Help decide new skimmer
 

Hello I have to get a better skimmer. It has to be in sump and money does have a limit. I have a 300 gallon high bio load. One issue I have is my sump is a standard 55 gallon which I really can't change. I have really come down to two skimmers I am looking at:

The RLSS (Reef Life Support System) R8-i 8" Internal Cone Skimmer
Rated for 264-528 gallons (1000-2000 liters)
This is one of the new DC controllable pump models
http://reefsupplycanada.com/cgi-bin/...ada&item=59251

Or
The SRO (Super Reef Octopus) 5000SSS
I need the space saver model due to how narrow the 55 gallons is.
Rated up to 400gal.
http://www.goreef.com/Super-Reef-Oct...0-Gallons.html

I am leaning towards the SRO just due to its has been around and tested. From the what I have read is a solid skimmer that is well like.
I am really interested thought in the new RLSS but not really sure I believe the rating when its looks to be such a small skimmer. Also with is being such a new tech not sure about jumping on the band wagon but from what I have read the few people who have it really like it and the pump apparently is dead silent which I am looking for a really quiet skimmer. From what I have been reading the size of the skimmer is not as important as the air rating hence the rlss rating.

What do you think?

I don't think you can go wrong with either skimmer. The RLSS looks to be very good quality and built similar to a Bubble King. The SRO is also a well trusted brand so I think either would do the trick. Good luck with whatever one you choose!

Advanced Aquarist did a nice write up of the RLSS skimmers, those DC pumps seem to be all the rage these days. If I were picking I'd probably go with that one, though I'd want to hear from someone on how much noise either of them made first.

i have the rlss r6i and can't hear a thing, so i would suspect the r8i will be the same

How's the DC pump? Do you ever find yourself adjusting the pump speed?

rlss all the way:)

its not bad, i just adjust it once when i first started to get a thicker skimmate by lowering the power to get more bubbles in the cup lol. i just like the feed feature so while feeding frozen food, my skimmer doesn't go crazy and overflow. so far i'm loving it, skimmate is a lot thicker

Do you guys believe the ratings of what size of systems these can handle. There have been many past skimmer that people have found out where way over rated.

Just more food for thought concerning the ratings. When you look at these using the same dc pumps and even more air the ratings are a lot less the rlss skimmers.

http://coralvue.com/pro-openvolute-protein-skimmer/

Wondering, what is the benefit to having a skimmer with variable speed pump?
R.

well for me theres a few.

one is upgrading since these skimmers are rated for such a wide rating and the body small i am going with a dc skimmer for 75 g cubes and if i upgrade i just turn it up to a faster speed, i havent had a chance to put this to use yet but we will see.i use a r10-i at the store on a 400g system and its outperformed my expectations so far.

the variable speed also helps tune the skimmer

i know if i run it on a low setting say speed 2-3 and i have an issue with a bubble tip ending up in my powerhead then having the ability to turn my skimmer up helps alot as well.

the amount of air and water these take in massive , so if i am treating with something that requires extra oxygen in the water i can take off the top , turn up the rpm's and increase the amount of air.

cleaning the skimmer neck is easy with a 10min feed push button that doesnt need to be pushed again to restart.

i like the fact that these pumps ramp up and down to speed so they have a soft start:)