Opinions on my potential skimmers

[smoknreefrs]

Heres the deal. I am in the market for a new skimmer and looking to get some opinions on my choices. I am looking to stay under $1100, however if one can convince me to purchase a skimmer a bit more expensive feel free to chime in. It will be skimming a 125g tank, SPS/LPS dominated, with a medium bioload of fish. Looking for internal skimmers but willing to go external if convinced.

MY LIST OF POTENTIAL BUYS: (not interested in Deltec at all)


Bubble King Mini 200 Gen 2
Vertex Alpha VX-200 Cone Skimmer

Criteria is as follows:

Must be as silent as possible (open floor plan in the house)
Low power consumption (not willing sacrafice performance to save a few watts)
No start-up issues after power outages
must fit into a 29 gallon sump (16.5"L x 12"W with the baffles in place)
height of stand is 27"

Again, if there are others that are PROVEN performers that I have not mentioned please enlighten me. Ive been researching into this for about a month now and i am:banghead:. Anyhelp is greatly appreciated

 

[OzoneParkGuy]

May want to check out a Tunze Skimmer. Insump design with a small footprint as well. Very quiet.... Here's a link to check out. Best of luck on whichever one you decide to buy. http://www.tunze.com/149.html?&L=1&C=US&user_tunzeprod_pi1[predid]=-infoxunter028

Goto Doc Skimmer and look at the 9021 I believe the height was 18.9 inches. Will fit under and rated for 525gallons

 

[JimmyR1rider]

Maybe should check out bermuda aquatics- I just picked one up replace my turboflotor 1000- Bermuda is EXTREMELY well made and the 3c has a footprint of 5" x 7" and is 23" tall. I have a real small inlet chamber in my sump so is a real tight fit between that and my sock but is working fine. Good luck and am sure youll find the right skimmer for you..........Jimmy

 

[batt600]

I think you should get the msx300a. Thats a moster ,can do 365g heavy bio load so this should be perfect. and it $599

 

[Master Shake]

asm makes some of the best skimmers available

 

[SWITCH420]

i always hear good things about cone skimmers.

 

[smoknreefrs]

I think you should get the msx300a. Thats a moster ,can do 365g heavy bio load so this should be perfect. and it $599

doesnt fit into the criteria. the footprint is to BIG, and it isnt a proven performer. its seems to me its a knock off of the ATI bubblemaster.

 

[smoknreefrs]

asm makes some of the best skimmers available

ASM skimmer is a decent skimmer at best. It was my first skimmer actually. thought it was a good skimmer until i purchased a different skimmer. It is awesome, IF one is trying to stay within a certain budget, or for a beginner, but, i wouldnt say its even in the top 10. Nonetheless, thanks for your input.

 

[smoknreefrs]

Maybe should check out bermuda aquatics- I just picked one up replace my turboflotor 1000- Bermuda is EXTREMELY well made and the 3c has a footprint of 5" x 7" and is 23" tall. I have a real small inlet chamber in my sump so is a real tight fit between that and my sock but is working fine. Good luck and am sure youll find the right skimmer for you..........Jimmy

i saw the bermuda in action about a year or so ago. for some reason the design doesnt appeal to me. although, it did make a good head of foam...nothing like a good head of foam:beer::thrash:

 

[juiceguy]

SWC/MSX are a cheaper alternative. out of the list you have and as a former mini owner, i would go with the mini, it is the simplest skimmer to run and clean.

 

[dnreef]

The octopus extreme 200 would fit your parameters. I would change the sicce pump for the bubble blaster 3000. I currently use this skimmer with the sicce pump on a system with 90 gallons of water and it is overkill. That being said, it removes about a pint of skimmate every 4 to 5 days which smells nothing short of raw sewage. I tend to run it dry. I also believe in overstocking. I can't see spending 1000 bucks on a skimmer when there are much more cost effective options out there.

 

[smoknreefrs]

The octopus extreme 200 would fit your parameters. I would change the sicce pump for the bubble blaster 3000. I currently use this skimmer with the sicce pump on a system with 90 gallons of water and it is overkill. That being said, it removes about a pint of skimmate every 4 to 5 days which smells nothing short of raw sewage. I tend to run it dry. I also believe in overstocking. I can't see spending 1000 bucks on a skimmer when there are much more cost effective options out there.

i was considering the octopus line. The Super Reef 3000 to be exact.

How quiet is the pump, what is the wattage draw, and how is it at startup? Is it cast acrylic? Is it well built? Lastly, how difficult is it to remove the collection cup and the maintainance with cleaning the unit. I am looking for much more in my skimmer this time around. Ease of cleaning, craftmanship, and silence are paramount to the price. Im not so much interested in saving money for the purchase of the skimmer. i have been very disappointed with trying to save money and ended up either unhappy or just not impressed with the performance. Textbook case of false economy.

 

[Aquatic Life Direct]

i would go with the vertex or ATB

 

[smoknreefrs]

the vertex, bk200, and the h&s are my top choices. i phasing out the atb only because of the sicce pumps

 

[smoknreefrs]

i would go with the vertex or ATB

why would you choose vertex cone over the bk200?

 

[greg 45]

how about
Lifereef
ETSS

 

[jackson6745]

The vertex produces the most air by far and it is the cheapest.

ASM, Lifreef, Etss, and bremuda aquatics can't hang with this level of skimmer. Any downdraft skimmer will use more electrically and make more noise as well.

 

[dnreef]

i was considering the octopus line. The Super Reef 3000 to be exact.

How quiet is the pump, what is the wattage draw, and how is it at startup? Is it cast acrylic? Is it well built? Lastly, how difficult is it to remove the collection cup and the maintainance with cleaning the unit. I am looking for much more in my skimmer this time around. Ease of cleaning, craftmanship, and silence are paramount to the price. Im not so much interested in saving money for the purchase of the skimmer. i have been very disappointed with trying to save money and ended up either unhappy or just not impressed with the performance. Textbook case of false economy.

1. The Sicce pump is not very quiet. I have only seen the BB pump in a store and I thought it was very quiet. It didn't have the noticeable hum that the Sicce has.
2. As for the wattage draw I would refer to reef central. There is a whole thread devoted to Octopus extreme users and it gets into wattage draw and air intake. I just look at the results I get.
3. As best I can tell the unit is cast acrylic (I don't see any seams) and I find it sturdy.
4. The collection cup requires a bit of work to get off if its been on long. The seal gets tight. But there is a silicon you can use to keep this smooth.
5. Taking apart and cleaning the inside is also pretty easy since it has an 8 inch barrel. The only thing I don't like is that I'm not able to remove the base plate and therefore you have to use forced water to wash that area out.

Hope that helps. Good luck with your choice.

 

[nyfynest22]

run a bermuda aquatics 5c outstanding skimmer

 

[DaddyReefer13]

I have the Alpha 200 on my 90G with a 40br Sump. It produces skim mate very well and is by far the quietest skimmer I have ever owned .

Just for full disclosure, I have had 3 Skimmers.

AquaC Urchin Pro which I ran with both Mag3 and Mag5 OK skimmate production and had a noticeable hum.

MSX160 with Sicce pump - good skimmer when the pump is not acting up. I had start up issues with both the mesh mod and pin wheels. Noticeable hum from 10 feet away to a rattle here and there.
** Definitely not a fan of the Sicce pump **

R.E. Alpha 200 cone - the body was a little larger than I anticipate but the build quality is awesome (this thing is a tank). It is very quiet, if I don't look at the bubble production in the skimmer body I wouldn't be able to tell if it was on.

Hope this helps. Good Luck with your purchase.