skimmer choice

[holabird]

Trying to decide if I need a different skimmer. You know how it is, always wanting to try something different. The one I have seems to work fine. Gets all kinds of crap out of the water. Just wondering if any of you think the other one is better.

The two choices are a MRC MR2 and an ASM G3. I have a 180 gallon tank with about 270 total gallons in the system. It is a full reef with a heavy bioload of fish.

Thoughts on which one and why would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[dawgface]

If the MRC isn't enough for ya you can always add the additional injector. I have basically the same system as you and the MRC rocks my system.

 

[seth the wine guy]

I'm a set and forget kind of guy so the MRC MR2 wasn't a good choice for me. I had it and an SRO3000int at the same time. After doing research on both, I found that the MRC may have more potential skimming power, but they require more maintenance and cleaning of injectors than the Venturi's. I was just thinking today how much I love my skimmer. It's like my Mac. Easy to use and and just plain works. It was the simplest part of my entire build.

 

[gmpolan]

I run a MRC MR2 on my 230 system and it does a great job....but seth is right, it def requires more cleaning of the injectors and/or cup

 

[holabird]

I think that about sizes it up for me. I have the ASM G3 with a Sedra 5000 pump and it is about as easy to use as a pencil. You can control how wet the skim is by sliding a tube up a down, very simple. The skim cup unscrews and empties in a few seconds. I am like Seth, set it and let it do its thing. No reason to complicate things. Was just thinking about getting something different but I think I will leave well enough alone. Thanks for the input.

 

[rbredding]

stop by one evening and take a look at my MR2 with dual injectors..

I love it... and I don't have to tweak it (not sure why others do, but mine has been set it and forget it in my tank)...

 

[dawgface]

Had mine up for two months now and have yet to clean the injectors. The cup on the other hand has needed some cleaning but tears because the thing is a beast, skimming the crap out of the tank, pun intended.

 

[rbredding]

I clean my injectors about once every 4-5 months.. (but can DEFINITELY see a difference when they are clean vs. dirty)

it's quick.. takes me about 5 minutes..

 

[skriz]

The MR-2 Doesnt need that much tinkering when setup correctly. You do need to clean it, but that's unavoidable in a skimmer (one that works anyway!).

Cons for the MR-2:
-Consumes more power than the G3, but also produces much more. More performance per watt.
-requires Beckett maintenance: easy and fairly quick.
-external (not really a con, but a consideration for some people).

 

[gnashty]

Rbredding;645787 wrote: I clean my injectors about once every 4-5 months.. (but can DEFINITELY see a difference when they are clean vs. dirty)

it's quick.. takes me about 5 minutes..

+1, just cleaned them out last week. last cleaning was around christmas.

I run mine in sump

 

[holabird]

So this can be run in a sump? I thought it was an external skimmer.

gnashty;645921 wrote: +1, just cleaned them out last week. last cleaning was around christmas.

I run mine in sump

 

[gmpolan]

It can be ran both...

 

[rbredding]

Skriz;645915 wrote: Cons for the MR-2:
-Consumes more power than the G3, but also produces much more. More performance per watt.

Even though y'all advise against it.. I run mine off a manifold with a single pump pushing everything on my system..

no problems here at all (over a year up and running..) and I'd like to reiterate, mine is a set it and forget it system..

 

[skriz]

Rbredding;646453 wrote: Even though y'all advise against it.. I run mine off a manifold with a single pump pushing everything on my system..

no problems here at all (over a year up and running..) and I'd like to reiterate, mine is a set it and forget it system..

It certainly can be done (obviously since you did it), it's just that most users would not be able to do it. The easiest way to set it up is with it's own pump. And yes, it can and mostly is a set and forget type skimmer. You just end up cleaning it more since it does more!

It can be run internally if you want. You can use an internal pump or external pump plumbed creatively.

 

[dawgface]

Rbredding;646453 wrote: Even though y'all advise against it.. I run mine off a manifold with a single pump pushing everything on my system..

no problems here at all (over a year up and running..) and I'd like to reiterate, mine is a set it and forget it system..

My system operates this way as well.

What are some of the concerns or objections for running this type of setup?