Protein Skimmer for 220g Bare Bottom

[Rollins4Miles]

I'm in the market for a new protein skimmer. I'll be moving my tank in about a month so I have some time, but I would like to get everything lined up. I have never had a bare bottom set up before so I'm a little new to it. I'm only going bare bottom since I'll be moving in about a year so I don't want the hassle of having to remove the sand again. From what I understand I should use a larger skimmer than I would normally use if I'm going bare bottom. Anywho, I'm looking for some advice on which skimmer to purchase.

220g with a 50-70 gallon sump (forget the actual size)

Very sps dominated tank with a light bioload at the moment (this will increase to a heavy bioload over time)

There is only 28" of clearance inside of the stand not including the sump; so the skimmer will have to be 27" or shorter

My budget is $600

This is a list of skimmers I'm contemplating at the moment:

Skimz SK 222 Kone E-Series - $599.99
- 214g - 533g
- Skimz ES5000 pump
- 26.4” height
- States it can be used in sump or external

Skimz SM 202 Monster E-Series (cylindrical) - $529.95
- 214g – 533g
- Skimz ES5000 pump
- 23.2” height

Skimz SM 203 Monzter DC-Series (cylindrical) - $499.95
- 214g – 533g
- Skimz VSC-5000-DC
- 21.8”

SWC 350 (cylindrical) - $599.99
- 400g - 750g
- Sicce PSK-2500 pump (3)
- 23.5” height

SWC 230 Cone - $564.99
- 200g – 400g
- Askoll 1500 pump
- 25” height

Reef Octopus SRO 5000 (cylindrical) - $609.99
- 500g
- Bubble Blaster HY5000S pump
- 24” height

ASM GC-9 Cone - $594.95
- 315g – 450g
- Sedra 9000 pump
- 23.6” height

I don't know which skimmers are true to their rating. I'm looking for opinions or even better, first hand knowledge, as to which skimmer would best suit my setup. I'm not stuck on the above list; this is just what I've found so far. Any money saved on a skimmer is going towards a wp40 so the less expensive the better so long as it's adequate. Thanks!

[Drae]

Jns/aquamaxx cone 3 if you want to size it correctly, cone 5 if you want to oversize. These skimmers are better then all of the above. Jmo.

[Squidward5]

I'm in the market for a new protein skimmer. I'll be moving my tank in about a month so I have some time, but I would like to get everything lined up. I have never had a bare bottom set up before so I'm a little new to it. I'm only going bare bottom since I'll be moving in about a year so I don't want the hassle of having to remove the sand again. From what I understand I should use a larger skimmer than I would normally use if I'm going bare bottom. Anywho, I'm looking for some advice on which skimmer to purchase.

220g with a 50-70 gallon sump (forget the actual size)

Very sps dominated tank with a light bioload at the moment (this will increase to a heavy bioload over time)

There is only 28" of clearance inside of the stand not including the sump; so the skimmer will have to be 27" or shorter

My budget is $600

This is a list of skimmers I'm contemplating at the moment:

Skimz SK 222 Kone E-Series - $599.99
- 214g - 533g
- Skimz ES5000 pump
- 26.4” height
- States it can be used in sump or external

Skimz SM 202 Monster E-Series (cylindrical) - $529.95
- 214g – 533g
- Skimz ES5000 pump
- 23.2” height

Skimz SM 203 Monzter DC-Series (cylindrical) - $499.95
- 214g – 533g
- Skimz VSC-5000-DC
- 21.8”

SWC 350 (cylindrical) - $599.99
- 400g - 750g
- Sicce PSK-2500 pump (3)
- 23.5” height

SWC 230 Cone - $564.99
- 200g – 400g
- Askoll 1500 pump
- 25” height

Reef Octopus SRO 5000 (cylindrical) - $609.99
- 500g
- Bubble Blaster HY5000S pump
- 24” height

ASM GC-9 Cone - $594.95
- 315g – 450g
- Sedra 9000 pump
- 23.6” height

I don't know which skimmers are true to their rating. I'm looking for opinions or even better, first hand knowledge, as to which skimmer would best suit my setup. I'm not stuck on the above list; this is just what I've found so far. Any money saved on a skimmer is going towards a wp40 so the less expensive the better so long as it's adequate. Thanks!
Skimz SK 222 Kone E-Series or the SRO5000 , i think either would be a solid choice.

[Laborator]

Skimz!

