Skimmer for 120 gallon

JoeMomma · 07/30/2007, 10:22 PM

Greetings,

I've recently purchased a 120 gallon tank and I'm trying to narrow down what skimmer I should get. I am going to start off with a FOWLR and then at some point down the road when I have enough cash to upgrade my lights I'll go with a reef tank

I'm down to either the Aqua-C EV or Euro-Reef RS series which are in my price range. From what I've read both seem to be getting rave reviews.

For the Aqua-Cs I'm stuck between either the 120 or 180 rated at 40-150 gallons and 60-200 gallons respectively. When figuring out what rating to go with do we consider that water displacement from live rock and subrate? That would potentally change the display tank volume from 120 to 90 (lets say).

For the Euro-Reef I think I'd end up going with the RS-135.

Any ideas or recommendations? I read that the Euro-Reef is easier to clean...

Thanks!

pitt_prodigy · 07/30/2007, 10:39 PM

Tried and true rule for skimmers.... "bigger is always better." Dont worry about water displacement from LR and calculating things down to the very last ounce. If your tank is 120g and your sump/refug (highly recommended) is say 30g... then lets say your total water capacity is around 150g.

With 150g total i would look for a Skimmer that is for a tank of at least 250g. Companies often over estimate there skimmers when they tell you what size tank they are for.... so by overshooting your always covered. Besides a bigger skimmer will be worth its weight in gold.... trust me.

Euro-reef is a good brand... i have heard a lot of good things about them and i opted for an ASM (which is basically a euro-reef without the frills) and im VERY pleased with it.
Good luck and welcome to rc.

beaupierce · 07/30/2007, 10:56 PM

Euro_reef RS simply the BEST EVER!!!! I have a CS series for my 125 and it is the best. don't waste your money and time on anything else!

rarelyseen · 07/31/2007, 06:05 AM

joemamma- i am setting up a 120 mixed reef and a couple days ago asked the same question. i was going to go with the euro reef rs-180 or the rs-250. both really good choices. like pitt_prodigy said the bigger the better. there alot of skimmers out there just try and get the best you can the first time instead of upgrading later down the road.

JoeMomma · 07/31/2007, 06:26 AM

Thank you for the responses,

I'm thinking of using one 60 gallon pond as a sump, maybe a second as a fuge. I guess that will mean I'd need something rated at 240 gallons!

Is this overkill?

Having that much volume means nothing in the RS series would be rated high enough for me (rating over-estimation included). Theres no chance I could afford anything in the Euro-Reef RC series with prices near the $1000 mark. Even the Aqua-C EV-1000 is pretty expensive.

rarelyseen - it looks like I'm going to be following what you do very closely. If you've come up to any other conclusions in threads that I may have missed please fill me in.:

MalHavoc · 07/31/2007, 07:10 AM

JoeMomma, I sent you a PM that you may be interested in.

an411 · 07/31/2007, 07:35 AM

I have a 120 gallon tank and I am using a RC-180 great skimmer in my opinion. I think its very easy to clean and use.

Nanz · 07/31/2007, 08:19 AM

Save yourself a couple hundred dollars and get and ASM skimmer and do the mods yourself. I know what your thinking.. Plumbing, hehe.. Hey.. If this 100# little girl can do it so can you, hehe.

ASM Skimmer Mods

kodyboy · 07/31/2007, 11:10 AM

I would say a DAS ex-2 from protein-skimmer.com a great skimmer for the price.

pitt_prodigy · 07/31/2007, 11:53 PM

I agree with Nanz. I bought an ASM G2 dirt cheap off shopzilla and did ALL of the mods before droping it in my sump and i couldnt be more pleased. It runs amazing and pulls skim like you wouldnt believe! Requires very little tools and i did the whole thing in about 10mins.

You may be a little hesitant about drilling into a $250 piece of equipment at first... but just follow the directions and you'll be fine. VERY easy!
Good luck with whatever you decide.

Nanz · 08/01/2007, 07:02 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by pitt_prodigy
I agree with Nanz. I bought an ASM G2 dirt cheap off shopzilla and did ALL of the mods before droping it in my sump and i couldnt be more pleased. It runs amazing and pulls skim like you wouldnt believe! Requires very little tools and i did the whole thing in about 10mins.

You may be a little hesitant about drilling into a $250 piece of equipment at first... but just follow the directions and you'll be fine. VERY easy!
Good luck with whatever you decide.

It is very easy. I used the feed pump mod also. I dont want my tank drain to go directly into my skimmer without passing through a filter sock before. That hair algae can really clog things up, hehe. The only downside is I have another pump in my sump and using more watts.

