Skimmer purchase up next.....which one?

First off, let me say what a help 3reef has been. I have only joined the site in the last week and have already gained so much!! Ok here is my question. I have 180 gal tank (with roughly 200lbs of LR that will go in it)that I am in the slow process of turning into a reef setup. I have the tank hooked up to a 75 gallon turned refugium and a 100 gal and also a 50 gal sump. So we are looking at a total of roughly 400 gallons in the system. Before I upgrade my lighting...which is currently pathetic....I am looking to get a protein skimmer....my hydor preformer 400 (from my old 75 gal which is now my refugium) just won't cut it. haha. I am am wanting to make this purchase only one time and not have to worry about it after that. I have a budget of roughly $500-$600.

What would be the best bang for my buck??????

I see that I can get an ASM G-4x for ~$500, a G-5 for ~$600, a Deltec AP600 for ~$560. Not sure which brand is the best......is there another skimmer with a high capacity and better price so I can actually save a bit of money to put towards lighting????

I figure since I am looking at a reef setup I need a skimmer rated around 700 gal instead of the 400 running through my system???

Thanks in advance...

 

A H&S 150-F2000/1 will do great job. I like H&S for me its second after the one & only deltec!!!

 

If your looking for a Skimmer rated for 700G I think your budgets is a little light

I've seen a Vertex Alpha Cone 300 In-Sump Protein Skimmer in a 600G system and it is doing a great job. It replaced a ASM G5 and is kicking it's butt

J

 

H&S 150-F2000/1 is only rated at 300G

 

Yaa, I know, but yet I'll stick with my word!:-[

 

yeah I am not sure if I even need it rated for 700 gal or not....just figure as much overkill as I can get is a good thing. I have read a lot of reviews that say the ASM have pumps that go out all the time... so you like vertex better?

 

Most folk say buy a skimmer rated twice your system, but that is for room to move up. Sounds like you are moving up and won't be going bigger any time soon. Buying more skimmer than you need, does not pull out more stuff. Buy bigger than you need only buys you more head room. At least that is my experience.

Deltecs are good quality, but the design is a little dated. A 600 is way too small fro your setup.

Octo Extremes and Supers are going to be your best bang for the buck. 400g is a big system. The Super Octo Ex 6000 is $700. Even a Huricone with a Askoll pump is $750. Look into a MSX 250A. That has a Askoll too. $550.

You can easily spen $3000 on that size of skimmer, so don't get sticker shock. You have a big system.

 

Yeah I am have been looking all morning and the shock already hit. haha I am not wanting a mega reef or anything like that. If I am correct it is the sps corals that require better everything (again.....I am a newbie and not sure) and probably won't be getting any of those.

 

You can easily spen $3000 on that size of skimmer, so don't get sticker shock. You have a big system.[/QUOTE]
U've a got a point on this one!!

 

look on ebay, I have seen huge skimmers by asm, reef devil, aqua c ev series used for 3 to 4 hundred dollars. I wish I bought mine there.
I love my aqua c 120 and I have seen them on 400 gallon show tanks with tons of fish perform flawlessly