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Elite Aquatics Cone Skimmer Review
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Laird View Drop Down
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Joined: December 27 2009
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    Posted: June 05 2011 at 4:44pm
I've had Elite Aquatics/Tecfab/Tylers cone skimmer for 3 months now and wanted to write a little review of it.


http://i985.photobucket.com/albums/ae336/LairdSW/2837a546.jpg
http://i985.photobucket.com/albums/ae336/LairdSW/99331623.jpg
http://i985.photobucket.com/albums/ae336/LairdSW/42eb7457.jpg
http://i985.photobucket.com/albums/ae336/LairdSW/b0ab50a0.jpg
http://i985.photobucket.com/albums/ae336/LairdSW/56f4b2a0.jpg
http://i985.photobucket.com/albums/ae336/LairdSW/f536bf75.jpg
http://i985.photobucket.com/albums/ae336/LairdSW/4cdaf402.jpg

The quality is unbeatable. Out of every skimmer I've owned this has been the best in every way.   I have the cone skimmer running on my 90 gallon with a very heavy bioload.

Skimming:
Before I had a modded g2 that worked good but I hated how big and noisy it was. It was skimming a lot of skimate I thought. Once I got my new cone skimmer I immediately took out the G2 and put in the Cone. The cone didn't even take any time to break in. From day one it was skimming in 5 days what my other G2 would skim in 10+ days. I also had the G2 fully opened and the Cone is only about 25% open. Its really easy to adjust how open you want the pump which makes it easy to figure out the perfect levels for you. It skims some gross, sticky, think black gunk every 10 days or so. Or it can skim some dark and wet skimmate every 5-7 days.

http://i985.photobucket.com/albums/ae336/LairdSW/4805b416.jpg
http://i985.photobucket.com/albums/ae336/LairdSW/53c308e6.jpg
http://i985.photobucket.com/albums/ae336/LairdSW/e4b5d8e7.jpg

Noise:
Its by far the most quiet skimmer I've had also. When I was talking on the phone with tyler before he built mine I asked him how the noise was, he pretty much said that he didn't . Once I got it up and running I told him if anyone else asks him that question that he should say yes its very quiet.
You don't hear any air sucking noise at all from air and the skimmer pump can only be heard when my return pump is off, otherwise I can’t even hear its on.

http://i985.photobucket.com/albums/ae336/LairdSW/99331623.jpg

Cleaning.
The skimmer cup just pops off the top. No lock, no screws, nothing. I thought that it wouldnt have a good enough seal but it does. It makes emptying it really easy, just pop it off and back on. The lid of the cup is the same way, just pop it off and back on.   I had a big hair algae problem when I first got it so the skimmer was sucking up a bunch of it. It didn't affect its performance at all it just sucked it right up and put the algae in the cup or else stuck on the side.   Once the cup is off you can just wipe down the in side really easily.   The pump looks easy to clean too but I've never had to.

http://i985.photobucket.com/albums/ae336/LairdSW/d93bda4c.jpg
http://i985.photobucket.com/albums/ae336/LairdSW/db224d95.jpg

Overall I'm super happy with it.   I expected a lot out of it because I had only heard great reviews on tyler built stuff but it even out performed my expectations.


Edited by Laird - June 05 2011 at 4:47pm
Indefinite hiatus from sw aquariums.

Once I have my glorious return I'll set back up the following.
50 Gallon rimless cube.
180 Gallons mixed reef paradise
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Nick801 View Drop Down
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Points: 4155 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Nick801 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 05 2011 at 11:02pm
+1 to that review =) also running one at the aquarium in a frag tank in the back and it pulls tons of crap out every day....

I'll defiantly have something good to say about this skimmer once I get my tank up and going @ the new house
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tcfab View Drop Down
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Thanks for the review Laird, glad you are liking it. Are the pictures working for anyone else? I can only see the first one.
Need custom acrylic work? give me a call, www.Elite-Aquatics.net (801)645-6386
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Laird View Drop Down
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The others are just links. I didn't want to make the thread a mile long.
Indefinite hiatus from sw aquariums.

Once I have my glorious return I'll set back up the following.
50 Gallon rimless cube.
180 Gallons mixed reef paradise
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GentlemanBean View Drop Down
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wow. this makes me really excited to get mine up and running! 

Also, if you can leave a review on tyler's website also:
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BobC63 View Drop Down
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Originally posted by Laird Laird wrote:

I've had Elite Aquatics/Tecfab/Tylers cone skimmer for 3 months now and wanted to write a little review of it... 
Cleaning.
The skimmer cup just pops off the top. No lock, no screws, nothing. I thought that it wouldnt have a good enough seal but it does. It makes emptying it really easy, just pop it off and back on. The lid of the cup is the same way, just pop it off and back on.   I had a big hair algae problem when I first got it so the skimmer was sucking up a bunch of it. It didn't affect its performance at all it just sucked it right up and put the algae in the cup or else stuck on the side.   Once the cup is off you can just wipe down the in side really easily.   The pump looks easy to clean too but I've never had to.
 
 
Tyler did the same thing for me  when he built me a new collection cup for my BM NAC7 Cone...
 
Makes it SUPER EASY to clean both the cup and the skimmer body. And his build quality is first-rate Thumbs Up
 
I have one of his acclimation boxes as well - looks great, very functional, top-notch build...
 
I give the entire Elite Aquatics line StarStarStarStarStar 5 stars - plus, the guy is local, so if you ever need anything you get great service!
 
 
 


Edited by BobC63 - June 06 2011 at 12:34pm
- My Current Tank: 50g Starfire Cube Reef


* Marine & Reef tanks since 1977 *
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jdinchak View Drop Down
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Points: 4600 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jdinchak Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 06 2011 at 1:54pm
Great review!!!

Tyler - Any chance you have one bigger then the 150 in the works.  I would love to have one that could handle 210-225?
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Elite-Aquatics View Drop Down
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Points: 764 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Elite-Aquatics Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 06 2011 at 1:58pm
I don't have one in the works as of yet, however I can build you one that will handle that size tank very easily. Shoot me a pm and we can talk more about it.
Premium aquarium filtration!
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