Heater & Skimmer help!

[Brando457]

Wondering what everyone would recommend as far as a skimmer and a heater for a 180g tank w/ a 75g sump.

Tank will have approximately 180 pounds of rock and be heavily stocked w/ tangs and angels, very little corals if any at all.

Thanks!

I have been pulling my hair out trying to determine which skimmer to get my for my 180g FOWLR w/ 75g sump heavily stocked. I have narrowed it down to these based on various searches and reading reviews.

skimz Sm201 - $450 rated up to 214 - 533g

ATI Bubble Master 200 - $600 rated up 250g

Super Reef Octopus SRO 3000 INT - $415 rated up to 300g

JNS Sk3 - $479 rated up to 581g

Vertex IN-180 - $300 - rated up to 180g

Super Reef Octopus XP 3000 - $590 - rated up to 300g

Bubble Magus BM-220A - $280 - rated up to 260-396g

I figure bioload will be a mix of angels, tangs, smaller fish, wrasses, and other heavy eaters.

 

[Lostinthedark]

Without corals you dont have to go crazy on a skimmer. A super Reef Octopus
XS200 should be perfect. As for heaters it depends on your house. Two 300w heaters, one each in the fuge and the tank should be enough. I have the Jagers for a while with no problem.

 

[Awibrandy]

Jager heaters on a separate temp controller for safety issues!!

Skimmer depends on how much you have to spend.

 

[Brando457]

Spend I'd prefer under $500, but willing to spend extra if it is worth it.

I have a neptune apex system so that will control the temperature. Heater in the display? I always thought keep the heaters in the sump w/ the temp probe?

 

[thirty6]

brando, i am going to go with 2 300w heaters on a controller, i went with the same skimmer raysking is selling ASMg3, . i havent decided on return pump yet, what are you going to use? my sump is a bit smaller though

 

[Brando457]

2 300w heaters it is, dude ASM G3 is good, but old technology and an energy hog!

Return pump I'm using my eheim 1262 and think I'm going to spring for a vortech mp40. Since I have the center overflow on the left side I figure point the returns down against the one wall and let the vortech and it fight?

 

[Brando457]

Oh and I decided to do the tank in wall, if you want to stop by when you're feeling better you can see!

 

[thirty6]

yeah, i know it skimmer is older, was good deal might look to swap pump in time

 

[Brando457]

You going to do a reef or a fowlr aggressive? I know you like the triggers.

 

[thirty6]

leaning toward fowlr, but im sure i will add corals in time. i do like the trigs and wrasses, some angels too.... i really like the clown tang, but i dont think the 180 will do.

 

[Brando457]

Clown tangs are VERY aggressive, if I was to do one it would be the VERY last fish.

I posted my stocking list over on NJRC, I should probably do a tale of the tank thread here too.

 

[thirty6]

yep, i probly wont do a tang and if i do it wont be for a long time

 

[Brando457]

updated first post

I have been pulling my hair out trying to determine which skimmer to get my for my 180g FOWLR w/ 75g sump heavily stocked. I have narrowed it down to these based on various searches and reading reviews.

skimz Sm201 - $450 rated up to 214 - 533g

ATI Bubble Master 200 - $600 rated up 250g

Super Reef Octopus SRO 3000 INT - $415 rated up to 300g

JNS Sk3 - $479 rated up to 581g

Vertex IN-180 - $300 - rated up to 180g

Super Reef Octopus XP 3000 - $590 - rated up to 300g

Bubble Magus BM-220A - $280 - rated up to 260-396g

I figure bioload will be a mix of angels, tangs, smaller fish, wrasses, and other heavy eaters.

 

[E.intheC]

skimz Sm201 - $450 rated up to 214 - 533g

Super Reef Octopus SRO 3000 INT - $415 rated up to 300g

JNS Sk3 - $479 rated up to 581g

Super Reef Octopus XP 3000 - $590 - rated up to 300g

You'll be fine with any of the above skimmers.

 

[Brando457]

At that point I'd probably do the JNS or Skimz since they're middle priced and seem to perform well.

 

[Coral Theory]

Skimmer: Alpha Vertex 170

Heater: (2) Eheim 300W

Return Pump: Eheim 1262 (might want a bigger return pump though)

These would be my choices.

 

[Brando457]

Skimmer: Alpha Vertex 170

Heater: (2) Eheim 300W

Return Pump: Eheim 1262 (might want a bigger return pump though)

These would be my choices.

Lmao the Skimmer is $750!! Doh!

Decided I'm going to dump the eheim 1262 and do a Water Blaster HY7000W. The Eheim uses 80 watts of power and moves approx 900 gph at 0 head. The WB HY7000W uses 88 watts and moves 1800 gph at 0 head.

Skimmer it is between the JNS, Skimz, and SRO 3000

 

[Coral Theory]

Water Blasters are nice pumps.

I still vote for the Alpha Skimmer. LOL

 

[Brando457]

Water Blasters are nice pumps.

I still vote for the Alpha Skimmer. LOL

Buy me the skimmer and I'll send you thirty5 :tongue1:

 

[mbg75]

Check out seaside aquatics. They are copies of bubble magus skimmers but With upgraded pumps