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Unread 01/05/2014, 09:14 PM   #1
vanbro1
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Whats the best skimmer on the market

It's time to upgrade my skimmer - what do you think is the best in sump skimmer on the market and why?

I look forward to the responses


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Unread 01/05/2014, 09:24 PM   #2
slief
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I think Bubble King makes the best skimmers. The build quality is second to none and they use the best pumps on the market. Their skimmers are incredibly efficient and practically silent. ATB's are a close second. Same pumps and same kind of quality.


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Unread 01/05/2014, 09:30 PM   #3
savethereef
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I've had my vertex bubble king and has worked perfectly for the last couple years.


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Current Tank Info: Leemar 450g 96L x36W x 30T 3/4 inch Starfire With 70g Sump Vertex 250 Royal Exclusive protein Skimmer Laguna 2900 Return pump 5 Aquaillumination Hydra's LED Modules. 4 Tunze Stream Bubble Magus Doser. Reef Keeper Elite
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Unread 01/05/2014, 09:32 PM   #4
nikecivic
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Bubble King! I have the BK mini 160.


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Current Tank Info: 180 Glass Tank (6'x2'x2') with a Bubble King Mini 160 (on the second Red Dragon pump), Korallin 1502, Apex w/WXM, Ecotech Radion G1 w/TIR lenses, (2) Ecotech MP40w (one w/ES upgrade) w/Battery Backup, (2) Jebao WP25, Jebao DC12000, 55g acrylic sump
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Unread 01/05/2014, 09:45 PM   #5
Arnel0387
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SuperReefOctopus for me


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Minimalist, barebottom, SPS dominated dream tank coming soon! My reefing philosophy: SPS = Stability. Patience. Simplicity.
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Unread 01/05/2014, 10:03 PM   #6
WayneL333
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Bubbleking hands down for durability, quality and performance.


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Sorry honey for spending so much time with my tanks :(

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Unread 01/05/2014, 10:04 PM   #7
oceangurlz
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I'm thinking bout a different one too....following along.


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Unread 01/05/2014, 10:04 PM   #8
oceangurlz
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Affordability as well?


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Unread 01/05/2014, 10:08 PM   #9
bullitr
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Quote:
Originally Posted by oceangurlz View Post
Affordability as well?
Bubble king is nice but it will cost arm and a leg to buy one
http://www.aquariumspecialty.com/bub...rotein-skimmer.


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Lawrence
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435 gallon display in wall see through

no more hyposalinity...

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Unread 01/05/2014, 10:09 PM   #10
Mr_Reefer
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Quote:
Originally Posted by oceangurlz View Post
Affordability as well?
I agree. High ends are good but not necessary better than the mid-tier skimmer. You're paying a lot for an incremental performance. If you established a good ecosystem with a balanced feeding schedule, you don't really need to spend a lot of money skimmer.


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Unread 01/05/2014, 10:28 PM   #11
wrimda
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We have a Super Reef octopus Extreme 3000 that we have been using for the last two years and it pulls out the poop! Pretty darn happy.


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Unread 01/05/2014, 10:34 PM   #12
pciscott
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VANBRO what size is your tank?


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Current Tank Info: Pirates Cove 400 Gallon Peninsula with 10 Ecotech Gen 4 Pro Lights, SPS heavy mixed Reef, Tank Controlled by Apex back up monitoring by Profilux, Tropic Marin Pro Salt, Brightwell Suplements and Bio Bricks, Way too many Fish! Keep it simple!
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Unread 01/05/2014, 10:38 PM   #13
ianmcalpin
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lets be realistic those high end skimmer like BK and ATB are really great skimmers and do run pretty much the best pump which is 75% of the cost of the skimmer but for a common hobbyist I would go with the of these company's Vertex,Reef Octopus, and Aqua Maxx. these three company's are great i have ran two of the 3 company skimmers and only seen multip Reef Octopus skimmers. In my option for best quality out of the three is the vertex. All Skimmers pretty much do the same thing IE your able to tune then to skim some dark ****.


