skimmer recomendations

[aseeley]

any one have any recomendations for a commercial skimmer. I think I am going to build my ownsump/refugium out of an old 55 gal. if anyone has done that and cares to share I'd appreciate it as well. Skimmers are a new thing to me so I wouyld appreciate any pros and cons I can get. they seem to vary in price quite a bit from what I can see.

[MissT]

Skimmers are becoming a must have with marine fish and reef keeping. They do a great job cutting down on the waste accumulation in a tank and will keep the water cleaner. There has been speculation that skimmers take elements out of the water that are beneficial to corals, but IMO the little bit of useful material it may or may not take out of the water does not outweigh the benefit of it removing an amazing amount of waste. Just ask anyone to see pictures of their collection cups right before they clean them out!!! :sick:

[aseeley]

any particular brand that I should choose or stay away from. as i say, they seem to vary so much in price from one company to another. I am sure that means something as usually you get what you pay for. also any one have any plans or schematics/drawings for turning a 55 gallon tank into a sump/refugium for my 100 gallon reef please share
'

[alton]

I like my 2 Aqua C Urchin Pro's. In my 155g I clean the cup once every two weeks and my two hundred twice a week. Simple plug and play no adjustments. My boss has had his regular Urchin since 2001 with no problems. I know everyone will have a different opinions, I believe you need a skimmer, just not a four foot skimmer on a 55 gallon tank.

[ismvel]

I had an ASM G-2 on my 135 gallon and loved it. I have also heard great things from the octopus skimmers as well...I consider those two to be the working man's / woman's skimmers....do a good job and won't make you take out a second mortgage.

www.octopusskimmer.com (http://www.octopusskimmer.com)

If you are looking for local and quality skimmers...I hear Ace (hobogato) makes one mean skimmer.....

Good luck and welcome to the boards.

[erikharrison]

I have a Coralife Super Skimmer (needlewheel) rated up to 220g on my 75. It pulls some nasty nog! Big Al's online probably has the best deal on them.

[Bill S]

Ace built mine...

[Headless_donkey]

Love my Octopus

[caferacermike]

For the money it's hard to beat a Euroreef. ASM and Octopus are similar if not exact clones. Deltec if you can afford it.

[MissT]

Ditto on the EuroReef. They make an awesome skimmer, and the RS 100 would do okay on your tank; RS135 would be optimal though.

[wildcrazyjoker81]

I run an older tunze classic skimmer that is rated for 220gal. I have it on my 120g and it fills up every 2 days. Some extremely nasty NOG.

[brewercm]

I run an ASM G4X on my 140 and love it, previously had the G3 on a 100 but was afraid it might be a little small for the new tank/sump.
As for your sump you were talking about I had the same thing for my 100 gallon. I put a divider in the middle of my 55 and made half a fuge and the other half housed my skimmer, heaters, and drop in chiller coil. Also had that half drilled for the return pump and it rant a tee of the return to feed the fuge side and it just overflowed to the other side.

[RayAllen]

Im buying a Octopus for my 210g

[matt]

If you're planning on running it in sump then euroreef or ASM clones are okay. You've got to be a little gentle with them, but they work.

[aseeley]

well i Finally made the jump and purchased a Aqua C 180 with a mag 7 pump. Now to get the 55 drilled and make the sump/refugium..

[erikharrison]

Bubble King!