Help me pick a skimmer

[USMC4Life]

I got this one several days ago for my 65g. It has a small footprint. And it's not expensive. It is also rated for up to 100g.

Marineland (Aquaria) AMLMSPS100 100 In-Sump Protein Skimmer for Aquarium https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00780RWNI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_DbNKybE2AWM7D

 

[smh254]

SC aquarium 302 is a good one from what I heard I run the 301 due to the fact it was the only thing I could fit. Just bought the new vertex 180i for my new stand and refugium

I've had The SCA 301 on my 40b off and on for the past 2 1/2-3 years. I've tried others but I've always went back to the $90 SCA 301. Just looking for something a little different that will last.

 

[Christopher Davis]

I

Ice Cap K2-120! Sicce pump, rated for 75g heavy bioload, and small footprint! I run mine in my sump (40B display, 20H sump) and it works like a champ while being virtually silent. Plus it has a decent volume collection cup making cleaning intervals wider

just got the ice cap k2-50 love it!

 

[smh254]

Is the Cadlights hard to tune? Not skimming? Hard to clean?

For me this skimmer runs great and does pull some nasty stuff. The problem is always needing to tune it. This is caused by the air intake getting clogged all the time. If I clean the air intake every week it runs great. I might be a little lazy but I shouldn't have to do that. My SCA I've ran for six months straight with no adjusting and no cleaning other than dumping the cup.

 

[Whipples]

For me this skimmer runs great and does pull some nasty stuff. The problem is always needing to tune it. This is caused by the air intake getting clogged all the time. If I clean the air intake every week it runs great. I might be a little lazy but I shouldn't have to do that. My SCA I've ran for six months straight with no adjusting and no cleaning other than dumping the cup.

For what it's worth, I have not once had to clean the air intake tube on my K2-120 and it's been 2-3 months. I haven't tuned it since it broke in, either, but after I do clean it I leave the lid off for a bit until the slime layer builds up again and everything goes back to normal.

 

[cdmckinzie]

I put a post up asking the same question. I must have put it in the wrong section. We have a 143g and I need suggestions on skimmers, LED lights, ro/DI and wave pumps. Trying to get decent stuff for the least amount of $$. We were considering BMW curve 7 or Reef Octopus 202-s or 152-S or 200INT. THANK YOU

 

[Whipples]

I put a post up asking the same question. I must have put it in the wrong section. We have a 143g and I need suggestions on skimmers, LED lights, ro/DI and wave pumps. Trying to get decent stuff for the least amount of $$. We were considering BMW curve 7 or Reef Octopus 202-s or 152-S or 200INT. THANK YOU

For that size I would look at the Ice Cap K2-160. Sicce pump, small footprint, and a workhorse. I've got it's smaller brother the 120 and its been great. The nano folks seem to really like the K2-50 as well. I think BRS has some of the vertex skimmers on sale if you want to go that route for a great price, not sure if the size you need is on sale though.

LED lights: personally a Kessil fan, but AI/Ecotech are also popular. To me the selling point of the Kessil is that I only adjust how blue or white it appears and intensity, no other tweaks required.

RO/DI: again BRS is having a sale on their equipment, go with their 4 stage unless you have chloramines, then consider the 6 stage. I use Spectrapure, and their 90GPD refurbished unit at $118 or so is very hard to beat for performance.

Wave pumps: I use Ecotech MP10WQDs, but they aren't as adjustable in terms of direction as the Tunzes, Jebaos, or Hydors, but look cleaner in the tank.

 

[Shaddow_wolf169]

I like the octopus 200, kessils, pumps I just got mine from ebay dont need the fancy stuff right now. I got 4 800gph pump's for 30 buck's have had no issue.

 

[thewbell]

I used to have the Curve 5 and when I upgraded my tank about a year ago I went to a a Coral Box D700 to handle the larger tank. This was a HUGE upgrade as far a stability and ease of use over the Curve 5. Not that the Curve is a bad skimmer at all and I liked it just fine until I swapped to the Coral Box. The gate valve on the Coral Box is MUCH easier to dial in than the rotating PVC pipe on the Curve and seems to require adjustment much less frequently. As an added bonus the Coral Box skimmers are cheaper and if you ever have to replace the pump it is a standard Jabao pump with a needle wheel and not anything that is hard to find.

 

[cdmckinzie]

Thank you guys so much, this helps tremendously, will start a new tank thread when we get ready to start setting everything up

 

[smh254]

Anyone have the curve a5?

 

[Breakthecycle2]

Don't waste your money on a Bubble Magnus. I've had two. Both would be so erratic and parts used to break for seemingly no reason. It was a shame because when they worked, they worked well. I just got the S 300 of these and I have to say, it's awesome. Super quiet and in less then a day it was pulling out nice skimmate. http://www.eshopps.com/products/proteinskimmer/premierline/

 

[vdigiorgio]

I put a post up asking the same question. I must have put it in the wrong section. We have a 143g and I need suggestions on skimmers, LED lights, ro/DI and wave pumps. Trying to get decent stuff for the least amount of $$. We were considering BMW curve 7 or Reef Octopus 202-s or 152-S or 200INT. THANK YOU

Prob the best skimmer I've ever owned and I've had alot of them.. swapped my vertex for the deltec and couldn't be more happy.
Deltec SC 1455

 

[happyhourhero]

I have a 65 with a 20gal sump and put in a Coral Box d500 and love it.