I need quiet!!! help please

[melypr1985]

Ok, so my current skimmer was bought with my current system used. I'm not sure about anything on it except that it's big, it's loud and it's an ASM. That's all I got. It's not very efficient any more and it sounds like a lawnmower is running all the time! Ok, maybe it sounds like the neighbor is mowing his backyard, but it's constant and rather annoying.

Now I'm looking into buying a brand new skimmer! Of course price is an object and quite the obstacle at the moment. $250 or less I think for a 100 total system gallons and a heavy fish load. I'm looking at the Reef Octopus Classic 150 INT Protein Skimmer.
I looked at the Vertex also and a few others, but really I want real world opinions on these. My main focus is quiet and efficiency so what can you guys tell me? Given my parameters, is the reef octopus skimmer I'm looking at going to be quiet? Are there better options out there?
Thanks!

Oh by the way, I have this exact reef octopus at the store but it's entirely too loud in there for me to single out the sound of that one skimmer.

 

[Thomasj616]

I had a reef octopus 150 int on my 125 display. It worked great!!! I ended up putting a 55 gallon sump and a 15 gallon display refugium on my system so it was getting maxed out. I was cleaning it every 3 days. It was pulling so much gunk it was great.
Very quiet operation. I cleaned the pump itself once a month and it always worked great.
My only advice would be to put a type of screen over the intake for the pump if you have any shrimp. I had a peppermint shrimp go down the sump and unfortunately ended up in the skimmer pump[emoji36][emoji25][emoji24]

 

[melypr1985]

I had a reef octopus 150 int on my 125 display. It worked great!!! I ended up putting a 55 gallon sump and a 15 gallon display refugium on my system so it was getting maxed out. I was cleaning it every 3 days. It was pulling so much gunk it was great.
Very quiet operation. I cleaned the pump itself once a month and it always worked great.
My only advice would be to put a type of screen over the intake for the pump if you have any shrimp. I had a peppermint shrimp go down the sump and unfortunately ended up in the skimmer pump[emoji36][emoji25][emoji24]

Thanks for the review! My tank is in my not-very-large living room where we watch TV and pretty much do everything so silence is now a priority.

 

[bobman]

I have had the NWB 150 and its quite. I currently run a heavily modified ASM g5 an dyes they are loud I did a mod taking the design of a lifereef skimmer and incorporating it into the ASM where I drilled and added some 90 degree barb fitting into the collection cup and hooked the air lines to them. It runs very quite as long as the lid is on the cup lol. Also the sedra pumps are not very efficient so since mine were fried when I got the skimmer I also got some venturis from life reef that way I can run any pump I want. Works great but the skimmer is way overkill for my 150

 

[Thomasj616]

Yeah mine takes up most of the wall in my dining room . Who needs a tv when you spend so much on our "hobby". More like obsession.

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

I have a Reef Octopus 200 INT in my 125 DT with a 55 gallon sump. The skimmer is ultra quiet as long as you keep the pump clean. Get some debris in it, and it starts to get loud. As for skimming performance, it's everything I wanted and more. I'm sure the 150 INT would work out well for you. You should know that Reef Octopus changed the design so that the bases are easier to clean, so make sure you look into that.

Personally, if I were to look at a new skimmer, I would look at the Coral Box D700 DC skimmer. You can ramp the DC speed as needed, and it won't break the bank. My coworker just got one, and he loves it so far. He doesn't even have an Apex to control the speed!

 

[melypr1985]

I have had the NWB 150 and its quite. I currently run a heavily modified ASM g5 an dyes they are loud I did a mod taking the design of a lifereef skimmer and incorporating it into the ASM where I drilled and added some 90 degree barb fitting into the collection cup and hooked the air lines to them. It runs very quite as long as the lid is on the cup lol. Also the sedra pumps are not very efficient so since mine were fried when I got the skimmer I also got some venturis from life reef that way I can run any pump I want. Works great but the skimmer is way overkill for my 150

Thanks! I was giving the SSS model a good look as well. You lost me with all the mods though... I'm not mechanically inclined at all so I just want one that comes already working the way I want... ya know what I mean?

