Protein skimmer question

harryk · 12/23/2007, 09:49 AM

OK, now the fun part begins. Since i ordered my new tank (215 gallon oceanic), i have to start thinking about a new good protein skimmer rated for 300 Gallons at least i'm thinking. This would be an in sump skimmer. Below are my choices. I would love any feedback or if any one has any experience with any of the ones below or at least can recommend one I would appreciate it.

1. MRC MR-2 300 gallon rating. this is my preferred choice but at almost $500 as a package with pump and mods is a little more then i wanted to spend
2. Euro Reef RS-135 300 gallon rating 100-135 heavy average bioload rating --- this is the one i am leaning towards i believe it is a great skimmer and well within my price range
3. Octopus NW 200 - 300 gallon rating and in my price range also. i haven't heard to much about this one
4. ASM G-3 250 or G-4 350 gallon rating. This is my last choice. I think they are pretty popular but i don't know much about them.

Any info or feedback on my choices would be great. I was looking to spend 300-400 on a skimmer so any recommendations are greatly appreciated and if i can pick any of the above used by luck it would be even better.

Thanks
Harry

BryanJ · 12/23/2007, 10:14 AM

I have an older euroreef equivilent to the one you want to purchase. I am planning to upgrade to the MRC MR-2. The skimmer is not the place to cut corners and you will have to mod the euroreef which will bring the cost of the euroreef to the same as the MRC when you are done.

harryk · 12/23/2007, 10:23 AM

good point, the only problem with the mr2 is it's the tallest of the bunch

BryanJ · 12/23/2007, 11:22 AM

I see you ordered the tank but there is no mention of a stand. Are you buying a stand or building one? The MRC can be set up externally behind the tank if need be.

I have my tank plumbed to the basement so I could get a 72" skimmer and it would not matter. I'm a bad person to talk to when it comes to space restriction. I built my stand and allowed 36" of height in side the cabinet incase I ever go to a sump under the tank setup.

harryk · 12/23/2007, 12:05 PM

The tank was ordered with the matching stand which i believe is 32" high but i could be wrong. I wanted the skimmer in sump under the tank but not absolutely necessary. I was figuring a skimmer height of 24" to 26" max

thanks
Harry

harryk · 12/23/2007, 12:08 PM

I ordered the stand with the tank and i believe it is 32" high but i'm not 100% sure. so the inside height would probably be about 29-30" i'm guessing so i was figuring a skimmer height of 24-26" max with 24 being my optimal height for manuverability

rkcca · 12/23/2007, 12:29 PM

I have an ER RS135 on my moderately loaded BB 120. It works well enough once doing the gate valve mod. The wedge adjustment does not allow fine enough tuning of the water level in the skimmer.

I think a RS135 would be too small for a 215 gallon. On my tank, it has just about reached its maximum capacity.

thor32766 · 12/23/2007, 12:52 PM

have you considered an aqua c at all? they are great skimmers, with the best customer service in the buisness.

BryanJ · 12/23/2007, 01:10 PM

mr-2 is 24.5 inches tall so that is perfect

Roy G. Biv · 12/23/2007, 01:36 PM

PM'd you..

BryanJ · 12/23/2007, 01:45 PM

pmolan

You have a 210 your opinion is the most valuable one here. You have to share your opinion.

Roy G. Biv · 12/23/2007, 02:45 PM

I am biased here. I'm looking to sell my skimmer. I used a proclear 350 for the first year it was set up. It worked fantastically for 210+sump at first until I started adding on to the system. Since then I added a 100 gal fuge, and a 92 corner is in the works. I came across a used skimmer and upgraded yesterday actually.
Link

virginiadiver69 · 12/23/2007, 02:50 PM

I use an ASM G-3 on a heavy stocked 125 and it barely keeps up.

BryanJ · 12/23/2007, 02:56 PM

Pmolan

looked up the new skimmer in your sig looks pretty sweet.

Looked up the one you are selling. I would still recommend going with the MRC + a quiet one 5000 for a pump or a mag 12. JMHO

OceansWonders · 12/23/2007, 04:12 PM

Aqua-C small, compact and work great I have the ev-180 on a 125.

Shnabbles · 12/23/2007, 04:56 PM

I have a ASM G4X on a 180 which does a pretty good job.. with a 215 i would definently go bigger though. I have about 300 gallons total water volume and im not stocked too heavily.

Matt Rise · 12/23/2007, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by OceansWonders
Aqua-C small, compact and work great I have the ev-180 on a 125.

