Protein Skimmer ... Which one ?

[Sam1969]

how is the vertex ? is it noisy ?

[fkshiu]

Originally Posted by Sam1969

how is the vertex ? is it noisy ?

"Noisy" is a relative and subjective term. It is quite noisy compared to a "$1,200 piece of plastic with a pump" but it's not like you can't hear yourself think while one is on. It's best for you to see and listen to one in action to judge for yourself.

BTW, certain females I know will pay about $1,200 for a leather bag with the letters "LV" on it. I'd consider half cm-thick CNC-machined cast acrylic with an Italian/German designed pump w/titanium screws and impeller shafts a pretty good deal (relatively speaking, of course )

[banditpowdercoat]

Originally Posted by fkshiu

"Noisy" is a relative and subjective term. It is quite noisy compared to a "$1,200 piece of plastic with a pump" but it's not like you can't hear yourself think while one is on. It's best for you to see and listen to one in action to judge for yourself.

BTW, certain females I know will pay about $1,200 for a leather bag with the letters "LV" on it. I'd consider half cm-thick CNC-machined cast acrylic with an Italian/German designed pump w/titanium screws and impeller shafts a pretty good deal (relatively speaking, of course )

Now put a LV on the Acrylic and see what they will pay LOL

[michika]

Originally Posted by banditpowdercoat

Now put a LV on the Acrylic and see what they will pay LOL

Now don't tease! Its cruel! A skimmer that could match my purse collection.....oh the possibilities!

[RSM]

I have a coralife skimmer 125 on my 90 gal (33 or 40 gal sump) i just purchased from a friend and its just ok. It is quiet but the one thing i hate is how sensitive it is to water levels. You have to "dial in " almost everyday because of evaporation. This is were auto topoff system would come in handy.

[phillybean]

I'm using a ASM G3. I like it, but plan to mod it shortly.

I'd go with a MSX skimmer if I could re-do it (and I will when I get my 180 )

[michika]

I love both Octopus skimmer's I've used; NW-200 and the DDNW-250

Brand new the NW-200 is ~$220. The thing worked like a dream, and I never had any issues with it. I regret selling it. You can view them here.

[fencer]

Guide to skimmers
1. Buy what you can afford
2. Buy at least double the capacity
3. Choose between needle wheel and Beckett style
Becketts are better but are sensitive to water levels
4. Choose accordingly to what you want to put in the tank(SPS water quailty requirements are higher)

[reeferious]

call me a cheapo or whatever you want. i've been running the same crappy(to you folks) underperforming coralife 125 in my 90 + 75 gal sump setup the last 5 years, yup same skimmer + pump still going strong. every month and half i have this urge to go to lfs and pick myself up a bubbleking or a royal exclusive skimmer which are not beyond my means, easily done if i resist impulse to grab those eyecandies for a month or two. then i look at my burgeoning algal growth and the health of things in tank and decided i could wait another month and a half b/4 i commit myself.

[fkshiu]

Originally Posted by banditpowdercoat

Now put a LV on the Acrylic and see what they will pay LOL

Apparently US$400 for a paper weight:
http://cgi.ebay.com.my/ws/eBayISAPI....3494&indexURL=