Barr Aquatic SK1620 skimmer

[Anonymous]

Does anyone have an opinion on the Barr Aquatic SK1620 skimmer?

I have an opportunity to buy a barely used one but don't know anyone who has used them. My system is about 250 gallons.

 

[Len]

This is the first time I've seen their products (http://www.barraquatic.com/skim.php). No experience, obviously, but it looks like a very robust skimmer. I might have to check one out. Anything without thumbscrews is fine by me

 

[Ben1]

Its a very nice skimmer, if you dont buy it please send me the info as I am very interested. He used twist lock flanges and makes a very good product. I want to replace my bullet 3 with that one and get two beckets and flow meters.

 

[Ben1]

http://www.cnidarianreef.com/images/misc/DSCN5706.jpg

That is "JB NY" skimmer, it is the sk4200. The banjo quick disconnects are nice also. JB NY has a nice thread on this skimmer on RC which I was going to link for you but as always cant get their search engine to let me in.

I think it is the best skimmer made today, JMO.

 

[Anonymous]

We found that thread on RC after waiting out the search feature.
That sounds like all the skimmer we would need, and it looks cool. They are running a Mag24 with it and they bought the optional flowmeter. They are looking for $400 for the skimmer w/o the Mag24, and $450 for it with it. Will this skimmer hold its value? New the skimmer would cost $425 + $35 for the flowmeter, plus shipping. It still has 8 months of warranty left.

 

[Ben1]

I think so but I always sell my used stuff cheaper. If they have only had it a few months and arnt going to charge you an arm and a leg for shipping then go for it. I would skip the mag drive and get an external pump like a panworld. Magdrives are decent but I dont think they can match the pressure given off by an equivalent external pump and with beckets the pump is everything.

Plus Barr aquatics takes a while to build these things, so if you dont want to wait a month for a new one save a few bucks on the used one.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks. They are local, so it won't cost anything in shipping.
They are taking down their entire system and getting out of the hobby (which is rare for someone with a thriving tank IME). Laura and I have been buying a lot of their livestock and I think I will try to get them to throw in some more corals rather than try to talk them down on the price of the skimmer itself.

I think I may pick up the Mag24 anyway and replace it with an external pump a bit down the road. This will be much more skimmer than we need right now, we have 250 -300 gallons of volume, but only about 8 fish total spread throughout the system.

On the Barr website the say that:

Requires a pump that can put out 700+ GPH such as a Sequence 3600, Little Giant 4MDSC, Iwaki 55 or Mag 12 or 18. Best performance is realized at around 800+ GPH, giving an air flow of 45+ SCFH (Standard Cubic Feet of air per Hour).

http://www.barraquatic.com/standard_skimmers.php

So I think the Mag24 should be fine for a while. I really appreciate the imput Ben. Anyone else have any opinions on this skimmer?

 

[Anonymous]

Apparently he makes excellent stuff. One of the guys in my local club has one and its great.

I ordered a skimmer from them about a month ago, but the wait is 6-10 weeks at the moment.

 

[Anonymous]

What model did you order Dan?
I think I am going to buy this one, but I want to sleep on it first.

 

[Anonymous]

One further question, would there by any reason that I couldn't run a big pump, like an AMP3K, on this skimmer if I happened to have an extra one laying around?

 

[Anonymous]

SK5020.

I'm not sure, but I think you need a high pressure pump for that kind of skimmer, which I believe ampmaster ain't.

For mine he recommeds iwaki 55, but he said the Mak 55 hp (or whatever its called) should work similarly, and its $100 less.

 

[Anonymous]

Is the SK5020 a single or a double beckett?

I doesn't look like I will be getting this skimmer, at least not anytime soon.
I think I am going to wait a month or so and order a Barr that I'd really want, and a pump that I'd really want. I only want to buy one $500+ skimmer in my life, and I know that my system will continue to grow exponentially, especially since both Laura and I are into the hobby. At least this got me reading about them, I want one someday.

 

[Anonymous]

Well, I inquired with Brent about ordering a new skimmer, and it seems like he has much more than a 6-10 week wait at the moment.

So I went ahead and bought the used SK1620. It is about 4 months old and really seems to be an impressive piece of craftsmanship. I'll post pics of it once it is up and running.

 

[Ben1]

Cool I think you will like it very much! Thats the problem with Brent he take forever in production.

 

[Anonymous]

This is the new skimmer. It has only been running for about an hour, so the foam is very white... but very frothy. I have been extremely impressed by the workmanship on this skimmer, every detail seems very thought-out and done to perfection.

 

[Anonymous]

Schweet! Mine's the single beckett.

 

[Anonymous]

I am really impressed with how lovely the craftsmanship is on this skimmer. It seems so well put together, and very sturdy. I am very pleased.

 

[Jolieve]

PitPat, you're in Spokane? Brent Barr is active with the local reef club here, and the decent LFS here in town uses his skimmers. I have decided to buy one for my next tank, and I need to have him custom build some pieces for my husband's 10g nano. I've heard nothing but good things about his work, and having seen these skimmers in action, they're not a bad way to go.

If you want to see his skimmers working, go to Aquatic Dreams on Pines.

J.

 

[Anonymous]

Nope, I'm in Iowa.

The people that I bought the used skimmer from are local to me, so there was no shipping for that. I'm still 1200 or so miles from Spokane.

The skimmer has started producing a very dark cruddy foam, I'll get a picture of it tonight. But all-in-all I couldn't be more pleased with this skimmer.

 

[Jolieve]

Ah very cool. Was just curious if I'd found another local reefkeeper

J.