Skimmer Q&A Thread

[mojo~]

So have you had a change to test the 2000 XP Mojo?

I havent ran one in my tank but I got to play around with one. For the money they are pretty good. Not quite up to the initial numbers promised but a good skimmer none the less. Moves a good amount of water and air and runs well around 6 to 7 inches. anything more and you start to run out of adjustment room.

The bubble blaster pump is big in physical size. Bigger than I thought I it does have a slight hum. But still very quiet compared to most skimmers.

 

[Nemo Niblets]

:idea:

Th atb 840 is one of the best balances skimmers out. Really nice product. I would have one in my tank if my tank was a little bigger.

Ran the 840 and the 840 1.5 on my old tank and they both are amazing.

Would it be overkill on the 120? I can always feed more:idea:

 

[gbothepro]

The 180 and 280 are better. The 250 is really tall. its like 30in tall. it is harder to get that one dialed in with the added head pressure of the height of the skimmer.

The 180 is about a perfect fit for you.

Thanks mojo..

I'll keep an eye out for one.. And is their any difference between Gen 1 and 2 besides the pump being fliiped??

 

[theyammieguy]

Hey MOJO,
You recommended the BM NAC7 to me. I plan on the 57g oceanic with a sump between 20-40 gallons. The NAC7 is rated up to 180g. Is that going to skim to much for only around 100g total volume?

 

[rkaires]

:idea:

Would it be overkill on the 120? I can always feed more:idea:

The 840 would work great on your system.

 

[ballebrian4u]

hey i am going to by a skimmer for my 90 gallon reef tank with heavy bio loud and want to spend 400 max! i have been looking at alot of forums and hear alot of mixed opinions. i have been looking at asm g2 , MSX ,VERTEX 180 , EURO REEF RS135, OCTOPUS SKIMMER PLEASE HELP ME CHOOSE A SKIMMER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[rkaires]

Th atb 840 is one of the best balances skimmers out. Really nice product. I would have one in my tank if my tank was a little bigger.

Ran the 840 and the 840 1.5 on my old tank and they both are amazing.

mojo~ this one has your name on it:

 

[mojo~]

Thanks mojo..

I'll keep an eye out for one.. And is their any difference between Gen 1 and 2 besides the pump being fliiped??

yes the gen 2 have the better shaft to fix the pump issues the gen 1 s had

 

[mojo~]

Hey MOJO,
You recommended the BM NAC7 to me. I plan on the 57g oceanic with a sump between 20-40 gallons. The NAC7 is rated up to 180g. Is that going to skim to much for only around 100g total volume?

I am running hte NA& on my 57g right now. Working very well


The ATB will be great on the 120

And I like the little ATB..
A lot.

 

[cykenp]

The vertex in 180 would be a great choice. I ran the same skimmer on my 90g for some time. Minie pulled 32 scfh of air right out of the box. I was abe to mod it to get more . I hit just over 40 scfh on my vertex in 180 but It actually ran better stock. it s a nice running skimmer for the money. A280 is simply way to large. It will not skim consistantly and you wont be happy long term what so ever. Its a 10 in body skimmer as well.

Thanks for the advice mojo!!! So I guess in your opinion even if I had a 90g (120 total system) with a heavy loaded SPS and vodka dosing, the Vertex in180 would be enough?
Are there other skimmers you would also recommend? (I'm sure none beats the value of the vertex but just want to see what else you would choose for that type system)

 

[ballebrian4u]

hey i am going to by a skimmer for my 90 gallon reef tank with heavy bio loud and want to spend 400 max! i have been looking at alot of forums and hear alot of mixed opinions. i have been looking at asm g2 , MSX ,VERTEX 180 , EURO REEF RS135, OCTOPUS SKIMMER PLEASE HELP ME CHOOSE A SKIMMER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[PowermanKW]

I havent ran one in my tank but I got to play around with one. For the money they are pretty good. Not quite up to the initial numbers promised but a good skimmer none the less. Moves a good amount of water and air and runs well around 6 to 7 inches. anything more and you start to run out of adjustment room.

The bubble blaster pump is big in physical size. Bigger than I thought I it does have a slight hum. But still very quiet compared to most skimmers.

Thanks Mojo. I was just curious how such a big pump was going to do on a small body. But everyone seems real happy with them. Looks like they did a good job.

 

[ballebrian4u]

whats a better skimmer msx , vetex ,octo !

 

[joncat24]

hey i am going to by a skimmer for my 90 gallon reef tank with heavy bio loud and want to spend 400 max! i have been looking at alot of forums and hear alot of mixed opinions. i have been looking at asm g2 , MSX ,VERTEX 180 , EURO REEF RS135, OCTOPUS SKIMMER PLEASE HELP ME CHOOSE A SKIMMER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MSX 200 is what I would choose.

 

[mojo~]

THe MSX 200 and Vertex in 180 are both 8 in bodies. The Vertex has a longer neck and smoother transition. The MSX has a smaller transistion and uses a sicce pump. The sicce pump has a lot of option but with the stock wheel will pull about 30 to 32 scfh of air. But is haunted by the rotational issues with the stock volute of the pump. I have shut mine off and restarted it and had it overflow too many times to deal with it.

The Vertex uses a cheaper pump but is a sedra knockoff pump. It pulls 32 scfh on pinwheel as well. You will get a arguement on this that could go on for sometime. However but most havent owned both skimmers and ran them both on the same setup. Now with vertex you have to make sure you get the gen 2 models as the gen 1 model pumps had a shaft that was too soft and would wear out. Any sold now are all gen 2. Great skimmers.

 

[ballebrian4u]

so what do you perfer vertex 180 or msx 200 or a octupus becse i am going to buy it in the moning and i have no clue and i am realing on you to help me !!!

 

[PowermanKW]

Hey, Mojo.... just curious. I might go to a 180g in the future. I have a 90g with a 60g sump fuge. now I could turn the 90g into a sump fuge, or keep the one I have.... however, I could use the 90g as a sump and turn the 60g into a full fuge. What would you suggest for a 180g with probably another 100g in a sump and fuge. I think my K2 would be maxed in that setup.

 

[Scungili]

Hey Mojo, do you have any opinions on a SRO 5000 EXT

on a 180 gal SPS med bioload tank?

Also, I think I may wait for the XP5000 EXT, any thoughts on this?

Do you think it's overkill? If so, what could be the harm in it?

Also, does anyone know of anyone selling the XP5000 today?

 

[OldNemo]

Mojo

I am putting together a 40 breeder SPS dominate tank. I plan on a heavy bioload. My sump is a 20g.

Any better skimmers out there for this size than a OctoXtreme 160?

Thanks.

 

[Trigger01]

Hey Mojo,

Thanks for all your help and advice!! You are an awesome resource in this hobby!

Is there much difference between the tunze DOC 9410, vertex in-180 and vertex in-280? The prices for these are similar, by the specs they will all fit in my sump, so which skimmer is the best in your opinion. (I have a 150g, some sps, lps, lots of fish) Thanks again for your help!