Need help deciding on a skimmer

[Renegade]

ok, heres the deal. I had my heart set on a euroreef, b/c of how good everyone says they are, but there price is soo painful. I was talking to someone from a respected LFS and they were saying that i should be going with an ASM one instead. That euro reef has just become a "namebrand" product and are just all hype. They do an awsume job, but for there price the ASM does just aswell and there 2/3 's the price so i was wondering and whats everones opions.

I want something plug and play. Its going to be on a 120g with a 30g+ sump. what do you guys think.

[Ruth]

I have never used a Euro Reef but have used an ASM G-3 amd am quite happy with it. My understanding is that the ER is a better constructed and of better quality material than the ASM however their performance is similar. I do know that ER recently downgraded their tank size rating for their skimmers and is apparently pretty close to accurate. ASM has not and I think a safe rule of thumb with most skimmers is to shoot for a skimmer that is rated for double the size of your system.

[EmilyB]

Yes, remember the days of the Berlin skimmer rated to 250g...

Are the ASM's the same design as the Euro-reef ? That is what sold me on getting into the ER - performance, plug and play and easy clean.

[muck]

Originally Posted by EmilyB

Are the ASM's the same design as the Euro-reef ? That is what sold me on getting into the ER - performance, plug and play and easy clean.

Pretty much Deb. I believe the ASM is made of Clear PVC and the Euroreefs are acyrlic. There are a few other minor differences in design but nothing major. Both are plug and play as far as I know.

[guysmiley]

Same basic principle, just extruded acrylic instead of cell cast. Some Euro-reef's however use extruded as well. They both use the sedra pumps with the same intake and impeller. Good skimmers so I hear. I don't use one, I'm using an ETSS downdraft. Great skimmer, but it's loud. If you don't have a remote sump you'll hate it! Keeps the water crystal clear!


Garrick.

[reeferaddict]

Hmmm... sorry to complicate things, but...

I too was looking at ASM, EuroReef, and ETSS as a skimmer upgrade. I went to various stores in Vancouver to check out construction and see them in action if possible. It was at J&L that I got to see Euroreefs, Aqua C's, and then BULLETS... Bullets cost more, but the performance and construction are second to none. My wallet hurt a little at the time, but I sure am glad I went this way, (Bullet 2), on top of that, it runs quiet and you're not limited to running it in your sump.

[vanreefer]

I use an ASM G4X on a 77,g, display+40g sump

I love the ASM.... I have seen asm and eruoreef side by each... and they look exactly the same. The G4X is super easy to clean both the collection cup and the body (the neck comes off as well).

I am in the huge skimmer club... plus I got a skimmer that could follow my constant desire to go bigger and bigger

Got mine through a web site in the states... mailed to my mailbox just across the border then home for just less than $400

I say ASM all the way

Dan

[trilinearmipmap]

I think it depends on what type of corals you want to keep.

For a softie/mushroom type of tank you will want higher nutrient levels so getting the best skimmer is not so important IMO.

For an SPS tank I am sure you would want the best (most efficient) skimmer.

I have a Euroreef CS-6-2+ on a 120 gallon tank and I am fairly happy with it. However if money were an issue I would have gone with the ASM which is functionally equivalent.

There are a few issues about the Euroreef that I am not thrilled about. It was shipped with a small part missing (an O-ring), I did not realize this for 4 or 5 months, I was surprised that EuroReef would not send me the part, it seems that they didn't believe me about the missing part. Fortunately the retailer (J and L) gave me the part for free.

Also the skimmer is a bit noisier than I would like. And also despite the DIY gate valve mod the skimmer needs adjusting up and down all the time, it won't seem to perform consistently without fairly frequent adjustment.

If you go EuroReef or ASM I would definitely add a gate valve to the outflow, the riser tube is too difficult to adjust.

If money is real issue I would suggest building the DIY Euroreef skimmer which was on RC about a year ago.

[Abbyreefer]

I LOVE my asm G2 skimmer I have a 95 gal tank with a 25 gal sump and if I had to do anything dinnerently I would have gone with the G3 but even that extra 4 inches wouldnt fit or I would have gone that route...

If you have the room go with the G3 for the extra 50 bux its well worth it.

You can buy it from askskimmer.com for 220.00USD I think or oceansaquatic has then in stock. 1 good thing about askskimmer.com is you can buy then with the re circ mod or the gate valve mod already done for a nominal fee.
________
magic flight

[Renegade]

so if there soo much the same whats the point in getting a euro reef, if there just more money ????

Kyle

And i do plan on keeping all types of corals. i will probly be more softy's but i am trying to make this system possible to hold anything "within reason"