POLL : Reeflo Orca 250/ BK Super Marine 250 / BK Super Marine 300

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by sphelps

I
I also like these heated debates as I usually learn more as I find when my tone comes out more assy people go out of there way to prove me wrong, it's actually a very effective research tool

The bottom line here is that these skimmers really aren't in the same league and if your budget allowed for it there's really only one choice. We can all wish and wish for a cheaper version of a BK but after seeing quite a few of these skimmers and being in the manufacturing business myself I really don't see it ever happening.

Let's use different research tools, ok?

And no, if I had a million dollars, I wouldn't buy a BK. It's over priced. Period. What I wish for is elitist skimmer owners to stop thinking the BK is the only good skimmer out there.
If it's built like a tank, great. But how many people take their skimmers into battle? I just fill mine with foamy water. And yes, 1/4 acrylic, cast or extruded, is more than strong enough to hold 3 feet of foamy water. Now maybe you can kick your skimmer around the yard, but seriously, who does that???

I thought this was over.....

[Skimmerking]

Originally Posted by blaster

All skimmers have pros and cons thats why they keep tryin to perfect them.The bubblekings are stupidly priced for what their purpose is.

There you go Josh is bang on with his statment. IMO. I truely believe that Bubble kings are truely over rated in Price. when you look at the price of a red dragon. its crazy $800-1000 for a small pump I understand that it has its own blue prints that are custom made.

when you look at the price of Acrylic is crazy when you get over the 12" diameter. IMO it comes down to the PUMP pretty much a piece of acrylic isnt going to make the skimmer 1/4" or 3/8" its all the same thin or thick its the pump and the Mesh, Pinwheel, Needle wheel that will drive your skimmer.

[sphelps]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

Let's use different research tools, ok?

And no, if I had a million dollars, I wouldn't buy a BK. It's over priced. Period. What I wish for is elitist skimmer owners to stop thinking the BK is the only good skimmer out there.
If it's built like a tank, great. But how many people take their skimmers into battle? I just fill mine with foamy water. And yes, 1/4 acrylic, cast or extruded, is more than strong enough to hold 3 feet of foamy water. Now maybe you can kick your skimmer around the yard, but seriously, who does that???

I thought this was over.....

You can use your methods I'll use mine. Unless you've owned a BK you really have no idea. Yes it's expensive but it is most certainly not over priced, do you need to have all those features? No but it doesn't hurt, and forget about the amazing craftsmanship and just consider the pump as that's the heart of any skimmer. I've repaired many skimmers that have cracked, not sure how each one was broken but they do break, mostly deltecs but that's another story. Other skimmers work fine but most people eventually get sick of replacing pumps and repairing cracks and dealing with noise and inconsistent skimming and will eventually suck it up and get a BK and when they do they wonder why they never did it before. Maybe I'm wrong but I am yet to hear from anyone unhappy with a BK, come on prove me wrong.

Once again the bottom line is that the BK is better skimmer than the Orca, yeah that's an opinion but a strong one. Is the orca a good skimmer for price? Hard to say, it's very possible but it's too new on the market and not a lot of people use them so only time will tell. If you can honestly say the orca is better than the BK please tell me why. Cause all I'm saying that if the budget allowed for it a better choice would have been the BK.

I also thought this was over.....

[Powertec]

The skimmer never was made with the standard dart pump, they were made with the ao smith motor. Now they are made with the baldor motor. Go to reefcentral and not one of these skimmers ever came out with a standard dart pump. Check your sources again. If these skimmers are so bad at why are there so many TOTM set using them?

[Delphinus]

If someone were to give me a BK I'll happily test the theory that I'll never get unhappy with it.

You have to realize the other side of the coin. Coming to market with a skimmer for $2000 (or in some cases more) you are going to be scrutinized at a certain level. I've heard time and again how the "welds on a BK are a work of art." And time and again, I find myself not caring about how the welds look. I care about results. It does sound as if there are good features to a BK. But personally, I just can't get over the sticker shock.. I just can't. Wish I wasn't one of those folks but that's how it is.

I've been in the hobby now a solid decade and I can say that of all the skimmers I've ever owned that have failed in some manner, it's been because I myself modified them in some manner. If you take away that part of the equation, I've had a PM-1 beckett skimmer running now in continuous operation, using the same pump, for over 6 years. Possibly the best $200 I ever spent on the hobby. I realize it's not a fair comparison but it still illustrates that longevity doesn't always come only from the higher end devices we spent our cash on.

I'd love me a BK one day, but the odds are not very good I'll ever buy one brand new - it would have to be some heck of a deal second-hand methinks.

[marie]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

... Now maybe you can kick your skimmer around the yard, but seriously, who does that???

That would be me (seriously I did, it felt very good)) but it was a prism pro and it definitely didn't take it very well

[Powertec]

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-09/totm/index.php

Looks like his reeflo is not to bad for a unproven skimmer with poor craftsmen ship

[Skimmerking]

Originally Posted by asmodeus

There you go Josh is bang on with his statment. IMO. I truely believe that Bubble kings are truely over rated in Price. when you look at the price of a red dragon. its crazy $800-1000 for a small pump I understand that it has its own blue prints that are custom made.

when you look at the price of Acrylic is crazy when you get over the 12" diameter. IMO it comes down to the PUMP pretty much a piece of acrylic isnt going to make the skimmer 1/4" or 3/8" its all the same thin or thick its the pump and the Mesh, Pinwheel, Needle wheel that will drive your skimmer.

I'm using my post as a quote LOL ITs the pump that makes the skimmer, like Tony has stated. welds dont make the skimmer and the acrylic wont make the skimmer. this discussion will go on forever.

At the end of the day BrAd has his opinions on BK, and Orca's and Steve has his opinions on BK, Orcas
Chin lee will have his opinions on BK and Orca's and everyone will have there Opinions. All I can say is I hav owned pretty much every type of skimmers out there

Venturi
down draft's
Beckett's
Air driven
In sump
external
Mesh wheels
modifed Euro reef's

what I havent owned was Deltec's, which the pumps are super expensive
Bubble King's which i can't afford other then the mini's 160,180 ,200 that i could purchase unless I save up.
euroreef's RC models that are $$$$ but i took my Euroreef CS 250 and modded with the help of Sphelps to make it RC 250.

I 'm currently running a Bubble master 250 with the dual sicce pumps. 80w and I love it its short and compacted and skims my tank for what i want i have bought a second set of Sicce pumps for back up since I like this skimmer alot and want to keep it due to my setup that is very simple.

Another thing too its all what the REEFER wants to spend on a Skimmer. His /Her money at the end of the day. Thier decision

[sphelps]

Originally Posted by Powertec

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-09/totm/index.php

Looks like his reeflo is not to bad for a unproven skimmer with poor craftsmen ship

That guy has never had a BK so it doesn't really work for comparison, I mean if you compare the orca to an octopus yeah it's way better but that's not what we're doing here. However that's exactly the type of person that will likely eventually own a BK.

I was the same as all you non believers once, never thought I would own a BK and thought they were a waist of money but my eyes were opened and I'm a believer now, one day judgment day will come and you'll see, you'll all see

[Der_Iron_Chef]

I own a Deltec, and have loved how it performs. I bought it used and it's a beautiful thing. But then someone told me it's a bit crappy, because it's not a BK. *sigh* What's a guy to do?

Chin, I hope the skimmer makes you happy! Looks pretty solid to me. But then again, what do I know? I only own a Deltec