Skimmer suggestions?

reefinmike · 02/16/2018, 10:06 PM

Hey all, I'm getting back full force in the hobby after about a 6 year "break" I always had a simple hardy 55 gallon overgrown with xenia and mushrooms but nothing near like what I had when I was living at home with no bills!

My new setup is a 90 gallon which drains to a 55 gallon sump. The return pump will also feed a separate 55 gallon refugium/retirement community for my 13 year old clownfish. Actual system volume will be about 150 gallons. I do not intend to have an excessive amount of fish. Mixed reef, not necessarily sps dominant. Are there any new innovations in skimmers? I had an ASM g4x many moons ago on a 200 gallon system. I really liked it and am considering getting an asm G3. Does anyone have suggestions? I would like to keep it under $350 and it needs to fit in a 55 gallon aquarium. Ideally it would be fine operating in 12" of water.

DesertReefT4r · 02/16/2018, 10:18 PM

Bubble Magnus and Reef Octopus Classic are great skimmers with a good price point. ASM skimmers are great and they work but are out dated, pumps are energy pigs and not the best for a venturi intake skimmer, cup is a pain to twist off. There are much better skimmers out now, do some research and find one the fits your tank needs and budget. BM Curve 7 or RO NW200 would be good.

scuzy · 02/16/2018, 10:56 PM

Aquamaxx skimmers are good for budget as well.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Pablos RSM 450 · 02/17/2018, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reefinmike

Hey all, I'm getting back full force in the hobby after about a 6 year "break" I always had a simple hardy 55 gallon overgrown with xenia and mushrooms but nothing near like what I had when I was living at home with no bills!

My new setup is a 90 gallon which drains to a 55 gallon sump. The return pump will also feed a separate 55 gallon refugium/retirement community for my 13 year old clownfish. Actual system volume will be about 150 gallons. I do not intend to have an excessive amount of fish. Mixed reef, not necessarily sps dominant. Are there any new innovations in skimmers? I had an ASM g4x many moons ago on a 200 gallon system. I really liked it and am considering getting an asm G3. Does anyone have suggestions? I would like to keep it under $350 and it needs to fit in a 55 gallon aquarium. Ideally it would be fine operating in 12" of water.

Disregard any comments saying your skimmer is outdated. Many new skimmers have fancy shapes and knobs but still use the same pumps as what people consider”outdated” like sicce psk pumps in Aquamaxx, Eshopps, etc. I have tried many new brands and found that older skimmers are better I have made the vides to prove this. Best have been lifereef, aquac ev and reef dynamics. ASM will be perfect, the sedra pumps are still available and there are other pumps that can work on them. Many people here regurgitate info they see in these forums with no facts to prove their statement. Any skimmer pinwheel, injection, needlewheel, ventiri all make little bubbles that go up with proteins attached and overflow into a collection cup. What worked for you then will work now.

reefinmike · 02/18/2018, 09:42 PM

Thanks for the info everybody. The bubble magus looks pretty promising for the price and generally gets good reviews but periodically I find someone who HATES theirs.

Pablos- Although out of the hobby for years, I figured this was the case. A skimmer is a simple device where the only things that really matter are bubble output, size, reaction chamber size and the duration the water sits in that chamber. otherwise it's just a tube with a cone up top that collects seafoam. Of course lighting is an ever evolving thing but some things just dont have much room for improvement such as external return pumps and calcium reactors.

I even considered asking in my original post for people to set their brand loyalty aside. I know how it is. It is just like in the hobby shooting/reloading world, everybody has their reloading press brand(color) loyalty. In the end, A red $50 lee press can make ammunition just as accurate as a blue $1,700 dillon.

I think I may go ahead and bite on an asm g3. There must be a reason such a simple design has been relevant for so many years without constant gen1,2,3,4,5 updates. Plus I found it for $260 at premium aquatics!

DesertReefT4r · 02/18/2018, 10:01 PM

What makes the ASM skimmers outdated to more in the way its built and comes apart as well as the water level adjustment which has always sucked. The cup and cone twist lock design is a pain to get off and the o rings tend to leak. If you find one for cheap go for it they are skimming beasts for sure.

reeftivo · 02/19/2018, 10:09 AM

reefdynamics INS135S w-sicce. The RD's old school. No fancy bubble plates and perform great. I think they have an exceptional mixing chamber with loads of volume. Only thing is they are a bit of a PIA to clean (need looong brush)

theaalex · 02/19/2018, 10:20 AM

Anyone here any experience with either the Nyos Quantum 160, or aquamaxx q2/q3? The Nyos is a little bit more $ but looks to be well built. As far the aquamaxx, the online reviews seem very positive and price point is right around the $350 mark

moondoggy4 · 02/19/2018, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reeftivo

reefdynamics INS135S w-sicce. The RD's old school. No fancy bubble plates and perform great. I think they have an exceptional mixing chamber with loads of volume. Only thing is they are a bit of a PIA to clean (need looong brush)

I would not include your sump and remote senior citizen home water volume, only the DT's volume. Another option is the Bubble Magnus Cone 7, do a online price search.

HBtank · 02/19/2018, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moondoggy4

I would not include your sump and remote senior citizen home water volume, only the DT's volume. Another option is the Bubble Magnus Cone 7, do a online price search.