 

[melypr1985]

I have a Reef Octopus 200 INT in my 125 DT with a 55 gallon sump. The skimmer is ultra quiet as long as you keep the pump clean. Get some debris in it, and it starts to get loud. As for skimming performance, it's everything I wanted and more. I'm sure the 150 INT would work out well for you. You should know that Reef Octopus changed the design so that the bases are easier to clean, so make sure you look into that.

Personally, if I were to look at a new skimmer, I would look at the Coral Box D700 DC skimmer. You can ramp the DC speed as needed, and it won't break the bank. My coworker just got one, and he loves it so far. He doesn't even have a Apex to control the speed!

Thanks! I'll look into the Coral Box as well

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

My LFS sells them. I just wasn't quite sure about them as they were newer when I started looking for a skimmer. I would totally buy one now if I could be assured I'd get the same or better performance than my Reef Octopus.

 

[Breadman03]

Thanks! I was giving the SSS model a good look as well. You lost me with all the mods though... I'm not mechanically inclined at all so I just want one that comes already working the way I want... ya know what I mean?

On the Lifereef, the air inlet has an airline that runs into the collection cup, so it is recycling the air it is using and keeps the noise contained. It may be worth considering so you can spend more of your $$ on other stuff. (even though I get the allure of new and shiny)

 

[Triggreef]

I have reef octopus 150 and life reef 36 inch. They are both quiet and both pull a good amount of junk. I think the life reef is more constant with less maintenance, but that may be due to water level fluctuations where the octopus is. I would say your good with either one but I haven't noticed much difference compared to not running a skimmer at all which I did for a long time.

 

[Servillius]

I've had several Reef Octopus along the way. They're good skimmers. On the occasion I've had problems though, it was that a particular skimmer was a bit noisy. The build quality on Vertex is really nice. If theres a Vertex in your price range, I'd consider it.

 

[jetmaker]

I have a aqua max c01 completely quiet and skims awesome. I read the reviews on the vertex and the octopus and after reading this one I didn't go wrong.

 

[dewboy1127]

Petsolutions.com where i got my reef octopus 150 and i got it plus some test kits overnighted for $250....love the skimmer what ive ran since i started mine is in my living room as well and doesnt really bother me granted i have an external pump on my system which not quietest option out there lol

 

[jetmaker]

I have a aqua max c01 completely quiet and skims awesome. I read the reviews on the vertex and the octopus and after reading this one I didn't go wrong.

Marine depot has this skimmer and good reviews. Easy to adjust set it and forget it.

 

[Gpettit721]

I'm running a skims sm201 and it's been great so for. Much quieter than two mp10s so I don't know it's runnin... It pulls out a lot of nasty skim mate too.

 

[bobman]

Here is a pic of what I did to my ASM to make it quite it was easy and cheap to do. As you can see its just a fitting on the collection cup that I hooked the air hose to. Works great

 

[ngvu1]

I use the Reef octopus classic 150 space saver. It works great in term of performance, but there are a few issues with it and 1 of them is the noise. It has the low pitch humming noise that drives me nuts when I open the door of my stand. I feed the sun corals that I keep in the sump and man that skimmer used to drive me nuts when I do that. I like the performance of the skimmer a lot so I changed it a bit. I am not sure it was only my case...Anyway, I reduce the air intake a bit like 20% less and it is a lot better like 90% better in term of noise.....I wish it has the valve to adjust the air intake then it would be great.
Problems I have with it?
1. no drain on the collection cup. Even though the cup is huge, there is a chance it could be full...(I don't really care much as I dry skim it. It might takes a month or more to fill that cup)
2. Taking the collection cup off the skimmer is hard
3. noise

 

[ngvu1]

Also quietness level is relative. quiet to one person might be a bit noisy to another.

 

[ngvu1]

Impressive, but that looks like a giant skimmer right?

I'm running a skims sm201 and it's been great so for. Much quieter than two mp10s so I don't know it's runnin... It pulls out a lot of nasty skim mate too.