recommended skimmer?

[papania]

I was looking to get a protein skimmer, but I want to get something simple since my electric bill is already much higher since my MH lighting.

I have done some research and the airstone skimmers seem the simplest. What is your thoughts and if this is right any recommendations......good deals?

thanks

 

[KevinYates]

need a lot more information than that.

Tank, Loadsize, Sump or HOB, buget.

ive never tried airstones but i hear they are not even worth trying.

 

[papania]

I have a 44gal

regular bioload......1 leather toadstool

10gal refuge with grape caulerpa

250W DE MH lighting

I would guess 20-25lbs of live rock

 

[papania]

oh, i would be thrilled to get something decent for $125-150

 

[skimmy]

well for cheap, the bubble magus NAC6 @ $138 is good, but it needs like 9-10" of water to sit in, this might be an issue for a 10g. sump,
you might want to consider doing a 20g for a sump and having both a fuge and skimmer.
also for cheap the Vertex in-80 model would be good too, just not my favorite pump on that skimmer(resun brand, infamous for having overheating issues, and poor build) but still a decent skimmer for cheap.

i would stay away from air stone skimmers, personally...

 

[papania]

I would love to exchange a 20gal refuge, but the only problem is the 44gal is a corner tank and the largest size I can fit under the tank is 10gal . so this is making finding a skimmer difficult

 

[GSMguy]

I fear you may be tapping into a vein of information that has not been refreshed since 1996, airstone skimmers with very few exeptions are worthless, skimmmer efficency has improved drastically.

The bubble magnus reccomended above would be an exellent choice. There are lots of good choices and even more bad. Buyer beware certainly applies.

 

[papania]

That looks pretty resonable, I will probably end up doing it. Although I am going to have to build some sort of stand beside my display enclose a 20gal sump.......this hobby gets more and more expensive

 

[200mfromocean]

Yes It certainly does. Try not to cut corners on skimmer so you do not buy twice.

or you could start over with a bigger used setup.

 

[papania]

I plan on upgrading when I graduate grad school and buy a house, but that won't be for a year and a half.

until then i would still like to get one soon