125 is up and running but I have some questions

[sailfinreef]

So on the coldest day of the year I gathered a couple of buddies and we picked up my new to me 125g reef. I got everything installed and running without killing anything. (very impressed considering it was 15 outside during the move) So the current set up will keep everything alive and happy however I have always been an sps freak. Really overall the only thing I have an issue with is the protien skimmer. On my old 90g reef I ran an asm g2 and loved it. I was considering getting a g3 for this reef. My lfs rep. was trying to push me into a reef octopus which was cheaper than a g3 but I have never heard of it. I only want to spend between 2 and 3 hundred on a skimmer so I would like to get some input as to what I should go with. Please dont tell me to buy a $1000 Cone skimmer cause that is not going to happen (though i wish I could). Basicly I would like to know what kind of skimmer you would buy in my position and possibly why you would get it. Thanks

 

[zooman72]

Well, I am sure others will chime in with more valuable info here, but the Reef Octopus skimmers seem to be quite popular and are probably on par with (or better than...?!) the ASM skimmers, at least from what I have read. No real world experience of my own here, but have seen both in action locally (in stores) - not much difference that I could determine...

So all-in-all, I probably have not helped much!!! Good luck!

 

[toddmh]

I run a http://www.aquacave.com/reef-octopus-nwb-200-br-needle-wheel-protein--br-skimmer-496.html on two 120g tanks(same sump) one sps heavy, It's a pretty sweet skimmer..

Although I will say my pump just went on it after about 16 months..But it gives me a chance to upgrade to a http://premiumaquatics.com/aquatic-supplies/CV-HY-5000S.html?fe_feedid=126 and the price together for the skimmer and pump is spread out to cut down on the wife agro.

 

[Jacwil]

and the price together for the skimmer and pump is spread out to cut down on the wife agro.

uh....LOVE IT!!! :beer:

 

[sailfinreef]

So what I seem to gather is that the octopus is a asm knockoff and the asm is of course a euroreef knock off. what is the quality and ease of the octopus? I loved my G2 skimmer but if reef octopus will contend with the G3 I am all onboard. I liked the asm skimmers because they were simple to set up, no dialing in every few days. I would like to hear some more real life encounters with the reef octopus. I am sold on asm skimmers but since I have been out of the hobby for a while I dont want to buy something only to find out there is a better cheaper model out there. I know if I go with the asm I will be happy but I do not want to wish I got the octopus or vise versa. Its an important purchase that only want to make once(within 5 years). Thank you for the input and pics will be soon to follow!!!!!!!!!

 

[toddmh]

I've been a Octo man from day 1..But I read a bunch about what people think of them..They work good and long,easy to set up and clean..This skimmer is the Ford F150 of the skimmer world IMO..

There are way better one out there as I'm sure you know,but my NWB 200 skimms at an awesome rate with the 280g system..My tanks have lots of fish and corals,so it pulls some mean gunk,

 

[gmneil]

i have a 125 about 175 gallons total and my octo extreme 200 works great and definately pulls out alot of gunk, i would reccomed octo's all day long,, the guys at arc heve tons in stocl and they can give you the best advice of which size to go with, they also have alot of them runnin on their tanks in the store