Blog Comments

I don't know about a beef. They were at our Next Wave conference in 2011, but I heard they don't want to do MACNA. I don't know why.

Thanks Marc, I have also seen the positive reviews of the MRC skimmers. I agree I should and probably will. I just don't see many folks using the PM products on larger systems. However when I look at the Ballistic Mach 2 model, it seems to have the same features as the MRC Orca model. I cant help but be interested in learning more about it. I wish we could figure out a way to due a review of this product, I haven't been able to find one anywhere. Not on You Tube, or anywhere for that matter.

Is there some industry beef with PM products I am not aware of? Maybe I will just wait for MACNA and see for myself.

I know several people that are happy with their MRC skimmers, but not very many PM owners. You should probably go with the MRC.

I see. Have you considered the Reef Octopus External? The 3000XT or the 5000XT using the Bubble Blaster pumps? Wes has the 3000 I'm pretty sure, and seems to like it.

I've had a Reef Octopus in the past, I'm not a big fan. I'm sure they have improved from the past, but have a bad taste.

I thought once you go Euro Reef you never go back

EuroReef Skimmer are excellent. This isn't about if EuroReef is good or bad. I've looked at the new Reef Dynamics Skimmers, but not finding what I am looking for with Reef Dynamics. As I mentioned with my water volume, I am at the max of my Euro Reef Skimmer capability in my opinion and will be able to benefit further with a larger skimmer.

I thought once you go Euro Reef you never go back

I see. Have you considered the Reef Octopus External? The 3000XT or the 5000XT using the Bubble Blaster pumps? Wes has the 3000 I'm pretty sure, and seems to like it.

I think the one I have is now 6 yrs old. There really isn't any specific scoop with the EuroReef. It's a great skimmer, just want to go with something bigger and external. In all honesty the EuroReef I feel is at it's max and want something that is new.

I just got back from seeing Tyler's system (pictures and blog entry coming soon), and he's got the MRC Orca skimmer. It's a beast and he loves it.

I just looked up the Mach II and it looks really similar: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Precision-Ma...-/180825706215

What's the scoop with the Euroreef? Mine is still going 8 years later. Just curious.

I will run it for a month and see if it works

It looks like you've made a settling chamber. It should trap some of the organics that don't stay in suspension, and it will smell terrible more than likely when it's time to dump out.

Without the filter sock, I don't see how that would work to keep a sump free of detritus. Trash will just flow right out of the container. Might be a good idea to help have less micro bubbles enter the sump. IDK

I came up with this idea hope it will work for trapping some stuff

hope you guys can help me with some thumbs up and views thanks guys

None, but I don't use it like that all the time. It's good to pump out the last of the crude once the majority of the water is out. Now ask me how many I burned up doing floor stripping...

Marc, how many shop vacs have you burned up from salt water use?

Unless you have some power heads blowing the water around in your sump, you'll never be able to keep debris from settling.

Yep. I'd almost suggest you consider an in-line Diatom filter. Those are old school, but polish the heck out of the water. You'd only need to run it a couple of days, monthly, but it wouldn't help keep your sump sparkly clean. A shopvac will.

Originally Posted by melev

If you want to do this, be there to keep an eye on things. However, what you are doing is coming up with yet another method of trapping particulates, which is what the socks do. Pulling a sock out of the sump is actually easier than removing a filter cartridge in a housing. How often were you changing your socks? And how many did you have total?

I have two socks in the sump with a total of 6 different types of socks. A total of 12 socks I would rotate out. I would rotate the socks out based on how high the water head was inside the socks. As they get dirty the water head rises. Of coarse when it's clogged the water overflows over the top. I would just wait until the water was within a couple inches of the top. The frequency varies.

A filter sock has like 1 or 2 sq ft of filtering surface (at the most). A cartridge style which I'm thinking of would have like 50 sq ft of filtering surface. The cleaning frequency would be considerably less. (I would think).

Considering the previous comment, should this clog up the tank would overflow; something I didn't consider. That alone would kill this idea as a viable solution unless I could figure out some kind of automatic bypass.

Originally Posted by wrx1908

It may clog when you are not home and overflow your tank

Very good point... This is a concern I did not consider.

If it really bothers you that much, design a new sump that will allow for a filter floss pad section. I did and couldn't be happier.

I just line my sump with little feather duster tube worms to filter out particles. Some of those particles are pods and large bacteria that are food for your corals.