Skimmer Q&A Thread

[BPro32]

I have a 90g tank and 20g sump with a heavy-ish bioload and mostly softies with a few lps. I currently have no skimmer on the tank and have a spare Precision Marine RL 150 laying around. Is this going to be a big enough skimmer for my system?

Anyone have an idea in this situation?

 

[sneaton]

coralreefdoc.....i have the extact same tank and i just went thru the same dilemma choosing a skimmer. i wanted something quiet with great performance so i went with the swc 160 cone. this thing is so nice, the atman 2500 pump in it is really a great pump and its only 50 bucks to replace if anything happens. you should look at the "swc 160 cone club" thread and read some reviews. not to mention you can get it shipped from Big Als for $246 using "nanoreef" coupon code.

 

[mojo~]

coralreefdoc.....i have the extact same tank and i just went thru the same dilemma choosing a skimmer. i wanted something quiet with great performance so i went with the swc 160 cone. this thing is so nice, the atman 2500 pump in it is really a great pump and its only 50 bucks to replace if anything happens. you should look at the "swc 160 cone club" thread and read some reviews. not to mention you can get it shipped from Big Als for $246 using "nanoreef" coupon code.

All you do is tell everyone to buy this skimmer. you have nothing to base this on. Not a bad unit. but you hop on every forum and do this.

 

[mojo~]

SRO 1000 or swc or bubble magus

They will both work well but the SRO is built better and does have a better quality pump.

 

[mojo~]

Anyone have an idea in this situation?

it will work but will be a little on the light side for a heavy load on the 90.

 

[BPro32]

it will work but will be a little on the light side for a heavy load on the 90.

Thank you, I'll make sure to stay up on the water changes.

 

[muskiewade]

Skimmer recommendation.

Skimmer recommendation.

Hello all. I was told this was the place to go to get some good input on which skimmer to buy.

Looking for a skimmer for a 125 gallon FOWLR tank; filter on tank is a Lifereef LF2-150 wet/dry; fish are larger, messy eaters; need an external skimmer, as there's no room in the sump for the skimmer itself, but I would like to use a submersible pump in the sump to feed the skimmer; cost of less than $600; 24inch max height; hoping to get a skimmer that doesn't require a lot of tinkering and maintenance; was originally thinking about a Lifereef VS3-24, but there appear to be better options from a technology standpoint.

Very much appreciate your input. Thanks!

 

[sneaton]

mojo, i do this because you keep telling people that the pump is not as good. in my research i have found more issues with the bubble blaster than the atman 2500. you went from endorsing the swc to almost everyone and now you dog them, whats up with that.....there are quotes from you on other forums stating that you think the atman 2500 is a great pump,i just dont understand..i just want people to know that this thread is just your opinion and not fact...JMHO

 

[jformani]

The sro 5000 would be a great fit. I would get the internal model as it already has a long conical transition to the neck. Save the extra money a cone would cost. I think you will enjoy it.

Mojo~

You mean the space saver with the pump inside? Thanks

 

[ludiNano]

mojo, i do this because you keep telling people that the pump is not as good. in my research i have found more issues with the bubble blaster than the atman 2500. you went from endorsing the swc to almost everyone and now you dog them, whats up with that.....there are quotes from you on other forums stating that you think the atman 2500 is a great pump,i just dont understand..i just want people to know that this thread is just your opinion and not fact...JMHO

Wow, I've never gotten the idea that all his thoughts were "fact". Maybe unless he said the CC super skimmer, or turbofloater was crap... Now he has done a lot of research on many skimmers taking and loosing a lot of money in the process to help him develop those opinions. But i believe people post questions here because thats what they want his OPINION.

And he takes everything we ask into account, our tank size, allowed space in sump, and cost.

I hate skimmer threads were someone says what can i get for (ex) $400, and someone just says get bubble king.... well not what i asked.

Mojo answers our questions fully with his opinion.

 

[muskiewade]

Hello all. I was told this was the place to go to get some good input on which skimmer to buy.

Looking for a skimmer for a 125 gallon FOWLR tank; filter on tank is a Lifereef LF2-150 wet/dry; fish are larger, messy eaters; need an external skimmer, as there's no room in the sump for the skimmer itself, but I would like to use a submersible pump in the sump to feed the skimmer; cost of less than $600; 24inch max height; hoping to get a skimmer that doesn't require a lot of tinkering and maintenance; was originally thinking about a Lifereef VS3-24, but there appear to be better options from a technology standpoint.

Very much appreciate your input. Thanks!

After doing a little more research, I'm wondering if a SRO-XP2000E would be a good option? Appreciate your thoughts........

 

[mojo~]

Hello all. I was told this was the place to go to get some good input on which skimmer to buy.

Looking for a skimmer for a 125 gallon FOWLR tank; filter on tank is a Lifereef LF2-150 wet/dry; fish are larger, messy eaters; need an external skimmer, as there's no room in the sump for the skimmer itself, but I would like to use a submersible pump in the sump to feed the skimmer; cost of less than $600; 24inch max height; hoping to get a skimmer that doesn't require a lot of tinkering and maintenance; was originally thinking about a Lifereef VS3-24, but there appear to be better options from a technology standpoint.

