Help Me Decide, Final Skimmer Choices

A sea K · 09/14/2014, 04:13 AM

Have narrowed the choices down to 3 possibilities.
This is for a 30gal display with a 20 gal sump and 10 gal fuge, should be about 40 actual gallons, medium to heavy bioload is planned.
In my order of preference,
Seaside Aquatics CS3.5
Reef Octopus Classic 110 INT
SWC 120 cone

What does everyone think?

rishma · 09/14/2014, 06:17 AM

I don't have experience with those but I am very pleased with my tunze 9004 on a slightly larger volume. My tank is happy too. Set and forget. Quietest skimmmer I have seen. Good luck.

A sea K · 09/14/2014, 10:29 AM

Thanks for the feedback rishma, The Tunze is not one that I have looked at but I'll take a peek and see if it will work with my particular set-up

A sea K · 09/15/2014, 06:40 PM

Anyone else?

ksed · 09/15/2014, 06:51 PM

Go with AquaMaxx

Skuba · 09/15/2014, 07:25 PM

Probably overkill. But just setup a vertex omega 130 on a similar setup. Probably overkill

moondoggy4 · 09/15/2014, 08:29 PM

I am putting a Aqua Maxx ConeS CO-1 on my 40 breeder.

rishma · 09/15/2014, 08:47 PM

^nice skimmer, but I would expect a lot of idle time on that volume.

glxtrix · 09/16/2014, 07:55 AM

Reef Octopus Classic 110 INT. I have the 150 model on my 60g cube and it's amazing! Great pump with low wattage consumption and the bubbles....super tiny! I was quite surprised.

A sea K · 09/16/2014, 11:56 AM

Thanks for the info on the reef octopus! I know the reef octo is a solid skimmer but I've been holding out for info on the seaside aquatics, just seems like a perfect fit for my set-up in both physical size and skimming ability.
The aquamax I'm afraid is a little too large and of course more money which is why it is not one of my choices.

glxtrix · 09/16/2014, 12:19 PM

http://www.saltycritter.com/protein-...in-skimmer.htm

Cheaper than the Octopus. I know the Sicce pumps use to be troublesome...but this is the new one and should do just fine. Personally, I'd go RO on this one, while the sea side seems nice, I always like to over power my skimmers, you never know what tank manufactures "claim" it to be rated at. Now if we're talking about space issue....then that's totally different. I don't think you'll have any issues either way you go....and since they are the same price, it's really going to come down to what you have to work with in your sump.

A sea K · 09/16/2014, 02:52 PM

The PSK2500 sicce was a real pita and I have plenty of past experience with them. I swapped out to the newer style sicce (on my old skimmer) and have plenty of confidence in the pump so thats of no real concern when I compare the two. As far as cost the two are close enough that either one is acceptable.
I have to confess that I'm not a fan of overkill on skimmer size either, a little is OK but too much has not worked out well for me in the past. The seaside would be a much better fit physically but I did make my skimmer section in the sump large enough to accomodate the reef octopus.
What it is coming down to is if the seaside works as advertised then that is where I will most likely go, just waiting to get some actual feedback from first hand users. If that does not pan out then I'll be going with the reefoctopus.

rishma · 09/16/2014, 03:35 PM

you have my compliments for not being a big fan of super-sizing your skimmer. Been there, tried it more than once with very expensive skimmers, but I am slow learner.

moondoggy4 · 09/16/2014, 05:47 PM

Like I always say it is hard to skim a small tank, easy to oversize but it is a waste and problematic.

09/14/2014, 04:13 AM	#1
A sea K Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Branford Fl Posts: 3,024	Help Me Decide, Final Skimmer Choices Have narrowed the choices down to 3 possibilities. This is for a 30gal display with a 20 gal sump and 10 gal fuge, should be about 40 actual gallons, medium to heavy bioload is planned. In my order of preference, Seaside Aquatics CS3.5 Reef Octopus Classic 110 INT SWC 120 cone What does everyone think? __________________ I am not a pro so excuse me if I'm wrong. Current Tank Info: 30gal Deep Blue rimless 9/10/2014, 80gal Deep Blue rimless 40gal sump/refugium 9/11/16 LPS reef, 2 x Kessil A160 with a single Maxspect Razor, RO Prime 150INT skimmer, Sicce 3 return pump, Vortech MP40 and MP10

09/14/2014, 10:29 AM	#3
A sea K Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Branford Fl Posts: 3,024	Thanks for the feedback rishma, The Tunze is not one that I have looked at but I'll take a peek and see if it will work with my particular set-up __________________ I am not a pro so excuse me if I'm wrong. Current Tank Info: 30gal Deep Blue rimless 9/10/2014, 80gal Deep Blue rimless 40gal sump/refugium 9/11/16 LPS reef, 2 x Kessil A160 with a single Maxspect Razor, RO Prime 150INT skimmer, Sicce 3 return pump, Vortech MP40 and MP10