07/30/2007, 10:22 PM	#1
JoeMomma Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 619	Skimmer for 120 gallon Greetings, I've recently purchased a 120 gallon tank and I'm trying to narrow down what skimmer I should get. I am going to start off with a FOWLR and then at some point down the road when I have enough cash to upgrade my lights I'll go with a reef tank I'm down to either the Aqua-C EV or Euro-Reef RS series which are in my price range. From what I've read both seem to be getting rave reviews. For the Aqua-Cs I'm stuck between either the 120 or 180 rated at 40-150 gallons and 60-200 gallons respectively. When figuring out what rating to go with do we consider that water displacement from live rock and subrate? That would potentally change the display tank volume from 120 to 90 (lets say). For the Euro-Reef I think I'd end up going with the RS-135. Any ideas or recommendations? I read that the Euro-Reef is easier to clean... Thanks!

07/30/2007, 10:39 PM	#2
pitt_prodigy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Palm Harbor, FL Posts: 751	Tried and true rule for skimmers.... "bigger is always better." Dont worry about water displacement from LR and calculating things down to the very last ounce. If your tank is 120g and your sump/refug (highly recommended) is say 30g... then lets say your total water capacity is around 150g. With 150g total i would look for a Skimmer that is for a tank of at least 250g. Companies often over estimate there skimmers when they tell you what size tank they are for.... so by overshooting your always covered. Besides a bigger skimmer will be worth its weight in gold.... trust me. Euro-reef is a good brand... i have heard a lot of good things about them and i opted for an ASM (which is basically a euro-reef without the frills) and im VERY pleased with it. Good luck and welcome to rc. __________________ -Josh Current Tank Info: 72 gallon RR Oceanic, heavily modded ASM G2 skimmer, 30g sump/refugium, AI vega lighting x 2, apex controller, Phos Reactor, etc.

07/31/2007, 07:10 AM	#6
MalHavoc Infinitely Prolonged Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 10,850	JoeMomma, I sent you a PM that you may be interested in. __________________ Jason "Empathy, he once had decided, must be limited to herbivores or anyhow omnivores who could depart from a meat diet. Because, ultimately, the empathic gift blurred the boundaries between hunter and victim, between the successful and the defeated." -- Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, Philip K Dick

07/31/2007, 11:53 PM	#10
pitt_prodigy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Palm Harbor, FL Posts: 751	I agree with Nanz. I bought an ASM G2 dirt cheap off shopzilla and did ALL of the mods before droping it in my sump and i couldnt be more pleased. It runs amazing and pulls skim like you wouldnt believe! Requires very little tools and i did the whole thing in about 10mins. You may be a little hesitant about drilling into a $250 piece of equipment at first... but just follow the directions and you'll be fine. VERY easy! Good luck with whatever you decide. __________________ -Josh Current Tank Info: 72 gallon RR Oceanic, heavily modded ASM G2 skimmer, 30g sump/refugium, AI vega lighting x 2, apex controller, Phos Reactor, etc.

07/30/2007, 10:56 PM	#3
beaupierce Moved On Join Date: May 2004 Location: Nipomo, CA Posts: 419	Euro_reef RS simply the BEST EVER!!!! I have a CS series for my 125 and it is the best. don't waste your money and time on anything else!

07/31/2007, 06:05 AM	#4
rarelyseen Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Nashville Posts: 103	joemamma- i am setting up a 120 mixed reef and a couple days ago asked the same question. i was going to go with the euro reef rs-180 or the rs-250. both really good choices. like pitt_prodigy said the bigger the better. there alot of skimmers out there just try and get the best you can the first time instead of upgrading later down the road.

07/31/2007, 06:26 AM	#5
JoeMomma Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 619	Thank you for the responses, I'm thinking of using one 60 gallon pond as a sump, maybe a second as a fuge. I guess that will mean I'd need something rated at 240 gallons! Is this overkill? Having that much volume means nothing in the RS series would be rated high enough for me (rating over-estimation included). Theres no chance I could afford anything in the Euro-Reef RC series with prices near the $1000 mark. Even the Aqua-C EV-1000 is pretty expensive. rarelyseen - it looks like I'm going to be following what you do very closely. If you've come up to any other conclusions in threads that I may have missed please fill me in.:

07/31/2007, 07:35 AM	#7
an411 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Derby CT Posts: 2,861	I have a 120 gallon tank and I am using a RC-180 great skimmer in my opinion. I think its very easy to clean and use.

07/31/2007, 08:19 AM	#8
Nanz Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,389	Save yourself a couple hundred dollars and get and ASM skimmer and do the mods yourself. I know what your thinking.. Plumbing, hehe.. Hey.. If this 100# little girl can do it so can you, hehe. ASM Skimmer Mods

07/31/2007, 11:10 AM	#9
kodyboy Moved On Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 2,990	I would say a DAS ex-2 from protein-skimmer.com a great skimmer for the price.