Skimmer Q&A Thread

[mojo~]

I'm sure this was covered at some point.... but I'm looking for a HOB skimmer for my 40 gallon. No sump, so total water volume will be about 30 gallons. I'm not going to have too much live rock in there, maybe about 20 - 30 pounds. I'm primarily going to use this for my quarantine tank. But since it'll be in my sons room, I'm looking for something quiet. I was thinking of the WM H1. Any other suggestions?

H1 is one of the best smaller HOB units out. Nice unit. Just my two cents.

 

[Buganddoug]

H1 is one of the best smaller HOB units out. Nice unit. Just my two cents.

I will agree the H1 is one hell of a skimmer:beer:

 

[solitude127]

H1 is one of the best smaller HOB units out. Nice unit. Just my two cents.

Thanks Mojo, is there any other skimmers you'd recommend for my needs?

 

[PowermanKW]

Ok, so I think what I should do is this! I am sure that the cones are nice, and there has to be some sort of advantage to them, but I just can't see it being exponentially different. So, I think I should take the money I would spend on a cone, and then get the best conventional type skimmer that I can buy.

So what is the absolute best cylindrical skimmer on the market. Hopefully, it would be able to run in or out of sump. The pump that is proven, and pulls the most air, without getting as hot as a fire cracker. Then, I can work my way down from there

Thanks,
NathanS

The absolute best is Bubble King. You will spend more on a BK than you would on the ATB cone.

 

[ECFENCING]

The absolute best is Bubble King. You will spend more on a BK than you would on the ATB cone.

BK's are great skimmers for sure.

I thought they were around the same price range but I haven't been looking.

ATB cone skimmers are just as nice IMO

 

[mojo~]

Thanks Mojo, is there any other skimmers you'd recommend for my needs?

well with now sump the only other one worth gettin for your setup would be the Tunze 9002 in my opinion. Otherwise your money is better spent on water changes.

 

[PowermanKW]

BK's are great skimmers for sure.

I thought they were around the same price range but I haven't been looking.

ATB cone skimmers are just as nice IMO

Guess I hadn't looked at the 10.5s lately. The regular is $1100 and the deluxe is $1500. The BK mini 200 is $1100, and the Deluxe internal 200 is $1700. Quite a chunk of change.

 

[rgonzalez]

Mojo,

How much of a difference am I going to notice switching from a SWC NW 200 to a SWC Cone 160?

I'm going for a heavier bioload in my 90 gallon (w 30 gallon sump) and want to spend around 300$; and then I found the SWC Cone 160 which has had great reviews and is in my price range.

Your thoughts?

 

[mojo~]

Mojo,

How much of a difference am I going to notice switching from a SWC NW 200 to a SWC Cone 160?

I'm going for a heavier bioload in my 90 gallon (w 30 gallon sump) and want to spend around 300$; and then I found the SWC Cone 160 which has had great reviews and is in my price range.

Your thoughts?

Well you could go with the SWC 160 it would work well. The cs 200e would work well too and is similar price. Both are a great fit.

Mojo~

 

[rgonzalez]

Who makes the CS 200E? I can't find it...

Any other suggestions for skimmers that are better than the two aforementioned skimmers?

Well you could go with the SWC 160 it would work well. The cs 200e would work well too and is similar price. Both are a great fit.

Mojo~

 

[mojo~]

well in your price range the only other one is the NC 7 or the ocean force by mrc

the cs200e is sold by royal reef aquariums I believe. its a nice cone skimmer as well.

 

[hammmerhead]

The msx askol does not pull twice the air. I have aid this many of times. its not all just about the air. its about balance. But if you know more than I so be it. Just so many people hop on here and give opinions and really have no idea sometimes what its all about.

The msx cone is a larger cone and is injection molded out of different material than the ATB. Its all good.

You are correct. MSX will be no more. they are still out there though. and you can buy the SWC version which are what the msx were anyways. Just a sticker. Lets do some math. the ATB is about $1000-$1100 depending on where you get one. The SWC askol cone is $750. thats $250 to $350.

to me its worth the added cost. Try getting parts on the SWC skimmer quickly. if your tank is down. will they overnight the parts to you. No questions asked. Now I know one that might but he lives close But I know ATB will no questions asked.

