what new skimmer for a 75

[becon776]

So I've been rollin old school for the last 4-5 years with a small sump and one of those cpr skimmers with the mod. Just went and dropped on one of milli's dumps. Now I have a real sump and have room for a real skimmed. But I've been out of the equipment loop for a long time.
what recomendations do you guys have? I am not looking to break the bank but I know you get what you pay for. I have an old school red sea berlin sitting in my basement but don't know if that's even worth getting a pump for. I looked at the asm simmers at c.f. and like them but will likely be looking to scour the board for a used model.

Fwiw I was always amazed at the crap that little cpr with the maxijet pulled out.

 

[becon776]

Excuse the typos its early and im typing on a cell phone ;-)

 

[frofan]

I have a 2 year old SWC 200. Looking to get $200 for it.

 

[EllieSuz]

I've been researching an upgrade to my current skimmer and have settled on the SWC Extreme 160 Cone Skimmer. There have been a lot of good reviews on RC regarding this skimmer. I particularly like the ability to disassemble the whole skimmer for cleaning. Because I keep Chaeto near the skimmer with a light on it, my old skimmer collects coralline algae on the inside. You may not have an issue with footprint size, but the SWC cone has the pump inside the skimmer and that's a big plus. If you're on a budget, this would be a good choice. If the sky's the limit I would look at the Bubble King.

 

[faze07hd]

IF you can find one used, i heard awesome things about I-Tech cone skimmers... I plan on upgrading once i get a new set up.

 

[spinoleo]

If fish only or lps octopus 150 would work

 

[TampaReefer79]

IF you can find one used, i heard awesome things about I-Tech cone skimmers... I plan on upgrading once i get a new set up.

+1,000,000,000

Why buy some junk from China when you can buy a handmade, custom, completely fabricated, fine tuned, and dialed in MACHINE built in the USA? In my personal opinion, ASM's best day has long passed. That should be option Y...right before option Z which is to go skimmerless. :lol2:

I-Tech all the way. They are built right here in Tampa and the owner's customer service is far and away the best going.

The I-Tech 100 would probably be enough to get you rocking and rolling. All you'd have to do is shoot an email to the owner (John) at ichthyman@ichthythings.com He'll get back to you pretty quick and will answer any questions you may have. I'm not sure if the 100 model has the ability, but my I-Tech has dual modified Laguna 1500's IN the body of the skimmer. You'd have to ask John if there's enough room in the bottom of a 100 to fit the pump.


Hope this helps!
:fish2:

 

[becon776]

not fish only... mixed reef. Also I am wondering... I will need to get a new pump so I am thinking a mag 5?? should that be enough to push any of the skimmers we are talking about here? just thinking about doing this incrementally as I have the berlin on hand and I gotta think that it will pull more than the cpr ( i remember when they were the best things going possible) so I just wanted to purchase in a forward thinking manner.

 

[frofan]

Most of the skimmers being listed have their own pumps. For example the SWC 200 I have for sale has a Sicce PSK-2500 pump.

http://www.saltwaterconnection.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=3

 

[becon776]

I love the swc 200 and would do business with you but i think that is more animal that I need.

 

[frofan]

Depends on how your tank is stocked. I had it in a 75g display with a 40g sump and it pulled good skimmate.

 

[becon776]

this is for a 75gal the 125 is gone I need to change my stats.

+1,000,000,000

The I-Tech 100 would probably be enough to get you rocking and rolling. All you'd have to do is shoot an email to the owner (John) at ichthyman@ichthythings.com He'll get back to you pretty quick and will answer any questions you may have. I'm not sure if the 100 model has the ability, but my I-Tech has dual modified Laguna 1500's IN the body of the skimmer. You'd have to ask John if there's enough room in the bottom of a 100 to fit the pump.


Hope this helps!
:fish2:

 

[TampaReefer79]

this is for a 75gal the 125 is gone I need to change my stats.

