Skimmer Recomendations for 120?

[SoloChromis]

About 8-9 months back my custom skimmer kicked the bucket and since then I have been having to use this Coralife 125 on my 120g mixed reef from my old 75 gallon and it's just not cutting it. I'm looking to upgrade to a skimmer that has the following qualities...
- a price range anywhere between $300-550
- can deal with the relatively "hefty" bioload on this tank
- Decently quiet
- Can also be used appropriately for the 180-250 gallon tank I plan on upgrading to in about a year or so

Thanks for your input guys, I really appreciate it

[mcgyvr]

Just so many choices and so many opinions to come

[terry4505]

I'm in a similar situation.

My SCA 302 just kicked the bucket. It was undersized for my fairly-heavily stocked 120 as it was.

I had a hard time deciding what to go with. I can see myself upgrading to a 180-220 at some point in the future.

I just bought a Vertex Omega 150 today. I hope it ends up working out well.

[Drae]

Originally Posted by SoloChromis

About 8-9 months back my custom skimmer kicked the bucket and since then I have been having to use this Coralife 125 on my 120g mixed reef from my old 75 gallon and it's just not cutting it. I'm looking to upgrade to a skimmer that has the following qualities...
- a price range anywhere between $300-550
- can deal with the relatively "hefty" bioload on this tank
- Decently quiet
- Can also be used appropriately for the 180-250 gallon tank I plan on upgrading to in about a year or so

Thanks for your input guys, I really appreciate it

The ATb 840 v2 has a pretty big sweet spot in terms of tank sizes. I'd say it could skim a 120- 200 gallon tank effectively. 120-250 though? That's kind tough IMHO. Look at that skimmer or maybe an aquamaxx cone 3 or jns sk3, em300 and life reef has tall skimmers with small diameter necks that make them great for various bio loads and tank sizes.

[rounder45]

Originally Posted by SoloChromis

About 8-9 months back my custom skimmer kicked the bucket and since then I have been having to use this Coralife 125 on my 120g mixed reef from my old 75 gallon and it's just not cutting it. I'm looking to upgrade to a skimmer that has the following qualities...
- a price range anywhere between $300-550
- can deal with the relatively "hefty" bioload on this tank
- Decently quiet
- Can also be used appropriately for the 180-250 gallon tank I plan on upgrading to in about a year or so

Thanks for your input guys, I really appreciate it

You need an expandable skimmer like a life reef or a skimmer that can be turned down like one with a dc pump. A standard skimmer that works great for a 120 WILL be too small for a 250 and perhaps pushing it with a 180. Maybe an SRO3000 will be good for the 120 then with the larger tank the option is there's to also add neck extensions for the larger tank .

[SoloChromis]

Originally Posted by rounder45

You need an expandable skimmer like a life reef or a skimmer that can be turned down like one with a dc pump. A standard skimmer that works great for a 120 WILL be too small for a 250 and perhaps pushing it with a 180. Maybe an SRO3000 will be good for the 120 then with the larger tank the option is there's to also add neck extensions for the larger tank .

I guess you could say I'm aiming for a skimmer that could potentially be rated as too large for my 120, according to the recommendations, but Ive got a 40g sump/refugium, with a pretty big bioload on the tank (tang,large angel, 28" long eel etc.) and I feed my fish and corals heavily, so I would feel comfortable using a skimmer rated for say, a 250 gallon tank, on the tank I run now, despite the fact that some people may consider it "overkill".

[SoloChromis]

Originally Posted by Drae

The ATb 840 v2 has a pretty big sweet spot in terms of tank sizes. I'd say it could skim a 120- 200 gallon tank effectively. 120-250 though? That's kind tough IMHO. Look at that skimmer or maybe an aquamaxx cone 3 or jns sk3, em300 and life reef has tall skimmers with small diameter necks that make them great for various bio loads and tank sizes.

I'm definitely interested in the aquamaxx cone 3, rated for a 500 gallon tank and a fairly affordable price ($430), right in my price range. Have you ever used one?

[Drae]

Originally Posted by SoloChromis

I'm definitely interested in the aquamaxx cone 3, rated for a 500 gallon tank and a fairly affordable price ($430), right in my price range. Have you ever used one?

