Best skimmer for 180g BB/SPS for under $500

[xtrstangx]

My search for a skimmer for my 180g BB/SPS under $500 has led me to 2 skimmers:
a) ASM G-4X (definately with gate valve mod and possibly recirculating)
b) MRC MR-2 run by PCX 55 (the best one they recommend)

$500 is all I can spend, less is better. A Deltec is out of the question as I'd have to work ALL summer to be able to afford one :eek2:

I've read a lot of people prefer the becketts on a BB system, but then again, I own 2 ASM's and love them (one on a SSB system and one cooking 240 pounds of rock)

 

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

either one of those should kick ars.....

 

[Wiskey]

I have never used an ASM, but I just got a MRC MR-2 on a PCX 55 and it is a spectacular skimmer, I am not going back to a needlewheel.

For a 180, you might want to go with a MR-3 though.

There are a few things you can do to get it to perform even better too, like get an injector lid that goes straight in (no 90) make it drain fast, right out of the gate valve to a T to a 45 down. Also lifting the bekett off the skimmer body 6 inches makes a big diffrence I am told.

I have not done 2 of those yet (waiting on parts) but I can't beleave I wated this long to get a bekett.

Whiskey

 

[Covey]

Both are good skimmers but I am a MRC fan. I'm not going back to NW either. The MRCs are built like a tank and Andy is great to deal with.

I never got this kinda crud from the NW.

The orange lines are a good 3/4" of crud built up in the cup in the first 3 days I had the skimmer on the system.

 

[john37]

yeah but the mrc are loud and require a huge pump.
i also like my skimmer to be insump in case of an overflow.

 

[Covey]

With a sealed cup and my high tech milk jug as a auto waste collector I've never had a over flow.

 

[twon8]

i have both, and i like the beckett, but it is finicky. i get dirty stuff from my asm g3, recirc and gate valve, gravity fed.

 

[panic]

What about the dual-needlewheel from ASD? Just picked mine up last night. It's right at your price range. It only requires a $40 GEN-X with low power conumption versus a $200 high amperage pump with a beckett. 2 month wait on those though.

What happened to the 120 you ordered? i thought you had one made

 

[elephen]

You can make beckett's quiet pretty easily.

Only downside to a NW skimmer is if you run BB you want to skim extremely wet and with the NW's it makes it very easy to do an accidental 5g water change. I had one of those dual recirc nw skimmer's and when you run it wet and say feed your tank, it'll fill up the collection cup in < 2 min.

I do slight adjustments to my beckett every day just to tweak the water level very slightly.

 

[xtrstangx]

The 120g I ordered.. the builder decided that external overflows were WAY too difficult for them and refused to build the tank with the external overflow.. I decided if they didn't want to build an external overflow, then I didn't really want them to build me an internal overflow (if they are worried about the safety on an external overflow, then how strong are their other tanks?)

I am probably going to go with an AGA or an Oceanic.

I'm not 100% sure... what is the difference between beckett and needlewheel as far as becketts not overflowing?

Panic, can you PM me the price of ASD's dual-NW skimmer?

 

[Jeffie]

If your into the becketts check out Precisionmarine.com. You can find nice PM skimmers on ebay. Michael Sigman is a great guy(PM) to deal with.
I'm not a ASM fan but do like NW's also...I run PM's and ER's. I think you will be dissapointed with an ASM

For $500. you can get one hell of a skimmer used if you look around...

 

[phc567]

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=823847

 

[FishPharm]

I have the MR-3 on my 180 g. and it is awesome! Any of the products Andy crafts are well made and function as advertised.

 

[cali_reef]

I would go for a Barr if you want a quality built beckett skimmer. Waiting time may be an issue.

 

[panic]

I have heard Barr makes a rockin skimmer - possibly the best under $1000

 

[xtrstangx]

Mmm, I think I might go with the MR-2, if I get the 180g. I'm still stuck between which one to get.. I'd love the 6 ft tank but its more expensive..

 

[brad23]

I just bought the G4X, very big skimmer. You can get the G5 for $498

 

[xtrstangx]

I just noticed that you have to pay extra to get a freaking UNION on the MRC... and even then the top of the skimmer cup is still thumbscrews. That is really pushing me away from one... I'm used to cleaning my ASM's daily and using the twist locks.