Planning for a 125 gallon.

[tyler6508]

Is the ASM G-3 protein skimmer good enough for a 125?

I'm building a canopy and still tryin to decide on lights.
I'm thinking about tryin (2kits) 250W HL MH Retrofit Kit (HQI) from Hellolights.com.

Suggestions on either please. So manyy options.

 

[ahayes13]

i have a 120 and was running the 250 hqi (de) and switched over to moguls (se) and like them a lot better. moguls are alot easier to deal with (removing and replacing the hqi's can be a pain in the butt and you dont have to deal with the glass shield either). i also think i get better "halide shimmer" from the moguls and better light coverage.

since you are planning for such a nice size tank. personally this is one area you dont want to skimp to save money. if i had just spent the extra money for the better stuff in the beginning i would have save my self some headaches and some money.

i would say bite the bullet get nice reflectors, ballast and go with the moguls, that would be my advice.

personally i use pfo ballasts (although they are out of business i believe however you can still get their ballasts from some online retailers and prob for a good price) and really like them. my lfs uses galaxy ballast with se radiums and i love the look of their lighting.

im using the lumen max elite reflectors se and really like them. ive got really good tank coverage with them. but i know a lot of people who use the homemade reflectors and there is a template to make them floating around.

so yeah there are a lot of options. i dont personally have any experience with hello lights but maybe someone that does can chime in.
if you need anything else you can feel free to pm me.....

 

[ihavtats29]

the g-3 will be fine , i have a friend with 1 on a 125, and i have 1 for a 120 im setting up

 

[Pizzapro83]

You could get away with the G2. Before I bought a new skimmer I had the G1X on a 125 and it seemed to be enough

 

[HAudioSolutions]

I have a 180 and use the g3. It's been a great skimmer for me. While I don't have a lot of experience with moguls, I have been using the HQI(s) and feel they do a great job. As far as shimmer.... mine look great again and if I lift my fixture higher off the water the shimmer is enhance which may be what ahayes is seeing with the switch since a bare bulb shouldn't be within splashing distance. JMO

 

[droberts]

i have a 125rr with a 65g sump and my g2 works fine and it pulls a lot of junk from the water

 

[ricwilli]

I had the G3 and loved it. If you do the mods on it (very easy to do) than it will work even better.

 

[tekken]

if it's a 48 inch tank... 2 x 250W MH should be fine. Would definitely look at getting a single mogul socket one instead of a double-ended... much easier to work with and don't have to be as careful with bulb handling