Picking a skimmer, advice needed!

[Justin]

Hi all, So I have a pretty small space for a skimmer in my sump, its only 11" x 11.5" and my display is 80 gallons. Currently I'm running an old eshopps which I got right when I started the hobby and now I think its time to move onto something better. I've been looking at skimmers and there is a few I've narrowed it down too. So if anyone has any opinions feel free to share them! Thanks! The skimmers I'm looking at are ...

1. Reef Octopus Classic 150SSS 6" Internal Space Saving Protein Skimmer

2. S-200 Space Saving G4 Protein Skimmer - Eshopps

3. SKIMZ SM163 Monzter D-Series - In Sump Protein Skimmer with DC Pump - AquaCave.com (Found someone locally selling this used)

 

[mnat]

I don't have that particular model, but I love my reef octopus skimmer and have heard generally good things about them.

 

[David]

I have a reef octo 110sss. It’s great. That being said, would rather have one with a controllable DC pump, for extra tuning and feed mode settings. The skimz is supposed to be a good skimmer, but I have no first hand experience.

 

[MadReefer]

Reef Octopus or a Bubble Nac 5 or 7.
Both brands are great.

 

[Sponge]

Probably not the best advise. But they all do the same thing. Some a little better than others but what I have seen the difference does not justify cost. But the cheapest one with best Warranty

 

[MadReefer]

Matt, disagree. Went through many skimmers and some are just crap. They stop skimming or overflow for no reason. I would never cheap out on a skimmer.

 

[Sponge]

Matt, disagree. Went through many skimmers and some are just crap. They stop skimming or overflow for no reason. I would never cheap out on a skimmer.

Noted. I guess I wasn’t completely clear. I wouldn’t buy a skimmer for fifty cents. But of the brands he mentioned there is not a big difference

 

[Mrx7899x]

I had a dc skimz skimmer for a while it skimmed very good but the pump would stop working when it got dirty. I replaced it with a life reef skimmer which I liked because you can use any pump you want. Now I have a aquamaxx cone 3 which is a beast. I would look into aquamaxx they are fairly price and perform good.

 

[deepblue68]

I think it depends on budget but I just bought a reef octupus essence 130 and really love how it works and simplicity of taken it apart for cleaning.

 

[horseplay]

I have the octo 130 as well and it works well. It came with the tank. However compared to a skimz it’s kind of cheaply built. I also have bubble magus, not that great. If I were you I would get an A/C pump skimz and call it a day. BRS is running 15% off skimz now.