Skimmer ??

What would be the best skimmer for the medium range budget?? I do not have abunch of money with having to buy new lights for my 48" 55gal. This is my first salt water attemp. I want the best skimmer I can afford, and keep in mind I don't have any money. (i have a ex wife) From what I have been reading I can spend $30.00 up to $600.00, There is NO WAY I can spend $600.00 on a skimmer. A good light is going to cost me $200.00 to $600.00. Those two items are going to be the most costly, not counting livestock,sand, rock etc. All suggestions will be great thanks.

 

Welcome to the insanity! Hear ya about the ex-wife - mine wiped out my tank!! For the money it seems that the Coralife skimmer would be the way to go. Check out this thread: http://www.3reef.com/forums/protein-skimmers/what-best-skimmer-40498.html

 

I would look at the remora pro for that size of a tank. Most people here have found that it is a great product at a decent price.

 

If your on a budget, then get the corallife Needle wheel Super Skimmer online for $80-120 depending upon the size of the skimmer. If your willing to spend a little more for a set and forget skimmer, go with the Remora skimmer for about $170. The corallife 125 will allow you to use it on a bigger tank if you ever decide to do so.

 

There's a deltec MCE on RC for $200, that's hands down the BEST HOB skimmer out there, and a great price.

The remora pro is ok, really any of the HOB skimmers are just OK, nothing great. If you can add a sump then go for the low end Euro-reef or the ASM skimmers.

 

Thanks for all the great info, I am going to have a sump and refug, after reading all the great advice here, I think I will purchace a Coralife, it can go in the sump and is in my price range, thanks

 

IMO, I would forgo the lighting for now and spend the extra money on a powerful and efficient skimmer!!!!!! I am going out on a limb when i say this, but I feel that a skimmer(right now in the beginning stages of your salt water reefdom, a skimmer is much more beneficial as it will offer you more for the money in the beginning stages.
$350.00 will get you a nice a AQUA C EV 120-180 in sump skimmer that will do an awesome job of keeping your water in check!!!!
Then save up your money to get a nice lighting set-up, once you have more money and also get more in terms of variety of corals!!!
I know how hard it is to make the right decision regarding finances and juggling a salt water tank(s) as well>
With the limited amount of coral and livestock, that I assume you have right now being a newbie, lighting isn't going to be a critical issue for you and your livestock yet.
Do yourself and your inhabitants a favor and don't skimp on the lighting and/skimmer!!! So, again, I would go with a better skimmer now at the expense of getting both, lighting and skimmer, at a cheaper, less effective price right now.
What, I think, will happen if you are anything like me, and I have an ex and financial problems as well, is you will regret acting on impulse at the beginning stages to get the skimmer and lighting-then, only to end up wanting to upgrade in the near future because you need more efficient skimming or more intense light for your corals/Tridacna clams etc.!!!
Just trying to save you time, money and effort right from the start and also save you some grief of spending more later to get better equipment is all!!!
Maybe I am wrong...but my experience proved I was right-I wasted alot of money to upgrade as my equipment wasn't appropriate with what I wanted to keep in my reef tanks!

 

Ditto on what coralreefer recomends...Spend a little more on a skimmer at the outset will save you $$$ and significantly increases overall tank health and success in the future.

I went thru 3 different skimmers before getting my AquaC - been a very happy reefer ever since.;D

 

Thanks a million Coral Reefer, at this time I do not have any livestock or coral I am just in the planning stages of my 55 gal. So if I understand you correctily investing in a good skimmer while my tank cycles and establishes itself will give me time to generate funds for a decent lighting system. By the way how long will it take to cycle and establish a tank? Can I put LS/LR in the tank without the proper lighting while the tank cycles? Thanks Wyatte

 

Hands down that Aqua C is the best skimmer for the money but I take it that this is a new tank...right?? What are you going to be skimming???:-/ You shouldn't be worring about a skimmer until this tank is about 5 to 6 months old. That skimmer will be taking out things you need right now in the beginning stages, you need coralline spores in your tank not letting your skimmer remove it. Now if your putting nasty uncured rock in your tank then thats is a different story with die off and all.
I hate to say it but you have picked the wrong hobby for wanting to penny pinch. Your going to buy stuff now and then spend more later because you are going to upgrade.
Just like Omard and Coral Reefer said..these are two pieces of equipment that you should NOT skimp on, you will only pay more in the long run with chemicals and snake oils to help with your tank problems you will have.
Just my $.02