Which skimmer - RO XS160 or 1000SSS?

[sleepyreef]

I upgraded my tank, and now I need an upgraded skimmer.

I have narrowed down to two that are equal price:

http://coralvue.com/ext160/">REEF OCTOPUS DIABLO 160 XS</a>

[IMG]http://coralvue.com/xp1000sss/">SUPER REEF XP1000SSS</a>

Since it is equal price (the xp1000sss is normally about $40 more but on sale) I am trying to decide which is better.

I have an 80 gallon mixed reef aquarium. I am looking for opinions from others that have had experience with either skimmer.

 

[glxtrix]

<span style="color: #000000">XP1000 - </span>In my oppinion...the bubble blaster pump is muuuuuch better.

 

[spankdog]

I went with the SRO-1000INT which is similar to the SSS. Chose the SRO because of the bubble blaster pump....

 

[seth the wine guy]

Are you going with the SSS because you have a small footprint to work with? Also means less area in the reaction chamber.

 

[sleepyreef]

I was leaning towards the SSS because I have a 20 gal long sump. Also when I researched the 1000INT, many people were talking about how you had to mod the air intake and trim the riser pipe for the gate valve down. I don't want to pay $300 for something and then have to mod it right out of the box.

Also the SSS is only $15 more than the 1000INT and takes up less space. I could be wrong so I am grateful for any opinions. My current skimmer is a hydor slim skim, so I have no experience with in sump skimmers.

I had to downgrade from a 40b to a 20 long sump because the 40b was too tall for my stand. With the 40b I would have only had about 4-5in clearance to get anything in and out.

 

[realfish]

I have the 5000SSS and really like it. You do lose a very small (1/4") portion of the reaction chamber because the pump exit basically sits at the same height on both. I am most concerned about contact time between air and water not the volume of water in the chamber. The bubble blaster pump has far superior production that the one on the Diablo. I've not run a Diablo, but I did run an almost identical version made by MRC which had higher quality fittings. I never really like it and tried to retrofit a couple different pumps that I could never get to work very well.

 

[chris s]

I had a XP1000SSS on my last tank. I currently run a 160XS. I really like the 1000SSS, it would be my first choice of the two. The bubble blaster pumps are really nice. As soon as the psk600 gives out on my 160XS it's getting a bubble blaster. Both are good skimmers but the 1000SSS should work better for you. Mine was on a heavily stocked 65 and it was awesome. Thick, dark skimmate and no adjustment once it was dialed in. The 160XS is on my 120. It does ok but I feel like it could be doing more. It also produces dark skimmate but not the same quantity. That's why there is a bubble blaster pump in its future. Looking back I probably should have kept the 1000SSS and gave it a chance on the 120.

Either skimmer will do the job but I'd lean towards the 1000SSS because of the bubble blaster pump. It has better air pulling numbers and really produces foam.

 

[sleepyreef]

I was leaning towards the 1000SSS before posting this topic, and you all are just reinforcing my lean.