What new skimmer??

I am thinking of upgrading the skimmer on my 90 mixed reef because it seems that it is leaning more toward sps corals now than mixed and I want my water to be as clean as possible. My current skimmer is a Euro-Reef rc135 that is probable 5 years old. I need a good skimmer that I can mount externally and I think I have it narrowed down to the Aqua C EV-180 w/ eheim 1262 or the Super Reef Octopus XP-2000 External.
The reviews that I have read on the aquac seem for the most part good and there is not much reviews on the octo since it has not been out long.

Thanks for the help in choosing a new skimmer for my tank. (side note lfs carries the Aqua-c in stock and the octo will need to be ordered)

 

I've heard really good things about both (I just bought an octo). If it comes down to you wanting it quicker, and supporting your lfs, then it seems like the aqua c would be the way to go.

I'm sure others on here will have lots of opinions!!

 

Thanks for the reply. I am hoping to get several opinions even if it is another skimmer that was not mentioned. I am always open to options.

 

My bro-in-law has the Aqua-C and he is happy with it. It took him some time to dial it in, but other than that he has had no complaints. Seeing this skimmer in action it is very impressive. It produces a very dark coffee looking skimmate. It did take some time to break-in though. I belive his is ran with a Mag-7, but the Eheim will get the job done as well. The only thing is have not seen this skimmer ran externaly. Not saying it can't be done though.

 

I'm here to make my obligatory comment on spray injection skimmers. They work well and are a good bubble machine. However, they simply take much more power to run than a needle wheel for the same job. More power lost, more heat added. I don't see the point. The other thing is that spray injection seems more finicky.

The 2000 external would work well. Several MSX/SWX externals would too. Octo Ex has other cylinder externals as well.

 

I was thinking the same thing about the spray injection as well. It does seem like a big feed pump to do the same thing in essence that the 404 I have supplying my current skimmer is doing. I know the pressure is what is creating the bubbles but still seems overkill.
The one complaint that I have read on a regular basis about the spray skimmers is that they are touchy but once dialed in they skim like mad and are trouble free.

 

I had a EV 120 on my 90g. Definitely get the 180. But to put that in perspective, I use a 1262 for my return pump and it is throttled back a bit. That is 90w compared to the 21 watts my Sicce 2500 uses on my K2. Mine was not trouble free, but in it's defense, I also didn't have a set water level.

Needle wheel skimmers are as trouble free as you will find. I clean my K2 once a week (huge cup) and I have not adjusted it since I set it up. What more can you ask?

 

i have an aqua c and i love it, but the 240s are only a few more dollars than the 180s so...
If your worried about heat run an external pump to your chiller or get a rio hyper flow,

 

I am not running a chiller and I am not to worried about heat since I have leds lighting my tank. I dont have much if any at all heat transfer to my tank. The only things I have that put heat into my tank is my skimmer pump, my return pump,fuge lighting and my heater. Tank temp is always a steady 78 deg. I was thinking the same about the 240, but was thinking it may be a little too big for my tank size. It would also give me room for future upgrades in tank size.