I Need Help Choosing Skimmer!

So I am a skimmer newb all I have is a HOB reef octo for my 55
I am looking at a skimmer for a med/heavy bioload 195 display with 48X18X18 fuge. The tank would start as a large angel (3 or 4) display or maybe a shark tank with a coral catshark, large naso or achilles tang etc.
This tank would become a mixed reef as I saved up more money for it.
So I have included a few skimmer options in my price range, If you have any experience please tell some pros/cons with that particular skimmer.

SWC 230 Cone
Bubble Magus 180CS-P
Bubble Magus NAC9
ATB 840
Super Reef Octo 3000INT
BashSea Blu Demon
BashSea TWISTED 8X24 Beckett

 

The Askopl pump on the SWC is the best in the bunch. While I'm a fan of ATB. The Sicce based 840 I think will be just shy of doing your tank. I would move up to the 10.5 and I know that is quite a jump in price. The Bubble Blasters on the SROs are good too. The 3000 or the 3000 XP would be a great skimmer for you. While the Bubble Magus skimmers certainly have their place... they are not in the same league as the others on your list. Never heard of Bash Sea. I would steer you away from Becketts though.

 

The SWC seems to have the best price/ratio. I might even move up to the SWC 300. The ATB is more and rated for less. The SRO would be easier to get for me, but the SWC seems better. The BM skimmers were just an option, but I would rather spend 80$ more (or 100 less in the case of the SRO) for a better skimmer. BashSea is a local skimmer company they make great quality stuff, he will be making the fuge for my tank. I don't like the beckets as much but the BluDemon will be equiped with 2 sicce 840s.
Thanks Powerman!

 

Deciding between
SWC
SRO
Can someone help me choose a good SRO?

 

I would say you are looking at at least 200g maybe 220g if you don't have a bunch of LR. Less if you add more and go reef like you want. Some good skimmers can go up to 180... but you are over that range of skimmers so you need to go up a step.

That really puts you in the Bubble Blaster 3000 pump range. So you are looking at a 3000 internal either regular or XP for cone. A cone isn't a fundamental jump in design just as tweak. It will perform say.... 10-20% better that a cylinder....maybe. They do work better. You will have to decide if you want the cone or the cylinder.

 

Yeah, total water volume should run about 245 gallons with fuge, The SWC is rated up to 400. The model up that is (?) I like cones, I think they look cooler but there is a price difference albeit a small one. So SRO or SWC.... there are many reef octos with the BB 3000.
I think if you say that is a good quality line of skimmers they will cut the cost down too
The only thing I am wondering is are the SRO really finicjy compared to the SWC or AtB? I have experience with the atbs and like the set and forget ease.

 

I would go with the SWC from what I have read. You definitely will want one rated for around 400 gallons also.

 

Well... you don't just add up tank. You need to calculate actual water volume and it will much less than 245g with rock sand and less than full tanks.

The only thing I would go after with SWC is the Askoll pump. It is a very good pump and will do a good job on your size. They have a couple of different body sizes coupled to the pump. The 300 is as big as you need to go. It is a very good pump and I would pick SWC over the others for that very reason.

To get a ATB you need a 10.5 and those get much more exspensive than what you want. Much better skimmer, but not at over twice the price.

SRO came out with thier Bubble Blaster pumps and they have done very well. Nice features... maybe just a touch less quiet than the Askoll. Very good pump and you will still be fine. SRO is a very good line and they have a much better size range than most since they make so many different size pumps instead of just picking stuff off the market to modifiy into a skimmer pump.

All needle wheel skimmers are pretty much set and forget. ATB is incrdible well balanced, but I doubt you will find any of the skimmers you are looking at to be more "labor intensive" for use.

 

SWC and Reef Octopus are pretty much identical. I'll let them argue it out over who copied who. They were made in the same factory for some time. SWC has a better line for less than 90g with their 120 and 160 cones. In the over 180g size their Askoll pumps are much better. SRO over all have a much better lineup with their Bubble Blaster pumps and cover a much better range than SWC in both cylinders and cones.

There is not any difference really in construction or use or design features that make one better than the other. They are both very solid performers at a very solid price point. There's better, there's worse. Those two are pretty much equal.

 

Thanks powerman, I guess whatever I can get my hands on