Skimmer time, but which one?

[Viggen]

OK, my ER RC-500 is dead & I do not know what to get.  Any suggestions on a skimmer that I should look at for under $1,000?  I called up ER & they want $250 PER PUMP & I need 2 of them.  They claimed they could give me a 10% discount & I think that's a joke, no reason for those pumps to be that pricey!! 

My skimmer presently has 2 of the GenX-4100 & they lasted about 18 months before they both failed on me.  The newer skimmers use 3 eheim pumps & he informed me that some people claim that when 2 eheims are installed the performance goes down a bit while other people prefer that.  Who knows......

Any suggestions on what I should look at?  I hated how noisy the ER pumps were thus I was thinking of possibly trying one of the reeflo skimmers which are powered by a Dart or Snapper pump. I also thought that possible I should try to make a skimmer & use a Dart NW to run it.

Any info/thought greatly appreciated

[JoeAyers]

How about some Ocean Runners for your ER? I have 3 on mine and it is a beast.  If you don't want to fix it. I might be interested in the ER Body that you have.

Joe

[Viggen]

Where would I get the OR pumps?  Any idea on what they cost? 

The GenX pumps that were on my ER were so noisy......

I have been debating just going skimmerless like what I have done for over 10 years.  I know I will have to be more consistant with the h20 changes. 

I guess I could try the OR pumps then try the meshwheel mods......

hmmmm

[JoeAyers]

Here are the OR3700s.

http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=AM-70007&Category_Code=Oceanrunner

You will have to be creative to get the plumbing lined up, but I think the ORs are much nicer than the GenXs. You could also by the OR3500 for about 40-50 less and meshmod it.

I have 3 OR2700s on a ER CS12-1 body and I had to lengthen the neck about 4" cause the stock neck could not handle them.

Joe

[saltybuckeye]

I would save some money and buy a seaclone or a nice airstone driven skimmer.
ha ha

[Viggen]

sweet.... that might be worth a try..... I really cannot afford to spend the money on a new skimmer so maybe this is the way to go.  THANKS!!!

Should I do the meshmod thing or buy their NW?   Any idea which one performs better??  My skimmer was a 12-2 which I converted to the older RC-500. 

Are your OR pumps out of the water or are they submerged?  I wonder if the added heat of the GenX pumps being out of the water caused them to fail?  Possibly I should plumb them so they are in the water??

[JoeAyers]

I have 3 OR2700s not mesh modded at this time on a 12-1 body out of the water and haven't had any issues. I would say you could go with three OR2500s mesh modded and max the skimmer out.
Or go with two 3500s.

Joe

[Viggen]

I am about to try either 2 OR 3500's or possibly 2 eheim 1260's. How did you do the venturi thingy?  Did you buy one or just make it yourself?  The venture that is on my GenX pumps I cannot remove due to how they were glued on. 

[JoeAyers]

I just drilled and tapped a hole on the intake side of the recirc and screwed in a ro/di line fitting then used ro/di line.  I drilled it at the elbow.

Joe