What type of skimmer?

[masterkaw]

Ok, I'm debating on what skimmer to buy for 72 gallon tank. I'm planning on going reef with it. I have a good offer on a near new MR-2 skimmer(myreefscreations.com), for $250 with pump. Or, should I get a AquaC EV-180? I could get the AquaC for around $300, without the pump. I currently have a AquaC Remora that does a good job and it is fairly silent. The MR-2 skimmer is rated for 300 gallons. But, I'm not sure if it is a loud skimmer, which I'm trying to stay away from anything that is loud. So basically what I'm looking for is a decent skimmer that is not too noisy. Do you guys reccommend either one or do you guys have a better option for me?:help:

[Amphiprion]

Look into the Octopus skimmers. They have similar (or slightly better) performance and less operating costs.

[masterkaw]

Look into the Octopus skimmers. They have similar (or slightly better) performance and less operating costs.
What do you mean by "less operating costs"? Do you mean less power consumption?

[Amphiprion]

Yes. Their needlewheel pumps don't use as much energy. The same goes for almost any of the needlewheel skimmers. I just like the octopus line's price vs. performance.

[Fishieness]

How much are you looking to spend and what are you planning on doing with yoru system: IE: barebottom, mixed reef, softy tank, sps, and hi or low fish load.
:)

[masterkaw]

How much are you looking to spend and what are you planning on doing with yoru system: IE: barebottom, mixed reef, softy tank, sps, and hi or low fish load.
:)
I want to spend around $250. If it is more, then I would have to wait to save some money.

I want to have a reef of softy corals to start. I want to have about five maybe six small fish, don't know which one yet. Did that answered your question? I'm new at this.

[Amphiprion]

The price range is ok for the octopus skimmers. Honestly, I oversize my skimmers regardless of load, etc. It just makes things a bit easier, IMO. An appropriately sized octopus skimmer (especially the recirculating kind) would handle almost any of your needs easily.

[masterkaw]

The price range is ok for the octopus skimmers. Honestly, I oversize my skimmers regardless of load, etc. It just makes things a bit easier, IMO. An appropriately sized octopus skimmer (especially the recirculating kind) would handle almost any of your needs easily.
Is the octopus skimmer quiet? What is recirculating?

[Amphiprion]

They run reasonably quiet--quieter than the skimmers you were looking into, for sure.

As far as normal needlewheels skimmers vs. recirculating ones, I'll have to hunt down some images to give you a good idea of what I am talking about... In the end, basically the recirculating skimmers are more efficient per pass than the normal ones. They also consume slightly less electricity.

[Fishieness]

i woudl agree with amph. For an in-sump skimmer in that price range and for a tank that sized, I would also go with an octopus. Get the largest you possibly can.

And Amph: I also agree with you about over-sizing skimmers. I have a deltec on my 10 gallon :P

[Amphiprion]

Which model? I love my APF600--by far the best skimmer I have ever owned. I'd recommend them to everyone, as long as they don't mind the price tag that goes with them.

[masterkaw]

Ok, I going to start looking for an Octopus skimmer recirculating. I want to keep the skimmer external, can I put the skimmer next to the sump? The sump tank is not drilled, can I plump the skimmer to go over the top and into the tank? Is this possible or is there a different way of doing it?

[masterkaw]

Do you know where I could buy the Octopus skimmer? Which model should I buy? The 150 recirculating? or, the 200 recirculating? for my 72 gallon tank with a 29 gallon sump

[Amphiprion]

Do you know where I could buy the Octopus skimmer? Which model should I buy? The 150 recirculating? or, the 200 recirculating? for my 72 gallon tank with a 29 gallon sump

Do a google search-- many places carry them. I can think of AquaCave off the top of my head... I think the 150 will be plenty, but if you have the room for the 200, I say go for it.

[wellsm2]

I would recommend an Octopus skimmer over an AquaC EV-!80. I had both and the Octopus has by far outperformed the AquaC. I think one of the major problems with the AquaC is that they are all handmade and some people seem to have great experiences while others seem to get stuck. Mine did work reasonably well but not as good as the Octopus.

[masterkaw]

Do a google search-- many places carry them. I can think of AquaCave off the top of my head... I think the 150 will be plenty, but if you have the room for the 200, I say go for it.
Amp,
I want to keep the skimmer external, can I put the skimmer next to the sump? The sump tank is not drilled, can I plumb the skimmer to go over the top of the sump and in? Is this possible or is there a different way of doing it?

