Skimmer for a 360 gallon - suggestions?

[fbacungan]

Hi Reef Lovers,

Does anyone have a suggestion on the best type of skimmer to use for a 360 gallon? Brand and type would be most helpful.

I intend to house mostly soft corals, LPS, and as many small to medium type fish that it can possibly hold (school of anthias, clowns, and/or tangs).

With such a heavy bioload, I also plan to have chaeto and calerupa in a 100 gallon sump and refugium for extra filtration. I have about 150 lbs of live rock but will eventually build up to 350+ lbs, hoping I don't go broke in the process. Yikes.

Any other suggestions would be most appreciated.

Aloha for now. Fern Bacungan

 

[powdertang05]

euro-reef or deltec or MRC all good brands all have good skimmers but the one question is are you really wanting to put that much money into a skimmer?

 

[Kshack]

There is a H&S A25022X1260 on its way to Portland, if you want to come down to take a look. It will be at the LFS till I'm ready to put in action. Would be a good match for a tank that size. I had a large vetnuri type skimmer with a Iwalkie 100 driving and the noise in my living room was more than I wanted to put up with. These type skimmers are much quiter. Not a worry if your sump is in garage, but something to consider.

 

[fbacungan]

>euro-reef or deltec or MRC all good brands all have good skimmers but the one question is are you really wanting to put that much money into a skimmer?

Powdertang, that's a great question. I've seen the prices on some of these and if the live rock won't break the bank, the protein skimmer probably will. I'm also looking into a DIY skimmer. There was a great article about it in the DIY section.

KShack, what brand of venturi skimmer did you have? It appears the noise of the pump is more the problem than the skimmer itself, isn't it?

I've also read the Venturi type skimmers can clog and ruin pumps also, so I was considering a downdraft type system, one recommended by a user in ReefFrontiers.com, call the ALS Predator 2. He swears by it after trying and using plenty of skimmers of his 10 years. Anyone else have experiences with the ALS Predator?

 

[ranran]

Kshack are you getting that from fanta seas? I heard they are distributing them now. I would like to check it out.

fbacungan There are three big reefs all running the PM XL2 skimmer here in Portland. Includingmy own tank. I have been happy with the skimmer so far. Am 6 months into this reef. The only noise factor is the pump I run a pci 70 on it. But it is not that loud. I think I got the skimmer pump and extra collection container for all under 1000.00 shipped from Todd at custom aquatics.

Randy

 

[sabodish]

i ran a marine technical concepts HSA 1000 on my 360. and the tank was slammed full of fish and corals. skimmer can be bought brand new for $700. you will need a larger pump to run it for around 150-200...still cheaper than a $1200 euroreef.