Which protein skimmer to go with?

Floyd R Turbo · 12/02/2009, 10:03 PM

I'm looking for the best fit for a skimmer to use on a well established 125 FOWLR tank. This is for a friend/customer of mine whose tank has, unbelievably, never had a skimmer running in it. Needless to say his tank is a mess. He has a 30g Oceanic sump and doesn't want to spend too much. I told him it's the #1 piece of equipment not to skimp on.

LFS only carries Coralife SS 125 and 220 which I have not heard too many good things about, and Marineland 300 which I've heard isn't too bad, but I'm guessing I could find a higher quality skimmer for less online, though there are way too many to choose from. Trying to stay under $300, under $200 if possible.

Need help!

Thanks!

Johnny C · 12/02/2009, 10:08 PM

Look into the Octopus NW-150 or 200... IMO the best skimmers in your price range. JMO

DC_40gallon · 12/02/2009, 10:15 PM

Eshopps all the way!

shackman · 12/02/2009, 11:53 PM

Vertex are awesome for the price

lth03 · 12/02/2009, 11:56 PM

New or used?

Rangereefer · 12/03/2009, 12:39 AM

I've got a Coralife SS 125 on my 46 bowfront and it acctually skims pretty well once you get it dialed in...key there is that you have to get it dialed in and basically ignore all the instructions that they give you..aaaand it is a tempermental beast and has flooded on me twice and one time had water shooting out of the top of the collection cup like a fountain (that was before I figured out to make adjustments with the dial very slowly...fluid systems take time to react) but it's getting there....You should be able to find something nice for 2-300 used..i know the Octos get good reviews from the folks in my local club

Slayer311 · 12/03/2009, 01:00 AM

STAY away from the coralife SS's if you want to avoid lots of heart ache and trouble. By far the best skimmer i've had for the money was the octopus extreme 200, for $200, however I got an octopus nw-150 for $80 that worked very well for the money, 100x better than the CSS 125 for the same price. Vertex skimmers are also a very good way to go, you can't go wrong with the old euroreefs either which continue to drop in price. SWC is basically the same as octopus so they are good too. All of these can be found for less than $200 and skim very well.

tkeracer619 · 12/03/2009, 01:12 AM

msx200 for 279 is the best bet in that price range. Perfect skimmer for a 125.

http://www.marinesolutionsinc.com/ca...duct_info.html

Floyd R Turbo · 12/03/2009, 01:39 PM

I have to say that with the little tactile experience I have with Protein Skimmers in general, the Octopus, MSX and Vertex look like ones I couldn't really go wrong with.

I'm looking at these

Octopus NW-150 for about $190
Vertex IN-250 for about $320
MSX160 for about $270
AquaC EV-120 for about $300

The only one I've monkeyed with is an AquaC, and I had a hard time figuring out how to tune it in. The base is big and external pump takes up a lot of space, plus you have to buy one.

Since this would be for a FOWLR tank, not a reef, and he doesn't want to spend a lot, I think I'm going to suggest the Octopus 150, sounds like good bang for buck. His bio load is 1 large dog-faced puffer, 3 Sergeant Majors, and 1 Yellow Tang (and not enough Live Rock or circulation, high Nitrates and probably Phos/Silicates too, lots of Cyano - he's using tap water for PWCs)

tpenn187 · 12/03/2009, 02:03 PM

i would take the extreme 160 out and put in the extreme 200, better skimmer. the octopus version is really nice and would be my first recomendation for a skimmer for that tank. the vertex would be my second pick then the nw-150. i am not a huge fan of the aquac ev120, i had one for a while and it never really impressed me.

chilwil84 · 12/03/2009, 06:24 PM

you would be fine with the vertex in-180 which would be more comparable to the 200 series octo extreme.

maddog2002 · 12/03/2009, 06:35 PM

I had CSS 125 before. it's not that bad once get it dialed in.
Coralife SS 125 or 220 is OK for tank smaller than 70G, too small for U tank with large bio-load.

vertex in-180 is very good choose for your setting. I have in-180 for my 135G mix-reef and it's running very good. Also it makes a Little bit of noise but not very loud.

jeff1225 · 12/03/2009, 08:22 PM

+1 for ertex for the price.

geno7 · 12/03/2009, 09:10 PM

I've owned Euro-reef, ASM, ETSS, Burmuda, and Bubble Magus. Out of those listed by far the best is the Bubble Magus. The critical point is the water level with the bubble magus and it has to remain constant. No less than 8 inches water debth.

