suggestions on protien skimmers

ramtmac · 03/20/2010, 04:18 PM

I need to get a protien skimmer (everyone recommended I get one) but I'm not sure what I should be looking for.
I have a 55 gal tank. and already 1 powehead- Koralia 3

here are some I was looking at. I know they are expensive but is there a reason why these are so cheap?...

http://cgi.ebay.com/AQUARIUM-TANK-PR...item27b0432772

http://cgi.ebay.com/AQUARIUM-FISH-TA...item255982db3c

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-PROTEIN-SKIM...item45f1c363f6

I would love to save money if I can.
or does anyone have any suggestions on any good ones?

I have also heard that people are generally putting skimmers inside a sump. Do I need a sump?

kfisc · 03/20/2010, 04:26 PM

I wouldn't buy those; plenty of good skimmers out there, but those are cheap because they ARE cheap, and probably won't keep up with your tank. People will chime in with their favorite brands, but you might also consider just doing really good (15-20%) weekly water changes in a tank that size. You don't need a sump, either, but people like them for convenience- place to hide heaters, place skimmers and other gear, extra water volume, etc. etc.

I'd also get a lot more flow going- three or four Koralia 3's in a 55 could be ok.

ramtmac · 03/20/2010, 04:30 PM

Thank you!
I just need a skimmer then. But I don't know what's good or bad. What would I be looking for to make sure I'm not getting something cheap that wont work for my tank. (and that isn't so top of the line that I wqont be able to eat for a while. )
Honestly, I'm so new to this that I need "Saltwater Aquariums for Dummies" help.

kfisc · 03/20/2010, 04:39 PM

The best advice I can give is to read as much as you can here, especially the "stickies" or threads at the top of the forums, for quite a bit before buying anything- you won't be sorry.

As far as skimmers, there are in-sump and hang-on-tank (HOT) varieties; people will actually fight over which brand is better. I use EuroReef, a sump variety that's been around awhile. There was a time when Remora Pro HOT's were considered good but that time seems to have passed. Bubble Kings are all the rage, but pricey. I've heard of reefers having good luck with Tunze HOT's, but they're among the first protein skimmers that ever came out. The choices really are endless-

tjm6116 · 03/20/2010, 05:25 PM

ramtmac,
I had a 55 many years ago and I ran a DIY skimmer of Larry Jacksons design (air driven) and I have to say that it was by far the most efficient DIY skimmer I have ever owned. The plans for the DIY are still out there and they have been updated to include a venturi adapter. I have never used any of the skimmers you have listed (I only consider ETSS skimmers(small tanks) or RK2's for LARGE aquariums) but I agree with the previous poster that they are probably inadequate. HTH.

ramtmac · 03/20/2010, 07:02 PM

Is an air driven skimmer better/worse than a venturi skimmer? I dont really understand the difference?
and do you have a link for the Larry Jackson design directions?

Thanks!

sheamurai · 03/21/2010, 08:41 AM

I just finished my "researching" into what skimmer to buy. I had a 30 gal reef tank running skimmerless, but when I upgraded it to a 50 I decided I ought to get a skimmer, as I didn't think I could do enough just with water changes.
I read a lot of threads where quite a few people are happy with the Octopus BF-100. That will likely what I buy if/when I decide to replace my current.
http://www.aquariumproductreviews.co...mers-c-30.html
http://www.associatedcontent.com/art...ne.html?cat=53
There are tons of skimmer articles on the web, I'm also hearing a lot about eshops...
Good luck choosing!

75gsalt · 03/21/2010, 02:48 PM

From personal experiance, those skimmers you looked at will not work. I bought one and spend weeks trying to get it to work. I have a sump so I bought a Marineland 100 and it works flawlessly. The Red Sea Prism is OK but there are better out there.

floydie83 · 03/21/2010, 02:51 PM

craigslist or on this forum...you can find good deals. some of those ebay skimmers look like junk.

keto · 03/21/2010, 06:01 PM

the Octopus BF-100 would be a good skimmer for you ..

ramtmac · 03/21/2010, 06:10 PM

Awesome! Thank you so much. After all your help and research, I think I am going to go with the Octopus BF-100 skimmer.
Online everwhere it seems to be about $120. Sound right?

rayn · 03/21/2010, 06:34 PM

What about the coralife skimmers? Just wondering as I was looking at them today.

03/20/2010, 04:18 PM	#1
ramtmac Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 407	suggestions on protien skimmers I need to get a protien skimmer (everyone recommended I get one) but I'm not sure what I should be looking for. I have a 55 gal tank. and already 1 powehead- Koralia 3 here are some I was looking at. I know they are expensive but is there a reason why these are so cheap?... http://cgi.ebay.com/AQUARIUM-TANK-PR...item27b0432772 http://cgi.ebay.com/AQUARIUM-FISH-TA...item255982db3c http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-PROTEIN-SKIM...item45f1c363f6 I would love to save money if I can. or does anyone have any suggestions on any good ones? I have also heard that people are generally putting skimmers inside a sump. Do I need a sump?

