Skimmer broke, what should I get?

[hagfish]

I had cleaned my piece of crab jebo protein skimmer last night and left it until this morning before turning it on. When I turned it on, nothing. Pump stopped working I guess. I haven't tried to fix it, not sure if I want to since it's no good anyway. So, the question is, what to buy to replace it?

That tank is an 80 gallon that is mostly fish only, but does have a few easy softies (shrooms, xenia) that are growing over from my 72 gallon tank. On the 72 (with 29g sump/fuge) I have a Coralife Super Skimmer 125 which I like just fine. The 72 is a reef tank with mostly softies, a few LPS, and a bubble anemone. Would like to have some SPS eventually. If I buy a new skimmer, I'd probably take the 125 Coralife SS off of the 72 and put it on the 80, then get a better skimmer for the 72. I was thinking about either the coralife 220 or an ASM of some kind. I'd really like to spend no more than about $200 on one. Any thoughts?

 

[sirreal63]

I would do the ASM, it is worth every penny.

 

[hagfish]

Which model ASM for 100 total gallons of water? Where's the best place to buy one?

 

[sirreal63]

http://www.asmskimmer.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=21&products_id=31



This is the one I have, make it recirculating and add the gate valve it will easily skim your tank to cleanliness. You could go with the G1x but for 42 bucks more the G3 is much better.

 

[Letmegrow]

www.thereefstop.com

Has the ASMs.

 

[chadfarmer]

asm g1 or asm g2

 

[sirreal63]

Yes that is true, but if you want to make it recirc and have the gate valve it is still cheaper to go through ASMSKIMMERS than it is to buy the parts and do the modding yourself.

 

[hagfish]

Does everyone agree that the ASM is worth it over a Coralife SS given the price difference?

 

[Letmegrow]

I do, personally.

 

[sirreal63]

I guess my thoughts are known. It took me 5 skimmers to find the right one.

 

[jimmyleg]

I've got an ss125, it's okay, but the recirc g3 is my next purchase.

 

[DARKSILENTTYPE]

i think arsenal is selling a skimmer you should pm him for details

 

[hagfish]

What does the recirculating do?

And what does the gate valve get me?

 

[StupidsReef]

I have the ASM G3 w/recirc. I bought my from ASM and had them do the work. Recirc take the water from the skimmer instead of the tank it keeps it turning with in the skimmer body longer. I feed my skimmer straight from my overflow at the top of the skimmer 1 inch from the top is the best place to put it. Then the pump sucks the water that's in the skimmer and adds air from the tube which keeps the water in the chamber longer, thus longer contact time. With the water being fed at the top again it's longer contact time. It's defiantly worth the extra $20 or what ever it was. It is JMO but I would NOT buy the gate mod, as I found all the parts for this a Lowes, HD and 2 of my local hardware stores, and for around half of what they charge for it. The gate vale allows you to adjust the skimmate/speed/wet or dry much better than w/out and allows you to use it out of the sump. I spent I think $328 on mine total. I think it was well worth the money, if you get one w/recirc make sure you get the uniseal as it does NOT come with it. There like $15.

 

[ol'saltybastage]

I hear those $9.00 lee skimmers rock... j/k