Need protein skimmer advice

RalphTheOscar · 02/28/2015, 10:42 AM

I need a protein skimmer for my 30gallon reef tank. It's in my bedroom so I want something quiet if possible. Looking for something I can leave for a week while on vacation without it overflowing or leaking. I've heard and read many good things about reef octopus. I was looking at the reef octopus1000 classic on Amazon for 195. Is this a good price? Is this what I need?

3dees · 02/28/2015, 11:08 AM

good luck in finding one that's quite. I clean the cup on my Reef Octopus BH-2000 a couple of times per week. if I had to be gone for a week I would just turn off the skimmer til I got back.

cloak · 02/28/2015, 11:40 AM

You might want to look into the Eshopps skimmers as well.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...shopps+skimmer

RalphTheOscar · 02/28/2015, 02:29 PM

Ok so if I go on vacation don't use the skimmer. What I'm doing is replacing my filter with a protein skimmer. Will I be ok with just a protein skimmer? Maybe when I go on vacation I'll take down the skimmer and use a filter

cloak · 02/28/2015, 04:11 PM

If your worried about the cup overflowing all you really have to do is drill a hole in the side of the collection cup and run some vinyl tubing from that into a 16oz water bottle or something. It's basically the same principle as the overflow in your tank.

RalphTheOscar · 02/28/2015, 04:55 PM

Is 195.13 a good price for this HOB Reef Octopus? And is this 100gallon unit overkill for a 30 gallon tank?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...7B80ZGHHWMBMP6

cloak · 02/28/2015, 05:03 PM

Yeah, that's a good price IMO. I don't think it's overkill either. A good fit actually.

mmark · 02/28/2015, 05:34 PM

I run an octopus BH 90 on my 29 gallon and I love it. You may get it a few bucks cheaper than the 1000 and it's a beast on my 29. Keeps my tank in great shape. The 90 also has a area in the cup to hook up a drain tube if you are going to be gone for a while. But to be honest if you tune it in to skim dry it can go a week or two without emptying the cup. Good luck to you.

RalphTheOscar · 02/28/2015, 08:53 PM

Thank you guys for your feedback

02/28/2015, 10:42 AM	#1
RalphTheOscar Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 88	Need protein skimmer advice I need a protein skimmer for my 30gallon reef tank. It's in my bedroom so I want something quiet if possible. Looking for something I can leave for a week while on vacation without it overflowing or leaking. I've heard and read many good things about reef octopus. I was looking at the reef octopus1000 classic on Amazon for 195. Is this a good price? Is this what I need?

02/28/2015, 05:34 PM	#8
mmark Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Scranton Pa. Posts: 71	I run an octopus BH 90 on my 29 gallon and I love it. You may get it a few bucks cheaper than the 1000 and it's a beast on my 29. Keeps my tank in great shape. The 90 also has a area in the cup to hook up a drain tube if you are going to be gone for a while. But to be honest if you tune it in to skim dry it can go a week or two without emptying the cup. Good luck to you. __________________ Learn something new everyday. 29 gallon.in wall viewable from 2 sides two clowns-Ban card-royal gram Reef octopus bh90- OR Artic S026 LED- Vortech MP10- cuc snails -crabs. Lps sps.

02/28/2015, 11:08 AM	#2
3dees Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Chicago burbs Posts: 793	good luck in finding one that's quite. I clean the cup on my Reef Octopus BH-2000 a couple of times per week. if I had to be gone for a week I would just turn off the skimmer til I got back.

02/28/2015, 11:40 AM	#3
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	You might want to look into the Eshopps skimmers as well. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...shopps+skimmer

02/28/2015, 02:29 PM	#4
RalphTheOscar Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 88	Ok so if I go on vacation don't use the skimmer. What I'm doing is replacing my filter with a protein skimmer. Will I be ok with just a protein skimmer? Maybe when I go on vacation I'll take down the skimmer and use a filter

02/28/2015, 04:11 PM	#5
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	If your worried about the cup overflowing all you really have to do is drill a hole in the side of the collection cup and run some vinyl tubing from that into a 16oz water bottle or something. It's basically the same principle as the overflow in your tank.

02/28/2015, 04:55 PM	#6
RalphTheOscar Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 88	Is 195.13 a good price for this HOB Reef Octopus? And is this 100gallon unit overkill for a 30 gallon tank? http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...7B80ZGHHWMBMP6

02/28/2015, 05:03 PM	#7
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	Yeah, that's a good price IMO. I don't think it's overkill either. A good fit actually.

02/28/2015, 08:53 PM	#9
RalphTheOscar Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 88	Thank you guys for your feedback