Skimmer advice BEFORE I purchase..

bpd964 · 03/06/2007, 09:24 AM

Hello to all my fellow reefers... I got my income tax and I usually do pretty good after my deductions so, this year I am going to use $1,100 of my refund for tank purchases (skimmer)... The thing is, I'm not sure which skimmer to buy.. I have researched a few models and there are a bunch of new units popping up all over the place so I need help..

Can anyone recommend a skimmer in the 1,100 price range that would be good for my now 180 but soon to be 300G when I upgrade..

This is actually the way I got my 180...

Any help would be greatly appreciated..

Thanks... JK

CT Clownfish · 03/06/2007, 11:27 AM

check out lifereef skimmers. They are very nice. I have one on my 240.
http://www.lifereef.com

PL-Reef · 03/06/2007, 12:54 PM

i second Life Reef. i also own one and am very happy with it.

bpd964 · 03/06/2007, 12:56 PM

I'm researching those guys now.. Thank you

bpd964 · 03/06/2007, 12:59 PM

I was almost sold on the H&S and the Deltec ap 701... Is the lifereef comparable?

PL-Reef · 03/06/2007, 01:22 PM

i believe that the skimmers you mentioned are more high end than a Life Reef. odds are they are better skimmers over all but my skimmer works awesome and is over half the money.

MADtanks · 03/06/2007, 01:39 PM

yea deltec and H&S are both german i beleive.... Deltec is more expensive and H&S works just as good as deltec, hint hint lol.... I have no experiance with Life Reef but i do with deltec, i have an MC500 in my 130g system nothing to what you are getting but the skimmer is rated for 200g normal stocking and 120 heavy stock and that skimmer works so great!! pulls so much gunk out it is not even funny!! when everi have friends over i make them gag fromt he smell of the skimmate that Deltec produces.... Good luck bud.

Happy reefing.

CT Clownfish · 03/06/2007, 02:13 PM

Do a search on Lifereef skimmers you will find how good they are. They have them setup in the coral room at Johns in Groton too. Bob

connecticut cichlids · 03/06/2007, 03:14 PM

I third Lifereef...I had a svs-2-24. that thing was a beast! do it right, and go lifereef.....and unlike alot of other companies out there, Jeff will actually answer the phone the first time you call him! JIM

bpd964 · 03/06/2007, 03:22 PM

You see... That's why I decided to post this.. I thank you all for the input.. i guess lifereef is the winner... When it arrives I will post pics.. The ASM g4x that I have now will go into storage because I know I will need it for something later.. Thanks again everyone.

bpd964 · 03/06/2007, 03:32 PM

This is the one I will order... I will even have change left...

VS3-36 with 4MDQX-SC pump: $529.00.. Even comes with the pump..

I paid a little less than this for my ASM.

PL-Reef · 03/06/2007, 04:35 PM

mine is the VS3-30.
nice choice! you wont be sorry.

bpd964 · 03/06/2007, 05:00 PM

Cool.. thanks

Lam Ly · 03/06/2007, 07:44 PM

Get the BK.
You'll be happy with it.

Bebo77 · 03/06/2007, 08:02 PM

i hear great thing about the bubble kings that reefgeek sells.. but i have a detec so i am partial to german skimming...lol

sledger · 03/09/2007, 02:54 AM

Call Greg at ReefGeek and order a BM250 (rated for up to 500g). I've had mine for almost 2 weeks now. Gave it a vinegar and warm water bath for 5 hrs , put in sump and it was producing skimmate in 3 -4 hours. After 5 days I had 6 -7 inches very dark scum. Go to Large equip/lights forum. Big write-up on these skimmers. I think total 58 watts to run. Good luck on selection.

bpd964 · 03/09/2007, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by sledger
Call Greg at ReefGeek and order a BM250 (rated for up to 500g). I've had mine for almost 2 weeks now. Gave it a vinegar and warm water bath for 5 hrs , put in sump and it was producing skimmate in 3 -4 hours. After 5 days I had 6 -7 inches very dark scum. Go to Large equip/lights forum. Big write-up on these skimmers. I think total 58 watts to run. Good luck on selection.

I researched those and the only problem is that they are in-sump only models.. I need something that I can plumb externally..

Thanks for the suggestion.. I appreciate the help.

03/06/2007, 09:24 AM	#1
bpd964 Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bridgeport, CT Posts: 2,237	Skimmer advice BEFORE I purchase.. Hello to all my fellow reefers... I got my income tax and I usually do pretty good after my deductions so, this year I am going to use $1,100 of my refund for tank purchases (skimmer)... The thing is, I'm not sure which skimmer to buy.. I have researched a few models and there are a bunch of new units popping up all over the place so I need help.. Can anyone recommend a skimmer in the 1,100 price range that would be good for my now 180 but soon to be 300G when I upgrade.. This is actually the way I got my 180... Any help would be greatly appreciated.. Thanks... JK

03/06/2007, 11:27 AM	#2
CT Clownfish Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: CT . Amston Posts: 419	check out lifereef skimmers. They are very nice. I have one on my 240. http://www.lifereef.com __________________ Do to my brain injury, you may from time to time find words spelled wrong, missing or backwards. Please over look this. Thank you. Tomorrows another day, the sun will shine again. me Current Tank Info: 240 gallon tank. 240 Has 3-400watt mh for light, 6" sand bed, around 300lbs of rock, for flow we have four 2600Seio and one 1500 seio. And a lifereef skimmer

03/06/2007, 12:54 PM	#3
PL-Reef Awesome Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Chaplin,Ct Posts: 4,345	i second Life Reef. i also own one and am very happy with it. __________________ Jas tested, mother disapproved. Current Tank Info: 2 gallon goldfish bowl with a happy 7" Naso tang and 2 small Beluga whales. Just added a baby dolphin, large Trigger, a herd of Sea Horses and just fragged my first Manatee. All fish safely hand caught using organic cyanide.

