back in, turned it on, and it started skimming.
Check them out!

 

[Stanley Wong]

Have been using the Lifereef Skimmers for the past 13 years. It has the drain valve and easy to clean.