Need Help Picking a Skimmer

[adam87]

Should I upgrade my skimmer pump to a bb3000, turning it into a SRO 3000int or get a new skimmer? I have a 220 with a 40b sump. But I will adding a 60cube and upgrading to a bigger sump.

The skimmers I am thinking about are:

Sro5000int ( BB5000 ) $500

Reef Octopus Hurricone Category 2 ( Askoll 1500 ) $465
http://www.championlighting.com/prod...roductid=73515

SWC300 cone ( Askoll 1500 ) $650

 

[STL]

I've got a Hurricone Cat 2 with a water blaster pump on my 180. My quick take on it:

+ Big, solid, well built
+ Very, very quiet
+ Low power usage
+ Pulls an impressive amount of gunk out
+ Has a drain plug built-in
+ Holds a lot of skimmate
+ Remarkably easy to clean
- Hard to dial in
- Efficiency drops off quickly as the neck gets dirty (you really need an automated wiper to use the drain plug)
- Absolutely must be in a skimmer chamber with constant water level or used with an ATO
- Related to above, will flood if you have a power failure and aren't using a controller that delays turing the skimmer on until the return pump has had a chance to catch-up

 

[adam87]

Thank you STL. Did your Hurricone 2 have a Askoll 1500 or a BB5000 when you first got it?

 

[STL]

No problem, it came with the BB5000. Good luck with your decision!

 

[adam87]

Thank you. Its really hard to pick, so many good skimmers out there.

 

[btkrausen]

I run the SRO 3000SSS INT and absolutely love it. By far the best skimmer I've run before. Mine also runs the BB 3000 pump.

 

[adam87]

What size tank is it on? I have the Reef Octopus 200 8' on my tank now, it can be upgraded to the SRO3000.

 

[btkrausen]

Its running a 220 FOWLR with about 40gal in the sump. Here is a pic of my skimmer compared to what I upgraded from. This is also before I put the cleaning head and skimmate locker on it as well:

 

[adam87]

Should I upgrade the skimmer pump first before getting a new one?

 

[btkrausen]

It would likely be cheaper to upgrade the pump rather than buy a new skimmer.

 

[adam87]

The bb3000 pump cost $205.

 

[Wildman926]

It is a night and day difference between the Bubble Blaster and OTP pumps. If you upgrade the pump, your going to ask yourself why it took you so long to do so after seeing the results.

 

[adam87]

Thank you. Also, I was looking your tank and other tanks with the same skimmer and they look great.

 

[adamfinke]

Aqua C Ev-120 for sale here. Very good skimmer was used on old fish only tank about 2-3yrs old.

PM if interested

 

[Zeither18]

I have an aqua c 180 w/ a mag drive 7 on my 220g with a 50g sump. Does pretty good work, pulls lots of nasties out And relatively quiet.