03/06/2007, 01:22 PM	#6
PL-Reef Awesome Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Chaplin,Ct Posts: 4,345	i believe that the skimmers you mentioned are more high end than a Life Reef. odds are they are better skimmers over all but my skimmer works awesome and is over half the money. __________________ Jas tested, mother disapproved. Current Tank Info: 2 gallon goldfish bowl with a happy 7" Naso tang and 2 small Beluga whales. Just added a baby dolphin, large Trigger, a herd of Sea Horses and just fragged my first Manatee. All fish safely hand caught using organic cyanide.

03/06/2007, 01:39 PM	#7
MADtanks Stix Anyone? Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: East Coast Posts: 5,392	yea deltec and H&S are both german i beleive.... Deltec is more expensive and H&S works just as good as deltec, hint hint lol.... I have no experiance with Life Reef but i do with deltec, i have an MC500 in my 130g system nothing to what you are getting but the skimmer is rated for 200g normal stocking and 120 heavy stock and that skimmer works so great!! pulls so much gunk out it is not even funny!! when everi have friends over i make them gag fromt he smell of the skimmate that Deltec produces.... Good luck bud. Happy reefing. __________________ M.A.D. 75G(36X24X20 E-Overflow) \| DIY - LED/T5 \| Tunze ATO \| Eheim 1260 \| Reef Keeper.... in progress Current Tank Info: 24X24X20 AIO SPS Dom

03/06/2007, 12:56 PM	#4
bpd964 Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bridgeport, CT Posts: 2,237	I'm researching those guys now.. Thank you

03/06/2007, 12:59 PM	#5
bpd964 Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bridgeport, CT Posts: 2,237	I was almost sold on the H&S and the Deltec ap 701... Is the lifereef comparable?

03/06/2007, 02:13 PM	#8
CT Clownfish Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: CT . Amston Posts: 419	Do a search on Lifereef skimmers you will find how good they are. They have them setup in the coral room at Johns in Groton too. Bob __________________ Do to my brain injury, you may from time to time find words spelled wrong, missing or backwards. Please over look this. Thank you. Tomorrows another day, the sun will shine again. me Current Tank Info: 240 gallon tank. 240 Has 3-400watt mh for light, 6" sand bed, around 300lbs of rock, for flow we have four 2600Seio and one 1500 seio. And a lifereef skimmer

03/06/2007, 03:14 PM	#9
connecticut cichlids Craft Beer Geek Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: CT/NYC Posts: 1,469	I third Lifereef...I had a svs-2-24. that thing was a beast! do it right, and go lifereef.....and unlike alot of other companies out there, Jeff will actually answer the phone the first time you call him! JIM

03/06/2007, 03:22 PM	#10
bpd964 Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bridgeport, CT Posts: 2,237	You see... That's why I decided to post this.. I thank you all for the input.. i guess lifereef is the winner... When it arrives I will post pics.. The ASM g4x that I have now will go into storage because I know I will need it for something later.. Thanks again everyone.

03/06/2007, 03:32 PM	#11
bpd964 Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bridgeport, CT Posts: 2,237	This is the one I will order... I will even have change left... VS3-36 with 4MDQX-SC pump: $529.00.. Even comes with the pump.. I paid a little less than this for my ASM.

03/06/2007, 04:35 PM	#12
PL-Reef Awesome Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Chaplin,Ct Posts: 4,345	mine is the VS3-30. nice choice! you wont be sorry. __________________ Jas tested, mother disapproved. Current Tank Info: 2 gallon goldfish bowl with a happy 7" Naso tang and 2 small Beluga whales. Just added a baby dolphin, large Trigger, a herd of Sea Horses and just fragged my first Manatee. All fish safely hand caught using organic cyanide.

03/06/2007, 05:00 PM	#13
bpd964 Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bridgeport, CT Posts: 2,237	Cool.. thanks

03/06/2007, 07:44 PM	#14
Lam Ly Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Piscataway NJ Posts: 725	BK Get the BK. You'll be happy with it.

03/06/2007, 08:02 PM	#15
Bebo77 Premium Nonpaying Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Lost Posts: 14,377	i hear great thing about the bubble kings that reefgeek sells.. but i have a detec so i am partial to german skimming...lol __________________ Gabriel Current Tank Info: 300 Gal Envision Tank(98Lx30Wx26T) 120 Gal SoCalCreations Sump, Deltec TC2560, 2 LumenarcsMini 1 Reg on a light mover W Radiums 250& 400, Gallaxy ballasts, Red Dragon 10m3 return W/ 2 WavySeas, 2 6155 Tunze streams

03/09/2007, 02:54 AM	#16
sledger Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 75	Call Greg at ReefGeek and order a BM250 (rated for up to 500g). I've had mine for almost 2 weeks now. Gave it a vinegar and warm water bath for 5 hrs , put in sump and it was producing skimmate in 3 -4 hours. After 5 days I had 6 -7 inches very dark scum. Go to Large equip/lights forum. Big write-up on these skimmers. I think total 58 watts to run. Good luck on selection.