Skimmer choices

[JMurphy97]

So from reading on the site and looking around I pretty much narrowed skimmer choices down to these four:(in no particular order)

Reef Octopus XS
Bubble Magus
Vertex IN
Reef Dymanics INS

I'm doing a 40 breeder mixed reef DT with a 40 breeder sump. However I'm planning of buying equipment that can handle a 120 mixed reef with the same 40 breeder sump. This gives me the ability to move up if I can or want to in the future without having to re-buy all new equipment. Plus having a skimmer able to run a 120 should make it all the better on only a 40.

It's hard now to really dial down on the skimmer due to footprint of the sump and size of all the chambers. So I need to draw out plans for a sump/refugium. But then again would it be better to plan the sump around the skimmer?

All in all if you were building the set-up I am here which skimmer would you choose? Man this was kinda confusing to type up. I would be lost without this forum thanks guys!

[sneaton]

my vote is for the swc 160 cone....i get 24 ozs of skimmate every 3 days

[sneaton]

155794

1 days worth

[JMurphy97]

What about this SWC Xtreme 180 Cone Protein Skimmer for a 120+40 sump?

[sneaton]

the sicce pump is no good....get the 160 with the custom mesh sandwich impeller to increase it from 700lph to 900lph....the place i got mine from has a 125 heavy stock with the 160 and he said its the best skimmer he ever used....he tried a 230 cone and said the 160 pulled more skim...its a 200 gallon system

[JMurphy97]

http://www.saltwaterconnection.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=116

So this one for a 120 with 40 breeder mixed reef?

[sneaton]

yes that one but call reef filtration . com and talk to him and ask about the custom impeller...he is the one running it on a 200 gallon system...he will tell you whats up

[JMurphy97]

Yeah man I found it on the website thanks for the info.

[Matthew91]

personally I would go with Marineland Marine Series Advanced In-Sump Skimmers because it doesn't require a pump to operate. The only issue anyone has ever had was the cap is a little hard to take off.

[bigfish520]

I would say the octo hands down

[JMurphy97]

I think the choices are down to the bubble magnus NAC9, reef dynamics INS180, and s.w.c. 160 with the custom impeller. The bubble magnus is rated for 395-530 gallons uses a atman ph4,000 pump that is only 25 watts and has a LPH of 1020. Plus it's footprint is pretty small too.