need a new skimmer

[timrandlerv10]

i need to get a new skimmer--i had the reef octopus needlewheel 110 for my 44g, and i think its going to stay with the 44. i was pretty happy with it, but it was my first skimmer, so i dont have anything to compare it to.

the new tank is a 75 with a 55 sump. looks like total volume should be around 110-120. there may be more fish in the future, but right now its a gsm pair, 3 chromis, a foxface (and hopefully some of tomoko's bangaii cardinals!). the most important of the non-fish would be the bta's, so cleaner water is better. the mushrooms, euphyllia and zoos will round out the bunch. there may be two or three small sps--as long as i can keep these frags alive, i'll have them...but if they go, i'm not replacing them with hard things


i would love to have any and all thoughts!!!

my sump is pretty big...we made the stand a little taller than normal and there is a large footprint available.

THANKS!

tim

 

[mltmtascp]

Don likes the AquaC Remora Pro on the 120 gal tank. It seems to work well for us.
Monica

 

[kiran523]

I think the first thing you need to take into consideration is your skimmer budget. I would look at a skimmer with a 150-200 gallon capacity. Check out the lighting and filtration forum. You will find threads dedicated to Deltec, Euro-reef, Some new Octopus, a modified oddessy.... premium aquatics carries a good variety for you to look through. Good luck

 

[RUGDOG]

I just in the last 2 or 3 weeks put a new gsm g3 on my 110 and am amazed at what it is pulling out for the money. I had an old top phatom with a mag pump for a year and always pulled junk that was thick or thin depending on adjustment but always wondered about how people talked about how bad their skim stank and mine never really did. with the new asm the scum is dark and boy does it stink. really impressive to me and is only a 300.00 or so skimmer.
anyway for what it is worth
Terry (rugdog)

 

[timrandlerv10]

Why the G3 instead of the G1 or G1x?

When you use an 'oversized' skimmer what impact does that have on things you want to have in a tank, like phytoplankton?

 

[Tomoko Schum]

Tim, why are you back on having phytoplankton in your tank? It feeds certain filter feeders, but most of what we want to keep do not feed on phyto.

Tomoko

 

[timrandlerv10]

um...i dunno?

i was reading something else, then went here, and my thoughts got crossed!

my 75 needs to be as clean as possible so i can feed like mad! if its clean, the zoos and mushrooms may suffer some stunted growth, and thats ok!

 

[DrHank]

You may want to consider just moving up to an Octopus NW-150. It should do an excellent job on your 75. Check aquacave.com for pricing. They are usually one of the least expensive and you can look at some other potentials as well. They carry several brands of excellent skimmers.

 

[edwar050]

Ditto on the octopus

 

[timrandlerv10]

will a larger skimmer remove more from the same sized tank? is there a possibility of getting more skimmer than your tank needs? if i got an ASM G2, it should be large enough...but if i got a G3, would it pull more out?

 

[dave3112]

I put an Aqua C remora Pro with the MAG 3 on my 75 and it works GREAT!!!! But I don't have a sump. It hangs on the tank.

 

[Tomoko Schum]

I like my ASM G2, but I don't know if ASM is any better than Octopus. Octopus skimmers are evidently much less expensive than ASM skimmers.

Tomoko

 

[kartracertj]

I have a PM skimmer and I love it. I also upgraded from the octopus. The PM is external and you do need a pretty large pump to run it efficently but it is rated for like 400gal.

 

[RUGDOG]

I felt like the g2 would have done fine in my 110 but for a few more bucks I thought why not go with the 3 and I know I have plenty of skimmer power plus with the larger body = more dwell time maybe. at any rate I love this baby.

 

[hla]

I also purchased an asm g3 for my tank. I love it. I upgraded from a remora pro to it. It pulls out approx double. the best price I found on them was an ebay store. It was cheaper there than anywhere, new w/shipping included.