[masterkaw]

I would recommend an Octopus skimmer over an AquaC EV-!80. I had both and the Octopus has by far outperformed the AquaC. I think one of the major problems with the AquaC is that they are all handmade and some people seem to have great experiences while others seem to get stuck. Mine did work reasonably well but not as good as the Octopus.
Wellsm2, thank you for sharing your experience with both of these. I was really looking into buying the AquaC EV-180 until now. I been doing research on the octopus and I hear many good things about it. What model of the Octopus skimmers do you have? Is it quiet?

[Fishieness]

Which model? I love my APF600--by far the best skimmer I have ever owned. I'd recommend them to everyone, as long as they don't mind the price tag that goes with them.

Haha. Even I would say that model would be overkill for my tank. There would be more water in the skimmer than in my sump... But if I had a spare, I would still probably hook it up :P
I have the smaller variety, the MC500, but it is still greatly oversized.

MasterKaw: You can definitely figure something out on how hook it up outside your sump. It may be difficult with most models, especially the NW ones, but it could be done. You also wouldn't be able to keep it all too far from your sump.

[masterkaw]

Haha. Even I would say that model would be overkill for my tank. There would be more water in the skimmer than in my sump... But if I had a spare, I would still probably hook it up :P
I have the smaller variety, the MC500, but it is still greatly oversized.

MasterKaw: You can definitely figure something out on how hook it up outside your sump. It may be difficult with most models, especially the NW ones, but it could be done. You also wouldn't be able to keep it all too far from your sump.
fishieness, here is a diagram of how I'm planning how to do the plumbing from the skimmer to the sump. The picture is just to give you an idea, not actual. What do you think?

[Amphiprion]

That looks fine and should work without any issues. Additionally (and this is highly recommended), you can actually plumb the skimmer into the overflow, thus feeding it and negating the need for an extra pump. I recommend you T off the overflow pipe, with one end feeding the skimmer, the other feeding the 'fuge or sandbed, etc. That will make for higher efficiency for both.

[wellsm2]

I have the newer model of the Octopus NW-150. It took about a week to break in and about a month for it to really start cranking out skimmate.

[masterkaw]

I have the newer model of the Octopus NW-150. It took about a week to break in and about a month for it to really start cranking out skimmate.
Was there a lot of tweaking to get it working?

[masterkaw]

That looks fine and should work without any issues. Additionally (and this is highly recommended), you can actually plumb the skimmer into the overflow, thus feeding it and negating the need for an extra pump. I recommend you T off the overflow pipe, with one end feeding the skimmer, the other feeding the 'fuge or sandbed, etc. That will make for higher efficiency for both.
This is exactly what I was thinking of doing. My question would be, what size of overflow should I get? The fuge area is going to be approximately 16" Length, 11.75" Width, and 12" height. I don't have the return pump yet.

[wellsm2]

None at all once the break in period was over. I played with it a lot when I first got it because I am an extremely impatient person. But once it started working I raised the riser tube until the water reached the bottom of the collection cup and left it alone. I have not had to tweak it at all in the past three months. I do have an auto top off so the water in my sump is always at the same level and this really helps with not having to worry about playing with the skimmer.

[salty420]

not that it's necessary but i just wanted to add that i run the octopus 110 on my 75g. i didn't have a lot of cash to spend on a skimmer but am sooo happy with the 110 so you'd surely be happy with the larger model. my bio-load is light and i've got a 40g sump with 'fuge so that helps but my skimmer sure is great!

[Amphiprion]

This is exactly what I was thinking of doing. My question would be, what size of overflow should I get? The fuge area is going to be approximately 16" Length, 11.75" Width, and 12" height. I don't have the return pump yet.

Base it off of the recommended feed rate for the skimmer. Find how much it requires, add some for your 'fuge, and use a bulkhead/overflow calculator to give you the relative size you'll be looking for.

[Fishieness]

fishieness, here is a diagram of how I'm planning how to do the plumbing from the skimmer to the sump. The picture is just to give you an idea, not actual. What do you think?

That should work. However, I wouldnt have the wall of the sump be higher than the water-exit part of the skimmer, as that will automaticly raise the water level of the skimmer and keep it constantly high. You may have to play around with it a little to find where you want it.

[masterkaw]

That should work. However, I wouldnt have the wall of the sump be higher than the water-exit part of the skimmer, as that will automaticly raise the water level of the skimmer and keep it constantly high. You may have to play around with it a little to find where you want it.
So, I might have to raise the skimmer so the water coming out is dropping in the sump, correct?