Skimmer Q&A Thread

[darb85]

I am looking for the most efficient skimmer I can buy, best bang for buck kinda of thing. I need a In sump skimmer preferably but I have room for an external if it might be worth it to go that route.

I have 250 dollars to spend.

Set Up Specs:

120 Main tank, 50 gallon Sump, ten gallon refugium. so 180 gallon total.

My current skimmer is ok, but just a little under rated for the system.

I was thinking about a G2 but heard bad things and wonder if its under rated for my system.

Thanks in advance!

 

[mojo~]

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?

Both those skimmers are too big in my opinion. Why not go with the octo X 200, the SRO 3000, or a vertex in 180. The others will shut down. IMO

 

[ziyaadb]

Thanks Mojo, so the skimmer will not work because there wont be enough nutrients in the water even if I have a large amount of fish?

 

[mojo~]

I am looking for the most efficient skimmer I can buy, best bang for buck kinda of thing. I need a In sump skimmer preferably but I have room for an external if it might be worth it to go that route.

I have 250 dollars to spend.

Set Up Specs:

120 Main tank, 50 gallon Sump, ten gallon refugium. so 180 gallon total.

My current skimmer is ok, but just a little under rated for the system.

I was thinking about a G2 but heard bad things and wonder if its under rated for my system.

Thanks in advance!

Well you have a 120 with rock in it right ? sump runs about half full. so probably closer to 120 gallons total water volume.

For $250 you will be ard pressed to find something. You can get a CS200E cone or $249. uses a quietone pump. But for $290 you can get a vertex in 180. Not going to get much improvement for a new one for $250. If you could get a used skimmer that might be the way to go. Otherwise just keep what you have. Is it working ? does you tank look good?

 

[mojo~]

Thanks Mojo, so the skimmer will not work because there wont be enough nutrients in the water even if I have a large amount of fish?

The 500o series has a 6 in neck i believe. I would look at something with a smaller neck like 4 to 4.5 inch neck. but to answer your question yes. those are still too big.

 

[miles405]

Skimmer size

Skimmer size

Mojo
I have a 58g sps tank with a 25g sump. I am debating now between the swc 120 and 160. I like the bigger size because I will have more flexiblity on tank loading and maybe it could be used in future upgrades do you think the 160 is too large?

Thanks
nick

 

[qy7400]

Hey Mojo

Looking for ideas on my new tank, 450G mixed reef, medium to high bio load thanks to 5 tangs, 65 gallon fuge and 125 gallon sump; so overall say 600 gallon total. Was thinking either the MRC ORCA Pro 2 or Hurricone Cat 3 but before I do wanted to see what other opinions were out there.

Thanks

 

[winkdog]

Mojo,

The used Warner S200 must be an older model it comes with the standard 9000 does not have the HO pump......

So I am trying to decide between

Vertex IN-280
Super Reef Octopus 3000 Internal
Octopus XP-2000 Cone

All are $400 which one would you chose ?

Thanks,
Kevin

 

[phenom5]

Loads of good stuff in this thread.

I'm considering upgrading my skimmer.

I currently have a Euro Reef rs80, which worked really well on my previous tank, but since I've upgraded to a larger tank, I feel like it's a little under powered.

80 gallons TWV
Moderate- Moderately high bioload, focus on SPS.
In-sump.
I'd like to keep it under $300.

I'm considering:

SWC 160 cone or 120 cone - not sure if I could get away with the 120.
NAC7
and ???

Any other suggestions?

The other idea that I've kicked around is doing a recirculation & gate valve mod to the ER. Not sure if it's be worth it though.

 

[mojo~]

Hey Mojo

Looking for ideas on my new tank, 450G mixed reef, medium to high bio load thanks to 5 tangs, 65 gallon fuge and 125 gallon sump; so overall say 600 gallon total. Was thinking either the MRC ORCA Pro 2 or Hurricone Cat 3 but before I do wanted to see what other opinions were out there.

Thanks

Both of those would be good. The 6000 series SRO is another to look at. I would say between those three. Maybe a MSX 300A but i am not sure it will be quite big enough. it would probably work as well. I would go with one of the other three.

 

[mojo~]

Mojo
I have a 58g sps tank with a 25g sump. I am debating now between the swc 120 and 160. I like the bigger size because I will have more flexiblity on tank loading and maybe it could be used in future upgrades do you think the 160 is too large?

