help me decide on a skimmer...

[agoutihead]

im totally new to skimmers, so please bear with me.

im going to do a 75 DT with a 25 gallon sump/fuge

i found these two different kinds of skimmers on saltwaterfish...

they do the amount of gallons i need, and are both under 100 bucks, which is where id like to stay price range.

i def want it to be submersable in the sump....

what is the difference between these two?

http://www.saltwaterfish.com/site_11_03/product_info.php?products_id=2437&parent_category=0&category_search=6&root_parent_id=6

is this one even submersable?

http://www.saltwaterfish.com/site_11_03/product_info.php?products_id=432&parent_category=0&category_search=6&root_parent_id=6


can anyone reccomend a better/different skimmer?

[laserjim]

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=1048116

30.00 bucks!

[sherm71tank]

Big no on both of those skimmers. Take a look at some of the Pacific Coast or Octopus skimmers.
http://www.customaquatic.com/customaquatic/subsubcategorypage.asp?subcatindexid=ps-std-md

[paul101]

Most advice is that skimmers are rated too conservatively. On a 70G tank with 22G in the sump I have been running a Reef Devil Deluxe with a Mag 7 pump, for over two months including the curing of 120 lbs. of live-rock and it certainly draws off alot of dark stuff. The Mag 7 has metal screws and might be quieter so I am going to try to replace it with a Quiet One 3000 which is about the equivalent size.

[agoutihead]

what is this "needle wheel pump" i keep reading about? is that good or bad?

sherm, why do you say no to both of the skimmers i listed?

[agoutihead]

sherm, go to page three of the link you gave me, and the last two at the bottom of the page.... which one is better? or more effective?

their both in my price range

[McCrary]

Octopus NW-200, its like $210 and a very effective skimmer for the money. I don't think that any skimmer can compete with the performance for the price right now.

[agoutihead]

thats really double than id like to spend... is there any company that offers a good quality skimmer under 150?

im debating the coralife super skimmer 125 for 130 bucks... but its really tall, and i need one shorter... around 20 inches.

is this possible?

what if i build my own?

[McCrary]

agoutihead- It will be worth the extra money, trust me. If you have to eat Top Romen for a week, it will be worth it. When you have a skimmer that you can get good skimmate out of and depend on to work well you will be thanking yourself.

[sherm71tank]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9546135#post9546135 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by agoutihead
sherm, go to page three of the link you gave me, and the last two at the bottom of the page.... which one is better? or more effective?

their both in my price range

The seaclone and prizm skimmers just arent good skimmers. Poor designs that either don't work well, and break easily and need constant adjustment.

What is the maximum height you can go with? I would not recommend either of the skimmers on the bottom of that page either.

[agoutihead]

id like to stay around 20-25 inches max.

is this possible?

[BigBadBlenny]

i would hold off and spend the cash on a good one when you can afford it. you can run without a skimmer there are people who prefer not to use one at all. just make sure you are doing your water changes.
i have heard bad things about the coralife, they seem to need babysitting in order to get them to work well

[McCrary]

NW-200 is 24" tall.

[agoutihead]

http://www.saltwaterfish.com/site_11_03/product_info.php?products_id=2569&parent_category=0&category_search=6&root_parent_id=6

what about this one? it doesnt have the dimensions though.

i def dont want something i have to baby sit... i want something that is almost maitence free.

so for no babysitting and maintence free... is the octopus up my alley?

[agoutihead]

http://www.saltwaterfish.com/site_11_03/product_info.php?products_id=2569&parent_category=0&category_search=6&root_parent_id=6

what about this one? it doesnt have the dimensions though.

i def dont want something i have to baby sit... i want something that is almost maitence free.

so for no babysitting and maintence free... is the octopus up my alley?

[agoutihead]

from that first link... third from the bottom of the first page... item

PS-CVOCT-NW-150 Price $154.99
Octopus Needlewheel 150 protein skimmer. 6-inches in diameter. Uses model 2000

how is this one?

a better price range... but doesnt say how tall

[BigBadBlenny]

i dont know how good these guys are. but i think its a good brand

http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium_protein_skimmers_aquac_remora_pro.asp?CartId=

[sherm71tank]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9546571#post9546571 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by agoutihead
from that first link... third from the bottom of the first page... item

PS-CVOCT-NW-150 Price $154.99
Octopus Needlewheel 150 protein skimmer. 6-inches in diameter. Uses model 2000

how is this one?

a better price range... but doesnt say how tall

http://www.aquacave.com/detail.aspx?ID=749

I think it will work well for you.

[sherm71tank]

Not starting a remora bash but you couldn't pay me (well maybe if it was enough) to take one of those either.

[agoutihead]

the telescoping riser tube

my buddy has this on his skimmer too... is this on all skimmers? i dont know if i like the way it works... seems hard to adjust on his skimmer and we cant get the levels right to only collect the goo in his collection cup and it constantly fills up with water

[agoutihead]

what about the berlin skimmers? are they better than the octopus?

[McCrary]

No, the Octopus is going to be your best bet. You can modify the riser tube with a gate valve, it is a pretty common modification of this brand of skimmer. The mesh wheel replacement of the needlewheel is also common, you can find both mods in the DIY forum.