Now the MSX 250A is a great skimmer and is still for sale. it is $519 i believe. I would go with it over the SWC cone. Just my two cents. The smaller swc cones that just came out are nice.

Mojo~

Wow you can get a 1050a with the single Airstar for $1000. Is that an insiders price Mojo? All I have seen are the dual Sicce models for $1000.

The ATB is listed to just pull 45 SCFH as compared to 75 SCFH with the SWC Askoll cone. I would say that is close to almost double...well around 40% more anyway. The SWC is a one piece cone with no seam, maybe the ATB is, maybe not. As far as the superior Austrian plastics ATB uses, I can't comment. $1200 vs. $750, call me cheap, but where is the added value?

IMO, the ATB is far over priced for what you get.

 

[mj2351]

I currently have a 180 gallon display tank with a 55 gallon sump. It has medium to high bioload. What is the best skimmer I can get for under $1000 for my setup? Thanks!

 

[alanmorehead]

Mojo,

I've been considering an upgrade to a 300g Marineland DD tank and looking for skimmer suggestions:

300g display tank: SPS-dominated w/ zoas and a few LPS, med-high fish load
250g "sump": A large area dedicated to chaeto, a sohal tang, and some frags. (Mostly open water volume)

I was hoping you could suggest options for both an in-sump and external skimmer. I would like to do an external skimmer this time, but it depends on how much of a difference there is between the skimmer options. I'd like to stay in the $500-$1,000 range.

Thanks - Alan

Check out the Super reef octo 5000 series. They will be a good fit for your size tank. internal or external.

Got the skimmer today! Thanks Mojo

This is my first external skimmer and I was looking at plumbing options. I plan on using the overflow drain from the display to feed it. I assume I just need to T it off with a ball valve so I can control how much goes to the skimmer and then divert the rest straight to the sump? Any idea roughly how many gph I need to run through it? The only thing that was included in the box was a diagram and the website just has "Under Construction" for the product. No instructions or anything. Also, I may run this temporarily in-sump until I get my tank upgrade finished. What is the recommended water height for that?

 

[winkdog]

180G reef tank /40G breeder sump/ 20G refugium

Need Skimmer ASAP

Octopus XP-2000 Cone
$380 new

Vertex IN-280
$400 new

Vertex IN-180
$280 new

Warner Marine S200
$220 used

What should I go for ?
Thanks,
Kevin

 

[mojo~]

180G reef tank /40G breeder sump/ 20G refugium

Need Skimmer ASAP

Octopus XP-2000 Cone
$380 new

Vertex IN-280
$400 new

Vertex IN-180
$280 new

Warner Marine S200
$220 used

What should I go for ?
Thanks,
Kevin

The warner marine s200 would work just fine. other wise I would go with the vertex in 280.

THe s200 uses a sedra 9000ho pump and moves a good amount of water at 900 lph of air. Nice unit.

 

[mj2351]

Hi Mojo,

I would first like to thank you for creating this thread. It has been very helpful. I currently have a 180 gallon display tank with a 55 gallon sump. I am looking to upgrade my skimmer. It has medium to high bioload. What is the best skimmer I can get for under $1000 for my setup? Thanks!

 

[evil4g63]

Hi Mojo,
what skimmer would you recommend for a 30 gallon tank that will be lps, sps dominant with some softies and will have 6-7 fish in there? i want the pump to be outside the tank and only have a $300 budget. what would be the best for this application? thanks in advance.

 

[mojo~]

Hi Mojo,

I would first like to thank you for creating this thread. It has been very helpful. I currently have a 180 gallon display tank with a 55 gallon sump. I am looking to upgrade my skimmer. It has medium to high bioload. What is the best skimmer I can get for under $1000 for my setup? Thanks!

These are the ones I would look at if it were my tank.
SRO 3000 series.
Vertex in 280
Warner Marine as 200 is nice
Bk mini gen 2 180 is right at 1000
vertex alpha 200

 

[ziyaadb]

Hi all I want to setup a SPS dominant tank with the Berlin method. I want to put in either a Bubble blaster HY5000 or an OTX250. the tank will be 130G. I want a big fish load as well with lotsa chromis and anthias. I will also feed often. will this skimmer be ok or will i be overskimming?