Too Many Skimmer to choose from HELP!!

H20Bonsai · 09/07/2010, 08:43 AM

Ok so you talk to this person and they say to get this skimmer then you talk to someone else and they say get that skimmer.

I don't know what to do. I thought reading some thread would help, well it didn't just gave me more to choose from. I need two skimmers for 120 gal tanks with 50-55 gal sumps. One will be a reef tank and one will be a FO tank. I will not have may sps, Zoa's are my favorite but love anything that moves. Also look for the most bang for the buck. Octopus, coralife, asm? What are your thoughts.

UnknownFish · 09/07/2010, 08:47 AM

I have a Octopus skimmer and absolutely love it.

frenchie · 09/07/2010, 08:52 AM

octopus or vertex skimmers are both best bang for the buck, very good budget skimmers.

H20Bonsai · 09/07/2010, 09:00 AM

What size for these tanks?

frenchie · 09/07/2010, 09:05 AM

i use vertex 180 on my 125 gallon, if was to use octopus i would go with octo extreme 200, octopus super reef 2000 or 3000 model, or reef octopus cone skimmer xp 2000

MCCOOL · 09/07/2010, 09:10 AM

an extreme 200 would work well for the reef tank.

sorry, I have no experience with FO tanks.

solitude127 · 09/07/2010, 09:44 AM

You might want to look into a SWC cone skimmer. For your 120, you should be ok with the SWC 160.
Is noise a factor? Will either of the displays be close enough to hear?
How much clearance do you have underneath the stand?
What's your budget?
How many fish do you plan for?
IMO, I'd stay away from coralife. From what I've read, they're pretty much junk.

frenchie · 09/07/2010, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by solitude127

You might want to look into a SWC cone skimmer. For your 120, you should be ok with the SWC 160.
Is noise a factor? Will either of the displays be close enough to hear?
How much clearance do you have underneath the stand?
What's your budget?
How many fish do you plan for?
IMO, I'd stay away from coralife. From what I've read, they're pretty much junk.

almost forgot about swc, definitely would look into them there very quiet and have nice small footprint. Gonna get swc 160 cone soon for my 75 gallon.

H20Bonsai · 09/07/2010, 10:37 AM

Noise is a factor-They are both going to be in the livingroom
33 inch clearance
budget ?
fish 6-8

Lynnmw1208 · 09/07/2010, 11:06 AM

I ordered this one a couple days ago. I heard it was a pretty good skimmer as there's a whole fan thread somewhere on this forum. fairly decent prices too.
http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.co...3&pcatid=20033

I ordered the psk-200 for my 125gal tank for $183.99. Of course I was on a budget too

solitude127 · 09/07/2010, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by H20Bonsai

Noise is a factor-They are both going to be in the livingroom
33 inch clearance
budget ?
fish 6-8

Budget is really something to consider. You can easily spend $1000 for a skimmer for your 120 reef.

moondoggy4 · 09/07/2010, 11:26 AM

ATI has a new cone skimmer coming out, you can check Reef Geek.

H20Bonsai · 09/07/2010, 11:35 AM

ok lets go with 300.00 and see what I can get for that

cdeboard · 09/07/2010, 11:39 AM

If you have the room my vote is vertex or the swc cones. Both really nice skimmers. Both previously mentioned.

solitude127 · 09/07/2010, 12:17 PM

For $300, I say go with the SWC 160 cone. For the fish stock that you're planning, IMO it would be a good fit. I just hooked up a SWC120 for my frag tank and have nothing but good things to say about it.

moondoggy4 · 09/07/2010, 12:40 PM

To find the best skimmer for you, you need to first set a budget. Then the dimension that the skimmer will fit in. Cost of use are you in a high electricity area. Does it have to be dead quiet.

H20Bonsai · 09/07/2010, 12:42 PM

Low watts would be great, I would rather spend the money up front and save on a monthly power bill.

