Skimmer Advice Needed!! Which would you buy?

[Adam Houston]

So my AquaMaxx DFC-180 recently kicked the bucket and now I’m back on the search for a solid skimmer, suitable for a medium-heavy bioload. My aquarium is 120 gallons with 12 fish and no corals yet. Here’s a list of few that I found but was wondering if yall have any recommendations?

1. Reef Octopus Classic 110 INT
2. Icecap K1-160
3. Bubble Magus Curve 5/7 Pro (or Elite)

 

[tsharpe291]

reef octopus is the way to go IMO, been using them for 15+ years and they just work.
I have not used the others

 

[PPBlimpy]

I run a standard curve 7 in a 125 with a similar amount of fish. Elite will be better yet. It works pretty well. I have not ran the other two though.

I think I am up to 14 including a porcupine puffer. Tank does have a healthy stock of softie and LPS also.

 

[twentyleagues]

While reef octo are great skimmers that one is probably too small maybe opt for a larger model if space is available.
Curve 5 too small maybe the 7. I have used these as well and I would say they are typical of skimmers really only able to cover half of their rating. Basically if you want one to handle 100g of actual water volume in a medium to heavy bioload you need to get one rated for 200g. Larger more frequent water changes will fix an under rated skimmer though, and no model of skimmer can replace water changes.

 

[Trickman2]

I like my Nyos skimmer...thing has been running on my 300 gallon tank from the start. Lot's of options out there now...But that makes it harder also I guess. lol

 

[PPBlimpy]

I like my Nyos skimmer...thing has been running on my 300 gallon tank from the start. Lot's of options out there now...But that makes it harder also I guess. lol

dont mean to hijack but what model nyos? i am setting up a 300 currently and looking at upgrading over the old skimmer it came with

 

[jft]

I have used Lots of skimmers over the years . Currently using The elite 7 and Reef octo Classic 150. Both are nice skimmers but I prefer the REEF OCTO because it is less Finicky and easier to adjust.

 

[Reef Breeders Verified Sponsor]

So my AquaMaxx DFC-180 recently kicked the bucket and now I’m back on the search for a solid skimmer, suitable for a medium-heavy bioload. My aquarium is 120 gallons with 12 fish and no corals yet. Here’s a list of few that I found but was wondering if yall have any recommendations?

1. Reef Octopus Classic 110 INT
2. Icecap K1-160
3. Bubble Magus Curve 5/7 Pro (or Elite)

Totally unbiased here but I’d recommend a ReefBreeders Skimmer…

 

[Jimbo662]

I've got the Curve 5 Elite on my Frag 105.4 and love it. Easy to disassemble to clean and the adjustment knob makes it very easy to make tiny adjustments to set the water level.

 

[design.maddie]

I setup my Curve A5 about a month ago on my 90 and it is running great. I was stuck in the middle between the Reef Octopus. I ended up going with the Curve because it went on sale when I was ready.

 

[Adam Houston]

I have used Lots of skimmers over the years . Currently using The elite 7 and Reef octo Classic 150. Both are nice skimmers but I prefer the REEF OCTO because it is less Finicky and easier to adjust.

Very nice, those are the 2 I have my search narrowed down to! The Reef Octo is $15 more but I might have to put it on a skimmer stand which would probably push the height limit under my tank. What sump water height do you run those skimmers at like 7-9”?

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

I just bought the reef octopus you have listed and it works wonderfully.

 

[UtahReefer]

I have a Reef Octo 200 Elite on a IM 100 EXT System. It never stops producing. Easy to pull apart and clean and the pump is outside of the skimmer which makes it even easier.

 

[jft]

I run my skimmer REEF octo at 9 inches sump level does GREAT!

 

[Adam Houston]

I run my skimmer REEF octo at 9 inches sump level does GREAT!

Very nice & sorry for so many question but I’m sooo undecided between those 2 -the Bubble Magus 7 Elite looks visually better to me, I like that the pump is inside the skimmer body because I don’t have much room in my sump & the black & red accents look awesome.
- I see a ton of great reviews on the Reef Octo and then a few bad reviews on the Elite 7- 1 related to the pump being extremely loud. Is that sicce pump much louder than the one on the Reef Octo or are they about the same?

 

[Freenow54]

I have and always will buy Octo

 

[Brian Fay]

Totally unbiased here but I’d recommend a ReefBreeders Skimmer…

I’ve had a Reefbreeders Cloud9 on a well stocked 120 for three years. Very quiet and no problems.

 

[dMiles]

1got a 120 heavily stocked,16 fish. I run the Simplicity 240dc and love it.

 

[Adam Houston]

So as yall probably guessed I still haven’t settled on a skimmer yet. There’s just too many variables with $$ & skimmer footprint being the biggest factors. I am really trying not to go over $350 and I checked out other skimmers of lower value but they lack the bio load coverage & mass reviews + long term reliability that I’m looking for. I lost $300 on the AquaMaxx so I am really trying to avoid losing another $300+ on a new skimmer if it bites the dust in 6 months. Does anyone use the Reef Octo Classic 150 Internal or should I just go with what I really want the Curve 7 Elite??

 

[Adam Houston]

Of course, right after I post that & get ready to make my final decision; I check the price on saltwateraquarium.com and the Elite 7 has gone back up to $369.99 smh. “If it wasn’t for bad luck, I wouldn’t have no luck at all”- (my guitar teacher Albert King sang it better):anxious-face-with-sweat: