Qualitydaydream's 180 - 250 transplant! **Pics Galore**

Thank You! Learned a lot in your single post. So do you think the PSK-200 will do? I plan on stocking heavy.

 

I'm a sales man and happy to support he and donnas business, all I ask is that they recommend the good stuff. I'm just starting to question going with the 200 over the 300. the price difference is nothing.

 

Very nice upgrade! Looks like everything went smooth. You have some very beautiful fish as well!

Heidi

 

Bud... sorry, but not even close. Just looking at the #s, I wouldn't put it on more than a 120g. A good skimmer for a 300g system is going to cost you a bit... not a ton, but a 200 isn't going to cut it. And I'm all down for supporting the locals and it is important.... but I will get the skimmer I want wether it's local or not. I would not even do the 300... the numbers do not support the rating.

Look at a Super Reef Octo XP 3000 or 5000
Or the cylinder version SRO 3000 or 5000
Maybe a Vertex IN 280
A SWC 300 cone would be nice.. very good pump

Those are all a step up from the Eshops. Eshops has made some decent cones, but I don't think one big enough for you. Better disigns, better pumps, better capacities. These are reasonable in price, of course you can spend more. ATB is one of the best on the market period... then you can get the Rolls Royce and get a Bubble King.

Here is some reading for you. My article on skimmers... you will see where I'm coming from.

http://http://www.3reef.com/forums/...immers-skimmers-skimmer-85389.html#post856232

 

Now I'm pissed, I was sold on an under rated skimmer. Thing is I asked the question many times ... "Are you sure this skimmer is big enough for me?"

I read your article, I contacted eshopps as well as other companies. Not a single person even eshopps says the PSK-200 is adequate for my tank even with a normal load.

I'd like to ask your opinion. I'm willing to spend in the 500-700 range on a skimmer. Do these skimmers say Octo XP Cone come with a pump? Also would you suggest the 3000 model or 5000. At this point I just want the best skimmer for that amount of money.

I really appreciate your support!

 

I really appreciate your help, I feel slightly burned by my LRS.

Now onto my plumbing, As you can see in the pics it's a clean and simple setup. In regards to the Herbie method.

My issue with doing the herbie is that my two outflows go to line loc then my inflow into the sump are both 2" which means I have no hole for an emergency drain.

I want the best silent and safe system possible. Is it even possible for me to do a clean Herbie setup with the amount of holes I have in the overflows and the 2" pipe diameter.

 

My Herbie write up is in my sig.. you really need to read it and understand it and the questions you asked are in there.... quick answer yes, but you have to run your return over the back of the tank, not up the overflow box. I loved mine and it did not bother me.

 

Yes I read that completely. My concern is the appearance. I just really like how the return comes out of the overflows with line loc all clean and pretty.

What your saying is I would have to turn my current returns into emergency drains then run my returns over the back right?

For me that would provide a messier look. Outside of the herbie what else can I do to improve safety for my system in the event my check valve fails?

 

OK... well let's just say there is a difference of opinion... there are some that do not hang their hat on all the latest greatest shinney things out at the moment. You also said, he said you can over skim... I strongly disagree with that... but there is a group out there that still hold that opinion and are not down with powerful skimmers.... all I will say is that skimmers have gotten better and bigger and tanks have gotten more demanding... look at 95% of any tanks of the months anywhere and see what they are running... the general recipe is lots of live rock, a refugium, and a powerful skimmer.... now I also said if you have a big honkin skimmer it does not mean it is removing more... all I'm saying is if it was true you can over skim then all these tanks with huge skimmers should be barren, but instead they are thriving and pushing the limits of what we thought was possible.

And he sold you an underrated Eshops, not a piece of crap paper wight for 3 times the money.... so don't loose too much sleep over it.

If you are serious about getting a good skimmer, at least read my article... everything you want to know so you can make some informed decisions, and I talk plenty about ratings so you can see what is behind that.

... so to answer your question... you do not have to spend a fortune... Octos and SWC are about the best bang for buck around. SWC is good, but Octo is darn near cornering the market on very good performance at a very good price point. And yes there are others, but Octopus has so much going for them and such a big line at every price point it is very hard to overlook them.

All skimmers come with a pump, it will be a complete unit ready to plug in. You can do the 3000, the 5000 would be top end if you never wanted to give it a second thought. Those come with Bubble blaster pumps and are really good pumps specifically made for skimmers. The SWC 300... don't over look it if the price is not objectionable. The build quality is the same as Octopus, but it comes with a Askol pump and I would get that on the pump alone. It is the heart of the skimmer and that Askol is very good. Same pump ATB uses and Bubble King (they do some different mods).

 

Yes. main drains, other holes for emergencies, and returns over the back.

A Herbie is safe... what some people say is unsafe is throttling a drain... which is.. but that is why you must have a back up drain.... but it is not going to do anything about your check valve failing... I mean the Herbie gives you silence and no bubbles in the sump... too much water draining back through your return pump is a different issue. But the throttling of the drains, and the set up is very safe, safer than a regular setup cause of the "emergency drain" and added capacity.

So here is what I liked about it... I was a little turned off about the returns over the back too. And just cause I don't mind it, does not mean that is the look you are going for... however, once I did it I never gave it a second thought. I never noticed them, and in fact, they were better returns... meaning the line lock you see now is sort of in the water... I ran all my return down the back of the tank to keep it clean and flushed behind my rock work. So elbowing over the back was what I wanted anyway... I put a line lock wye and two nozzles on one side... no line just the nozzles and then one of the "spray bar" nozzles on the other. I had less return lin ein my tank than before, and I had less drain back into my sump because I drilled holes right under the water line for siphon breaks... I actually wound up liking it much better over the back. YMMV You can see in my pics how it was.