If you want to spend the $ and need a HOB skimmer the Deltec is a great skimmer as well.

There's also the CPR Bakpak and the Coralife Superskimmer.

Of course there's the king of the hill: Deltec (if you can afford +$500 for a HOB skimmer). But it's apparently worth every penny.

clearance for the remora pro is 1 3/4". The regular remora is probably less though... I think it's smaller than the pro version.

To respond to marie, why wouldn't you want a skimmer? I'm not saying skimmerless systems are necessarily bad; I know there are many who don't use them and have lots of success. But I think using one can only improve your system. It can be a great buffer if organics start going up without you knowing. I think they are especially important if you have a heavily stocked reef. FOWLR systems probably don't need them as much.

I have a Remora Pro with a Mag 3 and I haven't had a single problem with it. There's no way it'll overflow (I have a hose adapter that connects the collection cup to an external container) and I have clamps for the Mag 3 pump. I'd say your chances of a mishap are low with this product. Also, if you're shopping around for the best deal, you might want to try e-bay... I got mine used and in excellent condition for 220 CAD (including shipping).

Well, over the weekend, dear husband had a chance to look at the Remora and Remora Pro via Internet pics. Once he saw the honkin' huge Mag 3, 5 and 7, he nixed the Remora Pro and the Remora with upgraded pump.

I guess he and I have more talking to do and perhaps go on a fact finding mission with someone local with a Remora and Maji Jet 1200.

And then we have to consider the comments made about if it ain't broke, why fix it?

Thank you, again, for all your great input :biggrin:

Bev, I dont know if you followed our thread in the equipment review section but we discussed the Deltec MCE 600. Plus they had a good feature on it in one of the RDO mags.

No pumps in the tank. High quality skimmer and not that bad looking, at least by the pics. Several members running them here. Depending on my tank size after I move, and if I have a sump or not, I may run one

the price is a little.. umm high on those deltec's tho. for that kinda money why wouldn’t you drill and run an asm.

You know, I would have thought the same thing as Willow before I ran a system with that Deltec. I have the Deltec set up on a 44g cube. I also have an ASM G4X with the recirculating mod set up on my 230g. The Deltec skims every bit as good if not better than the the ASM. I have a sump on my cube and could run an in sump skimmer if I chose to but I would be hard pressed to be convinced to take the Deltec out of operation. I also have a Remora Pro (yeah I know too many skimmers in my house) and would rate the performance as good, not as good as the Deltec, but still good. It's just as Beverly said it's that darn honking Mag pump in the tank.

I would agree with that Willow but I,m only going to use it, if running sumpless, which is Bev,s situation. I would not likely use one, if running a sump, as I would stick with my beckett.

For myself, in my new place, sumpless may be the way to go, thus the Deltec.

Good comparison Ruth.

Here's a couple of pictures of my tank taken a few months ago. The Mag5 that's driving the Remora is hidden behind the rockwork. You can see the Hagen surface skimmer and the Remora's intake tube as well as the filter sponge bubble trap, but all things considered it's not too intrusive.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c197/fkshiu/Tank2.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c197/fkshiu/Tank1.jpg

Space is the main reason I got myself one. I already have a big becket for when I have a chance to actualy set up my sump. When I do have that sump I will switch the deltec over to a Sea Horse tank I will eventualy set up.

Deltec is pricey, but its certainly worth it IMO.

Can you use a more powerful pump other than a MJ1200 on a Remora??

Sure you can. I've got a Mag5 on mine. AquaC actually recommends the Mag3 as the upgrade for the regular Remora and the Mag5 as the upgrade for the Remora Pro.

Oh, I thought I read somewhere that a bigger pump wont work on the Remora. I guess I was wrong.

Have you noticed significant improvement in using a more powerful pump???

Is that official? I've only seen Maxijet 1200 as their recommended upgrade over the Rio 800 for the Remora. The Mag 3 was recommended for the Pro. No doubt the Mag 3 will work on the Remora, I just haven't seen AquaC officially recommend it.

http://www.proteinskimmer.com/products/Remora.htm

"Pump (Included)

• Rio 800 or Maxi Jet 1200 - Remora"

http://www.proteinskimmer.com/productsnew.htm

"The Maxi Jet 1200 is now available on the Remora skimmer. For a few extra dollars you are guaranteed a modest performance increase and super quiet operation.

The Mag Drive 3 is a super pump and we've tested it thoroughly on our Remora Pro."

Hmm, is there anyone running a mag on their Remora? I'd like to know if you noticed any significant skimmate production, and if you've run into any problems with the pump on the Remora. I'd like to boost the power on mine if it's possible.

Here's the reply I got from AquaC when I inquired about upgrading the pump:

Franklin,

Thanks for the message, I can help out. I would not recommend using the Mag Drive 5 on the standard Remora. This is an upgraded pump to use on the Remora Pro and would be too powerful for the standard Remora. I would recommend going with the Mag Drive 3 and many customers upgrade to this pump when using the Remora with good results. You will need an adapter as the pump outlet is 3/4" and the Remora inlet is 1/2".

Please let me know if you have any other comments or questions and I can help out!
- - - - - - - - - - -

Christine Quinones
Customer Service Manager

AquaC, Inc.
7949 Stromesa Ct., Ste. E
San Diego, CA 92126
858-689-1121 phone
858-564-3419 fax

visit us online at...
www.proteinskimmer.com

I got the Mag5 anyway since I'm all about going overboard =)

Kinda regretted it at first as the it did overwhelm the Remora. I installed a ball valve to staunch the head pressure a bit and the Hagen surface skimmer also slowed things down. Took a while to tweak it, but it kicks butt now. I have to empty the cup about 2x a week with nasty dark skimmate whereas before with the Maxijet I'd be lucky to get a cup every 10 days or so and the skimmate then was just tea coloured.

If I could do it over, I'd stick with the Mag3 for the regular Remora and the Mag5 for the Remora Pro as recommended.

Awesome, so how do I tweak the Remora inlet.. I'm not very handy, or good with DIY (modding) stuff. What would I buy? I am very interested in doing this.

You should be able to get an adaptor in a plumbing store or from Home Depot.Or you can try a piece of 3/4 OD vinyl hose.Just cut to the proper length and soften up one end in hot water,so you can get it to fit over the pump outlet.Plus 2 hose clamps.

Yup, I just brought the pump with me to a plumbing place and started fiddling with different NPT fittings.

The fitting on the inlet of the Remora itself is actually removable so you can bring that in to experiment with as well.

I got my 3/4" OD hose from some leftover Filstar canister filter hosing I had lying around.

You won't need to add a valve on the Remora if you go with the Mag3, although you can adjust the Hagen surface skimmer in respect of how much water you want to go down the top portion at the surface of the water. I found that the more water that gets sucked down that top inlet the less head pressure is generated by the pump into the skimmer.