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reef devil skimmer vs kent nautilus
- Thread starter PeeJ
- Start date
I had a reef devil, and it was the most finicky POS that I've ever owned.
I replaced the pump with a MAG 9.5, and it started to skim, but it would go a week witout skimming a drop, and then WHAM, it would flood.
I found it better to run it external, 12" above the sump. This way, it drained quickly, and the water level would drop in the skimmer. This would leave more room for foam. Unfortunately, it leaked like a sieve, and had to sit in a bucket on a shelf. This didn't go over well with my wife. I wasn't crazy about it either.
I also made progress adding a CPVC valve to the air inlet.. this helped to control the bubble size. It was still prone to weeks of skimmate drought, followed up by a flood.
Eventually, I purchased a Euroreef 5-2. It has put the Super Reef Devil to shame. The Reef Devil was banished to the basement to cure some new live rock. It did a decent job at that, but the water was LOADED with organics.
I would recommend againt this skimmer. It cost me another $80 for a decent pump (plus shipping) to make this skim at all. As well, the good folks at ETS were not helpful at all. They didn't return emails, and they wouldn't help me when I purchased my skimmer and the pump was defective.
Do a search here and on reef central, and I guarantee that you'll find most posts about the super reef devil are in regards to making it work in the first place, or modifying it to work like a decent skimmer.
JM $.02 ... I don't want you to make the same mistake I made with the reef devil.
R.
I replaced the pump with a MAG 9.5, and it started to skim, but it would go a week witout skimming a drop, and then WHAM, it would flood.
I found it better to run it external, 12" above the sump. This way, it drained quickly, and the water level would drop in the skimmer. This would leave more room for foam. Unfortunately, it leaked like a sieve, and had to sit in a bucket on a shelf. This didn't go over well with my wife. I wasn't crazy about it either.
I also made progress adding a CPVC valve to the air inlet.. this helped to control the bubble size. It was still prone to weeks of skimmate drought, followed up by a flood.
Eventually, I purchased a Euroreef 5-2. It has put the Super Reef Devil to shame. The Reef Devil was banished to the basement to cure some new live rock. It did a decent job at that, but the water was LOADED with organics.
I would recommend againt this skimmer. It cost me another $80 for a decent pump (plus shipping) to make this skim at all. As well, the good folks at ETS were not helpful at all. They didn't return emails, and they wouldn't help me when I purchased my skimmer and the pump was defective.
Do a search here and on reef central, and I guarantee that you'll find most posts about the super reef devil are in regards to making it work in the first place, or modifying it to work like a decent skimmer.
JM $.02 ... I don't want you to make the same mistake I made with the reef devil.
R.
Hello:
My first post and I could not pass this one up. About 5 years ago when I was starting my tank, Reef Devils II were the latest thing and they fit in the sump. I bought two of them at a high cost. I would have to say that they were the worst investment that I have ever made. What a pain in the a$$ to keep running. Anything would shut them down for an extended period. Other times they would clog up in the clear bubble area and have to be removed from the sump and completely cleaned out. I have removed very little skim from them as they are never set right. You need to control the amount of water going into them for proper operation and then if you feed your fish, wham, no skim. Finally I just gave up and opened them up and let both over flow with bubbles. This helps this out I guess and I have never had a problem with my tank (220 gallons). I would reccommend not buying this skimmer as I feel that they do not work well. If you have a tank that you never feed or put your hands in the water, such as curing LR, then maybe you can get them to function properly.
Hope this helps, Bob
My first post and I could not pass this one up. About 5 years ago when I was starting my tank, Reef Devils II were the latest thing and they fit in the sump. I bought two of them at a high cost. I would have to say that they were the worst investment that I have ever made. What a pain in the a$$ to keep running. Anything would shut them down for an extended period. Other times they would clog up in the clear bubble area and have to be removed from the sump and completely cleaned out. I have removed very little skim from them as they are never set right. You need to control the amount of water going into them for proper operation and then if you feed your fish, wham, no skim. Finally I just gave up and opened them up and let both over flow with bubbles. This helps this out I guess and I have never had a problem with my tank (220 gallons). I would reccommend not buying this skimmer as I feel that they do not work well. If you have a tank that you never feed or put your hands in the water, such as curing LR, then maybe you can get them to function properly.
Hope this helps, Bob
I have never tired one, but from what people are saying I probably won't. I use a Euro-Reef skimmer. It was a bit pricey, but worth it. I have had only one problem with the skimmer, which was carbon getting stuck in the impeller after a bag of carbon ripped.
i have never used a reefdevil but we got in a free nautilus to try in the store. It is the biggest piece of crap skimmer i have ever used. In addition to the fact that it cost 200-300$ retail not including the pump we obviously didnt choose to carry it. I am with the others as far as going with euroreefs. they are such a simple design that is very effective.
Im ganna towards the opposite. I have a nautilus, as well as many of my peers and it has proved to be a great skimmer for the price..I got mine brand new with pump for 200 bucks. It has been worth every penny. After 24 hours, I have about half an inch of skimmate in the cup.
But someone offered to purchase mine, and the cost to purchase the reef devil would be an extra 100 dollars.
After reading these negative posts, and almost no positives, I will keep my nautilus. I have never had a problem with it, except break in and re-break in.
But someone offered to purchase mine, and the cost to purchase the reef devil would be an extra 100 dollars.
After reading these negative posts, and almost no positives, I will keep my nautilus. I have never had a problem with it, except break in and re-break in.
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