Looking for skimmer suggestions...

gnoles · May 30, 2009

One thought... best bang for the buck. I want to get this without having to buy something equally expensive for the wife at the same time.

I have a Deep Sea Aquatics 185 with a 40 long as a sump. I'm looking for a skimmer that can adequately skim the tank, which will be a mixed community tank with both SPS up high and LPS and zoanthids down low. Current bioload is two small fish, a few hermits, snails, a serpent star and a shrimp. Figure about ten fish minimum, one tang, maybe two.

So let the suggestions begin!

Poseidon · May 30, 2009

With such a light bioload you will have many options. Do you have a budget figure in mind?

gnoles · May 30, 2009

Right now there's a ASM G2 from my 110 in it... it's pulling fine now, but I'm thinking down the road. I've looked at some of the Octo skimmers and such, but the last "cutting edge" skimmer I bought was the G2 and I did the gate valve mod, but not the recirc. Truly, I'm open to suggestions... I guess I'm looking for now what the ASM skimmers were 5 years ago.

AlexStinson · May 30, 2009

Well gnoles.. you and I have the same tank, mine is a 185 dsa tank. I run a reef octopus ddnw-150 the 250 would also be fine but is a good bit more money. I am a dealer for these guys and am very very impressed with the skimmers, especially the resirc models.

Poseidon · May 30, 2009

Well, from experience I can tell you that the cone skimmers make the nastiest smelling NOG ever. However, they are a bit pricey at the moment.

I would say MSX200 or greater, something with 2 of the Sicce pin/meshwheel pumps, and greater then an 8" body.

Or if you want better fit and finish, then look at the Warner Marine/ATB/Bubble King lines.

I just bought a K2 for my tank, but I would say that your tank would be at the limit for a single Sicce pump. Maybe on of the Sedra 9000 models would be a better fit.

Another factor will be footprint, what do you have room for?

gnoles · May 30, 2009

Poseidon: After seeing your thread, I'd like a K-2. But I also like sleeping indoors. :)

Alex: I'll be looking at the sump in a minute to see if I can fit one in. If I went recirc., I'd have to replumb one of my overflows, but that's not a dealbreaker... Of the Reef Octopus line I'd guess I need something like either the DNB-200 and the DNWB-200.

AlexStinson · May 30, 2009

You don't necesarily have to replumb, I just use a little maxijet to feed it, and then the return from the skimmer just dumps back in the sump. I just think that the resirc skimmers are much better quality.

gnoles · May 30, 2009

Room in sump compartment is approx. 11" x 17" I left room to upgrade. :tongue:

Poseidon · May 30, 2009

That is plenty of room, I am sure you will be able to fit a nice one in there. Don't forget the opening space between your stand and the top of the sump though.

gnoles · May 30, 2009

So I have room for the footprint, I just need to make sure that I can empty the cup and get in there to clean it. *sigh*

Poseidon · May 30, 2009

Yes, EXACTLY!

That is a big reason for my basement sump.

gnoles · May 30, 2009

Poseidon, I appreciate the help. One of my friends told me that I needed to go Warner Marine AS-200. It's exactly the fit for the sump... so I'm betting that it'll barely NOT fit. :)

Let's give everyone a bit more information.

The sump compartment is 11" x 17", there is 10" of water that I could probably take down another inch or so, to the top of the stand there is 30" of space, but the door is only 24" on the side with less from the front.

MSX-200 might do the trick... anyone got any feedback on these?

gnoles · May 30, 2009

Bzzzt! I don't think any sized MSX will fit after reading about 40 pages about them....

Back shopping full steam again.

Poseidon · May 30, 2009

I think the AS-200 would be an excellent choice! Jon has a demo of that on sale for $500 shipped too.

The area is exactly the same, I bet you could make it work, I'm thinking teh opposite, the 11x17 listed is probably 10.75x16.75.... :D

Jon is a sponsor here, and he has an excellent rep for customer service, maybe shoot him a PM, or post in his forum for the exact dimensions.

Poseidon · May 30, 2009

Hey gnoles, don't forget you can also raise the skimmer a bit in the sump. I made a stand out of PVC and eggcrate for the K2. ;)

gnoles · May 30, 2009

I fired off another thread in Jon's sponsor forum. I know I can lower my ATO sensor about an inch and get it down to 9" of water. The planning is the fun part... getting it all setup has to happen in the next two months while school is out. I bought the tank when school was in session (took a year to get it installed), I bought a calcium reactor (going on 9 months), now this has me itching to work on it.

If only my need to upgrade the lawnmower was as important. ;)