what skimmer should i get?

[sjm1978]

i need a hang-on skimmer to hang on my sump. my tank is a 29g with 10g sump/refuge. whats the best one of these below to get?

1 = Octopus Hang-on-Back Protein Skimmer HB-100
http://www.aquacave.com/detail.aspx?ID=495

2 = Tunze Nano DOC Protein Skimmer 9002
http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewIt...ct~TZ5311.html

3 = Coralife Super Skimmer Needle Wheel css65
http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewIt...t~ES33000.html

[random_ryan]

how abouts http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_Aquari...no_remora.html

or
http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_Aquari...emora_pro.html

[LowerUnit]

I'd pick #3, but that's just me and it doesn't mean it's the best....

[Jayreefer]

The tunze is the best out of the ones you listed. I would actualy get the next one up. I think it is the 9005.

[psimitry]

The CSS 65 is probably the best of those that I've seen personally (especially if you meshwheel mod it). But spend the extra money and go with a 125G model.

Be advised though that the Coralife skimmers are ABSOLUTELY INTOLERANT of water level changes so make sure you have a baffle system in place that is separate from your return chamber and make sure the skimmer pulls from there.

I am curious though - why, if you have a 29G are you going to run it HOB instead of in-sump? I have an 18G sump and I ran my CSS65 in there and it even had a 'fuge and return chamber.

[Garage1217]

I have a 10G sump and use the ss65 in sump. It works FLAWLESS. Pulls some darn nasty stuff.

The ss65 has gotten a bad rep from people that run a HOB setup, then let there water level drop 1-2" before topping off, or they simply do not read the instructions *LOL*!!!.

Keep the water level consistant and you will be a super happy camper. Pulls a full cup of NASTY dark dry skim from my little 18G high every 4-5 days. Has never given me 1 bit of trouble.

Only thing you should watch out for when it is in use...
- Aquamend will make it go nuts and fill / possibly overflow.
- Doing a large waterchange, just watch it, you may need to make a minor adjustment right after

That is about it! Best bang for the buck you will find. Ready to run for about $100-$120.

[Jayreefer]

My two CSS65/220 where always needing adjustment and the air lines always had to be cleaned from slat creep build up. And yes both were in sump. I have now switched t octopus skimmers and will never look back.

[Philwd]

I've got the 9002 on my 50G frag tank with only 2 fish and it pulls a cup every few days. No experience with the other 2.

[sjm1978]

Originally posted by psimitry
I am curious though - why, if you have a 29G are you going to run it HOB instead of in-sump? I have an 18G sump and I ran my CSS65 in there and it even had a 'fuge and return chamber.

i have a 10g sump and i made it have a big refuge area. i guess i could go with a in sump skimmer but it would have to sit in the refuge area.

i also owned a css65 before i had it on my 24g aquapod it was good at pulling dark skimmate but i was constantly adjusting it.

[sjm1978]

Originally posted by Philwd
I've got the 9002 on my 50G frag tank with only 2 fish and it pulls a cup every few days. No experience with the other 2.

does it pull dark or tea color? got any pics of the skimmate?

[Fliger]

Hey I actually have a 9010 that I should sell. I just bought it off this thread and paid $235 shipped. It arrived last week and I decided to take the tank down so I no longer need it. I never even used it.

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...highlight=9010

I had a 9010 before (bought it new) but sold it when I moved up tank sizes - and this is what I got, which is why I decided to get another one.









LMK if you're interested in it - I might just keep it as a backup if you're not interested.

[Garage1217]

good nasty skim, exact same as I get if I set mine up to skim really dry.

[Philwd]

I'm skimming wet right now so it's a little lighter than Fliger's pic.

[Helfrich’s Chic]

I hate to throw another skimmer out there for you to have to choose between but what about a Remora? I have had several and loved them all, especially in smaller tanks. Just a thought

FLIGER!!!! AHHH!
Those pictures remind me of that "skimmate" that I drank at the Halloween FRAG meeting. Makes me want to vomit! UGH.

[relaxednature]

I have had the CSS 220 for about a year and hated the thing, just recently I did a basic mesh mod and it performs about 3x better.. but I still would pick something else.
just my 2c.

also have a remora on my 24G , it seemed to work great when I had fish, but now I have no bioload so does very little..

[Garage1217]

Which pump does the css220 use..? Wonder if it is the same as the ss65...

[oct2274]

agreed that the tunze is the best one out of the ones you listed. I would not buy a greatly oversized skimmer because sometimes a smaller tank can't produce enough foam to work properly.

[relaxednature]

dunno, the pump description just says for 125 &220.. I can look next time I pull it out though.

[sjm1978]

thanks everyone for the replys im gonna go with the Tunze Nano DOC Protein Skimmer 9002 its a perfect size for where i want to put it in my sump and its probably really quiet witch i want.