gofor100
New member
I'm planning a pretty major upgrade in the near future, and have come to the point that I'm researching various pieces of equipment... and the all-too-often question popped into my head "Which skimmer should I get?".
Unlike many of the posters that just generally post this question without any criteria :headwallblue:, I'll give you some criteria to go off of:
> Tank size will be approximately 300 gallons, but will be decently stocked (meaning there will be a good amount of fish/waste-makers, and I'm not one to starve my fish if you catch my drift) and maintaining mostly SPS; I would also like to leave open the ability to expand my set-up (i.e., plumb in other tanks- thinking of adding an LPS only tank later on). So the skimmer has to be pretty monstrous.
> This will be an in-sump skimmer that will be used in conjunction with a "back-up" skimmer (my current Vertex Alpha Cone 200) because I travel a little for work, and would hate to come home to a completely skimmerless tank after being gone for a week. Kind of precautionary, not sure why/if this is important (maybe so you know the skimmer will be getting some help from another skimmer), but thought I would share.
> Looking for efficiency. Since I live in Southern California, and get charged up the wazoo by Southern CA Edison for electricity, I would prefer a skimmer that is pretty efficient when it comes to electricity.
> Ability to either 1) Purchase with a head cleaner, or 2) Add a head cleaner later (i.e., swabbie).
> Would prefer that the skimmer doesn't cost more than the tank itself, but all suggestions would be considered since I know if there is one thing to break the bank on, it would be the skimmer.
Thanks in advance for your help, :thumbsup:
Chad
Unlike many of the posters that just generally post this question without any criteria :headwallblue:, I'll give you some criteria to go off of:
> Tank size will be approximately 300 gallons, but will be decently stocked (meaning there will be a good amount of fish/waste-makers, and I'm not one to starve my fish if you catch my drift) and maintaining mostly SPS; I would also like to leave open the ability to expand my set-up (i.e., plumb in other tanks- thinking of adding an LPS only tank later on). So the skimmer has to be pretty monstrous.
> This will be an in-sump skimmer that will be used in conjunction with a "back-up" skimmer (my current Vertex Alpha Cone 200) because I travel a little for work, and would hate to come home to a completely skimmerless tank after being gone for a week. Kind of precautionary, not sure why/if this is important (maybe so you know the skimmer will be getting some help from another skimmer), but thought I would share.
> Looking for efficiency. Since I live in Southern California, and get charged up the wazoo by Southern CA Edison for electricity, I would prefer a skimmer that is pretty efficient when it comes to electricity.
> Ability to either 1) Purchase with a head cleaner, or 2) Add a head cleaner later (i.e., swabbie).
> Would prefer that the skimmer doesn't cost more than the tank itself, but all suggestions would be considered since I know if there is one thing to break the bank on, it would be the skimmer.
Thanks in advance for your help, :thumbsup:
Chad
