Whats a good protein skimmer?

[yoimb0b]

Hi guys i've been on this forum a while but never really posted or had much of a reef tank to show off. I got rid of my little nano 10 gallon, and I am starting my 125 reef. Im curious what you guys reccomend for a protein skimmer. It will be in my sump. I see alot of people talking about the gs, and octopus skimmers. Who makes these? and which model would you reccomend for a 125 gallon tank? I am a college student and therefore money is not abundant so I am not looking to spend $500++ on a protein skimmer, but I also do not want just a cheap skimmer.

Thanks for your time, help a noob out!

[Chef Reef]

a cheap (price wise) skimmer you could get a used ASM G-3 or 4 skimmer for about $200 (what i paid for mine) that should work great, but it all depends on what you plan on keeping in the tank. how many fish? what fish? corals?

[JR719]

Wow are you opening a can of worms here! Your going to get all kinds of responses.

I'll get flamed by this, but get what you can afford. Just be sure to have a good fuge to eat up as many nutrients as possible.

[abulgin]

Take it from someone who started with a cheap skimmer--the Coralife Super Skimmer--and who regretted it after many floods. I spent more time tweaking that piece of crap and got only marginal results. Although this is not true in every case with this hobby, I truly believe you get what you pay for when it comes to skimmers. I recently upgraded to an AquaC EV-180 for my 110g, and the difference is amazing. Sure, it was almost $400, but well worth it IMO.

[basssnake]

I think that for space saving applications a Prizm works good, if space not a problem, Aqua c remora(pro or not), and price wise a seaclone.

[abulgin]

I would be hesitant to use the Remora Pro in a 120, its max rating. I would spend more money and get something oversized.

[lvreefer]

The Octopus Needlewheel 200 would be a good solid choice for both size and price, http://www.octopusskimmer.com/. I have a question, 125g for a college student. Won't that be hard to move?

[jefnalyssa]

I vote octopus

[Bebo77]

i am waiting to hear prices for the new Warner Marine Skimmers...

[frenchie]

i have octopus extreme 150 on my 125 but they quit making extreme model, i would do octopus 200 model. Only problem with remora hang is pumps they come with to small, before i had a sump on my 125 i used a remora pro with rio 2500 pump and regular remora with rio 1400 and i had to empty both cups once a week. i alway tell other reefers to check there local forum for a good deal on good skimmer or craigslist, i got a great deal on euro reef cs5-3 for my 75 gallon.

[luke33]

If you have a sump, then don't even look at hot skimmers. Especially a remora, there the worst skimmer on the market easily. For the cheapest skimmer that will work just fine the new octo nw200 funnel skimmer at 220bux will be suffice. If you want a very nice skimmer get a msx200. You may have to remesh the impeller when you get it but once you do that once a year meshings will be all the upkeep and thats a couple bux and 10min.

Octo200- 65watts, 23" tall, 20scfh, 8" diameter 220bux
MSX200- 20-30w, 23", 40-50scfh, 8" dia 360bux

HTH

[jefnalyssa]

luke can you tell me what scfh stands for

[yoimb0b]

hey sry I should have been more clear. I have a large sump, and its half fuge. I'm just starting college and living at home so taking care of it shouldn't be a problem. I want a skimmer that will sit in sump, and I'm looking for a summer between $200-$300 or so.

[frenchie]

man luke need to get you on this other forum i hang out on we got a guy keeps trying to refer others to coralife skimmers(use to be lfs owner) and things octopus are overpriced.
http://www.livingreefs.com/forums/lighting-filtration-and-other-equipment/1014-protein-skimmer-3.html

[luke33]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12551818#post12551818 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jefnalyssa
luke can you tell me what scfh stands for

Its a measure of air pull from a skimmer. Generally there's three ways to measure, scfh or standard cubic feet per hr, lpm or liters per minute or lph liters per hr.

1scfh = .472lpm = 28.326lph

For a 125g tank i'd shoot for around 27scfh. If the org poster is looking for 200-300bux there's only two choices which is the octo 200 (newest version) which will pull around 20-23scfh and at 220bux or the msx160 which will do 35scfh at 310bux. Those are the only skimmers in his range imo

dfrench.....you can't worry about others steering people wrong, its a never ending battle. Most love there skimmers and have only used that one so they don't have anything to compare it to. I've used pretty much every hot skimmer out there except the deltec's as they were just to expensive. I've also used alot of in sump skimmers, venturi's and nw's. But not the premium's like deltec's, BK's and so on. The msx line is the obvious bang for your buck out there. If you are on a tight budget the octo's are the way to go. ASM's not so much as they are to expensive for what you get and built cheap.

[lark]

After doing the research, I went with the MSX skimmer. It's still breaking in, so I don't have a review yet, but I spent a fair amount of time looking at things and I concluded it was the best combination of price and performance for me. My second choice would have been the ATI bubble master -- part of my reasoning there is that I make these decisions in part on customer service and vendors, and the reefgeek guys are awesome. I think either is an excellent choice.

