Skimmer for a 180 (1 Viewer)

[Jasonc]

I'm lost! I've looked and looked and can't make up my mind on which skimmer I want on my 180. Can you guys point me in the right direction?

Tank - 6 x 2 x 2
Sump - 36 x 16 - still haven't bought it yet so this may change

I've got 500-600 budgeted on the skimmer. Which skimmer would you guys/gals recommend?

Thanks!

 

[flipside]

I like This One but would probably consider This One. That's all the skimmer you'll ever need.

 

[Jamie9169]

The Super Reef Octopus XP 2000 is a great skimmer for a tank that size. Cliner on here has one on his and he credits it with being the best skimmer he ever had.

 

[Jasonc]

Those two skimmers - the skimz and the SRO were the two that I was looking at.

On the SRO - would you do the 2000 or the 3000?


Any other less common brands I should be looking at?

 

[mwilliams62]

I have been looking at this one for my future 180 tank that I am wanting to buy:
http://www.aquacave.com/precision-marine-red-line-br-200-protein-skimmer--2301.html and this sump/refug.:
http://www.aquacave.com/r36-plus-refugium-br-by-precision-marine-2303.html
but my mind is always changing so no telling what I will end up with...

 

[Slayer311]

I have a 180 and am saving up to buy the SRO xp 3000 myself, but either would be fine. How heavy of a bioload are you keeping?

 

[Jasonc]

In looking at the recommendations I'll have to go the 3000.

As far as stocking...unfortunately I can't contain myself and have a tendency to stock heavy. With this tank I'm wanting to keep genocanthus angels, tinkeri complex butterflies, wrasses and the standard algae grazers tossed in for house keeping. Coral wise it'll be 80% sps with a the rest being mix of LPS and softies for some movement (and to keep the Mrs. happy).

 

[Slayer311]

I would definately recommend the 3000 then. If you plan to keep a heavy bioload and still want to keep sps then you really want the extra skimming power... We tend to keep a very heavy bioload in our 180 as well as sps also and that is why I am wanting the SRO xp 3000.

 

[DMAX]

I have a xp3000 on my 180 and love it. Thing is a beast!

 

[CBBSteve]

Hi, Jasonc.
My advice to anyone planning to buy a skimmer is to make SURE you can get parts for that pump or a replacement pump. You can get the best designed skimmer ever made, but when the pump goes down, and it will eventually, all that great plastic work will be useless until you get the pump back up.

good luck,
Steve

 

[steved350]

I am currently running a SRO XP3000 EXT on my 265g total water volume reef. This skimmer does a very good job. I would say I am light to medium bioloaded. It seems to perform better the more load I put on it.

 

[Jasonc]

That thing is a beast Steve!

I'm trying not to get to excited....I've got all of my fish sold out of the 180 and am in the process of cleaning it up and getting it ready. Next step is getting a RODI unit, skimmer, sump and rock. Can't wait!

 

[DMAX]

Hi, Jasonc.
My advice to anyone planning to buy a skimmer is to make SURE you can get parts for that pump or a replacement pump. You can get the best designed skimmer ever made, but when the pump goes down, and it will eventually, all that great plastic work will be useless until you get the pump back up.

good luck,
Steve

I had my pump shaft swell inside the pump housing and it froze the pump. Called Coralvue and shipped it out overnight to
louisiana. They replaced it and had it back in three days total. I was amazed that they repaired it and had it back so fast.

 

[cliner]

The RO Extreme 200 does a fabulous job on my 200 gallon system. Similiar experience to Steve, runs better with a heavy load. My fish are fat and healthy. Is the best skimmer I've used so far. Just my .02

 

[cliner]

Sorry so late on the subject.

 

[RR-MAN]

I'm very happy with the Cone Reef Octo 3000 with the bubble blaster pump.

 

[Jasonc]

That is what I ended up going with (SRO 3000 internal).

How deep are you guys running the 3000?

 

[RR-MAN]

That is what I ended up going with (SRO 3000 internal).

How deep are you guys running the 3000?

Cool, you can keep a big fish load now.

Mine sits in 7" of water. I'm glad it comes with a nice gate valve which makes water level adjustment in the reactor simple.

 

[andrew7b]

I have a vertex alpha cone 200 on my son tank. I'm happy with it so far.