Skimmer for 135 gallon?

Well if you need a space saver that is a different story. Octo makes one... the 160 extreme at 8x10. SWC does too... I would take the octo. There is a aquamaxx 150 at 12x7.

The SWC 160 cone is not enough. The 180 cone uses a sicce psk2500 pump and I would get a different one.

 

So, the Octo 160 extreme is that much better than the SWC?
If you think a 160 is big enough, this looks like the way to go, only 8x9:
Octopus Extreme 160 Protein Skimmer - English

 

Or are you talking about this one:
http://http://cgi.ebay.com/6-OCTOPUS-EXTREME-SKIMMER-RATED-UP-160-GALLONS-/270604005489?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f01417071

 

Ya.. that one. It will be big enough. Your actual water volume will probably be around the 135g. It has a the new Sicce pump and will be a better pump than the SWC. However.. the onld sicce on the SWC puts out a bit more.... so they both will perform, but the SWC can start backwards. Basically you have to learn the difference of the right way and backwards and when it does start backwards you have to unplug it and plug it back in till it goes right.

How big is your skimmer section?

 

12x12. The sump is set up as follows from left to right: fuge 12x14, return 12x17 and skimmer section 11x12. He had the drains running into the fuge section and the skimmer section and then into the center return section. The skimmer section has the bubble traps and the fuge has a serrated piece separating the fuge/return. The sump is a 40 long.
Thanks for all your help.

 

Still some room. You can move the bubble traps over a bit. Space savers are a bit of a compromise. They make room but at an expense. If you feel like moving the baffles then you will have room for what ever you want and things will run well and you can be done with it.

and on Reef Specialty they list the 200 at 8.5x13.5. Still shy of what you have but not 15"

 

What do you think if I put the skimmer in the middle chamber, that way I could run about any skimmer I wanted. I could move the return pipe so it flows to the middle chamber instead of the far right one. But.... will a 12X12 be a big enough area for water return? I'll be using an ATO which should help.

 

Also, here is the specs off of the Coralvue site. It says the dimensions: 15″ x 9.4″ x 23″
Reef Octopus Extreme XS 200 | CoralVue

 

So is it just two sections? What is in the left if the return is in the middle?

 

The sump is set up as follows from left to right: fuge 12x14, return 12x17 and skimmer section 11x12. He had the drains running into the fuge section and the skimmer section and then into the center return section. The skimmer section has the bubble traps and the fuge has a serrated piece separating the fuge/return. The sump is a 40 long.

Or, what if I do away with 2 of the 3 bubble trap pieces, and just leave one divider between the skimmer and return? I saw a sump online that did away with the bubble trap and he said it works fine.
http://www.reefworkshop.com/DIY_sumpdesign1.htm
The problem is the sump is really difficult to get out. I would have to take the tank off and then the sump has to come out through the top of the stand. It's a PITA.