Which high end skimmer?

[11f150]

I want to upgrade to a higher end skimmer. I'm going to be using it with about 100 gallons of water, medium to heavy load. I have a few picked out but want to opinions/suggestions on which would be best. My budget is around 1k.

-bubble king mini 180
-vertex alpha 170

I don't want to get too large of a skimmer to where its not working properly and of course I don't want too small of a skimmer either. Opinion? Suggestions?

 

[ssdawood]

I would vote vertex just because of pump being outside which gives u more time. Bubbleking cone can be had for around 1k and is probably better than mini amd alpha.

I dont own either but in process of getting bubbleking cone 180 for 100 gallon tank plus 20 gallon frag tank.

 

[11f150]

I would vote vertex just because of pump being outside which gives u more time. Bubbleking cone can be had for around 1k and is probably better than mini amd alpha.

I dont own either but in process of getting bubbleking cone 180 for 100 gallon tank plus 20 gallon frag tank.

Yeah the bubble king cone is also a option.

 

[SchnitzelReef]

I would definitely go with the bubble king. Gunna be much more stable then the vertex.

 

[11f150]

I would definitely go with the bubble king. Gunna be much more stable then the vertex.

Is your vote for the double cone or mini?

 

[ddpham]

i got Vertex and upgraded to BubbleKing never going back!!

 

[seargentslice]

Bubble King cone Unless you can find an older alpha 170 that was still produced by Royal Exclusive and save yourself some money that's what I did.

 

[cheezybuda]

There is a bubble king haters (owners) thread somewhere here or on another big fish forum. A lot of the hate is focused on the pump/customer service.

 

[BetURWrasse]

Defbe "high end" for me. I'm being serious because I'm going from a simple IM 30L AIO with Tunze 9001 to a 120g. I plan on being SPS mainly on this build with a few fish.

So is high end $1000 better than something around $400? Not to hijack the thread just curious as to your reason to assume $1000 skimmer is better.

 

[ksed]

No! The only difference is that the high end skimmers might use thicker materials and the pumps may be a little quieter. As far as skimmate performance they can only remove so much or Are very similar. Now a days you can find mid range skimmers that are very quiet. Reef Octopus, Reef Dynamics, and AquaMax are very good and with much better service than high end competitor's. HTH

 

[jackson6745]

No! The only difference is that the high end skimmers might use thicker materials and the pumps may be a little quieter. As far as skimmate performance they can only remove so much or Are very similar. Now a days you can find mid range skimmers that are very quiet. Reef Octopus, Reef Dynamics, and AquaMax are very good and with much better service than high end competitor's. HTH

Yes, he has a point.

If you're gonna stay in the 300-500 range there are mid priced skimmers that perform very well. Once you start going high end, a BK is the only skimmer that makes sense for performance and resale value. I upgraded from a skimz sm203 to a BK 200 mini RD3. The BK skimmer give me roughly 30% more skim juice than the skimz. I'm also able to keep my nitrates under 10 now, when before I was struggling to say under 25. I went with the mini design because of space issue in my sump. If you have the room get an external pump model.

 

[hart24601]

I have been very happy with my vertex 180i on my 120. 1300L/hr is a lot of air and the construction is impressive. I just set it in the sump and it started working, no break in, no drama, just nasty skimmate.