sps skimmer

[bigd51015]

i am wanting to start an sps tank but i don't know what kind or model of skimmer i should get. can anyone tell me about a god quality one that would work with sps's?

[Kip]

Originally posted by bigd51015
i am wanting to start an sps tank but i don't know what kind or model of skimmer i should get. can anyone tell me about a god quality one that would work with sps's?

god quality eh? :)

euroreef or euro clone is a good place to start

[funstarfish]

after dealing with mostly beckett style skimmers, i think recirculation/needlewheel skimmers are a better choice for tanks under maybe 300gallons. that puts you into euroreefs, deltecs, ASM, and any number of smaller manufacturers. most of the custom places like reefmania.net can build you one.

[Don Berry]

I've been very happy with my ASM G1-X. It was $205 and pulls out a great deal of waste.

[bskiba]

yes the asm's and the ER's are great but the sedra 3500 will be a better choice than the 2500 on the G-1 from ASM..

[jsweir]

I like my H&S needlewheel

[griffey83]

Euro Reef

[FastFish720]

Oh btw reefmania.net is no longer operating. Greg got a job in Houston so his last jobs will be completed and that's it.

[grim]

I like big becketts, that's just me. I don't care about "efficiency", and I don't care about size, why? Because those are comprimises, and I just won't comprimise.. In my book, a big beckett is always the first choice. Sure, there are all sorts of great skimmers, An old salt buddy of mine has an 8' tall, 8" diameter, blower driven airstone skimmer that I'll swear is one of the best I've ever seen (How does a 5g buckett of dark wet skimmate a day out of a 400g sound?).

There are lots of good choices on the market nowadays, many of them are relative bargains once you factor in the cost of materials and worksmanship.

Now, will the choice of one skimmer or another increase your chances of success with an SPS system? Absolutely not.

jb

[x_Eric_x]

Euro-Reef...

Thats all I have to say.

[JOSHUAB]

My Reef Creations MR-2, with dual injectors here, I love it!!!

[mortenN]

In a 55g SPS reef I will use Deltec APF600, you will be very happy with your SPS tank.

[masson]

asm g2 or g1x best bang for your buck :D

[Roll221]

My vote is Euro Reef also!!

Ed

[fishdoc11]

Decide whether you want a needlewheel or a becket (venturi is also another option but somewhat "outdated")then pick a good reputable brand and get a skimmer rated for at least twice your tank size(with some give or take depending on brand/type). Picking the best skimmer is kind of like picking the best way to run a reef tank......it's impossible. It is a very individualistic choice and different people prefer different brands/models for different reasons. Some brands with good reps are, in no particlar order:
Beckets:
Precision Marine
MRC
Barr Aquatics
ETSS
Needlewheels:
Euroreef
ASM
Geo
ASM
Deltec
H&S
Venturi/other:
Aqua C
Lifereef
I'm sure there are others I can't think of right now, those are just some examples. Good luck.....choosing a skimmer is kind of like choosing lighting. Ask questions.........Research, research, research.....ask more questions etc.........:D
Chris

[druluv]

I Like the AQUA-C 180

[gcarroll]

Originally posted by druluv
I Like the AQUA-C 180
I also use Aqua-C with no complaints.

[Project Reef]

Greg, why the change from the ATI skimmer?

[saltysooner]

check out marine depot euroreef es52

[clkwrk]

I love my ASM g-3 on my 120 . It consitantly pulls the nastiest smelling dark gunk everyday. My cs6-1 euro reef on my 90 has me shaking my head . I can't get a full cup a week . The sedra 3500 isn't enough . And yes I have the mod and gate valve and still dissapointing.

[ReefRockerLive]

clkwrk-you know, there's always a chance that your 90 doesn't have enough waste or organics to make a full cup and your 120 does.

IMO, Results may change if you increase bioload on the 90.

[clkwrk]

I agree but an age 7 year tank with a full grown clown, full grow bi color angle , unicor tang, bicolor dotty back and 2 red head wrasses. I think I have enough for my skimmer to pull out .

On the other hand my 120 with the ASM G3 is a new system , all rock has been cooked , my fish load is very light , powder blue tang, 4 solerenisis wrasses and 2 small cardinal fish .

So who knows I am not knocking Euro reef at all . I mean both asm and euro reef are basically the same just different plastic :) I think it is the pump match up that is it . So I am going to put a sedra 5000 on it in hopes of it pulling the gunk like my g-3.

[ReefRockerLive]

Let us know how that new pump on the ER works out for you.

[clkwrk]

I will . I think it will give me what I am looking for . But it didn't out of the box like my g3 did.

[astrea]

clkwrk,
Did the upgrade to sedra 5000 improve your Euroreef cs6-1.

[clkwrk]

No but taking the venturi adapter off and scraping out the air intake I am now blowing my G-3 away ;) I literally get a full cup of the darkest blackest stuff in 3-4 days. So dark a light right behind it wont lighten the color at all. What is weird is the deposit on the inside of the air intake was non noticeable . I only noticed it when I stuck a paper clip down there and it felt rough.

I have also replaced the g-3 on my sps tank with an ER 8-2

[astrea]

Thats amazing! You are talking about the CS6-1 right. I did the same today and awaiting results. How deep do you have your skimmer in the sump,where does the bubbles start turning into foam and approximately how many times does the water in your display go through the sump, also how is your bio load. Sorry to ask so many questions, I have had my CS6-1 since march and I am disappointed in the quantity of skimmate produced. Although it's dark and muddy with the low bioload I have, I still have a small algae problem.

[clkwrk]

Yes the 6-1 . I have mine in 11 inches of water . Foam starts at the bottom of the riser and literally fills the cup all the way around . So I have a bubble froth above my dark skimate which fills the cup. Right now my flow rate is matched very well. Water goes thru my overfow into my skimmer compartment and the skimmer puts it into my return section with a mag 7 going back to the tank no water overflows the skimmer baffle so in escence all water goes thru the skimmer.