Thanks
nick

I would go with the 160. It just moves more water than the smaller 1100 pump on the 120. I have the 120 and I think the 160 would be a better fit

 

[mojo~]

Mojo,

The used Warner S200 must be an older model it comes with the standard 9000 does not have the HO pump......

So I am trying to decide between

Vertex IN-280
Super Reef Octopus 3000 Internal
Octopus XP-2000 Cone

All are $400 which one would you chose ?

Thanks,
Kevin

the sedra will not say HO on it. you can only tell by the output on the pump. it will have a shiny acylic plate with a new 1" output on it.

 

[mojo~]

Loads of good stuff in this thread.

I'm considering upgrading my skimmer.

I currently have a Euro Reef rs80, which worked really well on my previous tank, but since I've upgraded to a larger tank, I feel like it's a little under powered.

80 gallons TWV
Moderate- Moderately high bioload, focus on SPS.
In-sump.
I'd like to keep it under $300.

I'm considering:

SWC 160 cone or 120 cone - not sure if I could get away with the 120.
NAC7
and ???

Any other suggestions?

The other idea that I've kicked around is doing a recirculation & gate valve mod to the ER. Not sure if it's be worth it though.

Well the euroreef isnt a bad fit. if I was going to buy one in that price range I Would get the Vertex in 100, the NAC 7 or the SWC 160 cone.

 

[mojo~]

Mojo,

The used Warner S200 must be an older model it comes with the standard 9000 does not have the HO pump......

So I am trying to decide between

Vertex IN-280
Super Reef Octopus 3000 Internal
Octopus XP-2000 Cone

All are $400 which one would you chose ?

Thanks,
Kevin

Oh and I would go between the SRO or the Vertex. The 280 is a beast of a skimmer.

 

[CorkPullerPHL]

Hey Mojo, got a 2 part question for you. . .but first a little background on my new build. I'm putting up a 70 Gallon Aquarium with a basement Sump & Fuge. The sump will be approx 30 gallons and the fuge will be of the cryptic/benthic sort and in the neighborhood of 150 gallons (plywood build). The plan is to have the sump built in above the fuge.

The Q's:

1) Is it optimal to just skim the 500GPH that will come directly from the display's overflow into the sump? In which case I wouldn't need a particularly large skimmer, say: bk 160, Itech 100, or WM as150.

2) Are the WM k2 or atb 840 too big for this setup? I am considering as a back up plan having part of the return from the fuge piped back into the sump. This would give me the opportunity to skim many more GPH if needed.

Thanks! This thread has been extremely helpful. I appreciate how unbiased you have stayed.

 

[qy7400]

Thanks Mojo.

It's been a while since the last skimmer purchase but have the ratings come closer to real numbers, always remember most skimmers were lucky to handle half the load they were rated for.

 

[WI reefer55]

Hey, Mojo

I have a 60 gal and 20 high sump that has a skimmer section and a fuge. What skimmer would you recommend I am tight on space so something with a small foot print would be great. I would like to keep it under $200

I've been looking at

msx extreme 160 used
SWC Xtreme 160 Cone

any other small skimmers idk any other than these?

any cheaper ones that preform very well how are the octopus NW?

Thanks

 

[cet98]

Hey, Mojo

I have a 60 gal and 20 high sump that has a skimmer section and a fuge. What skimmer would you recommend I am tight on space so something with a small foot print would be great. I would like to keep it under $200

I've been looking at

msx extreme 160 used
SWC Xtreme 160 Cone

any other small skimmers idk any other than these?

any cheaper ones that preform very well how are the octopus NW?

Thanks

for $155 shipped, I think you would be well suited with the Bubble-Magus NAC6 skimmer...

but that's JM2C

 

[theshiver]

Hey mojo I'm getting ready to set up a 600 gal mix reef with 300 gal sump/fuge with medium high load will my reeflo orca 250 handle this tank ? any recommendations thanks

 

[Merfin70]

Need a recommendation based on some space restrictions from a poorly planned stand and slimline sump. :hmm4: The tank is a 65g shallow SPS rimless soon to be heavily stocked:celeb2:. The sump space that works the best for the skimmer is 8" x 14" with 22" in height available. Got any good recommendations as I'm having a hard time finding something?

Edit: Water level in that chamber is 9" if that makes a difference.