Skimmer and Return Pump for 57 gallon.

[James]

I am just looking for any suggestions on a good skimmer and a good return pump for a 57 gallon (plus 20-30 gallon sump) tank. I have never owned a tank this big and am going to slowly piece together some nice components for it. Let me know what skimmer and return you would get if you were in my position. Thanks,

James

 

[artie1209]

It depends on what livestock you want to keep. But this will serve most setups well and of-course budget is always a big concern. I would go with a mag 9 with a scud for returns with a few of the new controllable hydor power-heads for circulation and a ASM g-2 or octopus skimmer. Good luck

 

[Awibrandy]

James I am currently using a Euro-Reef RS 80 on my 155. Although this skimmer is way under rated for my tank, it is doing a great job. I love this skimmer. It is so simple to use, just about plug and play like my original Turboflotor Multi 1000. I believe the Euro is rated for upto 80 gallons where as the Turbo is rated upto 200 gallons the Euro is by far much better.
As for return pumps for in sump applications I use Eheims in both my tanks never a problem from either. I am running a 1262 throttled back on my 120, and a 1260 along side of an external Iwaki WRLT 40 on my 155 with little to no maintenance and no issues. Imagine if I did keep them well maintenained.lol

 

[noodleman]

i love my new SWC 160 cone skimmer :flower:

 

[NYreefNoob]

Best skimmer out for the money is the vertex skimmers on your tank either the in 100 or in 80, if you plan to only use a pump for return purpose a mag 5 or 7 at most, ehiem better choice the 1260 more money but less energy and better pump, i personally love the er 8o as well, this is coming from owning 15 or so skimmers

 

[James]

Cool, keep the ideas coming I am researching the Octopus and ASM right now as those were the 2 skimmers I was looking at before and will check the others once I get that together. It will prolly end up being whichever is offered in teh FS forum at the best price. As for the return, I am not sure. I have heard good things about using eductors with the return but I have not researched it at all. I will once I get some time other than a lunch break.

James:flower:

 

[NYreefNoob]

imo asm is junk for the money, poorly built, they all end up leaking at the seals, truelly look at the vertex, these are made by same company as the bk's, built very well, and perform awesome

 

[mckostya]

James get ehiem as return pump, i had it on my 90 and it was very quite pump, you could barely hear it. Mag pumps are noisy and add a lot of heat to your water...
as for skimmer. i had reef octopus and was really pleased with it and price. marc is also running reef octopus of frag tank, so its nice skimmer. you can find them used for $200 or so. Octopus Extereme 160 should be good one! but i have no experiecne with others ;(

 

[dsgray16]

I have a 58g with a 30g sump. I run an Ehiem 1260 return and have a Vertex IN-80.

Very happy with both!

 

[James]

thank you everyone. this thread really has helped me gauge what I want to r. Appreciate it. you guys
:thrash::thrash::thrash::thrash::thrash::thrash::thrash::thrash::thrash::thrash::thrash::thrash::thrash::thrash::thrash::thrash::thrash::thrash::thrash::thrash::thrash::thrash::thrash::thrash::thrash::thrash::thrash::thrash::thrash::thrash::thrash::thrash::thrash::thrash::thrash::thrash::thrash::thrash::thrash::thrash::thrash::thrash::thrash::thrash::thrash::thrash::thrash::thrash::thrash::thrash::thrash::thrash::thrash::thrash::thrash::thrash::thrash::thrash::thrash::thrash::thrash::thrash::thrash::thrash::thrash::thrash::thrash: ROCK!!!!

 

[cali_reef]

imo asm is junk for the money, poorly built, they all end up leaking at the seals, truelly look at the vertex, these are made by same company as the bk's, built very well, and perform awesome

No, they are not. Vertex make the bodies for the BK Alpha, and none of the Vertex brand skimmers are made in Germany, where Royal Exclusive (BK) is located. I think the IN series are made somewhere in Asia.

 

[tomtoothdoc]

at about the same model/price range, reef octopus extreme (or its brother from another mother...msx extreme...a little cheaper price also) beats the pants off the asm. the only draw back is the sicce pump. once it's a little older, regardless of which pin wheels or mesh mod you use, it needs a little nudge to get it started by blowing into the air silencer intake. once it started...no problems. the newer model comes with a new pump, askoll(made by laguna...i believe they also make mag drive). it's suppose to solve the start up problems associated with the sicce but costs almost double.

eheim over mag drive. the mag are much louder than the eheim. imo, the mag is more "industrial strength" though, my 1st mag 9.5 is over 4yrs old...running 24-7 with no maintenance what so ever....i do keep a spare one just in case. i have been waiting for them (2x mag 9.5's and 2x mag 7's) to die so i can replace them with the eheims.

 

[seldin]

Lot's of good suggestions for skimmer. Just for added info, much better to get an in the sump skimmer rather than a hang on the back of tank (HOB) skimmer.

I have always heard that Euroreef, ASM, bubble king make great skimmers. However, when I was looking for a nano skimmer, I found out a while back that Euro Reef went out of business, so for that reason I would think twice about that excellent skimmer.

 

[artie1209]

the ASM is a Euro-reef knock off. Just plug and play. It is not the heaviest duty construction but we are skimming water not supporting the Brooklyn bridge. Parts are readily available and the leaky seals are not an issue because it is an internal skimmer. I have not had any problems with mine and have had it for two years. There are many similar designs out there so you will need to do research on the particular one you are considering. Some do work better but have troublesome pumps which fail to restart without a little help or need their mesh mods replaced periodically. If you are a tinkerer then that should be no problem. I do agree that eheim pumps are the best but the mags are darn good as well. Good luck

 

[greggnyce]

I would avoid the asm, you will only replace it in a year or two. I have one sitting in my shed. lol

 

[marrone]

I found out a while back that Euro Reef went out of business, so for that reason I would think twice about that excellent skimmer.

They actually formed another company, dealing with cheap and low end skimmers. They're still selling Euro Reef skimmers and parts.