skimmer question

bigreentractor · 03/30/2010, 05:14 PM

I know people have asked about the best skimmer for a 180g but the forms were kind of out dated so I figured I'd get an updated opinion.

I have a 180 gallon tank that will be a FOWLR with an eshopps pf-1200 overflow draining into a 55 gallon sump sectioned off into three sections. I am trying to find the best skimmer for the money. The bioload will be medium to high with lots of fish!

any suggestions?

thanks

tkeracer619 · 03/30/2010, 05:22 PM

Eshopps 1200 hob overflow was the worst purchase I have made in a very long time. Unless they fixed the design make sure to have a 5+hp shop vac. I tossed mine in the trash after 2 floods.

Does the skimmer need to be submersible?

bigreentractor · 03/30/2010, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tkeracer619

Eshopps 1200 hob overflow was the worst purchase I have made in a very long time. Unless they fixed the design make sure to have a 5+hp shop vac. I tossed mine in the trash after 2 floods.

Does the skimmer need to be submersible?

really??? I read that it was one of the better overflow boxes? what did you replace it with? and yes I was planning on having it be submersible in the intake section of the sump

tkeracer619 · 03/30/2010, 05:57 PM

I replaced the whole tank with a much larger drilled tank. If I had to use a HOB it would only be a Lifereef unit. Also make sure if you set up a HOB overflow you also get a tank mount ATO switch similar to the one offered on www.autotopoff.com, you plug the return pump into the ATO and mount the sensor on the tank. If something happens and the overflow breaks siphon the ATO switch in the tank catches it and shuts down your return pump to avoid a flood.

If I kept the 150 I would have drilled it and installed an overflow.

tkeracer619 · 03/30/2010, 06:10 PM

The problem with 55g tanks for sumps is that they are really narrow. You could pick one of the many incredible skimmers for a high bioload 180 but most of them are more then 11 1/2" wide.

These two are both great skimmers that will work. I personally would go with the cone version. Both have the same bubble blaster pump.

Super Reef 3000 internal
http://www.reefspecialty.com/Protein...duct_info.html

SRO xp3000 cone internal
http://www.aquacave.com/detail.aspx?ID=2835

mx270 · 03/31/2010, 05:50 AM

I'd get one that runs on off the PTO on your bigreentractor! Or maybe just check into the bubble king mini's. I have a BK160 and it is sweet!! Only 18 watts of power, very small footprint (maybe 8X 10), and it really works. It is very quiet also.

bigreentractor · 04/01/2010, 05:24 AM

ok I think I have it narrowed down to either

Octopus Extreme 8in or 10in
SUPER REEF OCTOPUS 3000 INTERNAL
ASM G3
Coralife Needle-wheel 220

any last minute suggestions either way?

bigreentractor · 04/01/2010, 05:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tkeracer619

I replaced the whole tank with a much larger drilled tank. If I had to use a HOB it would only be a Lifereef unit. Also make sure if you set up a HOB overflow you also get a tank mount ATO switch similar to the one offered on www.autotopoff.com, you plug the return pump into the ATO and mount the sensor on the tank. If something happens and the overflow breaks siphon the ATO switch in the tank catches it and shuts down your return pump to avoid a flood.

If I kept the 150 I would have drilled it and installed an overflow.

I can't see how the Lifereef unit is designed any differently than the eshopps? What am I missing?

awesome idea with the ATO switch... so this in theory should work with the eshopps box and hopefully I won't need that shopvac?

tkeracer619 · 04/01/2010, 07:55 PM

They look the same but have a very little in common. It has to do with the baffles.

Also, for customer support. When I got mine it leaked out of a seam. They told me it was fine and to just put some silicone on it... I fixed it properly with weld on 4. I should have done a charge back at that moment.

Yeah, every hob overflow box needs a ato switch on it. If your stuck with a box and cant drill the tank you want a safety mechanism.

Like i said before, I haven't used eshopps in 3 years so they might have fixed it but I doubt it.

They couldn't pay me to try another one of their products.

03/30/2010, 05:14 PM	#1
bigreentractor Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 55	skimmer question I know people have asked about the best skimmer for a 180g but the forms were kind of out dated so I figured I'd get an updated opinion. I have a 180 gallon tank that will be a FOWLR with an eshopps pf-1200 overflow draining into a 55 gallon sump sectioned off into three sections. I am trying to find the best skimmer for the money. The bioload will be medium to high with lots of fish! any suggestions? thanks

03/30/2010, 05:22 PM	#2
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	Eshopps 1200 hob overflow was the worst purchase I have made in a very long time. Unless they fixed the design make sure to have a 5+hp shop vac. I tossed mine in the trash after 2 floods. Does the skimmer need to be submersible? __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

03/30/2010, 05:57 PM	#4
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	I replaced the whole tank with a much larger drilled tank. If I had to use a HOB it would only be a Lifereef unit. Also make sure if you set up a HOB overflow you also get a tank mount ATO switch similar to the one offered on www.autotopoff.com, you plug the return pump into the ATO and mount the sensor on the tank. If something happens and the overflow breaks siphon the ATO switch in the tank catches it and shuts down your return pump to avoid a flood. If I kept the 150 I would have drilled it and installed an overflow. __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

03/30/2010, 06:10 PM	#5
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	The problem with 55g tanks for sumps is that they are really narrow. You could pick one of the many incredible skimmers for a high bioload 180 but most of them are more then 11 1/2" wide. These two are both great skimmers that will work. I personally would go with the cone version. Both have the same bubble blaster pump. Super Reef 3000 internal http://www.reefspecialty.com/Protein...duct_info.html SRO xp3000 cone internal http://www.aquacave.com/detail.aspx?ID=2835 __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

04/01/2010, 07:55 PM	#9
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	They look the same but have a very little in common. It has to do with the baffles. Also, for customer support. When I got mine it leaked out of a seam. They told me it was fine and to just put some silicone on it... I fixed it properly with weld on 4. I should have done a charge back at that moment. Yeah, every hob overflow box needs a ato switch on it. If your stuck with a box and cant drill the tank you want a safety mechanism. Like i said before, I haven't used eshopps in 3 years so they might have fixed it but I doubt it. They couldn't pay me to try another one of their products. __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

03/31/2010, 05:50 AM	#6
mx270 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: ohio Posts: 80	I'd get one that runs on off the PTO on your bigreentractor! Or maybe just check into the bubble king mini's. I have a BK160 and it is sweet!! Only 18 watts of power, very small footprint (maybe 8X 10), and it really works. It is very quiet also.

04/01/2010, 05:24 AM	#7
bigreentractor Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 55	ok I think I have it narrowed down to either Octopus Extreme 8in or 10in SUPER REEF OCTOPUS 3000 INTERNAL ASM G3 Coralife Needle-wheel 220 any last minute suggestions either way?