Wouldn't hurt to email him and ask him the bioload for his I-Tech 100. (He doesn't believe in skimmer / tank size ratings. He goes by what you actually have in your tank. You could have a 75 filled to the gills and someone else could have a 75 with 1 chromis. The skimmer has to fit the system, not the tank dimensions.)

 

[Johnny C]

In my opinion/experience, high-dollar protein skimmers (Bubble Kings, iTechs, etc.) are a bit over-rated and unless you've got some serious coin to spend, something like an Octopus/SWC will get you by just fine. A good rule of thumb is to buy a skimmer rated for twice your bioload. With that being said, some of the newer models are very efficient, much more so than a Red Sea or ASM. JMO!

 

[jdoenumber2]

SWC160 fan here. All the way.

 

[becon776]

I can be sure that I will def not spend more than 100-200 on a skimmer used. I have seen so so many skillets be THE answer. Lifereef euroreef were the only way to go a clue years ago... I don't doubt these new skimmers do an amazing job but I don't buy all the hype. I don't get how someone can in good conscience charge 4-500 bucks for some acrylic.

My tank reflects my equipment so there is a pretty light bioload with light feedings. And I let the macro grow grow grow.

 

[Capt_Cully]

In my opinion/experience, high-dollar protein skimmers (Bubble Kings, iTechs, etc.) are a bit over-rated and unless you've got some serious coin to spend, something like an Octopus/SWC will get you by just fine. A good rule of thumb is to buy a skimmer rated for twice your bioload. With that being said, some of the newer models are very efficient, much more so than a Red Sea or ASM. JMO!

I

Right on JC. A skimmer is just a piece of the puzzle. To blow serious coin on a piece of equipment and expecting it to be THE ANSWER is a mistake. Sure there materials, designs, and tweaks here and there that make certain skimmers far superior to others. Personally, I'd go middle of the road and spend the rest of my money on salt mix for water changes. Keep whatever skimmer you buy clean, and it'll get the job done.

Personally, I liked my ASM. Went Octo for my new build. Don't get me wrong, I'd LOVE a bubble king, but for an average Joe Lunchbox like me, that's too much money. I almost never go Cadillac because the Chevy works just fine. (Disclaimer: only an analogy, my new GMC Sierra kept dying on me so now I drive a Tundra :thumbsup: )

 

[becon776]

ok... so I am thinking of going Reef Octopus extreme 160 preferably but I think I have a nw 150 available to me for a good price don't know the difference or a swc 200 if it will fit in the sump. Anyone have any preferences as to these two? I-tech are way out of my price range.

 

[becon776]

Help?! ok.. so I am so damn confused now... I thought i was done and a octo 160 was my choice. either that or swc 160 or 180. either way it's looking to be about three hundred bucks. I need a 13.5 x 10 footprint and that would be completely filling the chamber in my sump. Thought that's all i needed to know. now I realize there is extremes, nw's, purple pinwheels, mesh, cones, gate valves, ball valves, sump saver, hurrinado clones, sicco, atto, bubble king,etc... omg!!! what the hell?? I am not gonna lie... I am gonna put my skimmer in my sump set it and forget it. I DO NOT want something that I have to fool with every other day besides emptying the cup. maybe an every 3 month cleaning.

what is a cool new skimmer that I'm not gonna be like damn why didn't i get that model in a couple weeks... Are the cones the way to go? It's also not inconceivable that an upgrade to a 150 or 125 may happen in the future so want to be forward looking. I'm figuring on about 300. also if any links to purchase that would be awesome.

also I have to say that our local stores seem to back asm bigtime... but I've read enough to see that I would be happier in the scw or octo camp.

 

[Johnny C]

For just over $300, you can get the new Octo Extreme XS-200 with a 13.5x8.5'' footprint. I've heard good things about the new Extreme models, and that one will allow flexibility should you decide to upgrade. If you are willing to spend a bit more, the Octopus SRO-2000 is IMO one of the nicest skimmers on the market, the pumps are no joke and lots of URS members who have used this line of skimmers (myself included) love them. JMO!