Looking for help selecting a skimmer

korndogg091 · Dec 2, 2007

I have a 120g with a 70g sump. I am probly going to upgrade to a 180g tank because I like the 6ft tanks. Im going to have a heavy bio load. What skimmer do you think would work best for me and why. Im hoping to get a good skimmer discusion going. please chime in.

Hypertek99 · Dec 2, 2007

The bigger the skimmer the better.

143gadgets · Dec 2, 2007

What's your budget?

korndogg091 · Dec 2, 2007

im not sure, lets say $500-$1000. im wondering whats the best for my tank if money was unlimited and then for my budget.

currentking · Dec 2, 2007

I like the etss super skimmer

143gadgets · Dec 2, 2007

If I were you I would look into Deltec and H&S. They are both very good skimmers and excellent quality. A Deltec AP701 would be a great size. Not sure what the equivalent would be in an H&S.

Paintguru · Dec 2, 2007

I like my DAS skimmer. Allegedly a similar design to the Deltecs but at a fraction of the price. You can get a really nice DAS in your price range.

surfn · Dec 2, 2007

hmmm, as far as deltecs go...i would go with either the AP701 ($1133) or AP851 ($1190)
http://www.deltecusa.us/proteinskimmers/ap851.php

as for H&S, go with A200-1260 ($1300)
http://www.finsreef.com/home.php?cat=254

reason why i would choose b/w those 2 companies, is those are solid german eheim pumps...and both companies have great customer service and warenties and stand behind their products (esspecially the really expensive products).

Pitcom · Dec 2, 2007

I'm in the market as well for a skimmer when i upgrade my tank. I've been looking at the Ati BubbleMaster and the Reeflo skimmers.

korndogg091 · Dec 2, 2007

Pitcom said:
I'm in the market as well for a skimmer when i upgrade my tank. I've been looking at the Ati BubbleMaster and the Reeflo skimmers.

anyone have experience with these? how do they compare with the Deltec and H&S? what makes one skimmer better then the next?

Pitcom · Dec 2, 2007

korndogg091 said:
anyone have experience with these? how do they compare with the Deltec and H&S? what makes one skimmer better then the next?

I honestly just read all the posts on skimmers at reef central(even though i hate rc). It appears as though there a handful of really good skimmers these days. I guess the starting point is deciding if you want an external or insump skimmer. In my opinion its a toss up between all the skimmers mentioned so far, they all have had great reports of sucess.

Hypertek99 · Dec 2, 2007

Did you read the guy that put 3 drops of dish washing soap in his bubblemaster. He was going to clean it and turned it on. LOL big mistake!!! There's a pic of it.

JGoslee · Dec 2, 2007

Honestly my ATI bm200 IMO is far superior to my Deltec AP 600.

surfn · Dec 2, 2007

JGoslee said:
Honestly my ATI bm200 IMO is far superior to my Deltec AP 600.

how many gallon tank is your ATI running on?

where do they sell them? and for how much? is it internal or external?

JGoslee · Dec 2, 2007

surfn said:
how many gallon tank is your ATI running on?

where do they sell them? and for how much? is it internal or external?

I had the ati on my 90gal and my deltec on my 58gal. About 3 months ago I switched the skimmers to see the difference. The ati IMO was really kicking butt on my 58gal.

The ati is plumbed internal. I got it from reefgeek. I paid around $600 for it.

chadfarmer · Dec 2, 2007

definatly figure out internal or external model ----you can run both in sump if needed

Hopkins · Dec 2, 2007

I have an ATI 250 right now and had the 160 before. ATI makes a very good product.

chadfarmer · Dec 2, 2007

JGoslee said:
I had the ati on my 90gal and my deltec on my 58gal. About 3 months ago I switched the skimmers to see the difference. The ati IMO was really kicking butt on my 58gal.

The ati is plumbed internal. I got it from reefgeek. I paid around $600 for it.

thats like compairing apples to oranges

(i know the deltec costs more but they arent the same size bodys or pumps)

Deepwater · Dec 2, 2007

order this one 2 weeks ago , its made to order , its coming in tomorrow.
http://www.protein-skimmer.com/gallerymore.asp?id=446996&page=2&galleryid=3505

and their website they have others as well
http://www.protein-skimmer.com/

I cant comment on it , but from some pics i saw , it looks great and its not an over priced skimmer

shred5 · Dec 3, 2007

143gadgets said:
If I were you I would look into Deltec and H&S. They are both very good skimmers and excellent quality. A Deltec AP701 would be a great size. Not sure what the equivalent would be in an H&S.

Agreed... Or if you want to save a few bucks you could go with a DAS and ret similiar performance. Ati is on par with these to... Anyone of them is a good choice.....

Dave