euro reef vs. reef dynamics

Discussion in 'Protein Skimmers' started by NittyGritty, Mar 7, 2011.

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  1. NittyGritty

    NittyGritty Millepora

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    So, a while back in the hobby it seemed Euro Reef skimmers were all the bee's knees but once they broke up and one of the owners named Jeff I believe carried over into reef dynamics there is no more buzz even though it seems to be the same equipment. Thoughts?

    D.
     
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  3. gcarroll

    gcarroll Zoanthid

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    It is the exact same stuff. All made right here in the USA (if that means anything to you). Solid skimmer but dated yet tried and true design. I have a friend that has a monster made by jeff with 7 Eheims.
     
  4. NittyGritty

    NittyGritty Millepora

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    Hmmm.... why dated?
     
  5. Powerman

    Powerman Giant Squid

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    No bubble plate or turbulence reduction mainly. Looking at one comparable to many on the market... A 180 with an Ehiem... $650... lots of good stuff out there in that range for that money.
     
  6. fischkid2

    fischkid2 Dirty Filter Sock

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    I really like my RS-80 and have had it for about 3 years now and I also like the company (reef dynamics).
    Jeff has explained why he dosnt use the bubble plate and it seems to make sense to me and if the plate did help in his design he would implement it. These days its so hard to say that one skimmer is better than another when you start spending $5-600 and up like, powerman said. I'll probably upgrade skimmers in a couple of years just for kicks and I am sure I will stick with Reef Dynamics/ER just cuz :p
     
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  7. NittyGritty

    NittyGritty Millepora

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    Yeah I did watch a video jeff did alking about the pros on cons on the bubble plate. Its just weird too see a company go from gold to eh. is he not keeping up the the modern protein skimming needs? Personaly I have an older euro reef and love it, I just need to upgrade soon.
     
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  9. Powerman

    Powerman Giant Squid

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    Hmmm interesting. So I watched the video of him explaining why he does not use bubble plates.

    Jeff Macare of Reef Dynamics talks about Protein Skimmers | reef tools

    So Skimmers are not just some pieces of plastic thrown together and they work. There is a lot to a well balanced skimmer. And a crappy skimmer with all the new wizz bang features will still be a crappy skimmer. And older well designed skimmer can certainly out perform it. Euro reef and now reef dynamics seem to be well designed....

    However, I disagree with his thoughts on bubble plates. They do in fact create back pressure... yet similar skimmers to his models are putting out the same water and air... same ratios and so on... so it is not detrimental to pump performance overall. the Ehiem he uses in a 180 pulls 900 lph at 25 watts, yet a Sicce PSK 2500 can pull 1100 LPH at nearly a 1:1 water to air ratio and use 21 watts doing it. So it is not less efficient.

    I just found it interesting.... and laying a pump on it's side changes absolutely nothing with head pressure. I was suprised to hear that.
     
  10. fischkid2

    fischkid2 Dirty Filter Sock

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    Good stuff. Thanks.
     
  11. NittyGritty

    NittyGritty Millepora

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    Hmmmmmmm very interesting....Thanks for your insight!
     
  12. Powerman

    Powerman Giant Squid

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    From what I know bubble plates do put back pressure on the pump. If you drill too few holes you get increased back pressure. If you drill too many holes, you don't get the direction change you need... the plate does not redirect or channel. If the taper on the holes is not enough you create too much turbulence. Too little and again you do not get the redirection. And the same thing goes for thickness.

    so there is much more to a effective bubble plate than just drilling some holes in a some acrylic. You can discount all the cheap copy cats out there.... but all the top brand makers use bubble plates to great effect. Perhaps when he was testing them he did not have a good model.

    Head pressure is equal in all directions. Where ever the impeller is that is where the head pressure would be measured. It would matter if the pump was out side the water vessel... but inside you also have head on the suction side forcing water in.... so there is suction and discharge to get to a net which is zero with a submerged pump. How much air in the water would matter, but turning the pump on its side would not. Especially since most makers do not turn the pump on it's side, they simply rotate the volute which changes nothing.
     
    Last edited: Mar 8, 2011