SRO Diablo 2500 / SRO XP2000SSS / Seaside Aquatics CS2

[rhibear]

I have approx 150g (well fed) mixed reef system with only 11.75" x 10.5" for a skimmer, water level can be adjusted between 6-9".
The tank is between my living room and my office where I work 8 hours/day. I need a QUIET skimmer!

I bought a Bubble Magus BM180EX but this is not a quiet skimmer :sad:

To replace this jackhammer, I'm stuck between:
Reef Octopus Diablo 2500 (Sicce PSK 2500 pump @ $300) rated 180-300 gallons
Reef Octopus XP2000SSS (Bubble Blaster HY2000S pump @ $500) rated 180g
Seaside Aquatics CS2 (Sicce PSK 1000 pump @ $350) rated 230g

Anyone with experience of these skimmers and/or pumps? Which would be the best and quietest?
Any help greatly appreciated.

 

[seth&angelle]

I can only speak for the XP2000, and I'm happy with it. You can hear the air intake, but it isn't bad. I've always been happy with performance on the new Bubble Blaster pumps also.

 

[rhibear]

No one at all with experience of Diablo 2500 or CS2?

 

[chadfarmer]

Diablo 2500 it uses the siccie 2500 pump that a lot of people dont like

 

[chestnud]

There is also a skimmer that is identical to the diablo but uses the bubble blaster pumps. I have some at the shop. I'll see if I can get you a part number

 

[gws3]

I second the XP2000. Been using it for a few years now. Good performance and very easy to maintain. Only complaint is the pump can be noisy in a tight space... have to get it seated just perfectly to prevent load reverberations or humming. This is probably true for most skimmer pumps though.

 

[Mike&Terry]

It is hard to beat the Bubble Blaster pumps. We have an SRO 6000sss and a Deltec AP851 running on our system. I hate to admit it, but the SRO far outperforms the Deltec.

-Mike

 

[rhibear]

I decided to redo my sump baffles to give me some extra skimmer space and open up my options. Everyone seemed to be recommending bubbleblaster pumps but I've read they are very noisy.

I'm now looking at the Octopus Extreme XS200 with Sicce PSK1000 which I've read is a very quiet pump. Of course all manufacturers customize the pumps so each model might be different.

Anyone with experience of the noise level of the XS200?

 

[luke33]

Def no on the diablo, psk2500 is loud and inconsistent. XP2000>XS200 just because the pump is going to be much stronger. The XS200 i would be skeptical it can handle a 150g load.

 

[rhibear]

XP2000>XS200 just because the pump is going to be much stronger. The XS200 i would be skeptical it can handle a 150g load.

Yet the XS200 is rated at 200g by coralvue, vs only 180g on the XP2000?

 

[luke33]

Yea, there are some strange ratings out there. The XP pulls more air and water and has a better design and transition. It can handle a larger tank than the xs200. The xs is going to be a bit quieter though as the new sicce pump's are very quiet. They just don't pull a ton of air.

 

[gws3]

You should also consider that pulling air and mixing it with water is going to make noise. If I block the air intake on my bubbleblaser and it becomes a water pump it quiets down. So a higher performance skimmer pump that pulls more air is going to make more noise naturally.

 

[Wildman926]

The BubbleBlaster pumps are as quiet as it is going to get, with the performance to back it up. I have a pair SRO's in my den, a 1000 on a 110g and 2000 on a 150g, and I work from home 2-3 days a week, in the adjoining dining room. I have no issues working with them there. They both are attached to Octopus waste collectors to shut them down when they are full, so no overflowing issues either.

 

[rhibear]

Thanks so much to everyone that recommended the SRO 2000. I was leaning toward the XS200 but since it was out of stock *everywhere* I gave in and ordered a Super 2000 model. It arrived on Thurs, ran it overnight in vinegar bath and moved it to the sump the next day. Its pulling some seriously nasty stuff and seems like it's quieter than the Bubble Magus BM180EX was when it was OFF!!! LOL

Seriously though, I had to stick some flex hose in the water output (with holes cut in for air) to kill the splashing. It does have a very low drone that I hope will lessen as it breaks in and there is some air noise at the silencer but once the cabinet is closed and I'm sitting at my desk it isn't too bothersome. Overall I'm very happy with my purchase.

 

[Wildman926]

Call Coralvue to buy the Metric to British 40mm to 1 1/4" adapter for $10.

Then, you can go to U.S. Plastics and get a "PVC Value Pipe Fitting" and get a 90* Elbow Socket fitting as seen here - 1 1/4

Just remember to "prime" the gate valve initially, by opening the valve all the way, then closing to adjust. You have to do this every time you break the "prime" of the output. Other than that, it is no big deal and it is dead silent.

You can see how I did this in my first pic above.