Very much appreciate your input. Thanks!

I would look at the Sro 2000 ext

 

[mojo~]

mojo, i do this because you keep telling people that the pump is not as good. in my research i have found more issues with the bubble blaster than the atman 2500. you went from endorsing the swc to almost everyone and now you dog them, whats up with that.....there are quotes from you on other forums stating that you think the atman 2500 is a great pump,i just dont understand..i just want people to know that this thread is just your opinion and not fact...JMHO

I doubt that the 120 is good for small tanks , but with a forum that has been around a while the people can read what i suggest. There are a ton more bubble blasters out there than atmans. I dont dog any of them just express my experience after having a few more and friends that had issues with them. they are not a bad skimmer. just not as wonderful as u make them sound. what have u used to compare them too?

here are a few i owned and base my experience and expertise on

Octo Nw 110
octo nw 150
octo nw 200
octoX 160
octoX 200
msx 160
msx 200
ETSS sump buddy 40
Oceanic biocube skimmer
saphire bc skimmer
cpr skimmer
aquaC ev 120
aquaC urchin
aquaC remora
Bermuda bps 3c
Warner Marine s150
Warner Marine s200
Warner Marine as 150
Warner Marine as 200
Warner MArine k2 prototype and production
Bubble king Mini 160 gen 1
Bubble king Mini 160 gen 2
Bubble king Mini 180 gen 2
ATB 840
ATB 840 v 1.5
Alpha 250
alpha 170
vertex in 100 gen 1
vertex in 100 gen 2
Vertex in 100 gen 3
vertex in 180 gen 2
MSX miniS
DAS ex 1
SWC 120 cone
SWC 150
Bubble Magus Nac 6
Bubble Magus Nac 7
SRO 2000 xp
SRO 2000 int
Aquamaxx am 250
CS 200 cone skimmer
ATB Elegance 200
Mojo mini 100 sicce pump
Mojo mini 3 Tunze
Mojo cone sicce
Mojo 4 sicce
mojo 5 bubble blaster

 

[mojo~]

After doing a little more research, I'm wondering if a SRO-XP2000E would be a good option? Appreciate your thoughts........

lol yeap great choice 4 sure

 

[mojo~]

Wow, I've never gotten the idea that all his thoughts were "fact". Maybe unless he said the CC super skimmer, or turbofloater was crap... Now he has done a lot of research on many skimmers taking and loosing a lot of money in the process to help him develop those opinions. But i believe people post questions here because thats what they want his OPINION.

And he takes everything we ask into account, our tank size, allowed space in sump, and cost.

I hate skimmer threads were someone says what can i get for (ex) $400, and someone just says get bubble king.... well not what i asked.

Mojo answers our questions fully with his opinion.

thank you I couldnt of said that better myself.... well thats my opinion....

Mojo~

Might be trying out the jns shark series. I really like the jns( aquamaxx) skimmers for the $$

 

[rob020880]

Mojo,
What would be your three favorite skimemrs for someone with a 130 gal display med-heavy load? My sump water level is also at 11" so I would need to avoid skimmers that require very shallow water levels of less the 6".

 

[sneaton]

I've looked at a number of retailer websites and as far as I can tell the bubble blaster HY1000 pump in the SRO 1000 INT is rated at only 400-500 lph (14-18 scfh). The atman 2500 in the SWC 160 cone is rated at 600-650 lph (21-23 scfh). So the SWC 160 cone should be the more powerful skimmer. I've also heard that the atman pump is quieter than the bubble blasters, although most people who complain about the BB are talking about the higher-rated BB HY2000 in the 2000 XP skimmer.

Here's a thread I started giving various skimmer specs, including for the SWC 160 and the SRO 1000.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1952047

 

[mojo~]

Mojo,
What would be your three favorite skimemrs for someone with a 130 gal display med-heavy load? My sump water level is also at 11" so I would need to avoid skimmers that require very shallow water levels of less the 6".

WEll 11 in is pretty deep but you might want to look at these three.

130g these will work up to 9 or 10 inches so you might need a little stand.

Aquamaxx AM 250 (running one now)

Octo xs 200

The JNS Shark SK3

the alpha 200 can also run a little deep too.

The ati powercone will have an adjustable pump but not sure when this will actually be available to the public.


hope this helps.

Mojo~

 

[Korrine]

Thanks for all your help mojo I enjoy reading the posts on here as well!

 

[skh]

Mojo - what are your thoughts on the SRO 2000INT vs the SRO 2000 XP for tanks in the range of 100-125 gallons? You talk a lot about balance being important and here we have two skimmers that have the same bb2000 pump, but different body sizes and types (hybrid vs cone).

The thing I'm most concerned about is that the 2000INT has only a 3" neck while the 2000 XP has a 4" neck (correct me if I'm wrong). That's a big difference. Does that mean one of the two has better balance?