Best skimmer for a first timer

D

dnyce

New member
Can someone recommend a good affordable skimmer for a 120 gal tank? I plan on having FOWLR and maybe some corals supported by 340w/vho lighting. I am not trying to mortgage the wife and kids for a skimmer, is anyone familiar with the HSA-250, TurboFlotor 1000, Kent Marine Nautulis TE or the Red Sea Berlin Turbo Classic? Those are the contenders, Euro-reef and AuquaC are a little pricey IMO are they that much better than the others? I welcome all opinions so that I can make a decision once and for all. Thanks in advance
 
I have the Turbo on a 150. Not a great skimmer, but it works. I'm getting a pretty heavy bio-load though so the Aqua-C is due to be delivered Friday.
 
Your best bet would be to save up and get the best Skimmer you can. This will save you agravation in the long run. My advise would be to avoid Red Sea. Save up and either get the Euro-Reef or Aqua C you wont be disapointed.

Good Luck
 
ASM is money well spent. Not too expensive, works well, and easy to operate. I am very happy with mine and made the purchase over a ER and Aqua C. No regrets.
 
I have a Aqua C Remora Pro with the mag drive pump and I love it.I was in the same boat as you a year ago and decided to break the bank for this skimmer.I was going to get a Sea Clone and I'm glad I didn't from reading about them.
 
Ok this is good, but is anyone familiar with HSA-250 by Marine Technical (MTC)? I have a chance to get one at a decent price but nobody mentions the on the reef sites. What's up with them are they good? overpriced? average? or should i stick with one of the ones mentioned no one has anything bad to say about ER or AquaC. I had a LFS tell me the Coralife skimmer is great, but what do I know??? It was full of brown gunk and water when he showed it to me.
 
I've got a turboflotor that I've had running in my newly set up tank for three weeks. It skims OK but I must say adjusting it is very difficult - there are two knobs that you twiddle that just have a random effect - it's really difficult to turn it up or down to exactly how you want it. If you remove the cup to clean it , it will start skimming at a totally different rate when you put the cup back on. The instruction leaflet is pretty useless.
 
IMO, AquaC Remora is the easiest to setup, virtually no adjustment required.

ASM and Euro-Reef both pull out more skimmate than Remora. However, Euro-Reef wins on construction. With ASM, you would need to add the gate valve mod to make adjustment easier.
 
buy a asm g-3 for about 250.00 It is money well spent!! I have a g-2 did not have room in sump for The g-3 not a big price differance. My 2 year old could set it up and once it is set you do not have to touch it. it is the same design as euro reef and same pump at about half the price.I had a 500 dollar aqua c and got rid of it for the 225 dollar asm. It pulls out about 1 1/2 cups of the nastyest black junk every 2-3 days. I am telling you save your self a lot of trouble and buy a asm!!!!!!!!!!!!And no I do not work for them just very satisfied
 
For ~ the price of a Remora Pro, you can get an ASM G3 which is light years better.
 
TO sjm, jbrown and fishaholic:

Anyone using either the recirculating mod or the gate valve mod? In your opinion, are they worth it?
 
TO sjm, jbrown and fishaholic:

Anyone using either the recirculating mod or the gate valve mod? In your opinion, are they worth it?

I do not use any mods. It works well so I do not want to touch it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

plancton
Recommend a RO system (please read)
Replies
11
Views
1K
HealthyFish
H
spotfin
Looking for suggestions on a skimmer and lighting
Replies
13
Views
1K
FOX-FACE fanboy….
FOX-FACE fanboy….
C
Scored a complete setup for $100
Replies
13
Views
1K
griss
griss
M
Best Equipment for Coral Propagation Facility
Replies
1
Views
520
Vinny Kreyling
Vinny Kreyling
ralph82396
Best way to treat this algae
2
Replies
26
Views
2K
David MC Lee
David MC Lee
Back
Top