swc 120 or 160??

sabazerehi · 04/20/2010, 05:56 PM

i have a 60g with ~ 10g sump and i would love to get a swc cone skimmer, and i want to know if the 120 will be enough for my tank and my bioload because it's much more in my budget than the 160.

i currently only have a pair of clowns, a female flame wrasse, and a mandarin.
i will be adding a flame angel and melanurus wrasse soon.

all the fish are still pretty small, about 2-3"

i have NO sps, but pretty much everything else.

i like to keep my corals well fed as well as my fish, especially my dendros, so that can get a bit messy at times. i also do weekly 5g water changes, which i can up to 10g so there isn't so much riding on the skimmer.

so what i want to know, is what bioload do you think this would constitute? i've been told that tanks fully stocked with sps and fish are really considered heavy bioload, if that's the case than i would be around medium right? and the 120 is recommended for a medium bioload of 70g.

your guys' input is greatly appreciated!! thanks

Percula9 · 04/20/2010, 09:30 PM

Always get the bigger skimmer if you can afford it. It sucks if you buy the smaller skimmer and then realize you have to move up to the bigger skimmer. This will cost you more in the long run. They are good skimmers for the price.

04/20/2010, 05:56 PM	#1
sabazerehi Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Los Angeles, 90049 Posts: 2,491	swc 120 or 160?? i have a 60g with ~ 10g sump and i would love to get a swc cone skimmer, and i want to know if the 120 will be enough for my tank and my bioload because it's much more in my budget than the 160. i currently only have a pair of clowns, a female flame wrasse, and a mandarin. i will be adding a flame angel and melanurus wrasse soon. all the fish are still pretty small, about 2-3" i have NO sps, but pretty much everything else. i like to keep my corals well fed as well as my fish, especially my dendros, so that can get a bit messy at times. i also do weekly 5g water changes, which i can up to 10g so there isn't so much riding on the skimmer. so what i want to know, is what bioload do you think this would constitute? i've been told that tanks fully stocked with sps and fish are really considered heavy bioload, if that's the case than i would be around medium right? and the 120 is recommended for a medium bioload of 70g. your guys' input is greatly appreciated!! thanks

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04/20/2010, 09:30 PM	#2
Percula9 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Orange County CA Posts: 3,819	Always get the bigger skimmer if you can afford it. It sucks if you buy the smaller skimmer and then realize you have to move up to the bigger skimmer. This will cost you more in the long run. They are good skimmers for the price.