Reef Octopus made a Prime INT 150 that is a dead knockoff for the Omega 150, I have one and it is a great skimmer. Too bad they no longer make it, they have a newer model of space saving design http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/reef-octopus-classic-152-s-6-internal-protein-skimmer.html
I can't decide which skimmer!
- Thread starter Swensos
- Start date
Reef Octopus made a Prime INT 150 that is a dead knockoff for the Omega 150, I have one and it is a great skimmer. Too bad they no longer make it, they have a newer model of space saving design http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/reef-octopus-classic-152-s-6-internal-protein-skimmer.html
On my new 60g cube after looking at lots of skimmers this is the one I went with. That air flow for the price, awesome. Pretty much a vertex 130 but space saving. BRS was having 10x points on it so was like $20 off too. Quite frankly for me, nothing else was even close once you figure performance for the money.
Potatohead
New member
What claims? You can rate a skimmer for whatever rating you want, it's not about water volume, it's about load. If you compare their ratings to Nyos or IceCap or Skimz or whatever, they seem in line.
If the Somatic is using the same Sicce's as Vertex, it is using a custom impeller and is much more expensive to replace (and harder to find) than a standard impeller.
gcarroll
Active member
So you mean to tell me you find it acceptable to rate a 6" cone skimmer for a tank up to 220g? I ran a 10" skimmer with 3000 lph of air on my semi successful 225g. I would never recommend a 6" skimmer be used on a 220g tank. Worst part is due to that rating, one might be confused into thinking that that is actually acceptable. It is clear that the OP felt the Eshopps was capable yet the Somatic was not due to the rating an nothing else. If other companies are rating a 6" skimmer up to a 200g tank, I certainly don't agree with that practice.
Also the Sicce used in the Somatic does not use the custom volute so most likely it is off the shelf.
Potatohead
New member
I assume you are talking about the X-160 which is rated for 100-225g.
Again, it depends on load. If you only have 30" of fish in that 200, it will handle it without a problem. If you have many more fish, well that's why it's rated all the way down to 100g. The next size up X-220 they rate from 200-325, so that seems more suitable for a loaded 200g tank.
RO 150SSS, 150INT and 150EXT are all 6" body, all rated to 210g
IceCap K2-160, 6" body, rated to 200g
Skimz SC165 and SM163 has 6.3" body (160 mm) rated to 310g
Aquamaxx Cone SQ-2 has 6" body, rated to 250g
I'm sure there are more but that was a quick search. It seems to me if they wanted to sell more expensive skimmers they would rate them for smaller tanks, not larger.
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Swensos
New member
You're mostly right. I discounted the Somatic off-hand because it was rated for 50-80 gallons while the others are rated higher and didn't give it a second look until I saw your further comments. Maybe Vertex doesn't want the Somatic competing with their higher-end options, so they underrated it. Who knows?
Based on the recommendations, I looked at the Somatic 60S as a real possibility, but the size won't work. I'm going to have to raise any of these skimmers (except the Avast Pegleg) 3-4 inches because my skimmer chamber has about 12" of water. And I have about 27 inches of vertical space for the skimmer under my cabinet. For the Somatic, that would leave me about .5" to work around, which I feel would make maintenance a pain in my wrasse.
moondoggy4
Team RC
Since you have a deep sump chamber for your skimmer. Look into the Bubble Magnus NA6A
Im currently looking for a replacement skimmer for my triple pass berlin, on a 90g, with 20g sump. fish load is very light atm, 2 clowns, and a lion. Lion is getting moved out, but i plan to have many more fish in 3 months, so i want a decent skimmer.
My price range is around the same as yours, so ill be following, and inputing any ideas i have.
Currently looking at the axium x-120/160, bubble magus curve 5, Reef Octopus Classic 202-S
My price range is around the same as yours, so ill be following, and inputing any ideas i have.
Currently looking at the axium x-120/160, bubble magus curve 5, Reef Octopus Classic 202-S
I think Lifereef skimmers has taken the lead in venturi(beckett?) type skimmers.
The curve 5 is for my 90g, sump has limited space.
Curve A8 for my 210g.
Yes the size does matter.
