S-120 Economy Cone Skmr Review(Final Review w/ vid)

reefmonkey · Aug 28, 2011

An update. The tank now has a few SPS, LPS, polyps and 4 blue/green chromis. The skimmer is now working with what I'd call a very light bio-load.

reefmonkey · Oct 12, 2011

After a few months I've reached the end of this review.

The Eshopps S-120 Economy Cone Skimmer has not only met but exceded my expectations.
This tank now has a substantial bio-load. Most would say it is over stocked, all would say it is overfed. There are a total of 11 fish that are fed 4 small meals a day. The skimmer combined with the macro algae in the fuge keep NO3 and PO34 undetectable by hobby grade kits.
Nuisance algae has never been an issue. Those that know my tank and livestock might claim that the Urchins keep the HA in check but they wouldn't be able to explain why the left-over hair algae died off in a covered overflow box where the urchins and snails can't get access.

If you want a great skimmer that will perform, there's no need to break the bank to get it. Eshopps provides a big line of HOB, In-sump, and In-sump cone skimmers that are very affordable.

Powerman · Oct 12, 2011

eshopps said: ↑

hey we know it all here. we get calls and email all the time from hobbyists mentioned about the coralife skimmer they had. in a way this is good meaning when they started this hobby, they start off slowly and build their way up.

FYI, the two most common mistakes someone can make is when they get into this hobby. #1, They spent an arm and leg in a high end skimmer or high end product. A high end skimmer is never the way to go for a beginner in this hobby. Is like who own a Mercedes Benz for their first car, right? The down side of getting high end product is that it can risk the chance of killing the hobby for a consumer as they can get discouraged easily thinking the hobby is so darn expensive. #2, They go with a wrong brand. The down side of this is when buying a product from a brand that doesn't work, they alway have to keep on buying the product over and over again. This can be costly and will also discourage a consumer to leave the hobby. So it's very important when you find a brand that you can trust and just stick with it. As always good luck to your hobby.
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I realize this thread is a few months old, but this is a pretty funny statement.... If I had a Benz as a first car... that would be bad how????

In every hobby there are different price points for all involved... some would see a Eshops cone as being expensive, some not. There are very good budget... sorry "economy" skimmers on the market that perform well... but I would like to know all those "high end" skimmers out there that don't work and all the poor beginners have to replace with another skimmer... when you say high end you are talking BK, ATB, Deltech, WM and a few others... all very high quality, and very well performing skimmers. Those that buy them know full well there are less expensive skimmers on the market.

And every one new to the hobby knows full well it is a very expensive hobby. Yes you can have a glass box with some salt water in it for pretty cheap... but even doing DIY and going econo it is still an expensive hobby for what it is... a glass box with salt water and fish in it.

Not at all disparaging your skimmers, or different price points, or that there can be well performing products in all price points, just found your bias to be pretty disingenuous.

Thor · Oct 13, 2011

Hey ReefMonkey...I am considering this skimmer and just was wondering about how easy you felt it was to get dialed in? Was it a bit touchy, or a piece of cake?

reefmonkey · Oct 13, 2011

Thor said: ↑

Hey ReefMonkey...I am considering this skimmer and just was wondering about how easy you felt it was to get dialed in? Was it a bit touchy, or a piece of cake?
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Once it broke in getting it set was a snap and running wet to dry or any where in between is cake. This is a great skimmer!

basicinstinct91 · Nov 26, 2011

So is this pump quiet? I had the psk-600 on my Octopus Extreme and sent it back it was soo loud even after break in

reefmonkey said: ↑

How often do you get the opportunity to read a product review from the time the product is delivered to the consumer, through set up, and into an extended period of use? My good friend at Eshopps has sent me one of the newer S-120 Economy Cone Skimmers just for that very purpose so that I am able to pass along this information to you all.

Don't let the word "economy" in the product name give you cause for pause. It's been my experience that Eshopps products, though available at prices we all can afford, perform (and in some instances out-perform) as well as their higher priced competitors in the same product brackets.
My idea's for this article were a little different in the beginning. I wanted to have two identical systems totaling 70 gallons each and compete the Eshopps cone against another skimmer of equal or greater reputation. Not one of the other manufacturers I contacted were willing to donate a skimmer and after a while in the writing side of the hobby I've learned very little good comes from product comparing articles. This way is far better as you will see the item from packing through use on an actual reef system. All of the "good" and none of the bad will be left out of the writing. Let's get to it.
These cone skimmers from Eshopps come in 3 sizes with the largest rated for aquariums with up to 200 gallons in water volume.
S-120---Sicce SK-200---40-120 gallons
S-150---Sicce PSK-600---Up to 150 gallons
S-200---Sicce PSK-1000---150-200 gallons

As I stated, I'll be reviewing the S-120.
Features
Sicce SK-200 pump made in Italy.
Needle wheel impeller
Twist lock on the neck
Bubble plate

Dimensions
Diameter: 5"
Height: 17"
Footprint: 7"X6"

I've always been lucky when it come to good handlers and packaging of the products I've ordered. The boxes still resemble boxes when I get them and the contents are safe.

This one is extremely well packed. Tight in the box with heavy foam rubber packing materials cut to fit 3 points of the skimmer body and the inside dimensions of the box. Cubes of the same packing material complete the task of securing the skimmer while in transit.

One of the best changes Eshopps has made is dropping the cheap pumps made in China and adding the higher quality pumps made by Sicce. The Italian company is well known for quality, durability and energy conservation. The S-120 is driven by a Sicce PSK-200. These pumps are designed specifically for use in protein skimmers and variances of the Sicce PSK's can be found in competing brands skimmers like the Reef Octo Extreme 200 and Bubble Magnus BM-200PN just to name a couple. Since the pump is the heart of any great skimmer this was a very good move in my opinion.
It comes packed tightly in it's own box which is then held firmly in a compartment of the skimmer product packaging with more of the foam cubes.

Detail of the sticker on pump

I really like the look and feel of the skimmer right out of the box. The acrylic work is up to Eshopps standards of quality that I'm familiar with. I'm looking forward to getting it set up on my new project.

Right out of the box I see two cons with this skimmer. The instruction manual that comes with it is great and is very detailed on setting up and answering some basic trouble shooting questions. However it is apparent that English is not the first language of the writer and editor of the two pages of instructions and they can be a little confusing and hard to understand.
The biggest issue with this skimmer is the lack of a drain on the collection cup. The cup itself is big and looks like it will hold a liter at least but I'm lazy and I don't want to be down in my stand every other day dumping a cup. I'd rather have a hose draining effluent from the cup to an old milk jug.
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reefmonkey · Nov 27, 2011

I never hear this pump running.

dee99gt · Nov 27, 2011

I actually bought my cone after seeing this thread. Was a great help!!

mrdcook · Apr 18, 2012

Any updates?

reefmonkey · Apr 18, 2012

mrdcook said: ↑

Any updates?
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Yeah.

This Skimmer still kicks ass and Eshopps leads the industry in affordable quality equipment.
I just did maintenance but I can get some pics or video of the effluent this skimmer is still producing.

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S-120 Economy Cone Skmr Review(Final Review w/ vid)

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