I was intrigued with the idea of a recirc, and if I'd gone that way it would have likely been the DAS.

[yoimb0b]

so the msx160, is octopus the company? Who makes it/ where can I find it online? Thanks alot for the help

[spider8u]

you can get the msx skimmers at http://www.marinesolutionsinc.com/catalog/index.html?osCsid=jj98ntigeg4q1ov3idtg1l4sf7

[USC-fan]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12552932#post12552932 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by lark
After doing the research, I went with the MSX skimmer. It's still breaking in, so I don't have a review yet, but I spent a fair amount of time looking at things and I concluded it was the best combination of price and performance for me. My second choice would have been the ATI bubble master -- part of my reasoning there is that I make these decisions in part on customer service and vendors, and the reefgeek guys are awesome. I think either is an excellent choice.

I was intrigued with the idea of a recirc, and if I'd gone that way it would have likely been the DAS. Good choice.

[jthao]

get a used one off here in the for sale thread. you can get some really good skimmers ($500+) for half the price.

[Teen Aquarist]

My vote is the Coralife Super Skimmer Needle Wheel Protein Skimmer, get the 220 gal one and it should do a great job. The skimmate that the super skimmer makes is black and very very thick, I have never seen another skimmer do that well.

[USC-fan]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12553893#post12553893 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Teen Aquarist
My vote is the Coralife Super Skimmer Needle Wheel Protein Skimmer, get the 220 gal one and it should do a great job. The skimmate that the super skimmer makes is black and very very thick, I have never seen another skimmer do that well. joke post....

[basssnake]

So, what is so bad about aqua c remora's? I have had good luck with them, and they seem to pull a lot of gunk. If they fill up a couple times a week, and it is gunk and and nasty water, isn't that its job and working?? Mine pull really gunky slime and the water is always a black green color, and doesn't fill up ever. It just keeps pulling gunk til the pump filters need cleaned. You have to dump and clean the cup ever week or two, but that is with all skimmers.

I would like to see a explanation to why aqua c remoras are bad......

[frenchie]

remora's did poor with pumps they came with, i added bigger pumps and pulled more gunk out than any other hang on skimmer you could buy, some people just don't like em. I really like my octopus and euro reef and don't plan on changing them out.

[Peter Eichler]

I just upgraded from an octopus NW-150 to a MSX-160. While the MSX is clearly the more efficient skimmer it has been a bit of a PITA. If you're not pretty familiar with skimmers I'm not sure I could really suggest it to someone. It seems some of them will be plug and play, but mine certainly was not. The mesh was iffy and had to be trimmed and probably remeshed if they ever decide to send em the mesh it was supposed to come with. The bushing wasn't machined enough and the tie wraps rubbed which eventually led to one of them breaking. So after a bunch of tinkering and replacing things like the tubing, tie wraps, and messing with the mesh and air inlet I have a skimmer that works well but has some startup issues. I'd imagine more tinkering with the mesh once I get it will get that taken care of. In short, if I had not had fairly extensive knowledge of protein skimmers I'd be frustrated as hell right now with a $300+ skimmer that doesn't work right.

[rhkingsfan]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12556900#post12556900 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by d.french
remora's did poor with pumps they came with, i added bigger pumps and pulled more gunk out than any other hang on skimmer you could buy, some people just don't like em. I really like my octopus and euro reef and don't plan on changing them out.

I inherited a Remora Pro with the upgraded Mag 3 pump and I think it works fine. For a 55-80 gallon tank I think its very adequate. But like a previous poster said, I've never had any other skimmer so I might think the Remora is crap when I upgrade in a couple of years.

[jefnalyssa]

Is there any other place than marinesloutions to get the msx skimmers?

[gandolf8]

I have a lifereef a little more expensive but I wouldn't trade is for anything . Had no trouble with it working for 2 yrs now . On my 180 .

[basssnake]

well, I have mag3 pumps on my aquac pro skimmers and the mag3 is a good pump. on my regular remora, i have a maxijet1200 which again, is a good pump. If they pull more gunk than any other skimmer, why would people not like them? I think they work great.

[USC-fan]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12557544#post12557544 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jefnalyssa
Is there any other place than marinesloutions to get the msx skimmers? Nope.

[peter1215]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12557642#post12557642 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by basssnake
well, I have mag3 pumps on my aquac pro skimmers and the mag3 is a good pump. on my regular remora, i have a maxijet1200 which again, is a good pump. If they pull more gunk than any other skimmer, why would people not like them? I think they work great.
which model lifereef are you using on your 180g? Im thinking of getting a VS3-48 for my 210g tank. are you happy with the performance?

sorry this question was meant for gandolf8

[peter1215]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12557604#post12557604 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gandolf8
I have a lifereef a little more expensive but I wouldn't trade is for anything . Had no trouble with it working for 2 yrs now . On my 180 .
which model are you using on your 180? I considering getting a lifereef vs3-48 for my 210. does this skimmer require mods like the msx skimmers?