new tank build

[powdertang05]

ok so im starting a new tank build its a custom 125 acrylic 48 x 24 x 24 with single over flow in the middle back and a 50 gal sump. ive decided to do close loops 2 darts with four outputs on OM's on each side of the overflow and a spray bar with a gen x pressure pump for the back to run behind the rocks. im also going to put 2 6100's on a multicontroller and probably 2 more 6100's in 3 months. so a total of 14000 gals of flow. im going to have only sps and about 7 clams also 5-7 mini blue tangs, 1 sailfin tang small, 1 cheveron tang small, 14 cromis, 1 pair of false percs, 3 cleaners, 2 peps, 30 hermits, 40 snails. this a is a bare bottom. lighting is 6 54w t-5's overdrivin by a 660,430 with icecap slr reflectors. now need to buy a skimmer ive got room for external or internal and can spend 700. some one ive been thinking about
tunze 9015
bm 200
bm 2500
rps 3000
rps 4000
rps 5000
ex - 2
ex - 3
rs 250
a150
a200

any suggestions are welcome but i really dont want to hear about the tang police stuff im only here for skimmer help . thanks

 

[jtarmitage]

I too am in the process of building a new tank, 200-300 gallons, size not quite determined. In trying to decide on a skimmer I wanted highest quality for the price, as well as ease of maintence, ie cleaning. I narrowed my choices down to the MRC 2, or the Barr Aquatics/ Austin Ocean 3000. I suggest you take a look as they are both a lot of skimmer for the price.

 

[powdertang05]

ya i have looked into berketts but dont want to put more money into a pressure pump and a skimmer, and as for LPH the needle wheels are leading. thank for the info though

 

[hahnmeister]

I too am having a difficult time deciding on a skimmer for my new 125g. I was going to say 'screwitall' and just make a 4' tall, 12" diameter 'super skimmer', but a skimmer that large on a tank that small wouldnt even skim after a while.

So Im torn between building a 48"-54" tall narrow skimmer right next to my tank. There is room right next to the tank so I could run a tall and narrow skimmer fed directly from the overflow. That would be the nicest I suppose. But the GF might freak out because she thinks that even a 8" diameter, 30" tall skimmer looks huge next to the tank. So rather than tall and narrow, I am considering short and fat... like 12" diameter and up to 30" tall, because then I could cram it under the tank.

I know my GF would rather I get the short and fat one to hide it under the stand... thats for sure. But the extended dwell time and increased 'dark skimmate' factor from the tall skimmer is hard to pass on. Im thinking if I did the tall one, I would make it like a H&S A200-2x1260 but 4'+ tall and with a wetneck.... and maybe a single 1262 threadwheel pump with a force-feed. Who knows. Those ATB skimmers give me ideas as well.

Either way, its still overkill, but I plan on only running the skimmer from 11pm to 9am every day because its in the living room, and noise is a concern. I suppose if I went 'in sump' then this might not be a concern though... then a simple 6" diameter, 2' tall skimmer would prolly cut it. Hmmm... sorry, thinking out loud, but perhaps the people who convince you one way or another with your pre-built skimmers can sway me as well.

Oh, BTW, Im going custom 100% from orca (www.protein-skimmer.com) or spazz (www.aquaticacrylics.com, as soon as I can make my mind up) because I want a wet-neck for sure.

As for you, you might consider an ORCA as well. Custom, solid built, etc. Not sure what the rps skimmers are... its late. But the top dawg on that list you made would most likely be the H&S A200, perhaps the DAS 2 as well (about the same). The ATI 200 is alright... but I think that the H&S and the recircs are just a little bit better still.

 

[powdertang05]

well i actually talked to orca about a skimmer and the one i want is a exact copy of the rps 5000 the 10 x 30 and he was going to sell that to me for 600 and i can get the rps 5000 for 400 so i already thought about it. http://www.aquacave.com/detail.aspx?ID=1015 this is the rps 5000 big big brother to the rps 3000 . btw they are all from pacific coast imports. also the h&s ive asked around and lots of reefers are saying they are great but for the LPM the rps 5000 can get over 3500 modded and the a150 are aquabees and that like 600 i would think the rps 5000 would be better.

 

[hahnmeister]

Ah, thats right, rps is the PCI name.

The Octos are strong contenders... I just wish the pumps were better. They do run hot, and high on the wattage. I would almost buy the body and swap out the pumps for Oceanrunners (less wattage, less heat, less noise). You should be able to score just the body from somewhere... just an idea.

Its what Im doing to my current Aqua Euro recirc 265 (another honya built skimmer like the PCI, Reef Octopus, and Resun)... http://www.proteinskimmer.com.cn/c/cn/product.asp

I already took off the stock plumbing parts and drilled out the pump mounts/inlets to be 1" pipe, then I will pop a single modded oceanrunner on there rather than the crappy Gen-X 2400 clones on that skimmer. The AE265 only cost me $219 plus shipping, so even with me ripping it up and redoing it, it still ends up cheaper than an octo.