12/02/2009, 10:08 PM	#2
Johnny C Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 4,140	Look into the Octopus NW-150 or 200... IMO the best skimmers in your price range. JMO __________________ "...the sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonders forever" -Jacques Cousteau

12/03/2009, 01:12 AM	#8
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	msx200 for 279 is the best bet in that price range. Perfect skimmer for a 125. http://www.marinesolutionsinc.com/ca...duct_info.html __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

12/03/2009, 09:10 PM	#14
geno7 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Heart of Dixie Posts: 243	I've owned Euro-reef, ASM, ETSS, Burmuda, and Bubble Magus. Out of those listed by far the best is the Bubble Magus. The critical point is the water level with the bubble magus and it has to remain constant. No less than 8 inches water debth. __________________ Geno

12/02/2009, 10:03 PM	#1
Floyd R Turbo Either busy or sleeping Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: West Des Moines, IA Posts: 4,265 Blog Entries: 15	Which protein skimmer to go with? I'm looking for the best fit for a skimmer to use on a well established 125 FOWLR tank. This is for a friend/customer of mine whose tank has, unbelievably, never had a skimmer running in it. Needless to say his tank is a mess. He has a 30g Oceanic sump and doesn't want to spend too much. I told him it's the #1 piece of equipment not to skimp on. LFS only carries Coralife SS 125 and 220 which I have not heard too many good things about, and Marineland 300 which I've heard isn't too bad, but I'm guessing I could find a higher quality skimmer for less online, though there are way too many to choose from. Trying to stay under $300, under $200 if possible. Need help! Thanks!

12/02/2009, 10:15 PM	#3
DC_40gallon Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 1,474	Eshopps all the way!

12/02/2009, 11:53 PM	#4
shackman Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 273	Vertex are awesome for the price

12/02/2009, 11:56 PM	#5
lth03 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: San Diego Posts: 173	New or used?

12/03/2009, 12:39 AM	#6
Rangereefer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Virginia, Minnesota Posts: 55	I've got a Coralife SS 125 on my 46 bowfront and it acctually skims pretty well once you get it dialed in...key there is that you have to get it dialed in and basically ignore all the instructions that they give you..aaaand it is a tempermental beast and has flooded on me twice and one time had water shooting out of the top of the collection cup like a fountain (that was before I figured out to make adjustments with the dial very slowly...fluid systems take time to react) but it's getting there....You should be able to find something nice for 2-300 used..i know the Octos get good reviews from the folks in my local club

12/03/2009, 01:00 AM	#7
Slayer311 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 201	STAY away from the coralife SS's if you want to avoid lots of heart ache and trouble. By far the best skimmer i've had for the money was the octopus extreme 200, for $200, however I got an octopus nw-150 for $80 that worked very well for the money, 100x better than the CSS 125 for the same price. Vertex skimmers are also a very good way to go, you can't go wrong with the old euroreefs either which continue to drop in price. SWC is basically the same as octopus so they are good too. All of these can be found for less than $200 and skim very well.

12/03/2009, 01:39 PM	#9
Floyd R Turbo Either busy or sleeping Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: West Des Moines, IA Posts: 4,265 Blog Entries: 15	I have to say that with the little tactile experience I have with Protein Skimmers in general, the Octopus, MSX and Vertex look like ones I couldn't really go wrong with. I'm looking at these Octopus NW-150 for about $190 Vertex IN-250 for about $320 MSX160 for about $270 AquaC EV-120 for about $300 The only one I've monkeyed with is an AquaC, and I had a hard time figuring out how to tune it in. The base is big and external pump takes up a lot of space, plus you have to buy one. Since this would be for a FOWLR tank, not a reef, and he doesn't want to spend a lot, I think I'm going to suggest the Octopus 150, sounds like good bang for buck. His bio load is 1 large dog-faced puffer, 3 Sergeant Majors, and 1 Yellow Tang (and not enough Live Rock or circulation, high Nitrates and probably Phos/Silicates too, lots of Cyano - he's using tap water for PWCs)

12/03/2009, 02:03 PM	#10
tpenn187 Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: central illinois Posts: 630	i would take the extreme 160 out and put in the extreme 200, better skimmer. the octopus version is really nice and would be my first recomendation for a skimmer for that tank. the vertex would be my second pick then the nw-150. i am not a huge fan of the aquac ev120, i had one for a while and it never really impressed me.

12/03/2009, 06:24 PM	#11
chilwil84 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: down the shore Posts: 780	you would be fine with the vertex in-180 which would be more comparable to the 200 series octo extreme.

12/03/2009, 06:35 PM	#12
maddog2002 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: san jose Posts: 218	I had CSS 125 before. it's not that bad once get it dialed in. Coralife SS 125 or 220 is OK for tank smaller than 70G, too small for U tank with large bio-load. vertex in-180 is very good choose for your setting. I have in-180 for my 135G mix-reef and it's running very good. Also it makes a Little bit of noise but not very loud.

12/03/2009, 08:22 PM	#13
jeff1225 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 106	+1 for ertex for the price.