Aqua C has to be the most tempermental skimmer on the planet. Sometimes I wish I had spent the extra money on another unit.

Have you considered any of the E.T.S.S skimmers?

harryk · 12/23/2007, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BryanJ
mr-2 is 24.5 inches tall so that is perfect

With the quick release upgrade it's 26.5" high and as a package with a pump it almost 460.00 . anyone have any thoughts on the octopus. i think it's by the makers of ASM

BryanJ · 12/23/2007, 07:55 PM

your choices except for the mrc are all to small for the tank you purchased. The ASM G4 is the only other viable choice. So I guess the G4 is my second choice make sure you get the gate valve mod immediately

harryk · 12/23/2007, 10:45 PM

thanks for all the input. I'm going with an MRC model MR-2R 450 gallon reciprocating skimmer with pump its probably gonna run me about 600.00 ouch. more than i wanted to spend but such is life sometimes and besides i loves this hobby, so i dont mind

Harry

BryanJ · 12/25/2007, 09:07 PM

Good choice. let us know how it works

12/23/2007, 09:49 AM	#1
harryk Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 262	Protein skimmer question OK, now the fun part begins. Since i ordered my new tank (215 gallon oceanic), i have to start thinking about a new good protein skimmer rated for 300 Gallons at least i'm thinking. This would be an in sump skimmer. Below are my choices. I would love any feedback or if any one has any experience with any of the ones below or at least can recommend one I would appreciate it. 1. MRC MR-2 300 gallon rating. this is my preferred choice but at almost $500 as a package with pump and mods is a little more then i wanted to spend 2. Euro Reef RS-135 300 gallon rating 100-135 heavy average bioload rating --- this is the one i am leaning towards i believe it is a great skimmer and well within my price range 3. Octopus NW 200 - 300 gallon rating and in my price range also. i haven't heard to much about this one 4. ASM G-3 250 or G-4 350 gallon rating. This is my last choice. I think they are pretty popular but i don't know much about them. Any info or feedback on my choices would be great. I was looking to spend 300-400 on a skimmer so any recommendations are greatly appreciated and if i can pick any of the above used by luck it would be even better. Thanks Harry

12/23/2007, 10:14 AM	#2
BryanJ Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Green Bay, WI. Posts: 2,938	I have an older euroreef equivilent to the one you want to purchase. I am planning to upgrade to the MRC MR-2. The skimmer is not the place to cut corners and you will have to mod the euroreef which will bring the cost of the euroreef to the same as the MRC when you are done. __________________ Experience is the best source of information! Current Tank Info: 120 gallon mixed reef, 75 gallon sump, Sequence Wahoo, Tunze stream, Euroreef CS 8-1 and 2x250 MH

12/23/2007, 11:22 AM	#4
BryanJ Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Green Bay, WI. Posts: 2,938	I see you ordered the tank but there is no mention of a stand. Are you buying a stand or building one? The MRC can be set up externally behind the tank if need be. I have my tank plumbed to the basement so I could get a 72" skimmer and it would not matter. I'm a bad person to talk to when it comes to space restriction. I built my stand and allowed 36" of height in side the cabinet incase I ever go to a sump under the tank setup. __________________ Experience is the best source of information! Current Tank Info: 120 gallon mixed reef, 75 gallon sump, Sequence Wahoo, Tunze stream, Euroreef CS 8-1 and 2x250 MH

12/23/2007, 12:52 PM	#8
thor32766 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Chuluota, FL Posts: 6,072	have you considered an aqua c at all? they are great skimmers, with the best customer service in the buisness. __________________ "Live your life so no one has to lie about who you were at your funeral" click on my red house to see my tang compound! Current Tank Info: 29 gallon in Wall!

12/23/2007, 01:10 PM	#9
BryanJ Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Green Bay, WI. Posts: 2,938	mr-2 is 24.5 inches tall so that is perfect __________________ Experience is the best source of information! Current Tank Info: 120 gallon mixed reef, 75 gallon sump, Sequence Wahoo, Tunze stream, Euroreef CS 8-1 and 2x250 MH

12/23/2007, 10:23 AM	#3
harryk Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 262	good point, the only problem with the mr2 is it's the tallest of the bunch

12/23/2007, 12:05 PM	#5
harryk Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 262	The tank was ordered with the matching stand which i believe is 32" high but i could be wrong. I wanted the skimmer in sump under the tank but not absolutely necessary. I was figuring a skimmer height of 24" to 26" max thanks Harry

