rocknut
04/01/2008, 11:11 AM
Hello,
I am in the process of planning out a new tank build for sometime next spring after a planned move. I have been reading a lot about the Bubble King skimmers lately, and am hoping to get some opinions from those that have previous experience with other higher end skimmers like Deltec or H & S. There has never been any doubt in my mind that Bubble King is the number one skimmer on the market, followed by Deltec and H & S, but until recently (with the new mini designs) they have just flat been out of my price range. Now the new Mini 180 or 200, or even the super 250 are close enough that I really can consider them.
My real question is this: I currently am running a Deltec APF600, and have absolutely no complaints with it. It runs circles around the previous Euroreef, and beckett skimmers that I have used previously. For those that previously ran Deltecs, and H & S skimmers before, did you really notice that big of a difference by switching over? I guess I am looking at the rule of diminishing returns here. I know that someone that upgraded from an Aqua C skimmer, or an ASM or something would just be floored by the BK, but how about someone that already has a “higher end” skimmer?
The tank I am setting up will be a 120 gallon, with around a 40 gallon sump (I’m figuring total water volume to be around 125-130 gallons?). With that in mind, what would be my options? I know that the Mini 180 would fit the bill, but are there any opinions on how large I could go? Looking at the size of the Mini 180, will that truly be large enough for this water volume (looking at an SPS dominated, low nutrient tank). Not looking to overkill here, just like to have something that would accommodate future tank upgrades if possible, without going too large to effectively skim the tank.
Thanks in advance for your responses!
Rocky
I am in the process of planning out a new tank build for sometime next spring after a planned move. I have been reading a lot about the Bubble King skimmers lately, and am hoping to get some opinions from those that have previous experience with other higher end skimmers like Deltec or H & S. There has never been any doubt in my mind that Bubble King is the number one skimmer on the market, followed by Deltec and H & S, but until recently (with the new mini designs) they have just flat been out of my price range. Now the new Mini 180 or 200, or even the super 250 are close enough that I really can consider them.
My real question is this: I currently am running a Deltec APF600, and have absolutely no complaints with it. It runs circles around the previous Euroreef, and beckett skimmers that I have used previously. For those that previously ran Deltecs, and H & S skimmers before, did you really notice that big of a difference by switching over? I guess I am looking at the rule of diminishing returns here. I know that someone that upgraded from an Aqua C skimmer, or an ASM or something would just be floored by the BK, but how about someone that already has a “higher end” skimmer?
The tank I am setting up will be a 120 gallon, with around a 40 gallon sump (I’m figuring total water volume to be around 125-130 gallons?). With that in mind, what would be my options? I know that the Mini 180 would fit the bill, but are there any opinions on how large I could go? Looking at the size of the Mini 180, will that truly be large enough for this water volume (looking at an SPS dominated, low nutrient tank). Not looking to overkill here, just like to have something that would accommodate future tank upgrades if possible, without going too large to effectively skim the tank.
Thanks in advance for your responses!
Rocky