Skimmer Q&A Thread
- Thread starter mojo~
- Start date
cubsare1
New member
do I have to much skimmer for my tank? I have a euroreef rs-135 on a 40 breeder with a 20 gallon sump, It has 1 chromis and 1 goby with mostly sps. They are smaller frags now but hope they get alot bigger 
Second question, Is it wrong that I love to read all the questions and articles that are about skimmers? Is there a help group I could join?
Second question, Is it wrong that I love to read all the questions and articles that are about skimmers? Is there a help group I could join?
mcbaes72
-Aidan's Daddy.
Mojo or anyone else - Gonna pull the trigger on a skimmer pretty soon (hopefully this week) and after reading several pages, thought I'd ask here while continuing my research. Have gone skimmerless for years, but wanna buy a skimmer again and use along w/ chaeto macro. So far, I've narrowed my choices down to two cone skimmers:
1) SWC XTREME Cone Protein Skimmer Mini S
2) Eshopps Cone Protein Skimmer - Snow Series 200
Saw the YouTube clip on the Snow skimmer and was impressed, but didn't find a clip on the SWC. Anyone have good/bad experience w/ either skimmer? Both are supposed to be fairly quiet, but just wanna make sure I buy a productive skimmer that's not loud, going in the living room which is next to the family room where we hang out most of the day. TIA for any advice.
1) SWC XTREME Cone Protein Skimmer Mini S
2) Eshopps Cone Protein Skimmer - Snow Series 200
Saw the YouTube clip on the Snow skimmer and was impressed, but didn't find a clip on the SWC. Anyone have good/bad experience w/ either skimmer? Both are supposed to be fairly quiet, but just wanna make sure I buy a productive skimmer that's not loud, going in the living room which is next to the family room where we hang out most of the day. TIA for any advice.
mojo~
Skimmer Guy
well the miniS is alot more skimmer than the eshopps. However. The stock sicce can perform different when running backwards. THe miniS should run about 9 inches of sump level and hte eshopps can run shallower.
You might consider the octo cone coming out here in another week as well.
You might consider the octo cone coming out here in another week as well.
mcbaes72
-Aidan's Daddy.
Thanks for the help. I actually had to rule out the SWC Mini S because double-checking the footprint wasn't as small as I thought. Also, ruled out the Eshopps Snow because was recommended either Reef Octopus or Vertex skimmers were better from staff of an online store I trust.
Since the Vertex IN180 (11x13.5) is a little too big for my sump (space shared w/ refugium), I'm gonna pull the trigger on an Octo Extreme 160 (8x10). So much for trying to buy a cone skimmer. Oh well, it's just a FO tank medium-to-heavy bio-load, but no corals or anything like that.
I had thought about starting a new thread but figured this was the better place.
I know everyone talks about which is best etc. but I would like to know which skimmers are the best balanced? Of the 100's out there and all of the different price groups are there certain skimmers that have been designed and equipment matched better than others?
For example how many times have people recommended ATBs because they are a great line but I want to know within a line which ones are better balanced? For example is the 840 a better balanced skimmer than the 1050 even though the 1050 is bigger one that can handle a heavier system?
Is there anyway to break it up in to size classes such as:
<40 gal.
<120 gallons
<300 gallons
300 gallon +
This may revert back to which is best but I am curious which specific models are done correctly?
I know everyone talks about which is best etc. but I would like to know which skimmers are the best balanced? Of the 100's out there and all of the different price groups are there certain skimmers that have been designed and equipment matched better than others?
For example how many times have people recommended ATBs because they are a great line but I want to know within a line which ones are better balanced? For example is the 840 a better balanced skimmer than the 1050 even though the 1050 is bigger one that can handle a heavier system?
Is there anyway to break it up in to size classes such as:
<40 gal.
<120 gallons
<300 gallons
300 gallon +
This may revert back to which is best but I am curious which specific models are done correctly?
mojo~
Skimmer Guy
Well I agree with what you said for the most part.
up to 40 gallons I would say that the the tunze 9002/5 are a great choice. up to 120 you will get a lot of arguement here. it just depends are you lookingf stricly at performance or do you include ease of use, customer service, build quality ect...
The ATB 840 and 1050 are probably some of the best perfoming skimmers on the market. thats putting $$ aside.
Are other skimmers going to work well? yes. its all a matter of opinion. When I compared the ATB, to the Warner marine, to the vertex , to bubbleking. ect ect.... I look at more than just performance. its a balance of all things.
I mean the hurricones and msx 250A's are great skimmers for the money. The k2 is a pretty nice performing skimmer. The WM AS200 is a beast of a skimmer as well. Honestly, the ATB would be #1 in my book, and second would be the warner marine s 150.
The simple basic skimmer just plain works. no bubble plate or anything. those are the two best balance skimmers I have used. The bks are not bad. I like them for build and ease of use. Some of the best built are bk's and the Vertex alphas. although run a ATB, then run a alpha. you will see the difference I am talking about. I agree. ITs about a nice balance.
I am currently running a octoX 160 on my 57g as it isnt bad. I use my air meter everytime I restart it to make sure its running the right direction though.
just my 2 cents.
Mojo~
mojo~
Skimmer Guy
Well, I would look at the ATB 840, The SWC mini, the Vertex in 180, MSX 200, the octo 2000 cone or maybe one of the new super reef octo's
its just a matter of footprint and budget.
what water depth do you have in your sump as well. that will make a diffenence in whatI would use as well.
its just a matter of footprint and budget.
what water depth do you have in your sump as well. that will make a diffenence in whatI would use as well.
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