Need help choosing a skimmer

[xmjxflipx]

Currently have a 46 gallon and with the sump im prob running total 55 gallons (accounting for displacement as well) medium-heavy bioload with a tank pack full of sps and lps

I will soon be adding a nano tank approx 15 gallons which will be tied to the system....

Please let me know if the skimmers i am choosing is overkill and wont properly skim because it is way too oversized for my current tank

I want something that will skim very well with my current setup but will be able to skim a 90-100 gallon tank in the future.....

-ATB econo 840 (says rated for up to 249 gallons)
-BK mini 160 (rated for 50- 135 gallons)
-BK mini 180 (rated for 100-200 gallons)

 

[mojo]

WEll either the bk mini 160 or atb 840 will work great. THe 180 is too large. I have owned all three of these. Either one of the top two are probably the best skimmers out there for your size setup.

Mojo~

 

[butts182]

Might also look at the SWC 160 cone. I just bought the SWC 150 BMK (rated for 100g with a heavy bioload) for my 40b build with a 20g sump. It was recommended, but I haven't turned it on yet since I am still assembling parts, but the skimmer is a beast. The 160 cone should handle a little more volume since it is a cone. Try Luke at reeffiltration

 

[vnreef]

BK mini 180 for the future.

 

[xmjxflipx]

Vnreef even though the BK 180 is meant for 100-200 gallon tank...do u think itll get a good foam head and properly skim with my bioload and current setup...

Mojo-if i get the 840...its rated prob at least 3.5x what my setup with my nano tank included will be....question as to if it will perform optimally even though my tank is way underrated for an atb 840.

 

[mojo]

The mini 180 is too large. it will skim short term but unless you have a crazy large load I would go with the 160 or atb. My old 180 gen 2 is running ona buddies 90g with about 30 gallons in the sump. He has a Heavy stocked SPS tank that has been setup for years. I would not run the skimmer on anything less than this.

 

[xmjxflipx]

i think ill go with the BK mini 160 then....im thinking the ATB is too large as well since it draws up to 1200 lph similar to the BK 180.......
I might give it 2 months since victor said their will be a smaller version of the ATb meant to run maybe for smaller tanks in about 2 months time.