BIG SKIMMER question?

[Big Tang]

I,m putting together a new system just wondering what you would suggest to use for a skimmer ?? The main display is 650 gallon reef with a 220 fowlr and about 350 gallons worth of sumps all tied together also i will be expanding in the future. So what would you suggest i go with or maybe build one?? thanks in advance

[Ryan L]

check out reef specialty.

octopus has a great huge model cone.

Ryan L

[no_bs]

+1

[Big Tang]

Thanks i,ll look into that one. Anyone else have any suggestions?

[steve fedyk]

The rk2 skimmers work be the best for you. here's a link

http://www.customaquatic.com/estore/control/product/~product=PS-RK25-PE

[mseepman]

I concur on the Reef Specialty Octo XP-8000 Cone skimmer. I think that this would handle your tanks....it's 38" tall and has crazy air numbers attached to it.

[albert_dao]

Bubbleking Supermarin 300 would skim that system EZ.

[no_bs]

That is a little under rated for that size system.
http://www.saltysupply.com/Bubble-King-Supermarin-300-p/bk5223.htm

[Big Tang]

I don,t want to buy two skimmers the bubble king is only rated for 790 and at $2000 grand a pop i,m thinking about 1600ish of water with every up and running .Should have told you all sooner of total water volume i was just wondering which other tank i was going with.So far i,m leaning towards the octopus 8000 any buddy else have any suggestions??

[burrows14]

Ive become a big fan of the super reef octopus skimmers! the bubble blaster pumps look awesome! Check out some of the vids on youtube:biggrin:

[no_bs]

http://www.aquariumspecialty.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=34_460_572&products_id=3917
http://www.aquariumspecialty.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=34_460_574&products_id=3111

[littlesilvermax]

My HUGE skimmer will easily do 1200 gallons or more.

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg194/littlebluegt/IMG_6546.jpg


Just dropped the price to $499.:mrgreen:

HUGE SKIMMER for sale (http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=60782)

[no_bs]

My HUGE skimmer will easily do 1200 gallons or more.

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg194/littlebluegt/IMG_6546.jpg


Just dropped the price to $499.:mrgreen:

HUGE SKIMMER for sale (http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=60782)

Nice price. Could you still add another chamber to that?

[Big Tang]

Thanks but no thanks i can build that exact skimmer for 50 bucks i probably have enough acrylic sitting around

[littlesilvermax]

Thanks but no thanks i can build that exact skimmer for 50 bucks i probably have enough acrylic sitting around


It is 54 inches tall. You could add another chamber to it. I powered it with a Blueline HD100, and it absolutely rocked it. For sure it could have powered it at another 18 inches in height, which would be 6 feet tall then!

Good luck with the build.

[Doug]

Thanks but no thanks i can build that exact skimmer for 50 bucks i probably have enough acrylic sitting around

So why dont you then ? Becketts, with the proper sized pumps will out most anything else. And for $50 less the pumps, cant beat the price. :smile:

[Ryan L]

Becketts = watts

Go for the octopus or bk.

RK2's were good skimmers in the 80's. Mazzei venturi injectors = ancient.

Although the octo's are chinese laguna copies they are saying good things about them on reef central and they have a 3 year waranty. I just think that the large octo cone best matches your application. No bias as I run a bk.

Ryan L

[Doug]

Ah yes but no more than a multi pump octopus or some others. And if one is building an 800g aquarium system, I would think 200w for a good pump on a good skimmer, {built for $50}, is a minor thing.

Now a BK monster like Mike had with the single RD pump. Very nice if one has the bucks. Does Octopus now make huge skimmers with a single pump. I never checked any for sometime now but the large one at SWC had 4 pumps, which I,m sure would be close to any Panworld/Blueline to run a beckett.

Or how about driving it with a large but lower powered direct drive pump.Not pressure rated but I know many driving becketts with them.

But what the heck do I know. I only have a 30g tank. :lol:

[Dez]

I like the Beckett skimmers. I run a 30" tall PM Bullet 3 on my 340 gallon system with my return pump T'd off. My return pump uses about 300 watts (running from the basement up to the main floor) and it runs my main tank, a 40 gallon frag tank, a 20 gallon frag tank and a Beckett skimmer. I'd say that's pretty efficient for running all of that. My pump was just over $260 shipped to my door (mind you I bought it on a promo deal). The skimmer is a set and forget type skimmer and I clean it once every couple of months (other than emptying my skimmate collection container once a week).

The Beckett Skimmer won't cost you $50 to make though even if you have all the acrylic. The beckett alone is about $20 I believe, and the gate valves are pricey. However, I have made Beckett skimmers that don't utilize a gate valve but use other water height adjustment techniques.

I guess the point of this post is that if noise isn't a concern, then becketts are awesome skimmers (the beckett skimmers tend to be a bit louder due to the amount of air that gets drawn in, but I guess you could employ various "muffler" strategies though).

[mseepman]

Funny enough, Octo does make a single pump big skimmer....XP-8000. At least if you think 38" tall is a big skimmer...haha.

[littlesilvermax]

I think the idea of electrical prices has a lot to do with where you live.

In Socal where it is about 24 cents a KW, then costs are huge. In much of Canada where costs are 6 cents a KW, then so much of an issue.

[albert_dao]

Supermarin 300 is rated to 1100 gallons... I don't know where Richard (Salty Supply) got that rating, but that's the one for the SM250 on his site.