What about an integrated senior citizen home volume?

elFloyd · 02/19/2018, 09:55 PM

I currently use a reef dynamics and am very pleased with it. Although. I've never used one. the Simplicity line has caught my attention.

There is a Reef Dynamics i180 on eBay now for about $250, but it may be too big for your tank. (Not my post on eBay, and I don't know the person selling it.)

02/16/2018, 10:06 PM	#1
reefinmike Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: ohio Posts: 846	Skimmer suggestions? Hey all, I'm getting back full force in the hobby after about a 6 year "break" I always had a simple hardy 55 gallon overgrown with xenia and mushrooms but nothing near like what I had when I was living at home with no bills! My new setup is a 90 gallon which drains to a 55 gallon sump. The return pump will also feed a separate 55 gallon refugium/retirement community for my 13 year old clownfish. Actual system volume will be about 150 gallons. I do not intend to have an excessive amount of fish. Mixed reef, not necessarily sps dominant. Are there any new innovations in skimmers? I had an ASM g4x many moons ago on a 200 gallon system. I really liked it and am considering getting an asm G3. Does anyone have suggestions? I would like to keep it under $350 and it needs to fit in a 55 gallon aquarium. Ideally it would be fine operating in 12" of water. __________________ 90g reef lit by 2 kessil 360's and 4 T5's. 55g sump/fuge, eshopps s-200 skimmer and slowly working on getting every apex gadget

02/16/2018, 10:18 PM	#2
DesertReefT4r Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Mesa Az Posts: 771	Bubble Magnus and Reef Octopus Classic are great skimmers with a good price point. ASM skimmers are great and they work but are out dated, pumps are energy pigs and not the best for a venturi intake skimmer, cup is a pain to twist off. There are much better skimmers out now, do some research and find one the fits your tank needs and budget. BM Curve 7 or RO NW200 would be good. __________________ Tank history 29g tropical ,55g cichlid tank, 20H softy reef, 29g mixed reef, 20H brackish goby & puffer tank, 55g mixed reef, 6g Nanocube softy lps reef, 40B sps reef, 75g sps reef, 75g sps reef in bu Current Tank Info: 75g sps reef build in the works.

02/18/2018, 09:42 PM	#5
reefinmike Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: ohio Posts: 846	Thanks for the info everybody. The bubble magus looks pretty promising for the price and generally gets good reviews but periodically I find someone who HATES theirs. Pablos- Although out of the hobby for years, I figured this was the case. A skimmer is a simple device where the only things that really matter are bubble output, size, reaction chamber size and the duration the water sits in that chamber. otherwise it's just a tube with a cone up top that collects seafoam. Of course lighting is an ever evolving thing but some things just dont have much room for improvement such as external return pumps and calcium reactors. I even considered asking in my original post for people to set their brand loyalty aside. I know how it is. It is just like in the hobby shooting/reloading world, everybody has their reloading press brand(color) loyalty. In the end, A red $50 lee press can make ammunition just as accurate as a blue $1,700 dillon. I think I may go ahead and bite on an asm g3. There must be a reason such a simple design has been relevant for so many years without constant gen1,2,3,4,5 updates. Plus I found it for $260 at premium aquatics! __________________ 90g reef lit by 2 kessil 360's and 4 T5's. 55g sump/fuge, eshopps s-200 skimmer and slowly working on getting every apex gadget

02/18/2018, 10:01 PM	#6
DesertReefT4r Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Mesa Az Posts: 771	What makes the ASM skimmers outdated to more in the way its built and comes apart as well as the water level adjustment which has always sucked. The cup and cone twist lock design is a pain to get off and the o rings tend to leak. If you find one for cheap go for it they are skimming beasts for sure. __________________ Tank history 29g tropical ,55g cichlid tank, 20H softy reef, 29g mixed reef, 20H brackish goby & puffer tank, 55g mixed reef, 6g Nanocube softy lps reef, 40B sps reef, 75g sps reef, 75g sps reef in bu Current Tank Info: 75g sps reef build in the works.

02/19/2018, 10:09 AM	#7
reeftivo Skim junkie Join Date: May 2008 Location: chino, CA Posts: 3,417	reefdynamics INS135S w-sicce. The RD's old school. No fancy bubble plates and perform great. I think they have an exceptional mixing chamber with loads of volume. Only thing is they are a bit of a PIA to clean (need looong brush) __________________ I told you not to be stupid you moron!(Stern) Current Tank Info: 60 gal cube/20g tideline sump-mixed reef, Aquamaxx c-tech Ca Rx, Akula 160 skimmer, paxbellum N18, mitras LX7 lighting with T-5s, apex controller

02/16/2018, 10:56 PM	#3
scuzy Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 6,499	Aquamaxx skimmers are good for budget as well. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

02/19/2018, 10:20 AM	#8
theaalex Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 95	Anyone here any experience with either the Nyos Quantum 160, or aquamaxx q2/q3? The Nyos is a little bit more $ but looks to be well built. As far the aquamaxx, the online reviews seem very positive and price point is right around the $350 mark

02/19/2018, 09:55 PM	#11
elFloyd Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Cumming, GA Posts: 421	I currently use a reef dynamics and am very pleased with it. Although. I've never used one. the Simplicity line has caught my attention. There is a Reef Dynamics i180 on eBay now for about $250, but it may be too big for your tank. (Not my post on eBay, and I don't know the person selling it.)