[Rollins4Miles]

I think you guys just like picking the expensive ones, lol! I checked out the Aquamaxx. I would prefer the Cone 5. It definitely looks like a nice skimmer but it's a little out of my price range at $700. I can't believe the huge jump in price between the Cone 3 and Cone 5!! I've recently learned of the Skimz line and have read a lot of good things about them. I'm kind of leaning towards that brand but want to be certain before dropping a whole lot of money. Do you think the Skimz SK 222 would handle my setup with a heavy bioload? The goal is to go wrasse and anthias tank but have a couple of tangs and a trigger as well.

[Snausy]

I would stay away from the Askol 1500 ime.

I bought a SRO "Hurricone" cat 2 internal with an Askoll 1500 for my 300g and the pump failed within the year.

The bubbleblaster that they replaced it with is still going strong. The skimmer itself is great.

I'd probably go SRO 5000 just because I like them so much. My last two skimmers were SRO after much research because they were easily the most bang-for-buck. Now you have more options.

[Drae]

I think you guys just like picking the expensive ones, lol! I checked out the Aquamaxx. I would prefer the Cone 5. It definitely looks like a nice skimmer but it's a little out of my price range at $700. I can't believe the huge jump in price between the Cone 3 and Cone 5!! I've recently learned of the Skimz line and have read a lot of good things about them. I'm kind of leaning towards that brand but want to be certain before dropping a whole lot of money. Do you think the Skimz SK 222 would handle my setup with a heavy bioload? The goal is to go wrasse and anthias tank but have a couple of tangs and a trigger as well.

You should research a little more about skimz. Those Eden pumps have been problematic since they came out. Skimz are pretty skimmers but the impellers and customer service sucks. They have nothing in this Aquamaxx skimmers or the proven sicce pumps. You wouldn't need that cone 5. Get a skimmer for your display size not the total volume. The cone 3 with 1050 lph of air and the pump being outside of the 8" body would skim your tank very well. Balance is the key. I would say the cone 3 is on par with the atb 840v2 with a better pump. These are quality, balanced, dead silent, proven pumps, and exceptional build quality.

[TimeConsumer]

RLSS R8-I should be a solid fit if you don't plan on putting in too much fish and food, R-10 if you do. The SRO 5000 would work, but it needs a shallow depth (~6") to perform properly, and it's definitely a touch oversized (similar to the R10). The Sea Side Aquatics AS21 is a killer option as well.

Also, a skimmer I've been eyeballing recently is this: http://oceansbydesign.com/product_info.php?products_id=44 I haven't seen any firsthand reviews on it. And it is a radical departure from the needlewheel skimmers we all know and love. Looks interesting, if you want to be a guinea pig.

[likmonster]

You should take a look at the new skimz skimmers. They come with dc pumps now and the quality is great

[azjohnny]

RLSS R8-I should be a solid fit if you don't plan on putting in too much fish and food, R-10 if you do. The SRO 5000 would work, but it needs a shallow depth (~6") to perform properly, and it's definitely a touch oversized (similar to the R10). The Sea Side Aquatics AS21 is a killer option as well.

Also, a skimmer I've been eyeballing recently is this: http://oceansbydesign.com/product_info.php?products_id=44 I haven't seen any firsthand reviews on it. And it is a radical departure from the needlewheel skimmers we all know and love. Looks interesting, if you want to be a guinea pig.

The reason the SRO skimmers need to be run in shallow water is the design of the return, it is vertically too short. I installed a PVC vented T section with an extension and I can run my 5000INT in 9" of water depth with no issues

[Rollins4Miles]

I can't believe how many different brands of simmers are available. It just makes an already difficult decision that much harder. I've read a lot on the Aquamaxx and have read nothing but good reviews. So that one is definitely in contention. If I recall properly, my sump is 18 inches in height and I'll probably have it filled to about 14 inch mark. If the SROs need to be run in shallow water then it's probably out of contention. I won't be able to elevate the skimmer on a stand to have it function properly without having clearance issues.

Back to the grind. I'm glad I didn't wait until last minute to figure this out.

[azjohnny]

unless you put the skimmer on a stand you will need to get an external skimmer, none of the insump models can be run in that deep of water

[Rollins4Miles]

That's a good point. I was going to go with the Aquamaxx Cone 3 as I purchased my wp40 last night (just couldn't help it). I would be able to run the Aquamaxx on a stand in about 9 inches of water. Is that still too deep? I could always decrease the volume of water in the sump but that seems almost counter-productive doesn't it?

[azjohnny]

9" is good. The sump is mostly for equipment don't be worried about having a few less gallons of water in your system


Also you should leave enough room in your sump for when the return pump shuts off( power outage) it can handle the water from the drain.