Skimmer

Ok since it's around the New Year everyone wants to change something. I'm wanting to upgrade my skimmer. I'll look at new and used and I really only want to spend $150 or less. A DIY isn't out of the question but after trial and error it may cost as much or more than a new one.

I have just over a 100 gal. tank, no sump. It is drilled but all I have hooked to it is a canister filter. I have a hang on skimmer and a couple of HOB filters. The tank is mostly FOWLR but I do keep some rics in there too. Just looking for advice from the pro's out there.

Thanks!!!

.....or I could just make another order with RicordeaUSA and add to my stock

you should chat with luke...he's the skimmer king!

Thanks! Hopefully he'll be around soon.

I think its going to be slim pickens for a new skimmer for a 100g tank under $150. So i guess with no sump it has to be HOB right?

Heres an HOB for under $150 but i know nothing about it. Eshopps Hang-on Protein Skimmer w/pump

I was looking at that one too. I don't mind looking on ebay for some items too. I know it's not much to work with, but you have to use what's available.

I agree you will be very limited on choices for new. HOB skimmers IMHO are crap.

I have a Reef Octopus NW 150 that has a gate valve mod done to it that I might be able to sell. Someone else is first in line though. If he backs out I could sell it for $175 shipped.

Well I have a 30Gal long tank that I can use as a sump. I just don't want to fight to get it under my tank. Then I would have to invest in another pump. I know the HOB aren't as good but mine has a good consistant pull of crap every day and it's a cheapy.

look for used???

The buyer on my skimmer decided he needed more coral instead. So it is for sale.

There's not many hot's that can handle that large of a tank. The deltec mce600, swc hot extreme are going to be the only one's i'd say will work for that size of a tank. Your going to be better off using that 30g as a sump and getting an in sump skimmer. It will really make your tank more stable with a sump. You shouldn't run any mechanical filtration either. Just a sump, skimmer, fuge if you like and maybe a media reactor for carbon. The less chemical and mechanical filtration and the more natural filtration the better. So just live rock(bacterial filtration), lots of flow(ocean waves) and a skimmer(orp & waves crashing) is needed. To many people use to much media and mechanical filtration these days.

I hardly have any carbon in my canister filter and only put the floss in my hob filters. other than that I have about 100 lbs or so of live rock and a 4" DSB.

Skinz that's a nice skimmer but not quite what I'm looking for.

Store Protein Skimmers Standard Skimmers

Beautiful skimmer.

I think the sump option is probably best. I've been wanting to do that for a long time.

Your cheapest in sump skimmer would be the bubble magnus NAC6 for that size of tank. The NAC7 is the next step up and is a cone skimmer using the same pump. I have a NAC7 right now that is two weeks old. I plan on selling it for $175shipped after this weekend. I've been testing it. It seems to be working pretty good for a budget skimmer. Its not my first pick but if you only want to spend around 150bux its tough to beat. But i think your making a very wise decision to go with a sump : )

Also be careful with that dsb as they can bomb your tank in an instant......believe me ; ) The great crash of 2007 still haunts me

I've heard. I try to keep enough critters stirring it around so that I don't have to many problems. Next to the glass I stir is once a week to keep it clean. Lots of little snails stars crabs etc.

Yea those dsb's freak me out. If your tank all of a sudden starts to grow algae like wildfire you'll know what caused it. After 2yrs mine started leaching po4 like crazy, wiped out nearly all my sps. Its not fun pulling out 4" of sand in your display

holy crap. I couldn't imagine. I'm having a little diatom bloom lately. Maybe I need to check into that. It's not bad though and every time I change my filters it gets better so it's prolly not the DSB. I do love the looks of it when the coraline gets on the glass and mixes in with the sand.

Coraline....thats the worst man! I can't get that crap to stop over taking my tank!

BM NAC7. 500lph air, 18w, quiet as can be. Workin pretty good so far.

Here's what i've been testing the last couple weeks.