H20Bonsai · 09/07/2010, 01:00 PM

swc 160 is sounding very good

200mfromocean · 09/07/2010, 01:05 PM

I love my itech 200 with tunze pump. Beware of the cheap chinease pumps. You may end up paying twice.

hammmerhead · 09/07/2010, 04:26 PM

I am a big SWC fan. Great products and the best value out there period. The SWC 160 Cone is what I would go with, it is almost silent and built like a tank.

csarkar001 · 09/07/2010, 04:44 PM

not to hijack this thread but my tank sits next to my desk where i work all day. do you think it is ok to only turn the skimmer on at night for 10 hrs per day?

i'm thinking of getting a tunze DOC 9011 because of limited space in my sump. any thoughts?

dustinc · 09/07/2010, 11:03 PM

Love my swc 120 cone.

wickedfish · 09/07/2010, 11:38 PM

Jealous of the highjacker I want a tank next to my work area, I see the swc in all the places I buy frags from the guys who have colonies so if its good for corals its good for fish, pull the trigger

Flippers4pups · 09/08/2010, 12:11 AM

I love my reef octopus 150 nw. wouldn't trade it for any other.

mojo~ · 09/08/2010, 07:35 PM

try the skimmer q&a forum that guy can probably help.....

09/07/2010, 08:43 AM	#1
H20Bonsai Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Milton, Fl Posts: 18	Too Many Skimmer to choose from HELP!! Ok so you talk to this person and they say to get this skimmer then you talk to someone else and they say get that skimmer. I don't know what to do. I thought reading some thread would help, well it didn't just gave me more to choose from. I need two skimmers for 120 gal tanks with 50-55 gal sumps. One will be a reef tank and one will be a FO tank. I will not have may sps, Zoa's are my favorite but love anything that moves. Also look for the most bang for the buck. Octopus, coralife, asm? What are your thoughts. Last edited by H20Bonsai; 09/07/2010 at 08:45 AM. Reason: spelling

09/07/2010, 08:47 AM	#2
UnknownFish Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Maryland Posts: 115	I have a Octopus skimmer and absolutely love it. __________________ 180 gallon RR, 80 gallon sump/refugium, Mag18 return pump, 3 maxi-jet 1200 mods, 1 maxi-jet 400 mod, JBJ ATO, Kent Aqua Doser for Kalk, 3x250w Phoenix 14k's

09/07/2010, 08:52 AM	#3
frenchie Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,730	octopus or vertex skimmers are both best bang for the buck, very good budget skimmers. __________________ Darrick slash member 24 gallon nano cube, LED lights, zoanthids, shrooms Current Tank Info: 93 gallon cube, ecotech LED, swc 160 cone skimmer, lots of softies

09/07/2010, 09:05 AM	#5
frenchie Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,730	i use vertex 180 on my 125 gallon, if was to use octopus i would go with octo extreme 200, octopus super reef 2000 or 3000 model, or reef octopus cone skimmer xp 2000 __________________ Darrick slash member 24 gallon nano cube, LED lights, zoanthids, shrooms Current Tank Info: 93 gallon cube, ecotech LED, swc 160 cone skimmer, lots of softies

09/07/2010, 09:44 AM	#7
solitude127 Proud user of IO Salt! Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Torrance, CA Posts: 9,136	You might want to look into a SWC cone skimmer. For your 120, you should be ok with the SWC 160. Is noise a factor? Will either of the displays be close enough to hear? How much clearance do you have underneath the stand? What's your budget? How many fish do you plan for? IMO, I'd stay away from coralife. From what I've read, they're pretty much junk. __________________ Mike <)))>{ <)))>{ <)))>{ <)))>{ ReefKeeping.com TOTM Nov 2012 Socalireefs Featured Reef Oct 2011 Current Tank Info: 603020, 8x54 ATI Powermodule, ReefBrite XHO, ATB Elegance 200, Aquamaxx CTech CaRx, Ecotech Vortechs, Apex Controls, WM Ecobak powered. RedSea Reefer 170, MP10, Apex Jr, Ecotech Radion XR15, Aquamaxx WS-1

09/07/2010, 09:00 AM	#4
H20Bonsai Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Milton, Fl Posts: 18	What size for these tanks?

09/07/2010, 09:10 AM	#6
MCCOOL Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 1,135	an extreme 200 would work well for the reef tank. sorry, I have no experience with FO tanks.

09/07/2010, 10:37 AM	#9
H20Bonsai Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Milton, Fl Posts: 18	Noise is a factor-They are both going to be in the livingroom 33 inch clearance budget ? fish 6-8

09/07/2010, 11:06 AM	#10
Lynnmw1208 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Brunswick, Ohio Posts: 3,306	I ordered this one a couple days ago. I heard it was a pretty good skimmer as there's a whole fan thread somewhere on this forum. fairly decent prices too. http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.co...3&pcatid=20033 I ordered the psk-200 for my 125gal tank for $183.99. Of course I was on a budget too

09/07/2010, 11:26 AM	#12
moondoggy4 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: menifee So cal Posts: 11,042	ATI has a new cone skimmer coming out, you can check Reef Geek.

