Skimmer for 225g

[vanished88]

So I have started trying to decide which skimmer to get for my 225g. I was considering an MR-2 skimmer from MRC but after reading the specs on them I dont believe I will be able to accommodate it in my stand. The specs sheet says it should set above the waterline of the sump and with my stand only being 34" tall I dont think I can get it to fit. Has anyone had any experience with them setup as insump skimmers, if so how deeply can they sit in the water to function properly? I have also been reading about the super reef octapus skimmers (am considering the SRO 5000int). Would this skimmer be a better choice for my application? Anyone here use them or have experince with them? I am open to suggestions on other makes/models of skimmers, but would like to stay in the $400-$600 range. I dont want to buy a cheap skimmer that will fall apart, but at the same time I don't know if i can justify spending $1000+ on a skimmer before I even have anything in the tank (for that matter the tank is not even delivered yet LoL). Is my price range a good starting point for a decent skimmer that I will be able to use for a few years? I have a feeling this is like anything else, you get what you pay for, but its no a linear improvement. i.e. when you start getting into "highend products" the price climbs faster than the actual quality of the product. Any help would be appreciated = )

 

[thanh386]

The octopus series is not bad.

 

[atlfishes]

There is a new skimmer coming out called the ATI PowerCone. I was going to go Octopus, but decided to pre-order one of these. Hopefully they will get it right by the time it is released in the US.

 

[tito]

you got pm

 

[reefkeeper]

The cone technology is where it's at these days based on all the reviews and input of the all the experts. Most skimmer companies all buy there cones from the same companies in China. What separates them apart is the pumps that each skimmer company uses.

Bubble King and Royal Alpha Exec skimmers appear to be on everyone favorite list. But as you know the skimmers are a bit pricey and it's hard to justify paying over $1800.

Most of the affordable high performance skimmers, such as Octopus and SWC, use various style pumps, such as Bubble Blaster, Sicce, Askoll. These pumps are designed to draw minimal wattage and pull lots of air. Depending on the pump, the wattage will range from 25-50 watts per pump. The cone design allows optimal performance.

I read lots of reported issues on the Sicce and Bubble Blasters pumps. Both pumps have gone through some upgrades to improve maximum performance. The Bubble Blaster has upgraded there pumps with a silicone nitride shaft and bearings. This appears to have resolved most of the issues reported. As for the Sicce, I've read and heard of reports of turbulence with the needlewheel and they too have upgraded there pumps. The reports still show that Sicce is still reporting start up issues with the pumps even after the upgrades.

After careful consideration and research, I decided to go with the Reef Octopus External XP-5000 cone skimmer with the new Bubble Blaster pump. I just received it yesterday and it hasn't even hit the water yet.

I presently run a Euro Reef RC250 recirculating skimmer on my system at the moment and I simply love this skimmer and the performance is simply outstanding. I would have loved to have purchased newer ER recir. skimmer, but there priced similar to the Bubble King and Royal Alpha's.

Even though my skimmer is external, the performance should be the same with the internal model. Your welcome to come see my skimmer in action when it's hooked up. Hopefully you can get a better idea after you see mine operating.

 

[ichthyoid]

This is a great buy, IMO.