Help buying a new skimmer

wrasseluver · Nov 20, 2013

I'm looking to buy a new skimmer. I'm looking at two space savers that will fit my need. I need it to be very quiet and very efficient. If you have any experience with these skimmer good or bad please let me know. If you have any suggestion on another space saver let me know.

Reef Octopus POV DC3 Space Saver Protein Skimmer $899
Well Stocked Tank - Rated up to 250 gallons

Mini Bubble King 200 Gen 3 / VS 12 $1,169.00
For Aquariums from 135-265 Gallons

Clearwater · Nov 20, 2013

I am running the reef octopus dc250. Great pump very quiet. I would go with the POV for the price.

wrasseluver · Nov 20, 2013

$170 isn't going to make or break my choice. I'm looking at the over performance of the skimmer and up and down side.

GHill762 · Nov 20, 2013

I'm loving my bubble magus, great quality with a decent price.. not sure what size you'd need, but I'm running the curve 5 on a 40 breeder with 20 sump and love it.. BM is getting great reviews..

wrasseluver · Nov 20, 2013

GHill762 said:
I'm loving my bubble magus, great quality with a decent price.. not sure what size you'd need, but I'm running the curve 5 on a 40 breeder with 20 sump and love it.. BM is getting great reviews..

It'll be running on a 100 gallon with a 40 gallon sump. Do you get any vibration from the pump? The reason that I'm asking is that the tank is next to my TV and the wife hates any thing that's loud on the tank. I have an alpha 250 right now but I'm looking to get something that takes up less space.

wrasseluver · Nov 20, 2013

Bump.

Reefing Madness · Nov 20, 2013

The Reef Octopus smokes the Bubble King on the L/H Air Intake while utilizing a smaller gph pump. I'd go with the Octopus.

wrasseluver · Nov 20, 2013

Reefing Madness said:
The Reef Octopus smokes the Bubble King on the L/H Air Intake while utilizing a smaller gph pump. I'd go with the Octopus.

I saw that.

mcarroll · Nov 21, 2013

You're talking some major jing just to skim a 100 gallon tank! And that 13" x 11" footprint x 25" high hardly classifies as "small" in my book. If you heart is set on one of these two skimmers I understand, but otherwise I think there are many better options out there.

A Tunze 9410 would be completely adequate IMO and would be much smaller.

The Tunze 9415 is in the (overkill) performance class of the others, but still only retails for $587. Both of these skimmers are extremely efficient beasts, and extremely quiet after running in.

Just some examples...lots of good skimmers out there!

-Matt

wrasseluver · Nov 21, 2013

I had the tunze and it couldn't keep up with my tank. That's why I got the alpha 250. They are great skimmers but I'm looking for something that can handle more.

GHill762 · Nov 21, 2013

wrasseluver said:
It'll be running on a 100 gallon with a 40 gallon sump. Do you get any vibration from the pump? The reason that I'm asking is that the tank is next to my TV and the wife hates any thing that's loud on the tank. I have an alpha 250 right now but I'm looking to get something that takes up less space.

it's in my bedroom and is dead silent.. the mag return pump on the other hand, it might get thrown out the window one of these days..

mcarroll · Nov 21, 2013

wrasseluver said:
I had the tunze and it couldn't keep up with my tank. That's why I got the alpha 250. They are great skimmers but I'm looking for something that can handle more.

The 9410 maybe...should handle a pretty packed tank up to 100-150 gallons if well set up though.

The 9415 is a much larger skimmer, rated up to 400 gallons IIRC. A bargain if you really do need something that big. Got one of these on a 150 gallon system that has a couple of smaller tanks connected to its sump and it's a beast. That it may be the easiest skimmer to fully clean is a nice bonus.

-Matt

wrasseluver · Nov 21, 2013

I'm a tunze fan but I can't believe that the 9430 can handle 800 gallon with that pump. I think that way over stated.

YHSublime · Nov 21, 2013

Get an avast cs1, then enjoy!

Small triggers · Nov 21, 2013

Yep, have to second Avast....I don't see the point spending 1k on a skimmer

TOPLIS · Nov 21, 2013

I just nstalled pov2 in high load 180 and it is working great

wrasseluver · Nov 21, 2013

TOPLIS said:
I just nstalled pov2 in high load 180 and it is working great

Can you hear the pump or any vibration from the pump?

YHSublime · Nov 21, 2013

wrasseluver said:
Can you hear the pump or any vibration from the pump?

How can you just skip over cs1 advice ?!

wrasseluver · Nov 21, 2013

YHSublime said:
How can you just skip over cs1 advice ?!

Not skipping over it but just telling me to buy it with out any other info doesn't help. I need more personal experience. I'm looking at the skimmer now.

YHSublime · Nov 22, 2013

wrasseluver said:
Not skipping over it but just telling me to buy it with out any other info doesn't help. I need more personal experience. I'm looking at the skimmer now.

Tomorrow I'll post up personal experience. Gotta look around!