Skimmers, What are you really paying for?

[MichaelReefer]

You know, I was just kinda cruising around BRS and noticed the such wide price ranges of Skimmers and it made me think...what are you truly paying for? I personally have only ever used Simplicity and had fairly good luck with them. Their customer service is amazing and the quality seems the same. Is there really a difference in spending, lets say $300 on a Simplicity vs $500 on a Octopus or Red Sea?

 

[Potatohead]

Main thing is the quality of the pump. Secondly would be things like warranty support, distribution, etc.

I would say things like chamber volume, air ratio etc as well but it's not too hard for anyone to figure that stuff out.

 

[X-37B]

Main thing is the quality of the pump. Secondly would be things like warranty support, distribution, etc.

I would say things like chamber volume, air ratio etc as well but it's not too hard for anyone to figure that stuff out.

Agree, quality pump and warrenty.
I run Tunze. They are not fancy but are simple and just plain work.

 

[stephj03]

Better noise reduction.

 

[fcmatt]

Agree with the above. The pump is everything and noise reduction. The shape and size has become pretty standard now days.

 

[ecamden]

You know, I was just kinda cruising around BRS and noticed the such wide price ranges of Skimmers and it made me think...what are you truly paying for? I personally have only ever used Simplicity and had fairly good luck with them. Their customer service is amazing and the quality seems the same. Is there really a difference in spending, lets say $300 on a Simplicity vs $500 on a Octopus or Red Sea?

I switched out my reef octopus for a simplicity and haven't been happier! It was pulling skimmate day 1

 

[bitwise]

BRS does comparison videos which I think they release annually or so. IIRC Red Sea and the Reef Octopus Elite were at the top of one of the recent videos.

 

[Tamberav]

Sometimes you get what you pay for and sometimes you pay more for a name

I usually just buy whatever is on the local forums for sale (used)... my current one is a reef octopus. Used equipment never seems to give me any problems (heaters I buy new).