Newbie Looking for skimmer/return pump suggestions

money88 · 04/25/2016, 12:44 PM

So I am starting my 40 gallon breeder finally had a bit of a hiccup in getting it going and I am looking for some advice on skimmers, return pumps and overflows.

I am looking for some well rated skimmers preferably in the $100-$250 ($350 being the limit)

Here is the setup I plan on running.

40 Gallon Breeder
20 Gallon Long Sump with Melevs DIY kit
24" Euphotica LED
Bean Animal Overflow setup

I was looking at different overflows as well, such as:

And was looking for suggestions on both overflows and a return pump for the sump. Any help / suggestions are appreciated!

Thanks!

money88 · 04/26/2016, 11:32 PM

Bump.

So I was looking at a few skimmers.

Vertex Omega 130

Reef Octopus Classic 110

Reef Otopus Classic 150

Any experiences with those for a similar system size? Etc?

Then for overflows I just heard that they should support more than my return pump really. Ive heard / read my tank should have a 20-50x the tank volume an hour for flow. I have a powerhead Hydor Koralia Nano 425 Aquarium Circulation Pump, 425 GPH to help with flow as well.

Potatohead · 04/26/2016, 11:51 PM

The 20-50x is basically powerhead/in tank flow, you don't want to run that through your sump (lol). Sump you want about 5x give or take. So with a 40g tank and probably another 10 in the sump you'll want about 250 gph return pump at whatever you head height is, probably about 3.5'. Something like a Tunze 1073.02, Eheim Compact 2000 or Sicce 2.0 would be plenty.

I've never used a Reef Octopis but if it fit in my sump I would have got the classic 110. It was just a tiny bit too large so I went with an Eshopps PSK100. The Bubble Magus line has a good rep too.

You are going to want bigger powerheads, or more of them. In my 36 gallon I have two Tunze 6045's, maxed out they will do about 1150 gph each. The small Koralias will be alright if you are only keeping fish and soft corals though.

money88 · 04/27/2016, 10:43 PM

I plan to move into more SPS corals which will require more flow so I will have to pick up more powerheads. Suggestions on how many more etc for the flow?

Thanks

bshow24 · 04/28/2016, 12:05 AM

If you're willing to spend the money I'd look into a maxspect gyre on one end and possibly a small jebao or mp10 on the other...at the same time, you may honestly only need the gyre and your return pipe.

On my 28 gallon (26 inches long) I use a gyre 130 at 30% and have zero detritus build up, my corals love it, and my fish enjoy it as well. I have used vortechs before and they are a great product, but believe me when I say the gyre can move water like crazy!

dattong · 04/28/2016, 01:06 AM

I'd say go with Reef Otopus Classic 150. I have the Bubble Magus 160 as spare, it did wonders on my 40B setup so I think ROC 150 would do even better .) I'd never buy space saver skimmer again. It's such a hassle when it's time to clean the pump.

Overflow - go with Herbie style, it's simple and easy to diy and it's pretty quiet too.

Return pump: Quiet One 4000H is a great pump if you don't mind a little hum. I've had it for more than 8 yrs and it's still running great. I now use it as spare. Now I'm running DCT6000, very quiet but not completely dead silent, I like the feed mode and controllable output. I have an older model of this pump, DC5500, that drives my 8" skimmer for 4 years and I haven't had to clean it yet, still running great so I think this pump should be reliable. You can go with the lower output model DCT4000, but I think it's better to go with 6000 model just in case you need more flow for reactors or sump.

For flow: one Jebao wp25 is sufficient for the 40B. I have one running for 3 years straight without cleaning and it's actually still running right now.

slay · 04/28/2016, 01:48 AM

I'd go with the Reef Octopus 150 too myself, might be a little oversized but that won't hurt. I have a 12" Super Reef Octopus running on my predator tank, and a Reef Octopus HOB skimmer (that I'm not currently using, but not because of the product) and both have been excellent skimmers. Sorry I don't have any direct experience, but I've had good experience with the brand.

JammyBirch · 04/28/2016, 08:08 AM

My picks for you...

Skimmer: SCA 301 i have this skimmer it's a knock off of RO but the quality is very good.

Return Pump: Eheim Compact 3000 ~$75, submersible, quiet and bullet proof

Circ Pump: I second the Jebao WP25 plenty of flow and controllable.

04/25/2016, 12:44 PM	#1
money88 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Posts: 8	Newbie Looking for skimmer/return pump suggestions So I am starting my 40 gallon breeder finally had a bit of a hiccup in getting it going and I am looking for some advice on skimmers, return pumps and overflows. I am looking for some well rated skimmers preferably in the $100-$250 ($350 being the limit) Here is the setup I plan on running. 40 Gallon Breeder 20 Gallon Long Sump with Melevs DIY kit 24" Euphotica LED Bean Animal Overflow setup I was looking at different overflows as well, such as: Synergy Reef Overflow - 16 Inch CPR Retrofit Overflow with backing (medium / large) And was looking for suggestions on both overflows and a return pump for the sump. Any help / suggestions are appreciated! Thanks!

