Protein skimmer for 125g reef

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sparky5785

New member
Hi everyone I am looking for input on skimmer selection for a 125g with 33g long sump system. The skimmer chamber in the sump will be 11.5"x16.5" with a water depth of 8". The inside height of my stand is 25.5" so 24" is pretty much the maximum height for a skimmer in my sump. I am looking around the $300 area. The two options I have found so far are the Reef Octopus NWB-200 and the Skimz SM-161. Here is info on each one.

http://www.aquacave.com/SKIMZ-SM-161-Monzter-E-Series-In-Sump-Protein-Skimmer-P3237.aspx

http://www.aquacave.com/Reef-Octopus-NWB-200-Needle-Wheel-Protein-Skimmer-P452.aspx


Would you recommend one or the other or something different and why?

Thank you in advance.

Sent from the third galaxy.
 
I own the nwb-200, it works good for me. I'm running it on a 180g. Also like I can upgrade to pump to a DC5000 pump later on when I need more power. I got it on sale for about $205 two years ago.
 
I own a Skimz and although it skims really well, I'm not impressed with the mechanism for adjusting the water level. Sometimes it sticks when I'm adjusting it. Not a huge deal. Otherwise a great skimmer.
 
I own Skimz as well and it is a real great skimmer for me. Skim very well, it is completely quiet and very easy to adjust. I don't have any sticking problem with mine. I really like the design of output being on the bottom of base, no microbubbles are entering my sump from it.
 
EricTheRed said:
I own a Skimz and although it skims really well, I'm not impressed with the mechanism for adjusting the water level. Sometimes it sticks when I'm adjusting it. Not a huge deal. Otherwise a great skimmer.
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MMreef said:
I own Skimz as well and it is a real great skimmer for me. Skim very well, it is completely quiet and very easy to adjust. I don't have any sticking problem with mine. I really like the design of output being on the bottom of base, no microbubbles are entering my sump from it.
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For you guys that run a Skimz, which model do you have? Do you think they are overrated at all? The sm-161 is supposedly rated up to 320g but the body diameter is only 6.4" and it pulls 780 lph of air. That's not much for 300+ gallons. I'm thinking the sm-161 should be rated more like 250g based on those numbers which would put it right at 2x my water volume and right in the sweet spot I'm looking for. What do you think?

Sent from the third galaxy.
 
All skimmers are overrated, but Skimz takes it to another level. Of those two skimmers, Octopus is bigger, pulls more air, and moves more water. I have the same Octo skimmer but with the Sicce 1000 pump. No complaints.
 
I always get a skimmer that's at least rated double then my water volume. On my 120 gal. SPS with 40 gal. sump and heavy stocked I had the SM-201 model, I think it is perfect sized for. I would think that for your 300 gal. the sm-161 would be way undersized.
 
MMreef said:
I always get a skimmer that's at least rated double then my water volume. On my 120 gal. SPS with 40 gal. sump and heavy stocked I had the SM-201 model, I think it is perfect sized for. I would think that for your 300 gal. the sm-161 would be way undersized.
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No Mark I only have a 125g I'm saying that the body diameter and air pull seems low for a skimmer rated at 300+ gallons. Sorry if I was not clear. I was just wondering if the skimz are more overrated than others or if there is something special about them to deserve such a high rating.

Sent from the third galaxy.
 
Skimz are accurately rated for the tank size they are advertised for. They do not fiddle the numbers for peak capacity on a minimally stocked tank for bragging rights.
 
sparky5785 said:
Thanks George. Isnt that the same as the mf-161 that you had/have?

Sent from the third galaxy.
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I still have the mf201 on my 180g, and it works fantastic. I could easily see it running on a tank double the size I have. But yes, the Skimz and Warner Marine skimmers are identical except for the white acrylics on the Skimz and blue acrylics on the Warner. The Warner series also have a slightly refined bubble plate with counterbored holes, but not too significant a difference.
 
I agree with George, I thought you have 300 gal. The sm-161 should be enough. I went with bigger model due to heavily stocked SPS tank and bacteria driven system that required heavy skimming.
 
FishBeard said:
I still have the mf201 on my 180g, and it works fantastic. I could easily see it running on a tank double the size I have. But yes, the Skimz and Warner Marine skimmers are identical except for the white acrylics on the Skimz and blue acrylics on the Warner. The Warner series also have a slightly refined bubble plate with counterbored holes, but not too significant a difference.
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MMreef said:
I agree with George, I thought you have 300 gal. The sm-161 should be enough. I went with bigger model due to heavily stocked SPS tank and bacteria driven system that required heavy skimming.
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Thanks guys I think the Skimz SM-161 might be the way to go for me I like the small footprint operating water depth quiet efficient pump and shortness of it a lot. And for $350 compared to the other big names that also a plus unless there's something else out there that performs really well and is somewhat economical. Lol.:p

Sent from the third galaxy.
 
I have the Skimz 201 and like it a lot. There was a small break-in period, but it really produces. It is affected by changes in the sump water level, so make sure your ato is up to par or make sure it is in a section of your sump that does not change depth with evaporation. I plan on redesigning my sump soon to deal with this (amongst other things that would make my sump more ideal). Mostly, I'm just sick of filter socks.

I end up tweaking the SKIMZ almost daily, but I clean out the cup almost daily anyway.
 
Sawdonkey said:
I have the Skimz 201 and like it a lot. There was a small break-in period, but it really produces. It is affected by changes in the sump water level, so make sure your ato is up to par or make sure it is in a section of your sump that does not change depth with evaporation. I plan on redesigning my sump soon to deal with this (amongst other things that would make my sump more ideal). Mostly, I'm just sick of filter socks.

I end up tweaking the SKIMZ almost daily, but I clean out the cup almost daily anyway.
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Dial it back a bit, run the air silencer wide open and get your bubble production to just above the bayonette for the collection cup. You shouldn't be dumping the 201 collection cup daily. That's like over a gallon of water! I maybe dump a gallon or two every couple weeks.
 
That's how I have it set up. I'm not dumping a full cup daily. Maybe 1/4 cup per day. I just like to keep the cup clean in case of a bubble-over. I don't want that crap to go back in my tank. My ATO is only 5 gal, so when I don't remember to fill it, the water level drops and the skimmer stops producing until I adjust it. Sometimes I over adjust and it bubbles over.

BTW George, the carpet moved with my help, and he is now front and center and looking good! (for now)

FishBeard said:
Dial it back a bit, run the air silencer wide open and get your bubble production to just above the bayonette for the collection cup. You shouldn't be dumping the 201 collection cup daily. That's like over a gallon of water! I maybe dump a gallon or two every couple weeks.
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I run the 201 on my 90G ;)

Overkill, but I figured I wouldn't have to worry about getting a bigger skimmer if I get a bigger tank. i get about an inch of skimmate every few days but I no longer have a heavy fish-load so i wouldn't expect much more. I'm no longer running an ulns so I don't worry about over-skimming, which is debateably considered a myth by some anyway...
 
Thanks everybody for their input. I must say I am surprised not many people were recommending the Reef Octopus. I was almost certain they were seen as the best bang for your buck out there. Any other input is welcomed otherwise Skimz is winning the battle at this point.

Sent from the third galaxy.
 
Sro2000int is also a very solid skimmer for the price. The innovative design of the Skimz/Warner makes it a nice option. I have it in the same chamber as my return pump and get no micro bubbles out of the skimmer I to the display.
 
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