Best Skimmer for $300

Guzzetta · 01/29/2009, 12:16 PM

What is the best skimmer for my budget? I have a 100 gallon with a 40 gallon sump and a budget of around $300. Any thought???

Jeremy Blaze · 01/29/2009, 12:20 PM

I have been looking a skimmers a lot for the last month or so, for a similer sized tank,

I would recommend

http://www.marinesolutionsinc.com/ca...duct_info.html

The 200 would be even better for $10 more, if you have the room.

Guzzetta · 01/29/2009, 12:30 PM

thanks for the info... they run on a Sicce pump which I hear nothing but good things about.

CMurph · 01/29/2009, 12:32 PM

I plan on getting the MSX200 for my 110gal when I get it setup...

Heard good things about the MSX stuff.

Jeremy Blaze · 01/29/2009, 12:33 PM

Yep, I was going to buy the 160 a week ago, but I am holding out for the new Mini Cone they are getting ready to release!

CMurph · 01/29/2009, 12:51 PM

I don't know a whole lot about cone skimmers, they're just a little more pricey than I'd like to spend on a skimmer at this point.

Jeremy Blaze · 01/29/2009, 12:53 PM

I understand. Again the 160 and 200 seem to be great skimmers for the money.

Guzzetta · 01/29/2009, 12:59 PM

Great info... What about the Octopus Extreme 160 or 200? I have seen it online for around $300. Of course I want the best, quietest, easiest to use skimmer...

Jeremy Blaze · 01/29/2009, 01:01 PM

They are very similer, but my understanding is they use a cheaper ( and louder) pump. Or maybe thats the vertex.

My understanding is they are all the same, with different pumps.

There are owner club threads for all of them.

AtomHeart · 01/29/2009, 01:11 PM

I have the MSX200 on my 2 week old 120g tank, and I couldn't be more impressed with it. It really takes the junk out of the water. It went on the tank 3 days after being filled with RO/DI water, and dry rock from Marcorocks, and it pulled a half full skimmer cup of coffee brown gunk out in the first couple hours. It has slowed down to reasonable skimming, and just does a great job. Easy to remove the collection cup and clean it, and everything seems high quality...the sicce pump started out very loud and clunky, but by day three, it settled into a nearly silent hum that produces TONS of foam. I'm very happy with this skimmer.

CMurph · 01/29/2009, 01:33 PM

Nice! It's always nice to hear more positive/negative input about products I'm interested in.

Thanks!

01/29/2009, 12:16 PM	#1
Guzzetta Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Riverside, CA Posts: 107	Best Skimmer for $300 What is the best skimmer for my budget? I have a 100 gallon with a 40 gallon sump and a budget of around $300. Any thought???

01/29/2009, 12:20 PM	#2
Jeremy Blaze Former Reef Addict Join Date: May 2003 Location: New Washington, IN Posts: 5,864	I have been looking a skimmers a lot for the last month or so, for a similer sized tank, I would recommend http://www.marinesolutionsinc.com/ca...duct_info.html The 200 would be even better for $10 more, if you have the room. __________________ Trust me my friend, the names are not important at all. I've own hundreds of different zoas and palys and don't know the name of a single one. In my opinion, they are a waste of valuable time. Mucho Reef

01/29/2009, 12:32 PM	#4
CMurph Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 86	I plan on getting the MSX200 for my 110gal when I get it setup... Heard good things about the MSX stuff. __________________ 08/14/10 - Water in tank! 02/01/11 - Lightly stocked... Current Tank Info: 50gal tank

01/29/2009, 12:33 PM	#5
Jeremy Blaze Former Reef Addict Join Date: May 2003 Location: New Washington, IN Posts: 5,864	Yep, I was going to buy the 160 a week ago, but I am holding out for the new Mini Cone they are getting ready to release! __________________ Trust me my friend, the names are not important at all. I've own hundreds of different zoas and palys and don't know the name of a single one. In my opinion, they are a waste of valuable time. Mucho Reef

01/29/2009, 12:51 PM	#6
CMurph Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 86	I don't know a whole lot about cone skimmers, they're just a little more pricey than I'd like to spend on a skimmer at this point. __________________ 08/14/10 - Water in tank! 02/01/11 - Lightly stocked... Current Tank Info: 50gal tank

01/29/2009, 12:30 PM	#3
Guzzetta Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Riverside, CA Posts: 107	thanks for the info... they run on a Sicce pump which I hear nothing but good things about.

01/29/2009, 12:53 PM	#7
Jeremy Blaze Former Reef Addict Join Date: May 2003 Location: New Washington, IN Posts: 5,864	I understand. Again the 160 and 200 seem to be great skimmers for the money. __________________ Trust me my friend, the names are not important at all. I've own hundreds of different zoas and palys and don't know the name of a single one. In my opinion, they are a waste of valuable time. Mucho Reef

01/29/2009, 12:59 PM	#8
Guzzetta Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Riverside, CA Posts: 107	Great info... What about the Octopus Extreme 160 or 200? I have seen it online for around $300. Of course I want the best, quietest, easiest to use skimmer...

01/29/2009, 01:01 PM	#9
Jeremy Blaze Former Reef Addict Join Date: May 2003 Location: New Washington, IN Posts: 5,864	They are very similer, but my understanding is they use a cheaper ( and louder) pump. Or maybe thats the vertex. My understanding is they are all the same, with different pumps. There are owner club threads for all of them. __________________ Trust me my friend, the names are not important at all. I've own hundreds of different zoas and palys and don't know the name of a single one. In my opinion, they are a waste of valuable time. Mucho Reef

01/29/2009, 01:11 PM	#10
AtomHeart Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 173	I have the MSX200 on my 2 week old 120g tank, and I couldn't be more impressed with it. It really takes the junk out of the water. It went on the tank 3 days after being filled with RO/DI water, and dry rock from Marcorocks, and it pulled a half full skimmer cup of coffee brown gunk out in the first couple hours. It has slowed down to reasonable skimming, and just does a great job. Easy to remove the collection cup and clean it, and everything seems high quality...the sicce pump started out very loud and clunky, but by day three, it settled into a nearly silent hum that produces TONS of foam. I'm very happy with this skimmer.

01/29/2009, 01:33 PM	#11
CMurph Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 86	Nice! It's always nice to hear more positive/negative input about products I'm interested in. Thanks!