04/26/2016, 11:32 PM	#2
money88 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Posts: 8	Bump. So I was looking at a few skimmers. Vertex Omega 130 Reef Octopus Classic 110 Reef Otopus Classic 150 Any experiences with those for a similar system size? Etc? Then for overflows I just heard that they should support more than my return pump really. Ive heard / read my tank should have a 20-50x the tank volume an hour for flow. I have a powerhead Hydor Koralia Nano 425 Aquarium Circulation Pump, 425 GPH to help with flow as well. Last edited by money88; 04/26/2016 at 11:41 PM.

04/28/2016, 12:05 AM	#5
bshow24 Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Thousand Oaks, CA Posts: 584	If you're willing to spend the money I'd look into a maxspect gyre on one end and possibly a small jebao or mp10 on the other...at the same time, you may honestly only need the gyre and your return pipe. On my 28 gallon (26 inches long) I use a gyre 130 at 30% and have zero detritus build up, my corals love it, and my fish enjoy it as well. I have used vortechs before and they are a great product, but believe me when I say the gyre can move water like crazy! __________________ Tank: Reefer XL 525 Reef Tank Equipment: 2x Radion XR15 Pro, Radion XR30 Pro, Vectra M1 Return, 2x MP40 Powerhead

04/28/2016, 01:48 AM	#7
slay Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 118	I'd go with the Reef Octopus 150 too myself, might be a little oversized but that won't hurt. I have a 12" Super Reef Octopus running on my predator tank, and a Reef Octopus HOB skimmer (that I'm not currently using, but not because of the product) and both have been excellent skimmers. Sorry I don't have any direct experience, but I've had good experience with the brand. __________________ 180 mixed soft/lps/sps reef, 75 sump. Radeon XR30w G3 Pros,MP40qdx2, Vectra return, Reeflink, SRO-3000 skimmer, UV/calcium reactor/carbon/gfo. 480 predator, two cat sharks. 18" lionfish & friends.

04/28/2016, 08:08 AM	#8
JammyBirch Aquaria Engineering Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Elkland, PA Posts: 1,182	My picks for you... Skimmer: SCA 301 i have this skimmer it's a knock off of RO but the quality is very good. Return Pump: Eheim Compact 3000 ~$75, submersible, quiet and bullet proof Circ Pump: I second the Jebao WP25 plenty of flow and controllable. __________________ 25g cube, split 10g sump with refugium, Jebao RW4, reefbreeder value Livestock adds: Osc Clowns, Royal Gramma, Pygmy Cherub Angel, Skunk Cleaner Shrimp, Serpent Brittle Star Current Tank Info: 25 gallon cube

04/26/2016, 11:51 PM	#3
Potatohead Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Vancouver Posts: 1,596	The 20-50x is basically powerhead/in tank flow, you don't want to run that through your sump (lol). Sump you want about 5x give or take. So with a 40g tank and probably another 10 in the sump you'll want about 250 gph return pump at whatever you head height is, probably about 3.5'. Something like a Tunze 1073.02, Eheim Compact 2000 or Sicce 2.0 would be plenty. I've never used a Reef Octopis but if it fit in my sump I would have got the classic 110. It was just a tiny bit too large so I went with an Eshopps PSK100. The Bubble Magus line has a good rep too. You are going to want bigger powerheads, or more of them. In my 36 gallon I have two Tunze 6045's, maxed out they will do about 1150 gph each. The small Koralias will be alright if you are only keeping fish and soft corals though.

04/27/2016, 10:43 PM	#4
money88 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Posts: 8	I plan to move into more SPS corals which will require more flow so I will have to pick up more powerheads. Suggestions on how many more etc for the flow? Thanks

04/28/2016, 01:06 AM	#6
dattong Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 690	I'd say go with Reef Otopus Classic 150. I have the Bubble Magus 160 as spare, it did wonders on my 40B setup so I think ROC 150 would do even better .) I'd never buy space saver skimmer again. It's such a hassle when it's time to clean the pump. Overflow - go with Herbie style, it's simple and easy to diy and it's pretty quiet too. Return pump: Quiet One 4000H is a great pump if you don't mind a little hum. I've had it for more than 8 yrs and it's still running great. I now use it as spare. Now I'm running DCT6000, very quiet but not completely dead silent, I like the feed mode and controllable output. I have an older model of this pump, DC5500, that drives my 8" skimmer for 4 years and I haven't had to clean it yet, still running great so I think this pump should be reliable. You can go with the lower output model DCT4000, but I think it's better to go with 6000 model just in case you need more flow for reactors or sump. For flow: one Jebao wp25 is sufficient for the 40B. I have one running for 3 years straight without cleaning and it's actually still running right now.