Buying skimmer

3djedi · 03/01/2010, 12:45 PM

Well I was going to buy an sro xp2000. I actually ordered online last night only to get a phone call this morning saying they were out of stock. Can you guys give me some ideas of a similarly rated skimmer that is a good value for about $400.

3djedi · 03/01/2010, 01:11 PM

Let me put it this way. Is there anything better in a similar price range or would I be better off waiting for the sro xp2000 or the sro2000.

reefinder · 03/01/2010, 01:19 PM

buy a bubble king, best investment you will ever make.

deathmatch782 · 03/01/2010, 01:26 PM

I-tech make very nice skimmers.
Heard the GSA cone's are nice.

Or just go all out and get the BK. Just bought one for my tank knowing that i'll never need to upgrade again.

3djedi · 03/01/2010, 01:28 PM

Bubbleking well out of my price range. Wife would pack the suit cases for me!

bhammer · 03/01/2010, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deathmatch782

Heard the GSA cone's are nice.

I have the GSA with two pumps. It is a nice skimmer and does a real good job. There are those that love what they have but in a nut shell, you won't go wrong with just about any one of them that is main stream.

texasarrowhead · 03/01/2010, 01:32 PM

Xp2000 insump was the best money ever spent on a skimmer.

3djedi · 03/01/2010, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bhammer

I have the GSA with two pumps. It is a nice skimmer and does a real good job. There are those that love what they have but in a nut shell, you won't go wrong with just about any one of them that is main stream.

Well, I have an ev180 and have not been satisfied with it.

tkeracer619 · 03/01/2010, 01:39 PM

Where did you buy it from? Can you just order from someone else.

What size tank is it for?

3djedi · 03/01/2010, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tkeracer619

Where did you buy it from? Can you just order from someone else.

What size tank is it for?

Premium aquatics. It's for A 75g dt+40g frag+40g sump.

tkeracer619 · 03/01/2010, 01:46 PM

Try aquarium specialty.

http://www.aquariumspecialty.com/cat...oducts_id=4448

http://www.aquariumspecialty.com/cat...oducts_id=6137

Saltyllama · 03/01/2010, 01:49 PM

Bubble Magus has some great options, and from the tests I've seen is out skimming a lot of the big dogs.

nuocean.com sells them here in the states.

bhammer · 03/01/2010, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3djedi

Well, I have an ev180 and have not been satisfied with it.

What is the ev180? I thouht for skimmers, they have the GS1 & GS2.

What don't you like about it?

ryanlala · 03/01/2010, 03:33 PM

I bought a vertex alpha 170, they are a little more than the $400 bucks you were looking for, but they are made by the same people who make the bubble kings, same pumps ect. I am really glad i spent the extra money on it. My best friend is running an i-tech and it is a very good skimmer. I would have bought one but he was out of stock on the 200 when i called to buy one. So i picked up the alpha at my lfs for $599 the next day!

ChadTheSpike · 03/01/2010, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bhammer

What is the ev180? I thouht for skimmers, they have the GS1 & GS2.

What don't you like about it?

Im guessing that he is referring to an AquaC ev-180, not the GSA.

I hear you about the AquaC... I have an EV-400 that I have never been very happy with the performance on either... finicky skimmers, inconsistent, and loses its bubble head for an hour any time ANYTHING touches the water.

I dont want to add to the mix of opinions here with skimmers, but all I have heard recommended here are good. Good luck!!

lordofthereef · 03/01/2010, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3djedi

Bubbleking well out of my price range. Wife would pack the suit cases for me!

Ironically in the last thread you made that had a chart on performance to price comparisons bubble king was near the bottom of the list as well.

3djedi · 03/01/2010, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lordofthereef

Ironically in the last thread you made that had a chart on performance to price comparisons bubble king was near the bottom of the list as well.

That's right!

Man, picking a skimmer has been the hardest part of reef keeping. I'm literally losing hair over it. Lol! The guy at premium aquatics recommended the vertex in250.

03/01/2010, 12:45 PM	#1
3djedi Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Lawrence, KS Posts: 360	Buying skimmer Well I was going to buy an sro xp2000. I actually ordered online last night only to get a phone call this morning saying they were out of stock. Can you guys give me some ideas of a similarly rated skimmer that is a good value for about $400.

03/01/2010, 01:39 PM	#9
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	Where did you buy it from? Can you just order from someone else. What size tank is it for? __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

03/01/2010, 01:46 PM	#11
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	Try aquarium specialty. http://www.aquariumspecialty.com/cat...oducts_id=4448 http://www.aquariumspecialty.com/cat...oducts_id=6137 __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

03/01/2010, 03:33 PM	#14
ryanlala Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Lake Jackson, TX Posts: 142	I bought a vertex alpha 170, they are a little more than the $400 bucks you were looking for, but they are made by the same people who make the bubble kings, same pumps ect. I am really glad i spent the extra money on it. My best friend is running an i-tech and it is a very good skimmer. I would have bought one but he was out of stock on the 200 when i called to buy one. So i picked up the alpha at my lfs for $599 the next day! __________________ Ryan anything cool costs alot of money.... Current Tank Info: 120g Marineland, 40g breeder sump, Vertex Alpha 170 skimmer, Mag 12 Pump, 2 MP 40s, 2 250watt DE MH in Lumen Max 3 Reflectors, 4 54watt t5s overdriven by icecap 660, and No Heat Problems!

03/01/2010, 01:11 PM	#2
3djedi Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Lawrence, KS Posts: 360	Let me put it this way. Is there anything better in a similar price range or would I be better off waiting for the sro xp2000 or the sro2000.

03/01/2010, 01:19 PM	#3
reefinder Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 455	buy a bubble king, best investment you will ever make.

03/01/2010, 01:26 PM	#4
deathmatch782 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: MN Posts: 151	I-tech make very nice skimmers. Heard the GSA cone's are nice. Or just go all out and get the BK. Just bought one for my tank knowing that i'll never need to upgrade again.

03/01/2010, 01:28 PM	#5
3djedi Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Lawrence, KS Posts: 360	Bubbleking well out of my price range. Wife would pack the suit cases for me!

03/01/2010, 01:32 PM	#7
texasarrowhead Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 102	Xp2000 insump was the best money ever spent on a skimmer.

03/01/2010, 01:49 PM	#12
Saltyllama Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 283	Bubble Magus has some great options, and from the tests I've seen is out skimming a lot of the big dogs. nuocean.com sells them here in the states.