ASP Macro Needlewheel

[yuji]

Please contribute your comments on good and bad points of this skimmer and also list down any tips or hints we can utilize to make this skimmer a better one.

BAD

I realized that the macro needlewheel isn't made of very good quality. The connecting parts for the intake and output of water seem not to be fitted tightly. Water seems to seep through the parts.

BAD

The skimmer is very, very noisy. Anyone can point out where to buy those air diffusers that can be connected to the air intake hose and reduce the noise?

TIP

You may notice that the return water hose gives out quite a bit of bubbles and thus creates salt spray. What I do is to remove the elbow for the hose so that the hose is nearer to the top of the water level. This removes any salt spray.

[DeepBlue]

I just sold mine to another reefer...told him that the spinning sound is there.. coming from the needlewheel's impeller.

Hopefully BioOcean will bring in alternatives to the existing needlewheel pumps soon.

The skimmer does skims well for me..gets the job done.

Agree, quality of the needlewheel of Macro will never be as solid as H&S (used before) or Euroreef ... ... but I have expected that when I paid a fraction of price of those State-of-the-Art skimmers, I will get a skimmer that comes with some undesirable issues.

Amount of bubbles in the chamber is also not as 'thick' as those exp European brands.

GOOD

Cheap. 1/5 to 1/8 of expensive brands, may not give your thick thick skimmate for the smaller units, but still a alright skimmer for those who dont wan to invest a bomb into the hobby yet.

But as usual, I would advise newbies to go for good skimmers from beginning....I have changed many skimmers...a lot of $$ has been wasted in the past.

[typrobin]

IMO, this skimmer other than being cheap, it is not a very good skimmer...the biggest unit 350, is not really that cheap as well, i tink it was selling at close to $300...i would rather get a EV120 with a bit more money...and now that RM becketts are so cheap, i think it will definitely be a better deal...

[yuji]

TIP

To reduce the noise, just connect a wooden airstone to the intake hose and viola! Silence!