Need some feedback...thinking of buying the ASM G6 for my X-mas present

[sunfish11]

I currently have a 210 gallon tank with 40 gallon sump. My skimmer is a MRC II. I have a high bioload and like to feed a lot so I was considering upgrading to a ASM G6 skimmer. The tank currently has mostly LPS, and rics but does have some SPS as well. I would like to keep more SPS so I that was the reasoning behind my upgrade. Any thoughts or experiences with this skimmer? For the price, it really seemed like the way to go.

Lisa

[luke33]

I'd get an octo extreme 250 from marinesolutionsinc for 475bux. It pulls nealry 100scfh! At 60watts!

[Flint&Eric]

i'd stick with the MRC over G6. ASM's are over priced and they under perform.

The MRC should be able to handle that tank...if nutrients are an issue there are likely other problems.

[sunfish11]

i'd stick with the MRC over G6. ASM's are over priced and they under perform.

I have never been happy with my MRC's performance. The extra nutrients come from a high bioload and lot's of feeding. I would like a powerful skimmer to really strip the water so I can keep on adding lot's of food.

Lisa

[Flint&Eric]

what pump are you driving it with? for the $700 that the ASM costs you can get a much better product such as a bubble master. jmo.

[sunfish11]

I am using a Gen-X PCX-40.

[Flint&Eric]

running 1 or 2 injectors? a pcx-55 would really help and increase performance so will keeping the neck clean. but if you're not a fan of it i'd suggest looking at the BM250

[sjm817]

I've read that the G6 is a poor performer. The body is too tall for the Sedra pumps (too much head).

[sunfish11]

running 1 or 2 injectors? a pcx-55 would really help and increase performance so will keeping the neck clean. but if you're not a fan of it i'd suggest looking at the BM250

It is currently running 1 injector. I also want an in-sump design. I keep the MRC very clean and it still seems like I am always messing with it.

Lisa

[sunfish11]

So is this the one I should get instead?

http://www.fishsupply.com/sps-ati250.html

Flint & Eric

Since you like the MRC so much, want to buy it when I get my new one? I am in your area and a CMAS member. LOL!

Lisa

[chewie]

If the height of the water level in your sump is less than 24" don't get the G-6. A G5 would be better suited.

The MR-2 is a good skimmer, and I agree that it will work better with a bigger pump.

Comparatively, the stock G6 in the right sump will pull about the same amount of gunk as the MR-2 with a better pump.

The G-6 is just easier to dial in, and with a few mods(mesh, intake) it will skim more than the MR-2.

[sjm817]

Originally posted by sunfish11
So is this the one I should get instead?

http://www.fishsupply.com/sps-ati250.html

Yes

[luke33]

Or you could look at this skimmer for 300bux less.

http://www.marinesolutionsinc.com/ca...roducts_id=133

It should be better imo than the ati 250 since the reaction chamber is used to its full potential. It will be out in a couple weeks if you can wait to see the review's. If its worth 300bux to you.

[Flint&Eric]

i'll stick with my deltec

im not a big fan of MRC's, but i must say they can skim...i just really do not like ASM's. everyone in CMAS was hyping them up, installed one for a friend and i was shocked at how terrible it was.

[sjm817]

That Xtreme 250 skimmer has zero track record so far. Who knows how it will be. The outflow exit is very close to the bubble plate. I question how this will work without sending a lot of microbubbles out the the pipe.

[sunfish11]

I guess that was my issue with the Xtreme. Cheaper it is, but it was so new that it wasn't even in stock yet. Being the lab rat is no fun. I try not to buy the first year of anything. I learned my lesson with that already.

This is very confusing for me. I really hate the equipment end of this hobby. I just want to enjoy my tank.

Maybe my skimmer is already doing a good job...I just don't know how much skimmate there should be.

Lisa

[luke33]

Thats why i suggested waiting until there out and what people think of them.

[sjm817]

Originally posted by sunfish11
Maybe my skimmer is already doing a good job...I just don't know how much skimmate there should be.

Lisa

The posts here (I'm guilty of it) showing how much a skimmer pulls are pretty meaningless. Unless you compare skimate output from the same system, it is useless information. A crappy skimmer on a cesspool of a tank may pull out more than a great skimmer on a pristine tank. If you were comparing 2 car washes, you would base the results on how clean your car is, not how dirty the water was, especially with two different cars.

Is your tank clean? Do you have healthy corals? How often do you have to clean the glass? Do you have algae issues? What is your NO3 reading? Do you have a problem that needs solving?

[sunfish11]

Everything looks great in my tank. No algea, fat fish, and very healthy corals. I do have at least 20+ ppm nitrates. That is because I feed a lot. I have anthias and other large fish that require a lot of food. I was hoping a bigger skimmer could help that issue and allow me to feed as much as I do and lower the organics so that I can keep more varieties of SPS. I also need to set up another sump (and I wanted an in-sump skimmer) because the way my sump is plumbed is frankly, stupid. I was just going to turn my current sump into more of a refugium and direct my overflows directly into the new sump with the new skimmer.

Lisa

Lisa

[luke33]

I would suggest you try a fuge first to save some cash. A nice fuge with a good skimmer goes a very long way in this hobby imo. Ever since i added my fuge my trates have been undetectable.....nearly a year now.

[davocean]

I agree w/ the fuge upgrade as well, w/ lots of chaeto.
FWIW my next skimmer will be a euro RS250, or maybe a BM.
The extremes may be cool, but real new and still not cheap, not sure how well rated in comparison to the euro, but for a little more$$ I'll take the euro.

[sunfish11]

Luke, I hate my skimmer, and the way that it is plumbed into my system is probably the cause of that hate. It cant possibly be efficient the way it is even if it wanted to. The only way to redo this for my system (which has been up for 2 years) is to get another sump and skimmer in addition to the sump I have now.

BTW, I have lots of cheato. I need to strip uneaten food and poop before it is desolved.

Lisa

[Snowboarda42]

i vote for the BM250

[jdogg2432]

Go for the Dart Orca 200. It should be out the end of this month. I'm setting up an identical system to yours, and this is the skimmer I'm going to run. I just put myself on the waiting list at $799 plus free shipping. Best skimmer I've found for the money.

[sjm817]

sunfish11 wants an in sump skimmer. The Orca is nice, but not for in sump use.