09/15/2014, 06:40 PM	#4
A sea K Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Branford Fl Posts: 3,024	Anyone else? __________________ I am not a pro so excuse me if I'm wrong. Current Tank Info: 30gal Deep Blue rimless 9/10/2014, 80gal Deep Blue rimless 40gal sump/refugium 9/11/16 LPS reef, 2 x Kessil A160 with a single Maxspect Razor, RO Prime 150INT skimmer, Sicce 3 return pump, Vortech MP40 and MP10

09/16/2014, 11:56 AM	#10
A sea K Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Branford Fl Posts: 3,024	Thanks for the info on the reef octopus! I know the reef octo is a solid skimmer but I've been holding out for info on the seaside aquatics, just seems like a perfect fit for my set-up in both physical size and skimming ability. The aquamax I'm afraid is a little too large and of course more money which is why it is not one of my choices. __________________ I am not a pro so excuse me if I'm wrong. Current Tank Info: 30gal Deep Blue rimless 9/10/2014, 80gal Deep Blue rimless 40gal sump/refugium 9/11/16 LPS reef, 2 x Kessil A160 with a single Maxspect Razor, RO Prime 150INT skimmer, Sicce 3 return pump, Vortech MP40 and MP10

09/16/2014, 02:52 PM	#12
A sea K Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Branford Fl Posts: 3,024	The PSK2500 sicce was a real pita and I have plenty of past experience with them. I swapped out to the newer style sicce (on my old skimmer) and have plenty of confidence in the pump so thats of no real concern when I compare the two. As far as cost the two are close enough that either one is acceptable. I have to confess that I'm not a fan of overkill on skimmer size either, a little is OK but too much has not worked out well for me in the past. The seaside would be a much better fit physically but I did make my skimmer section in the sump large enough to accomodate the reef octopus. What it is coming down to is if the seaside works as advertised then that is where I will most likely go, just waiting to get some actual feedback from first hand users. If that does not pan out then I'll be going with the reefoctopus. __________________ I am not a pro so excuse me if I'm wrong. Current Tank Info: 30gal Deep Blue rimless 9/10/2014, 80gal Deep Blue rimless 40gal sump/refugium 9/11/16 LPS reef, 2 x Kessil A160 with a single Maxspect Razor, RO Prime 150INT skimmer, Sicce 3 return pump, Vortech MP40 and MP10

09/14/2014, 06:17 AM	#2
rishma Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Mississippi Posts: 1,206	I don't have experience with those but I am very pleased with my tunze 9004 on a slightly larger volume. My tank is happy too. Set and forget. Quietest skimmmer I have seen. Good luck.

09/15/2014, 06:51 PM	#5
ksed Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 1,867	Go with AquaMaxx

09/15/2014, 07:25 PM	#6
Skuba Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 320	Probably overkill. But just setup a vertex omega 130 on a similar setup. Probably overkill

09/15/2014, 08:29 PM	#7
moondoggy4 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: menifee So cal Posts: 11,042	I am putting a Aqua Maxx ConeS CO-1 on my 40 breeder.

09/15/2014, 08:47 PM	#8
rishma Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Mississippi Posts: 1,206	^nice skimmer, but I would expect a lot of idle time on that volume.

09/16/2014, 07:55 AM	#9
glxtrix Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: ATL, GA Posts: 882	Reef Octopus Classic 110 INT. I have the 150 model on my 60g cube and it's amazing! Great pump with low wattage consumption and the bubbles....super tiny! I was quite surprised.

09/16/2014, 12:19 PM	#11
glxtrix Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: ATL, GA Posts: 882	http://www.saltycritter.com/protein-...in-skimmer.htm Cheaper than the Octopus. I know the Sicce pumps use to be troublesome...but this is the new one and should do just fine. Personally, I'd go RO on this one, while the sea side seems nice, I always like to over power my skimmers, you never know what tank manufactures "claim" it to be rated at. Now if we're talking about space issue....then that's totally different. I don't think you'll have any issues either way you go....and since they are the same price, it's really going to come down to what you have to work with in your sump.

09/16/2014, 03:35 PM	#13
rishma Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Mississippi Posts: 1,206	you have my compliments for not being a big fan of super-sizing your skimmer. Been there, tried it more than once with very expensive skimmers, but I am slow learner.

09/16/2014, 05:47 PM	#14
moondoggy4 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: menifee So cal Posts: 11,042	Like I always say it is hard to skim a small tank, easy to oversize but it is a waste and problematic.