120 gal. what skimmer to get?

[Detritivore]

Hi all,

I know this topic has been pretty much beaten to death, but I'm wondering what skimmer I should get for a 120 gal tank plus ~20 gal. sump, SPS. My price range is between 300-400. I'd prefer insump. So far I've looked at the ER RS-135 and RS-180. Any others I should consider?

Thanks.

[burton14e7]

I got a das-ex2 for my 120

[mg426]

that one should work.

[CruzinKim]

Between the 2 you've looked at already, go with the RS180. RS135 is too close in capacity to your setup.

[reef / aholic]

Here are some I that was looking at for my 120.

BK 200 mini
Deltec AP851
Euro-Reef RC180
H&S 200-1260
ReefFlo 200

[Detritivore]

how about the aquac ev180?

[moo0o]

his price range is 300-400!

[JCTewks]

the new extreme Octo's with the Sicce pumps from www.marinesolutionsinc.com would be a good fit...they are taking pre-orders now.

The xtreme 200 would work great on your tank and it's $325

[Detritivore]

i'd rather have something that is proven. plus, i need the skimmer soon. i'm also looking at the BM160, though it's a little out of my price range.

man, this is what i hate about skimmer shopping and reading about other people's experiences. there's no perfect skimmer out there; each one seems to have it's own problems.

[moo0o]

a BM160 on your 120 would be pushing it...but then again, if you moderately stock the tank, it should be fine

[Detritivore]

well, i really don't want to get too big of a skimmer, because that's where i'm coming from (in the process of selling a deltec 702 thats too big for my system). then again, i suppose i don't want something undersized.

[JCTewks]

the new xtreme's are like the BM skimmers...actually they look to be better designed than the BM

Here is a thread talking about them...
http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...5&pagenumber=1

[CruzinKim]

Originally posted by Detritivore
well, i really don't want to get too big of a skimmer, because that's where i'm coming from. then again, i suppose i don't want something undersized.

if normal bioload, the BM160 can handle up to 150g. medium to heavy, up to 120g. heavy to extra heavy, up to 100g. if you're planning on a heavy to extra heavy bioload, probably a BM200 would be a better fit, but then it takes you further away from your budget.

Originally posted by Detritivore
i'd rather have something that is proven. plus, i need the skimmer soon.

i agree with you 100%. this is why i waited until BM skimmers were out 9 months before i purchased my BM160, wait for ATi to work out all the readjustments. the new octopus extreme maybe a winner, but i would wait at least 5 months before considering them. if you don't have that kind of time, go with a proven product. so, since the RS180 is within your budget, go for it!

[moo0o]

I AGREE WITH CRUZINKIM.

[bergzy]

http://www.bermudaaquatics.com/3C.htm



$299 msrp

throw on your own pump and youre good to go. i prefer pressure rated pumps as they get much better results.

i have the bps-5c and it is AMAZING! i am very satisfied with this skimmer and is very stable with level adjustment. set the level once and forget it...unlike the constant adjustment that my becketts required.

it way over powered on a panworld 150ps...so i bleed off the excess to my fuge.

it effortlessly skims my 180g sps tank with a 100g sump and a 55g barrel fuge with a total adjusted volume of about 250g.

they are local in orange county and make an awesome product.

[Detritivore]

my main concern with the RS-180 is that the Gen-X 4100 pump that comes with it is reported to be quite loud, and i dont want to spend another $200+ to get an ER modified eheim (though i know from experience that eheims are worth the money)...

as of now, the tank is lightly stocked (5 small fish and 2 med. fish), and i really don't plan on adding anymore because i want to focus on the corals. so i'm leaning toward either the RS-135 or BM160. i know that in terms of air draw and even performance, the BM160 smokes the ER, but the ER seems to be a more established product, and from what i've read, the BM's can be a little picky when it comes to tuning the skimmer. any thoughts on that?

i looked at the bermuda aquatics skimmer, but one of the reasons i downsized skimmers is to cut down on electricity and a bermuda skimmer driven off a pressure rated pump would probably use more electricity than my old deltec.

thanks for all the help!

[bergzy]

Originally posted by Detritivore

i looked at the bermuda aquatics skimmer, but one of the reasons i downsized skimmers is to cut down on electricity and a bermuda skimmer driven off a pressure rated pump would probably use more electricity than my old deltec.

thanks for all the help!

hmmm,

the 3c said it can be powered by a mag 7, which is said to use 70 watts.

'if' i were to run a 3c, i would probably go with a panworld 100px, which uses 120 watts...but probably less under pressure.

my 150ps uses 150 watts (reported 180 watts) under load.

while more electricity use than a deltec...it would be probably $600 to $700 less in purchase price...than an ap701...'but' you already have a deltec...why not just use it...it 'might' not be too big...

[ThrowinRoost89]

im also seting up a 120, i went with a ev180 w/eheim 1262 because it takes up little space


i got the skimmer alone for $290 : )



everyone that can figure out how to tune it loves them with the eheim pump.

[luke33]

I'd pass on anything using a gen x pump as they are rustbuckets that are loud. The bermuda's are very nice set and forget skimmers and built like tanks...and a bit overlooked imo. The new octo extreme's look very promising. If they perform like they are suppose to they will be an unbeatable buy. They look to be a bit better designed than the BM's. The extreme 200 pushing around 50scfh and the 250 around 95-100scfh, for 325 and 475, compared to the ati 200 at 549 and 250 at 750bux. There is no quesion where the better deal is. But its all a personal choice and there's tons of options out there for a 120g tank. Das ex2's are good and recirc's.

[USC-fan]

I use a DAS ex-2 and really like it. It a big skimmer so make sure you can fit it in your set up.