Protein Skimmer Recommendations

[slicegolfer]

Greetings RC Community -

I am planning out a 35 gallon acrylic tank with a 20 gallon sump. I have been reviewing the various discussions found on RC and would like recommendations/pros/cons on these 3 skimmers:

Warner Marine AS150

Reef Octopus Extreme 160

Vertex 100

Thanks for your time

 

[slicegolfer]

/Bump - thoughts anyone?

 

[skimmy]

I would avoid the vertex with resun pumps compared to your other 2 choices...
the WM AS150 will move more water through it than the SWC, but it is a very well built skimmer, and WM has awesome CS, and it certainly would skim your tank clean. you could possibly mesh mod it to decrease water and increase air pull, but if you put on too much mesh, it would pull more water.

the SWC extreme 160, or maybe the SWC mini cone scince it's roughtly the same power, just cone shaped, and better. these would be good choices for that size, certainly on the larger side for that tank size, good for sps, and lps if you feed like crazy...

both the WM and SWC's might be a little overkill for 35g, but will work great, IMO.
even the $138 bubble magus NAC6 would work great, but it doesnt has as good as a pump as the SWC or WM skimmers you listed. BUT, the replacement pump only costs $20 on ebay, and it's better than the resun pump on the vertex in-80/in-100.