Best skimmer out there?

[Milad]

So is there a site that ranks skimmers?
Im eyeing BKs, ASM G6 and even thinking on a DIY

If you had the room what would you go with? Is there downfall to some designs?

[sphelps]

Can't go wrong with a BK but many others will get the job done. The new vertex line is pretty nice, using the same pumps as BK and sell for less. Euro-reefs or ASM are a more economical choice but can tend to be noisy and less consistent.

Basically buy whatever your budget allows for. Great tanks are not based on the type of skimmer you use.

[lastlight]

So long as the skimmer is sized accordingly I really believe most skimmer brands will get it done with some being slightly better than others.

If you want silence or a better pump you pay FAR more. The better pumps also come on the skimmers with cell-cast acrylic and machined parts rather than cheaper extruded. They also come with other subtle features that may boost performance a little but I don't believe your value increases proportionally to the cost. If your fancy pump fails (as mine did before you even have the skimmer running) then it can be a real hassle getting it repaired or replaced too.

I can appreciate why someone would want a BK afterall I saved like a dog to get one. Now that I've bought into the mid-range market with everything on my current tank I find that's what's best for me and I'll do the same next time. I prefer having more money for livestock and chemicals etc.

Just my 0.02

[Slick Fork]

As lastlight mentioned, depends on your budget. I'd recommend a nice midrange vertex or Bubble Magus. Consider what a "High-End" skimmer costs and decide if the extra $500-$2000 could be better spent elsewhere. My vertex (Gen1) pump is not the quietest or most energy efficient but the money I didn't spend on a super fancy gold plated skimmer pump is money I have to spend elsewhere on my system (IE a really nice controller or better lights, etc.).

[lastlight]

Well yeah if I didn't have to save and scrimp for a build and I was well off nothing I said would apply. I'm sure I'd go high-end once more.

[sphelps]

Where do you get a gold plated skimmer pump from? I want one!

[globaldesigns]

I do love my Hydor 1000, it is a great recirc skimmer, and high quality. With one input pump and 2 recirc pumps, it does a great job in a very small footprint.

[Kevotron]

I personally like Bubble Magus, super economical and gets the job done...

[KevinK]

I run a DIY skimmer on my 450 gal total water volume

guided by the aqua medict turbo fl. 5000, it is

6 feet tall,
8 inch clear pipe
uses 160W in power
and pushes 3500 L of air into it,

skimmer is runing great, a tweek here and there once in a while, more becouse I feel like it (to se if it could run even better) than that it has to, as it is running fine, and paremeters in tank are all in check

cost, far, far, far below any other skimmer for a tank this size, I think I can build 5 for the cost of one fair brand name.

when you have the space, and dont mind a DIY project, than go for it.

maintanance wise, I clean the cup each 2 to 3 days, as I like to keep it clean and viseble what is happening --- and thats it

I cant upload the pic. I want, as it only alows 600 x 400 (a wide picture) and not a standing picture of 360x 550, se my photo album under my profile for the picture, it is in there

[Milad]

Originally Posted by KevinK

I run a DIY skimmer on my 450 gal total water volume

guided by the aqua medict turbo fl. 5000, it is

6 feet tall,
8 inch clear pipe
uses 160W in power
and pushes 3500 L of air into it,

skimmer is runing great, a tweek here and there once in a while, more becouse I feel like it (to se if it could run even better) than that it has to, as it is running fine, and paremeters in tank are all in check

cost, far, far, far below any other skimmer for a tank this size, I think I can build 5 for the cost of one fair brand name.

when you have the space, and dont mind a DIY project, than go for it.

maintanance wise, I clean the cup each 2 to 3 days, as I like to keep it clean and viseble what is happening --- and thats it

I cant upload the pic. I want, as it only alows 600 x 400 (a wide picture) and not a standing picture of 360x 550, se my photo album under my profile for the picture, it is in there

where did you find the plans for that skimmer?