Best Skimmer Sticky Suggestion

[Random Aquarist]

I want to know what would be the best skimmer for my tank and I know that there are threads like this that pop up daily. Why don't we just make a sticky with the best skimmers for each tank size. It would be like this:

Nano Reefs 1-30G

A. Super Skimmer 5000
B. UltraReef Turbo Skimmer
C. UltraAquatics Spectacular Skimmer 10

Medium Reefs 30-50G

A. Super Duper Skimmer Ultra
B. Kent Marine Skimmer 9
C. Random Aquarist's 90000 Super Sludge Skimmer

ETC....



BTW, I'll have an 86.4g SPS/LPS reef. Suggestions?

 

[ridetheducati]

Good idea, but tank size is only one of many key variables. Bio load along with tank size could work. On the other hand, bio load may just complicate things for newbies. Try to put it in buyers guide format.

Another issue I just thought of... lack of performance data, can not compare apples with apples.

 

[McCrary]

It is going to be nearly impossible to have a list. People have different priorities when they purchase a skimmer. For instance, do you have a large bioload on your 87g tank? Do you want the skimmer in-sump or external? If you want a skimmer in-sump, how tall is the stand and how big can the skimmer footprint be? Is price a consideration? There are a lot of considerations? But in general, when price is not a huge priority I try to recommend H&S skimmers.

 

[Random Aquarist]

Well...I still need skimmer advise. My tank, as I said, is an 86.4g SPS/LPS reef. It will be stocked with maybe 20 snails, SPS and maybe LPS corals, a BTA, and a pair of tomato clowns. The stand is about 31" tall. This skimmer will be in-sump. The sump's water level is adjustable and I don't think I'll have to worry about footprint size. I'd like to pay around $300 tops for the skimmer, but will go up to $350 or possibly $400. Please , I need help.

 

[RichConley]

Tank size doesnt make a difference. Tank size is just a variable used to take a guess at bioload.

And then theres stand size. A deltec AP600 is a nice skimmer, but theres no way its going to hang with something like the $600 3 pump 10" octopus skimmer that runs the same cost. Bigger skimmers work better, but a smaller, slightly more efficient skimmer is going to use less electricity and may run quieter, and take up less space.

There are WAY too many variables, and it really depends on what your priorities are.

 

[RichConley]

Random Aquarist, the only skimmers I can think of that could handle that tank and stay within your pricerange are the ASM, and the Octopus. I firmly believe that the Octopus is a much better skimmer than the ASM, so thats my advice.

 

[ridetheducati]

Random,

What skimmers have you researched thus far? Give us a short list and we can chime in. For $300-400 think Pacific Coast, ASM or any other used effective skimmer.

 

[Random Aquarist]

Yeah, I've mainly been looking at ASM so far and I just found out about octopus a week or two ago.

 

[pjf]

Proposed Skimmer Categories

Proposed Skimmer Categories

Okay, let’s help Random Aquarist by by listing what we would like the categories of skimmers to be. Based on the posts I’ve seen on this thread, I’d like to suggest the following categories:

Nano-Skimmers
• 1-25 gallons

Hang-On-Tank Skimmers
• 26-50 gallons
• 51-100 gallons
• Over 100 gallons (e.g. - Lifereef HVS3-24)

In-Sump Skimmers
• 26-50 gallons
• 51-100 gallons
• 101-200 gallons
• Over 200 gallons

External Skimmers
• 26-50 gallons
• 51-100 gallons
• 101-200 gallons
• Over 200 gallons

Honorable Mentions for:
• Quiet Performance
• Efficient Performance
• Compact Performance (e.g. â€"œ Tunze 9010)
• Low Maintenance
• Value
• Design (e.g. â€"œ Deltec MCE300 houses pump inside skimmer, not inside display tank)

This is just a "first cut." Feel free to counter with a better list of skimmer categories that you would want to see. Thanks!

 

[McCrary]

As Rich mentioned, Octopus skimmers are probably going to be your best bet. I personally think they are much better than ASM.

 

[UCanDoIt]

Listing what every thinks is the best skimmer... wow, that could be really interesting & challenging. If you can stretch your budget a little, H&S makes a great skimmer. Sent you a PM on possible skimmer choices for your research.

 

[pjf]

Input for Skimmer Recommendations

Input for Skimmer Recommendations

Random Aquarist,

Do you want us to send our skimmer recommendations to you for various categories? You can post them for review in a sticky and keep the list up to date based on contributor input and test results.

Here are my skimmer recommendations for categories that I have an opinion on:

Nano-Skimmers
• 1-25 gallons (Tunze Nano Skimmer)

Hang-On-Tank Skimmers
• 26-50 gallons (Deltec MCE300)
• 51-100 gallons (Deltec MCE600)
• Over 100 gallons (Lifereef HVS2-24 & HVS3-24)

Honorable Mentions for:
• Quiet Performance (Tunze 9010)
• Compact Performance (Tunze 9010)
• Design (Deltec MCE300 houses pump inside skimmer, not inside display tank and has attractive design)

I believe that we can cut the threads in this forum by a quarter if we can get this sticky to work!

 

[MiddletonMark]

Re: Input for Skimmer Recommendations

Re: Input for Skimmer Recommendations

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8679707#post8679707 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pjf
I believe that we can cut the threads in this forum by a quarter if we can get this sticky to work!

And you get people to actually read the stickys!

If you do that, you're a miracle worker

 

[pjf]

First Post in Thread = List of Recommendations

First Post in Thread = List of Recommendations

The way to get people to read the sticky is to make sure that the first post is the list of recommendations. This post will be updated periodically by the moderator.

Anyone opening the thread will immediately see the list of of recommendations. If they want to continue through the thread, that is their option. I've seen this on other forums, such as the computer water cooling forum (www.hardforum.com).

 

[MiddletonMark]

True, and organized well [only three here] they get more attention IMO. But so often folks want a custom-tailored answer vs. reading and researching more - and some don't.

FWIW, I'm only an outside influence here ... I don't moderate this forum - just come here to have fun I can't sticky it for you, and prefer to let the forum mods make all decisions.
No offense intended, but it's not in my job description
[if you want SPS stickies, I'd be in on that]


I think a difficulty will be differentiating popularity with quality-rating. Most folks like their skimmer choice, a lot of folks have only tried a few [good ones, that is] and once things start going right, people tend to like their equipment.
Over time, I've seen a number of names/models become very popular, often to decrease over time + end up with more mediocre reviews than the seemingly 100% happiness that people reported earlier.

I would perhaps add a `adjustability' and or `thrives under regular/daily maintenance' category.
Reason: I loved my beckett skimmer - when I had time to regularly keep it clean/adjusted ... the amount + nastiness of what I could get out was astounding. But it had that time-overhead, which when my job required 50+ weeks over the summer, I no longer had the time. If I had time again, I'd probably run it again -- but some equipment works best while regularly tweaked/etc - and some is auto-pilot stuff [that can lack adjustability]. I don't consider that skimmer a lot of work, just regular attention [sorta like what the probiotic folks say about that method].
But IMO - something should be acknowledged here. I like tweaking, and thus the only negative to the beckett is my work schedule ... and the adjustability beat any other skimmer I've run, so some sort of gauge here IMO could be a useful [but difficult] category.

A good idea, don't let me rain on your parade