Best Skimmer for Heavy Bioload

[awwinterfall]

Hi,

What is a good skimmer for heavy bioload--Tangs,butterflies,angels fish only tank with heavy feeding.
Up to 300 gallon

I want one that keeps water pristine even with heavy feeding.

I'm looking at bubble king.

Do these require a sump?

 

[Coralreefer1]

Yes, I believe they all require a sump. Their are a number of good skimmers on the market. The best thing is to purchase one the next size up from your tank size, especially with a larger bioload.

 

[User1]

Yes, I believe they all require a sump. Their are a number of good skimmers on the market. The best thing is to purchase one the next size up from your tank size, especially with a larger bioload.

This is very sound advise. Someone suggested this when I was looking for a skimmer back in 1999 / 2000 time frame for a 100 gallon I was building. At the time I never considered upgrading or having a larger tank. Last year I upgraded to a 210 gallon tank and I'm able to use the same skimmer. I have room for one more upgrade I'd wager up to or around 400 - 450 gallons with the same skimmer.

 

[jda]

There are better skimmers than others. Most will do well with heavy bioload, but some are still better. All good skimmers will need a sump - hang-on-the-back skimmers are middling at best.

Bubble King is a very good skimmer. It is also very expensive.

For heavy load tanks, I run a pair of skimmers. Two good skimmers will seriously out perform a single awesome skimmer and you can usually get them for a lot less. Running two has a lot of advantages if you have room.

 

[awwinterfall]

Which brand do you use?

There are better skimmers than others. Most will do well with heavy bioload, but some are still better. All good skimmers will need a sump - hang-on-the-back skimmers are middling at best.

Bubble King is a very good skimmer. It is also very expensive.

For heavy load tanks, I run a pair of skimmers. Two good skimmers will seriously out perform a single awesome skimmer and you can usually get them for a lot less. Running two has a lot of advantages if you have room.

 

[jda]

LifeReef when I can get them under the stand, or with a basement sump. I have some older ASM and EuroReef skimmers that are every bit as good a newer skimmers. I also have a pair of Reef Octopus with the Sicce PSK pumps - these are awesome, but I have had no luck with the newer models with different pumps.

The LifeReef will beat a Bubble King, IMO. The others are probably 10-20% less, but if you use a pair of them, then they will beat it.

Bubble plates, cones and all of that are just marketing hype. The pump and contact time make the difference for Needlewheels. For venturi skimmers, then it is contact time and the efficiency of the venturi that matter. I tend to believe that the really good skimmers just happened to get lucky with a pump and body combo - this is why the newer Reef Octopus with different pumps are not as good even with the same body. 15 year old EuroReefs still kick *** because they got it right, either intentionally or accidentally. :)