450 gal. sytem. Skimmer Recommendation??

[Pepcrylic]

You reefers that have a large system, looking for some input. I have looked into the Lifereef 60'' Venturi with a recirc opition.
My thought is the more air intake the better on most models, also the height will produce better contact time.
What is working for you all?

 

[Anthony Wood]

I have a 400g+ system. Currently I'm running 2 skimmers a reef octopus SRO 2000 and a skimz (can't remember the model number). I don't have a huge fish bio load so they are doing perfectly fine. The day I decide the upgrade to 1 skimmer I'll buy a reef octopus with the bubble blaster pump out of preference. Reef octopus designed the bubble blaster purposely to inject more air then the skimmer body can handle and I love that. You can't go wrong with any correct sized skimmer just don't go to big and over skim because you'll run into coral issues that are a headache.

 

[Pepcrylic]

I dont think I want to run 2 skimmers. Would rather put out the extra cash to have one that will do the ob, and then some. IMO you can not over skim a 450 gal system with a skimmer rated for 1000-1500 gal.

 

[PatW]

I have a 300 gallon tank and a super reef octopus 5000 works well. With your tank, you could run the Super Reef Octopus 7000 which is an external skimmer. They might make this skimmer in an internal model also.

 

[Anthony Wood]

I dont think I want to run 2 skimmers. Would rather put out the extra cash to have one that will do the ob, and then some. IMO you can not over skim a 450 gal system with a skimmer rated for 1000-1500 gal.

Only reason I'm doing 2 skimmers is because that's what I had when I upgraded and want to upgrade from the vectra m1 to the l1 before I get one large skimmer. All depends on your bioload in my case if I put a skimmer rated for a 1000gal system on my 400g system I sure as hell would over skim. My system also has ozone which increases the skimmer efficiency so yes you can over skim. That being said it's a lot harder to over skim a large system but not impossible

 

[Pepcrylic]

Thanks for the replys.
I have just pulled the trigger on a VS3-60 . It is a Venturi 60'' Lifereef Skimmer with a Mag 24 pump. Should be on line in about three weeks.
I will be sure to post up a thread on the install .