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Unread 01/05/2014, 10:43 PM   #14
ianmcalpin
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so keep in mind for all you if you do decide to slap the money for one of those high end skimmers with a dragon pump i hope you get a warranty with it lol or some insurance because if that pump goes down lol your looking at the least 500 bucks to replace that bad boy


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Unread 01/05/2014, 10:45 PM   #15
WayneL333
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pciscott View Post
VANBRO what size is your tank?
Actually Scott brings up a very good point. Also what do you plan on raising? If not sps dominate, you don't need as an efficient skimmer.


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Unread 01/05/2014, 11:33 PM   #16
Mr_Reefer
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ianmcalpin View Post
so keep in mind for all you if you do decide to slap the money for one of those high end skimmers with a dragon pump i hope you get a warranty with it lol or some insurance because if that pump goes down lol your looking at the least 500 bucks to replace that bad boy
I used to have a BK, once the pump went out, I couldn't find a replacement as the "dragon" pump is no longer in the market...


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Unread 01/06/2014, 01:36 AM   #17
ianmcalpin
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are your sure about that because i could of sworn ive seen them for sell on a website dont remember were but i know i seen them that why i know they range from 500-700 just for them pump itself


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Unread 01/06/2014, 01:43 AM   #18
Armitron
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I remember the 300 BK external in your shop.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr_Reefer View Post
I used to have a BK, once the pump went out, I couldn't find a replacement as the "dragon" pump is no longer in the market...



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Unread 01/06/2014, 11:08 AM   #19
pga7602
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vanbro1 View Post
It's time to upgrade my skimmer - what do you think is the best in sump skimmer on the market and why?

I look forward to the responses
For what size tank?


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Unread 01/06/2014, 11:25 AM   #20
DRC69
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I like Bubble-Magus very cost effective and well made IMO.
You can buy a replace pump (complete) for $50 all day long.
JMO


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Unread 01/06/2014, 11:46 AM   #21
gcarroll
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?Size of the system is necessary. It also depends on what you consider makes a skimmer the best.

How do you rank these?

Build quality
Airflow
Contact time
Water flow
Wattage
Reliability
Serviceability
Price


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Current Tank Info: building: 250g AGE Euro tank, Abyzz A200, Vertex Supra-G filtration, Ecotech Radion Pro LEDs, ...
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Unread 01/06/2014, 12:49 PM   #22
Mr. Brooks
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I love my ATB, hands down favorite in my book.


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Unread 01/06/2014, 01:22 PM   #23
solitude127
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Another thing to consider it how easy it is to clean the skimmer cup. I had a WM K2 skimmer which was great skimmer but in order to take out the skimmer cup, I had to remove the silencer which was PIA/annoying after a while.
I have an ATB Elegance now and I really like it.


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Current Tank Info: 60*30*20, 8x54 ATI Powermodule, ReefBrite XHO, ATB Elegance 200, Aquamaxx CTech CaRx, Ecotech Vortechs, Apex Controls, WM Ecobak powered. RedSea Reefer 170, MP10, Apex Jr, Ecotech Radion XR15, Aquamaxx WS-1
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Unread 01/06/2014, 06:33 PM   #24
pciscott
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Whats behind curtain #3?



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Scott Steinberger
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There is more than One Way to skin a Reef!

Current Tank Info: Pirates Cove 400 Gallon Peninsula with 10 Ecotech Gen 4 Pro Lights, SPS heavy mixed Reef, Tank Controlled by Apex back up monitoring by Profilux, Tropic Marin Pro Salt, Brightwell Suplements and Bio Bricks, Way too many Fish! Keep it simple!
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Unread 01/06/2014, 06:38 PM   #25
dwolson2
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@PCI
BK skimmer?

OP, I like aquamaxx, Seems to be a good(but not premium) build quality and a nice pump. Pulls out a lot of junk. I had a bubble magus and I wasn't really thrilled about it.


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220 w/75 sump. 2 Kessil AP700s, 2- MP60, 2- MP40, 1-MP10(in sump/frag tank), Waveline DC 10000, Reef Octopus elite INT220, Radion G1(over sump/frag tank), Apex Wifi with a few extras

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