03/21/2010, 08:41 AM	#7
sheamurai Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 66	I just finished my "researching" into what skimmer to buy. I had a 30 gal reef tank running skimmerless, but when I upgraded it to a 50 I decided I ought to get a skimmer, as I didn't think I could do enough just with water changes. I read a lot of threads where quite a few people are happy with the Octopus BF-100. That will likely what I buy if/when I decide to replace my current. http://www.aquariumproductreviews.co...mers-c-30.html http://www.associatedcontent.com/art...ne.html?cat=53 There are tons of skimmer articles on the web, I'm also hearing a lot about eshops... Good luck choosing! __________________ sheamurai Current Tank Info: 50gal reef tank; 72 gal community, 10gal FW tank at the office

03/21/2010, 02:48 PM	#8
75gsalt Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Southeast Kansas Posts: 286	From personal experiance, those skimmers you looked at will not work. I bought one and spend weeks trying to get it to work. I have a sump so I bought a Marineland 100 and it works flawlessly. The Red Sea Prism is OK but there are better out there. __________________ 75 ga. reef 20 gal. sump corals GSP assorted Polyps Zoos PomPom Xenia Waving Hand Xenia Blue Mushroom Toadstool Leather Current Tank Info: 75g. reef 125 lbs. live rock 90lbs. live sand 1 Clown small Regal Tang 20 Nass. Snails Turbos hermit

03/21/2010, 06:01 PM	#10
keto Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Decatur, IL Posts: 628	the Octopus BF-100 would be a good skimmer for you .. __________________ Inconveniencing marine life since 2002 Current Tank Info: 125 gallon Reef thur wall , 500 watts of T5' HQ, Diy 100 Gallon sump, Octox200 skimmer, Mag 18 , Geo 612 Calcium Reactor with AquariumPlants electronic regulator , two Koralia Evolution 1400"s

03/20/2010, 04:26 PM	#2
kfisc Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 2,020	I wouldn't buy those; plenty of good skimmers out there, but those are cheap because they ARE cheap, and probably won't keep up with your tank. People will chime in with their favorite brands, but you might also consider just doing really good (15-20%) weekly water changes in a tank that size. You don't need a sump, either, but people like them for convenience- place to hide heaters, place skimmers and other gear, extra water volume, etc. etc. I'd also get a lot more flow going- three or four Koralia 3's in a 55 could be ok.

03/20/2010, 04:30 PM	#3
ramtmac Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 407	Thank you! I just need a skimmer then. But I don't know what's good or bad. What would I be looking for to make sure I'm not getting something cheap that wont work for my tank. (and that isn't so top of the line that I wqont be able to eat for a while. ) Honestly, I'm so new to this that I need "Saltwater Aquariums for Dummies" help.

03/20/2010, 04:39 PM	#4
kfisc Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 2,020	The best advice I can give is to read as much as you can here, especially the "stickies" or threads at the top of the forums, for quite a bit before buying anything- you won't be sorry. As far as skimmers, there are in-sump and hang-on-tank (HOT) varieties; people will actually fight over which brand is better. I use EuroReef, a sump variety that's been around awhile. There was a time when Remora Pro HOT's were considered good but that time seems to have passed. Bubble Kings are all the rage, but pricey. I've heard of reefers having good luck with Tunze HOT's, but they're among the first protein skimmers that ever came out. The choices really are endless-

03/20/2010, 05:25 PM	#5
tjm6116 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 29	ramtmac, I had a 55 many years ago and I ran a DIY skimmer of Larry Jacksons design (air driven) and I have to say that it was by far the most efficient DIY skimmer I have ever owned. The plans for the DIY are still out there and they have been updated to include a venturi adapter. I have never used any of the skimmers you have listed (I only consider ETSS skimmers(small tanks) or RK2's for LARGE aquariums) but I agree with the previous poster that they are probably inadequate. HTH.

03/20/2010, 07:02 PM	#6
ramtmac Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 407	Is an air driven skimmer better/worse than a venturi skimmer? I dont really understand the difference? and do you have a link for the Larry Jackson design directions? Thanks!

03/21/2010, 02:51 PM	#9
floydie83 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Lawrence, KS Posts: 287	craigslist or on this forum...you can find good deals. some of those ebay skimmers look like junk.

03/21/2010, 06:10 PM	#11
ramtmac Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 407	Awesome! Thank you so much. After all your help and research, I think I am going to go with the Octopus BF-100 skimmer. Online everwhere it seems to be about $120. Sound right?

03/21/2010, 06:34 PM	#12
rayn Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Pekin, Il Posts: 2,864	What about the coralife skimmers? Just wondering as I was looking at them today.