reefgeek84 Posted October 13, 2007 Share Posted October 13, 2007 So I am going the way of a sump and will be going with a ATI bubblemaster skimmer.. Everyone goes oversize on the skimmer, but how much is necessary? I was going to go with the one that is rated at 250gal tank, but wondering if it would be just as good to go with the smaller one that is rated for 100gal heavily stocked tank (140 not heavily stocked), cause I would save about 100 bucks...total water volume will be 70gal. I do not mind spending the extra 100 bucks if it is going be a helpful thing, but if there is a plateau and the bigger one will not do much more for my tank I will not spend the extra money... Help me out here... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
180Brandy Posted October 13, 2007 Share Posted October 13, 2007 Go big!!!!!!!! IMO You can never skim enough... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uhuru Posted October 13, 2007 Share Posted October 13, 2007 Based on the design of that skimmer (cannot control dwell time like with a recirc model) I vote to save $100 and get the smaller size. You will probably get better results as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronjunior Posted October 13, 2007 Share Posted October 13, 2007 From your experience, you should know to just buy the right thing in the first place, or it will end up in the classifieds . I'd go bigger for future overstocking use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
180Bob Posted October 13, 2007 Share Posted October 13, 2007 From your experience' date=' you should know to just buy the right thing in the first place, or it will end up in the classifieds . I'd go bigger for future overstocking use.[/quote'] I agree, you never know what you are going to need in the future. I ran a PM Bullet 3 on an 18 gallon nano for awhile, until we got our 180 set up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThePremiumAquarium Posted October 14, 2007 Share Posted October 14, 2007 Go with the biggin. You really cant skim too much. I know that some chemicals may be removed at a faster rate this way, but with regular water changes it really doesn't matter. Go BIG!!! Plus then you have a skimmer you can brag about. Garrett Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
civicsit Posted October 14, 2007 Share Posted October 14, 2007 Go big, esp. since I know you will be keeping sps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R-3 Posted October 15, 2007 Share Posted October 15, 2007 I would say go for the smaller one Brandon and save some money So you are deciding between the Bubblemaster 160 and 200? These are very efficient skimmers and the ratings they give them are probably very very conservative. Like Mike said you cant really mess with too much like a recirc so go with the smaller one. Also the smaller uses about half the power. Later Ryan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reefhut Posted October 15, 2007 Share Posted October 15, 2007 NAAHH!!! Go big...(If money is no object). As much as you change tanks, who know's what size your next one will be? You'll only be able to skim out what you put in anyway's, over skimming won't hurt anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pledosophy Posted October 15, 2007 Share Posted October 15, 2007 For you, I'd say go big. Better to spend the money now, then to have to sell the small one and then buy a bigger one later. I learned this lesson too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reefgeek84 Posted October 15, 2007 Author Share Posted October 15, 2007 Yeah, I think I will not be a cheap a$$ and just get the big one...Even though I change tanks and equipment all the time, I think I have it dialed in...Going with a 400w over the tank and then this skimmer and new sump and then I think I just get to set back and watch everything grow... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R-3 Posted October 16, 2007 Share Posted October 16, 2007 Ha Ha sit back Yeah right Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
albertareef Posted October 16, 2007 Share Posted October 16, 2007 then I think I just get to set back and watch everything grow... Forgive me, but I am highly skeptical about this part! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted October 16, 2007 Share Posted October 16, 2007 I vote save the $100. Chances are there are a couple things you can do to the cheaper model to get it to perform like the big one. Meshwheel comes to mind Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluecheese Posted October 16, 2007 Share Posted October 16, 2007 Brandon, how many fishes will you kep in there? I would base it on that. If not that many and not too big (i.e bioload might not be too high) I'd go for the cheaper model. If you expect your bioload to be high, go bigger. But knowing you, you'll be changing tank in 6 months. So you might want to get just what you need for this one, i.e. the smaller one that is efficient. For me I would probably get the bigger one, because I would probably be going bigger at some point. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newreefer02 Posted October 17, 2007 Share Posted October 17, 2007 Agreed... Go BIG or go home. Look at it this way if you ever want to upgrade, thats one less thing you will need then! I will be runnin a 130gal. system and my custom skimmer is rated up to like 500 gal. i think. Derek Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drock59 Posted October 22, 2007 Share Posted October 22, 2007 well......whats the verdict? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reefgeek84 Posted October 22, 2007 Author Share Posted October 22, 2007 well......whats the verdict? Going big...It will be here on wed. (clap) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluecheese Posted October 22, 2007 Share Posted October 22, 2007 Good choice Brandon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drock59 Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 make sure you report back with photos. Im interested in the Bubblemaster too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reefgeek84 Posted October 23, 2007 Author Share Posted October 23, 2007 make sure you report back with photos. Im interested in the Bubblemaster too. I will...I need to get photos of the new tank and sump, plus I will be starting the zeolith system, so I will need to keep reports on that as well... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uhuru Posted October 23, 2007 Share Posted October 23, 2007 Cool. I'm starting zeo on my nano soon. Just gradually changing to a more suitable salt first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reefgeek84 Posted October 23, 2007 Author Share Posted October 23, 2007 Cool. I'm starting zeo on my nano soon. Just gradually changing to a more suitable salt first. I am not going with the zeovit system, but all Fuana Marin products.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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