Skimmer recommendations, please.

mcoomer · 04/18/2009, 11:48 AM

Hi all,
I'm looking to replace a skimmer on my 125 and I'd like to get some recommendations. I would like to find something that I can run inside my sump. My LFS is recommending an ASM G3. I'm open to anything so let me hear what's worked for you.

Thanks,
Mike

LobsterOfJustice · 04/18/2009, 12:19 PM

budget?

Whys · 04/18/2009, 12:22 PM

I run a Tunze Nano in my sump. Really happy with the brand.

jenglish · 04/18/2009, 12:25 PM

ASM is a good brand but they have fallen a bit behind on skimmer quality for the price to companies like Octo and MSX

sus · 04/18/2009, 12:54 PM

i have been very happy with the performance of my MSX200 (once the pump quieted down...)
i think it would be a good option for your tank size

crvz · 04/18/2009, 03:50 PM

I'd push the MSX brand as well, one of the best skimmers for the money. ASM, in my opinion, havent seemed to push forward with technology in the last few years. Some of these up-and-comers are building great products at better prices and I'd be more inclined to go in that direction. Especially if the LFS only sells ASM.

mcoomer · 04/18/2009, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by LobsterOfJustice
budget?

Shoot high if you want. If warranted I'll spend money to get the best. One limiting factor is that I've got 30" clearance so height has to be less than that.

Mike

nikon187 · 04/18/2009, 08:44 PM

+2 MSX 200 would do you just fine.. What kind of space do you have to work with in your sump?

MrRyanT · 04/18/2009, 09:23 PM

Overall I'm happy with my Aqua C EV-180, but it is a little bit inconsistent.

BLKTANG · 04/18/2009, 09:32 PM

My ASM is 3yrs old,& i have never done anything to it but clean it,& i pull a cup of skimmate in 2 days.I do have the "mesh mod".

maroun.c · 04/19/2009, 04:35 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mcoomer
Shoot high if you want. If warranted I'll spend money to get the best. One limiting factor is that I've got 30" clearance so height has to be less than that.

Mike

Is thank 30 inch above the water level in yuor sump or the total space including water? as most new skimmers will perform best (and not overflow) if kept in 6-10 inches of water not more.
Recently bought the Octopus Hurricone CAT 1 which is relatively new in the market. Still braking in so can't comment on performance but the Laguna pump it came with does a really nice job. noise level is very accpetable even withuoth the wood covers of my stand which still have to be installed.

macman7010 · 04/19/2009, 05:26 AM

I run a Aqua Medic Turboflotor 1000 and I have been very pleased. I also run a Deltec MCE300 to pick up any slack from the Aqua Medic though the Deltec I am not super happy with.

LobsterOfJustice · 04/19/2009, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mcoomer
Shoot high if you want. If warranted I'll spend money to get the best. One limiting factor is that I've got 30" clearance so height has to be less than that.

Mike

hurricone cat 1 or 2
atb cone
i-tech

surge19us · 04/19/2009, 09:33 AM

Just got one of these 2 weeks ago and am extremely pleased.
http://saltycritter.com/protein-skim...e-skimmers.htm

Anemonebuff · 04/19/2009, 10:46 AM

MSX came out with a cone that looks pretty good, uses a sicce pump. I think it is $649 which isn't bad for a good skimmer. I have an ASM G3 on my 125 and with the gate valve mod it performs well, not great, well. I would suggest the above, a MSX or an Octopus.

Mouse · 04/19/2009, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BLKTANG
My ASM is 3yrs old,& i have never done anything to it but clean it,& i pull a cup of skimmate in 2 days.I do have the "mesh mod".

+1

Not so much on the ASM, but on the fact that there have been quite a few really good skimmers made. Just because there is a new style out that has everyone's attention doesn't mean the older ones don't work anymore. An added plus is they can be found for crazy low prices

mcoomer · 04/19/2009, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by maroun.c
Is thank 30 inch above the water level in yuor sump or the total space including water? as most new skimmers will perform best (and not overflow) if kept in 6-10 inches of water not more.

That's 30" from bottom of cabinet to the top of cabinet. I can adjust water level in sump to any level necessary to run the skimmer.

Mike

Creade · 04/19/2009, 03:33 PM

I've been using ASM skimmers since they came out. I keep getting the bug to buy something "new" but Im honestly not sure that its necessary, or worth it.

Ive been having an overwhelming urge to buy a bubble king, but something keeps stopping me from pulling the trigger.

