Best Skimmer for $100+ ish

[futureeyedoc]

So my current skimmer is the larger coralife skimmer (for a 125 or 135 I think?)- only problem is, the dude I got it from modded it and it seems actually made things a lot worse.... missing parts, etc... I guess you could say he proly repaired it more than modded it!

Anyways, it was doing a sorta half ok job - but now that my 33 gallon long display is chock full of corals and fish, it just can't keep up....It does pull skimmate, but thanks to the missing and messed up parts the only way it can skim is EXTREMELY wet...


So my question is, what's the best cheap skimmer that I can pick up in the $100-150 range? I know, I know that's really way too little to get a decent skimmer - but I'm in grad school and drowning in school loans so anything more expensive just isn't an option at the moment!

It can be either in sump (although needs a rather small footprint) or I can do a "hang on back" and hang it on the sump.... It'll be running on a closed system 33 gallon long with a 20 gallon long sump. I would say above average bio load....

Or does anyone have a nice skimmer they're looking to part with in that price range?


Suggestions for a new one in that price range would be very much appreciated...

THANKS

 

[futureeyedoc]

oh, and semi quiet would be nice too.... haha, sounds like I'm asking for the world here - but seriously quiet would be nice but great functionality is #1 priority!

 

[ReefingMadness]

Check out Reef Octopus skimmers. Great skimmer and can't beat the value.

 

[gnoles]

Just how much room do you have at the base?

 

[nathanr28205]

Look on Ebay!!

 

[jkburn88]

For the money, I like ASM skimmers. I have three - a G-1X, a G-2 and a mesh-modded G-3. They all work great

They are a little out of you specified price range new, but you can find them on the "for sale" board for a reasonable price.

 

[futureeyedoc]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15190369#post15190369 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gnoles
Just how much room do you have at the base?

Well... right now the way the sump is baffled to provide a slight micro-bubble diffuser, it's only about a 11.5" by 4.80" inch area. However the micro bubble baffle/diffuser really isn't doing jack, so if I can find a skimmer that has some sort of diffuser built into the outlet like a coralife superskimmer or doesn't put off a lot of microbubbles, I can go all the way up to an area about 9 or 10 inches by 11.5. Heighth wise I have almost 32" of clearance underneath the display.

 

[futureeyedoc]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15191401#post15191401 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nathanr28205
Look on Ebay!!

oh trust me, been there and done that a BUNCH! Just looking for suggestions before I go just buying the first one in my price range off of the e-bayer....!

 

[futureeyedoc]

the only things I'm finding in my price range are the following....


Marineland Advanced in Sump Protein Skimmer 100 gallon

Coralife Super Skimmer Rated 65 Gallons

Berlin X2 Venturi Protein skimmer rated up to 250 gallons....


Any thoughts pluses/minuses on any of the above?

Any worth the $?

 

[Dun Properly]

I would suggest getting an AquaC Remora. I have one and I have had great success with it. It is plug and play with no fuss. It produces nice dark skimmate.

I have seen them on ebay sell for around $100.

Here is one with the prefilter box included (its not necessary, but it hides the pump and improves the skimmate):

http://cgi.ebay.com/AquaC-Remora-Ma...66:2|39:1|72:1205|240:1318|301:0|293:1|294:50

 

[futureeyedoc]

yeah I was looking at those and almost bought one... the only problem is they need a minimum tank height of 12.75". The 20 long in my sump is about 11.75" heigh at best.... sucks, oh well!

 

[tangsrbest]

i have a red sea berlin 25-250gal triple pass skimmer cup has a crack should be ok with silicone no pump $70 if your intrested

 

[tangsrbest]

or a octopus in sump for $100

 

[futureeyedoc]

Thanks for all the offers and suggestions, I got a great skimmer from a guy over on reef2reef that I'm working on cleaning up and hopefully squeezing into the sump! THANKS! Here's to hoping it really cleans up the water in my display!

 

[gobbie]

Thin Skim from my Remora AquaC

Thin Skim from my Remora AquaC

I read on the thread below that you get dark skimmate from your Remora. I have being trying for months, but all I get is very thin skimmate. Care to give me a few pointers?

thank you in advance

pmcummer

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15195300#post15195300 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dun Properly
I would suggest getting an AquaC Remora. I have one and I have had great success with it. It is plug and play with no fuss. It produces nice dark skimmate.

I have seen them on ebay sell for around $100.

Here is one with the prefilter box included (its not necessary, but it hides the pump and improves the skimmate):

http://cgi.ebay.com/AquaC-Remora-Ma...66:2|39:1|72:1205|240:1318|301:0|293:1|294:50