I've used the 2 not the 3. Highly balanced and effective skimmers. Still maxxing out at about 200 gallons though. Very similar performance as the atb.

[rounder45]

Jns sk3 is an aquamaxx cone 3 .... If you go this route.... It can be found in stock and not on two month backorder. Highly recommended but again your pushing it if you upgrade above a 180.

[SoloChromis]

Originally Posted by rounder45

Jns sk3 is an aquamaxx cone 3 .... If you go this route.... It can be found in stock and not on two month backorder. Highly recommended but again your pushing it if you upgrade above a 180.

What do you mean a jns sk3 *is* an aquamaxx cone 3?

[garyinco]

One company makes them, the other must have a territorial agreement and markets the same product under their own brand name. The problem is the latter has no inventory. Who knows the real reasons that is happening.

[moondoggy4]

I would not go by the skimmers manufactures ratings they are all over the place, I would go with what works on your size tank. You also size your tank to the DT not the sumps, remote sumps etc.

[rounder45]

Originally Posted by SoloChromis

What do you mean a jns sk3 *is* an aquamaxx cone 3?

same skimmer... JNS makes the aquamaxx for them.

[Yodeling]

All the posts above are wrong. Disregard them. AquaC EV 180 is the right answer.

P.S. Any posts following this one are wrong as well, unless they agree with me.

[Skim]

Well I was looking for a new skimmer for my 110 Gal mixed Heavy stock tank and picked one and it arrived on Thursday. I was looking at the Vertex Omega 150 and the Bubble Magus Curve 9. It was not an easy decision, was tormenting me for a week and this was after I canceled my order for a Cad Lights TIA 1220 because they where having a hard time getting stock, it was for the better I found out that the pumps where burning out and getting parts is quite difficult.
Anyhow which one do I go with the German design with Acrylic so thick you could use it as a weapon and not even crack it or Chinese nock off with some nice features oh and look they both have a cleaning head unit's, oh boy looking at Video's and reading post's and more post's and more Video's I finally made a decision. I went with the Curve 9, the design of the 2 are about the same ( wine bottle ) and both have good pumps but between cost and couple of features on the Curve 9 that I thought just stood out I thought it was the Skimmer for me. I like the fact it is so easy to remove the body 4 turn screws and body is off great for cleaning and if you have a hard time to put in sump. The other one is the second hole on the body, loosen the screws turn the body and the pump is in a different location love it came very handy for me when I went to put it into the sump. For price's, well here was my options in Canada.

Vertex
Skimmer-399.99
Head Cleaner-169.99
New cup cover for head cleaner-23.99
Total= 593.97 + 13% tx.
Total= 671.19
850 lph-Air
21.75" tall
40-150 heavy stock

Curve 9
Skimmer-339.99
Head Cleaner-105.99
Cover comes with unit.
Total= 445.98 + 13% tx.
Total= 503.97
900 lph Air
23.9" tall ( pump inside body )
200-400 Rated

So as you can see that's why I went with the Curve 9. Its large you can put you fist down the throat of it massive amount of bubbles the size of I would say of Seachem Purigen Resign if you have see it. The density of the bubbles makes the column so white its whiter then the cup cover its snow white.
I know its only a couple of days but so far I am vary happy with my choice, and that being said I feel confident in recommending the Bubble Magus Curve 9 to you. In the end the decision is yours but with the 167.22 that I saved I went out and picked up some Frags and some Frozen food and few other things.

So all the best and good luck to you and hope what ever you choose works well for you.

Mike

[mikeatjac]

Originally Posted by Drae

The ATb 840 v2 has a pretty big sweet spot in terms of tank sizes. I'd say it could skim a 120- 200 gallon tank effectively. 120-250 though? That's kind tough IMHO. Look at that skimmer or maybe an aquamaxx cone 3 or jns sk3, em300 and life reef has tall skimmers with small diameter necks that make them great for various bio loads and tank sizes.

+1. Proven skimmers.

If you have room a life reef and if not an ATB 840.

[FirstContact]

For the OP price range, I think Skimz has a lot to offer. They have some with DC pumps. I really like their external recirculating models and the sunburst knobs on the adjustment valves. The control is so much more precise than a wedge pipe and the sunburst makes it really easy to follow adjustments. Aquacave and BRS have them.