Best external skimmer for 800 gallon system?

Tft12

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Does anyone have any input for what is the best external skimmer for an 800 gallon system. This is 800 gallons very heavily stocked and extremely heavily fed. By normal standards of food input I would say it’s probably equivalent to about a 2000 gallon system. I don’t have any preference for skimmer type. Any foot print and height are fine. Any noise or energy input is fine also.

Important features are
1) Can handle the heavy bioload.
2) Maintenance is easy/convenient or maybe infrequent

Thank you for your input.
 

ca1ore

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I’m running a system of comparable size/load. I use a modified MTC HSA3000 that is conservatively ‘rated’ to 2,000 gallons ..... but MTC (marine technical concepts) is a retired business so second hand is your only option (plus, as noted mine is heavily modified; had a thread here on it). Lifereef make larger skimmers, though you’d have to check to see if Jeff has one big enough. If not, I’m sure he’d make a bigger one for you. Aquarium Engineering (above link) make some huge skimmers. Not cheap, and the lead time is substantial, but build quality is par excellence. MRC (my reef creations) is also an option at that size, though I have no direct experience with their gear.
 
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JLUR_

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Note to self: Quit job and start producing large system skimmers.
 

jda

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LifeReef.

If you have room, then I would get a pair of 600-750 gallon ish skimmers... they will outperform a single one rated at 1200-1500 gallons. I have always had better results with a pair of smaller skimmers than a single larger one.
 

ca1ore

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I’m about to put up a skimmer for sale rated for 1,200. PM if interested.
 
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