12/23/2007, 12:08 PM	#6
harryk Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 262	I ordered the stand with the tank and i believe it is 32" high but i'm not 100% sure. so the inside height would probably be about 29-30" i'm guessing so i was figuring a skimmer height of 24-26" max with 24 being my optimal height for manuverability

12/23/2007, 12:29 PM	#7
rkcca Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: OC, So Cal Posts: 236	I have an ER RS135 on my moderately loaded BB 120. It works well enough once doing the gate valve mod. The wedge adjustment does not allow fine enough tuning of the water level in the skimmer. I think a RS135 would be too small for a 215 gallon. On my tank, it has just about reached its maximum capacity.

12/23/2007, 01:36 PM	#10
Roy G. Biv Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 3,646	PM'd you..

12/23/2007, 01:45 PM	#11
BryanJ Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Green Bay, WI. Posts: 2,938	pmolan You have a 210 your opinion is the most valuable one here. You have to share your opinion. __________________ Experience is the best source of information! Current Tank Info: 120 gallon mixed reef, 75 gallon sump, Sequence Wahoo, Tunze stream, Euroreef CS 8-1 and 2x250 MH

12/23/2007, 02:45 PM	#12
Roy G. Biv Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 3,646	I am biased here. I'm looking to sell my skimmer. I used a proclear 350 for the first year it was set up. It worked fantastically for 210+sump at first until I started adding on to the system. Since then I added a 100 gal fuge, and a 92 corner is in the works. I came across a used skimmer and upgraded yesterday actually. Link

12/23/2007, 02:50 PM	#13
virginiadiver69 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Va. Posts: 4,400	I use an ASM G-3 on a heavy stocked 125 and it barely keeps up. __________________ Semi-aggressive mixed reef w/ shallow sand bed 96x30x27 310gal custom acrylic w/ ext. "fail safe" overflow 125gal sump/cryptic fuge w/ 6" DSB 3 400w Plus Rite 20k MH in Lumembrights 2 250w Plus Rite 20k MH in spider reflectors VHO actinic supplementation 2 Tunze wave boxes 2 Tunze 6060 in Tunze Rocks 2 Tunze 6125 Reeflo 250 skimmer Hammerhead return on OM 4 way Aqua controller lll Leviton power panel Deltec Eco-Cooler Randy's Two part 6.5 kw generator

12/23/2007, 02:56 PM	#14
BryanJ Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Green Bay, WI. Posts: 2,938	Pmolan looked up the new skimmer in your sig looks pretty sweet. Looked up the one you are selling. I would still recommend going with the MRC + a quiet one 5000 for a pump or a mag 12. JMHO __________________ Experience is the best source of information! Current Tank Info: 120 gallon mixed reef, 75 gallon sump, Sequence Wahoo, Tunze stream, Euroreef CS 8-1 and 2x250 MH

12/23/2007, 04:12 PM	#15
OceansWonders Moved On Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Decorah, Iowa Posts: 176	Aqua-C small, compact and work great I have the ev-180 on a 125.

12/23/2007, 04:56 PM	#16
Shnabbles Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Clayton, DE Posts: 1,316	I have a ASM G4X on a 180 which does a pretty good job.. with a 215 i would definently go bigger though. I have about 300 gallons total water volume and im not stocked too heavily.

12/23/2007, 07:55 PM	#19
BryanJ Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Green Bay, WI. Posts: 2,938	your choices except for the mrc are all to small for the tank you purchased. The ASM G4 is the only other viable choice. So I guess the G4 is my second choice make sure you get the gate valve mod immediately __________________ Experience is the best source of information! Current Tank Info: 120 gallon mixed reef, 75 gallon sump, Sequence Wahoo, Tunze stream, Euroreef CS 8-1 and 2x250 MH

12/23/2007, 10:45 PM	#20
harryk Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 262	thanks for all the input. I'm going with an MRC model MR-2R 450 gallon reciprocating skimmer with pump its probably gonna run me about 600.00 ouch. more than i wanted to spend but such is life sometimes and besides i loves this hobby, so i dont mind Harry

12/25/2007, 09:07 PM	#21
BryanJ Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Green Bay, WI. Posts: 2,938	Good choice. let us know how it works __________________ Experience is the best source of information! Current Tank Info: 120 gallon mixed reef, 75 gallon sump, Sequence Wahoo, Tunze stream, Euroreef CS 8-1 and 2x250 MH