Help me pick a skimmer for Red Sea reefer 170

[Indiana Reefin]

Help me pick a skimmer for a Red Sea reefer 170.
Total volume is 43 gallons with the sump. I don't want to spend more than $250.
Tank will be on heavy side for stocking:
Pair of maroon clowns
Twinspot blenny
1 pajama cardinal
1 blue star leopard wrasse. (I will upgrade to a larger tank in a couple of years)

Skimmers I'm considering:
Octopus 110 SSS
Icecap K2-50 (worried this is too small.
Bubble magnus curve 5 (concerned because I need 8-9" water level and I don't think I can get a higher level than 7.5" in the sump)
Eshops axium X-120


I don't want a skimmer that will be to big and won't produce, but I also don't want to undersize. 40 gallons is a wierd size for selecting a skimmer.

Please let me know what you all think

 

[zooman72]

Think the IceCap K2-50 would be too small.

The Reef 110 SSS Octopus and Eshopps X-120 would probably work quite well, and the BM Curve 5 might as well, although I run one of mine at 8" and the other two at 9".

One couple that come to mind are the AquaMaxx FC-80 and the Somatic 60s - probably the same performance in these as the earlier three noted (discounting the K2-50 as too small possibly), and they are all around the same price, with the RO 110 SSS slightly higher than the other four.

Any of the five mentioned above (110 SSS, X-120, Curve 5, FC-80, 60s) would work well enough as all are very similar in specs and price.

 

[Indiana Reefin]

Think the IceCap K2-50 would be too small.

The Reef 110 SSS Octopus and Eshopps X-120 would probably work quite well, and the BM Curve 5 might as well, although I run one of mine at 8" and the other two at 9".

One couple that come to mind are the AquaMaxx FC-80 and the Somatic 60s - probably the same performance in these as the earlier three noted (discounting the K2-50 as too small possibly), and they are all around the same price, with the RO 110 SSS slightly higher than the other four.

Any of the five mentioned above (110 SSS, X-120, Curve 5, FC-80, 60s) would work well enough as all are very similar in specs and price.

Thanks!!!
Yeah the 110 SSS looks really nice imho. It was my first choice. I will look at the aquamaxx and the somatic as well.
Another thing is that this needs to be a small footprint. I won't have a lot of space in my sump for a large footprint skimmer.

 

[Cheapreef]

I'm running the Reef Octopus 110sss in a 60gal total water valoume system, it's a fantastic skimmer. Very quiet and easy to tune to run nice a thick or a wet skimmate.

 

[Indiana Reefin]

I'm running the Reef Octopus 110sss in a 60gal total water valoume system, it's a fantastic skimmer. Very quiet and easy to tune to run nice a thick or a wet skimmate.

Glad to hear!
I think I found my skimmer!

 

[Hentz]

I used the Bubble Magus Curve 5 on my Reefer 170. Worked perfectly because I also ran ZEOvit and had my Reactor in the chamber with the skimmer. Matched well also. Wasn’t skimming for the longest time until I realized one of the holes was unplugged. Fixed it and it was back to skimming some nasty stuff out

 

[Indiana Reefin]

How many inches of water did you have the sump set at? Doesn’t the skimmer ask for 8-9”

 

[surfer64]

i run the icecap k2 120 in the same system and i like it. I have 2 full grown clowns and a full grown royal gramma and pull dark skim with the game 80th% close

 

[Indiana Reefin]

i run the icecap k2 120 in the same system and i like it. I have 2 full grown clowns and a full grown royal gramma and pull dark skim with the game 80th% close

I'll have to take a look. Yeah the icecap skimmer look like a great value

 

[Indiana Reefin]

The skimmer section is 12” x 10”
I am also intrigued by the Arid algae reactors. They just launched a smaller one for $450. I know it is pricey. I will probably build a algae reactor myself with the kit that marine depot sells. I am not to comfortable going without a skimmer.