04/18/2009, 11:48 AM	#1
mcoomer Rat Bastard! Join Date: May 2007 Location: Sammamish, WA Posts: 1,487	Skimmer recommendations, please. Hi all, I'm looking to replace a skimmer on my 125 and I'd like to get some recommendations. I would like to find something that I can run inside my sump. My LFS is recommending an ASM G3. I'm open to anything so let me hear what's worked for you. Thanks, Mike __________________ Spending exorbitant amounts of money on this hobby since 1998! My wife thought the tank would be cheaper and easier to keep than a dog...no seriously! Current Tank Info: 180 gallon mixed reef; Reeflo Barracuda, Tunze 6105 (X3), 250W Radiums with dual HQI Blue Wave 7, Reefkeeper Elite controller, custom sump with ASM G4, carbon and GFO reactors

04/18/2009, 12:19 PM	#2
LobsterOfJustice Recovering Detritophobe Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 7,443	budget? __________________ If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right. I remember when zoanthids were called things like "green" and "orange" and not "reverse gorilla nipple." Current Tank Info: 180g reef with all the bells and whistles

04/18/2009, 12:25 PM	#4
jenglish Marquis de Carabas Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Evansville, IN Posts: 2,523	ASM is a good brand but they have fallen a bit behind on skimmer quality for the price to companies like Octo and MSX __________________ Jeremy Brown liquor never hurt anybody “Je n'ai pas besoin de cette hypothèse" Pierre-Simon Laplace I should want to cook him a simple meal, but I shouldn't want to cut into him, to tear the flesh, to wear the flesh, to be born unto new worlds where his flesh becomes my key. Current Tank Info: broken and dry

04/18/2009, 03:50 PM	#6
crvz Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: houstonia Posts: 7,989	I'd push the MSX brand as well, one of the best skimmers for the money. ASM, in my opinion, havent seemed to push forward with technology in the last few years. Some of these up-and-comers are building great products at better prices and I'd be more inclined to go in that direction. Especially if the LFS only sells ASM. __________________ -Chris- You don't win friends with salad. "Look! They're trying to learn for free!" ... "Use your phony guns as clubs!" Current Tank Info: rectangluar? wet?

04/18/2009, 08:44 PM	#8
nikon187 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Edmonton Alberta Posts: 4,717	+2 MSX 200 would do you just fine.. What kind of space do you have to work with in your sump? __________________ ----------------- Current Tanks: New 210 custom 84 x 24 x 24, 60g sump, SWC 250 extreme with bubble blaster 5000, 2 vortech mp40, 2 vortech mp10, 12 T5, Water blaster 5000, warner marine bio pellets, 60g clownfish cube, red carpet anemone with a 25g sump,SRO octopus 1000sss, 250w radium, lumenarc large.

04/18/2009, 12:22 PM	#3
Whys Moved On Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 3,263	I run a Tunze Nano in my sump. Really happy with the brand.

04/18/2009, 12:54 PM	#5
sus Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Arvada Colorado Posts: 606	i have been very happy with the performance of my MSX200 (once the pump quieted down...) i think it would be a good option for your tank size

04/18/2009, 09:23 PM	#9
MrRyanT MrRyanT Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 1,731	Overall I'm happy with my Aqua C EV-180, but it is a little bit inconsistent. __________________ We are what we repeatedly do, excellence then, is not an act, but a habit. - Aristotle Current Tank Info: 30 gal display

04/18/2009, 09:32 PM	#10
BLKTANG Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Never,Never Land Posts: 7,061	My ASM is 3yrs old,& i have never done anything to it but clean it,& i pull a cup of skimmate in 2 days.I do have the "mesh mod". __________________ We the few have done so much,for so long,for so little.That we are now qualified to do anything with nothing. ____________________________________________________________________________ Current Tank Info: RR 90 Maganvore sump,250w Hamilton fixture,VorTec's ASM skimmer.

04/19/2009, 05:26 AM	#12
macman7010 Moved On Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Maryland Posts: 275	I run a Aqua Medic Turboflotor 1000 and I have been very pleased. I also run a Deltec MCE300 to pick up any slack from the Aqua Medic though the Deltec I am not super happy with.

04/19/2009, 09:33 AM	#14
surge19us Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Willard, Oh Posts: 656	Just got one of these 2 weeks ago and am extremely pleased. http://saltycritter.com/protein-skim...e-skimmers.htm __________________ Sean Current Tank Info: 120 gal 30 gal sump/fuge, ATB Econo 840 skimmer, 2 Vortech MP40w, AC Jr., 2-250watt MH 20K Radiums, Lumen Max 2 reflectors, 2 tek T5 retro actinic, Prime chiller, ATO/kalk reactor, drews dosers on two part.

04/19/2009, 10:46 AM	#15
Anemonebuff Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: LI,NY Posts: 3,877	MSX came out with a cone that looks pretty good, uses a sicce pump. I think it is $649 which isn't bad for a good skimmer. I have an ASM G3 on my 125 and with the gate valve mod it performs well, not great, well. I would suggest the above, a MSX or an Octopus.

04/19/2009, 03:33 PM	#18
Creade Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Kenosha, Wisconsin Posts: 1,186	I've been using ASM skimmers since they came out. I keep getting the bug to buy something "new" but Im honestly not sure that its necessary, or worth it. Ive been having an overwhelming urge to buy a bubble king, but something keeps stopping me from pulling the trigger.