09/07/2010, 11:35 AM	#13
H20Bonsai Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Milton, Fl Posts: 18	ok lets go with 300.00 and see what I can get for that

09/07/2010, 11:39 AM	#14
cdeboard Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Grayson, KY Posts: 520	If you have the room my vote is vertex or the swc cones. Both really nice skimmers. Both previously mentioned. __________________ CVRC Current Tank Info: 90g

09/07/2010, 12:17 PM	#15
solitude127 Proud user of IO Salt! Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Torrance, CA Posts: 9,136	For $300, I say go with the SWC 160 cone. For the fish stock that you're planning, IMO it would be a good fit. I just hooked up a SWC120 for my frag tank and have nothing but good things to say about it. __________________ Mike <)))>{ <)))>{ <)))>{ <)))>{ ReefKeeping.com TOTM Nov 2012 Socalireefs Featured Reef Oct 2011 Current Tank Info: 603020, 8x54 ATI Powermodule, ReefBrite XHO, ATB Elegance 200, Aquamaxx CTech CaRx, Ecotech Vortechs, Apex Controls, WM Ecobak powered. RedSea Reefer 170, MP10, Apex Jr, Ecotech Radion XR15, Aquamaxx WS-1

09/07/2010, 12:40 PM	#16
moondoggy4 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: menifee So cal Posts: 11,042	To find the best skimmer for you, you need to first set a budget. Then the dimension that the skimmer will fit in. Cost of use are you in a high electricity area. Does it have to be dead quiet.

09/07/2010, 12:42 PM	#17
H20Bonsai Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Milton, Fl Posts: 18	Low watts would be great, I would rather spend the money up front and save on a monthly power bill.

09/07/2010, 01:00 PM	#18
H20Bonsai Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Milton, Fl Posts: 18	swc 160 is sounding very good

09/07/2010, 01:05 PM	#19
200mfromocean Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Carrollton, TX Posts: 355	I love my itech 200 with tunze pump. Beware of the cheap chinease pumps. You may end up paying twice. __________________ 120 G in wall mixed reef, 35 G 4' long prop, 35G sump/fuge, 19G RODI resevoir. Sink & few gadgets. Current Tank Info: 120G Mixed reef, started 10/15/2009

09/07/2010, 04:26 PM	#20
hammmerhead Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Ozarks Posts: 270	I am a big SWC fan. Great products and the best value out there period. The SWC 160 Cone is what I would go with, it is almost silent and built like a tank. __________________ 150 gal. 30 gal sump. 2X400 watt 10k XM's 4X160watt VHO's, SWC 250a skimmer, sps, lps, softies, clams, various fish including a 15 year old maroon clown

09/07/2010, 04:44 PM	#21
csarkar001 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: stamford, ct Posts: 345	skimmer noise not to hijack this thread but my tank sits next to my desk where i work all day. do you think it is ok to only turn the skimmer on at night for 10 hrs per day? i'm thinking of getting a tunze DOC 9011 because of limited space in my sump. any thoughts?

09/07/2010, 11:03 PM	#22
dustinc Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Waxahachie, TX Posts: 1,096	Love my swc 120 cone. __________________ You might be too strong to surrender boy, but you're far too frail to fight! Current Tank Info: 120 Planet

09/07/2010, 11:38 PM	#23
wickedfish Moved On Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Southbay Posts: 2,167	Jealous of the highjacker I want a tank next to my work area, I see the swc in all the places I buy frags from the guys who have colonies so if its good for corals its good for fish, pull the trigger

09/08/2010, 12:11 AM	#24
Flippers4pups Home made abyss Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Lake Saint Louis, MO Posts: 2,047	I love my reef octopus 150 nw. wouldn't trade it for any other. __________________ Don Reefing since 1993 Current Tank info: 125 gallon DT , 125 gallon basement sump. Rw 15 & Rw 8. Panworld 150ps return. Reef Octopus 150 skimmer, 3 165w mars aqua led.

09/08/2010, 07:35 PM	#25
mojo~ Skimmer Guy Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: IN Posts: 5,647	try the skimmer q&a forum that guy can probably help..... __________________ Mojo~

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