Please help

[lerchcon]

I have a 150 gallon tank comming in on the 27th, it is a glass tank with a built in overflow in the center, it is roughly 60 inches long and 24 inches tall I am not sure how deep but I imagine it is over 18 inches. anyhow I have a few questions

I currently have a sump for the tank, this will be a fish only tank, and I have followed the recommendations in another thread saying a sump would be best. Now I am not sure what skimmer would work for this setup without breaking the bank but also to makke sure it will be the plus 1 that is recommended?

The sump I currently have has an acrylic shlef for the sock, I am thinking I will have to dremel this to make a skimmer fit in the tank, but Couch702 has advised that a hang on skimmer would be just fine, if so what do you guys think?

I was advised for a tank this size that a mag 12 or equal pump would be great, what powerhead? how many powerheads?

I plan on a simple design inside with live rock inside the sump and some inside the tank, then fake corals so I hope this helps. I also have to build a stand for this becuase they want too much for the one I want. Thanks in advance

[Luke]

for a fish only tank a hang on skimmer would probably work, but if possible i would still get an insump skimmer, just incase you change your mind later on and want to keep more coral.

[Tlalok]

yeah u should get an in-sump skimmer u will change ur mind later on, i dont think u can resist not having live corals!!!!! thats just my advice ...

[TheGreatAukSociety]

Hang on Skimmer should be considered a last resort. They are not very good on larger tanks, prone to overflowing, their very nature makes them inefficient. The work poorly in sumps because the water level us usually too low. They are only really useable if you want to add a Skimmer to an existing setup you can't otherwise change.

Since you are building, I would strongly suggest an in sump Skimmer.

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[RickMartin]

^^ +1 Hang on skimmers suck especially for a tank that big. You need measurements before you can look for a skimmer. Some of the new designs have a really small footprint

[lerchcon]

ok I will look into a in the sump skimmer thanks for the advice. Now how about suggestions because i dont even know what is good, what sucks and what to def stay away from? i realize like Ford and Chevy there are going to be many different opinions, but that is all I am asking for is an opinion :) thanks in advance

[Narazbad]

Swc is a good product with a small footprint..i just saw the new ones marine depot just rolled out with..they have an extremely small footprint. All the reviews on turk have been favorable as well. Brink just grabbed one yesterday..rated for 375 gallons, pulls 720 l/hr of air. Its the size of a coralife 125 super skimmer.

[Zero]

I like ASM skimmers.... And they're not too expensive

[fishman]

i wouldnt reccomend asm skimmers. iwould try to get a high end skimmer used off reef central

[coker98]

i wouldnt reccomend asm skimmers. iwould try to get a high end skimmer used off reef central

Asm skimmers are great skinner with a base model price and work excellently with very little modification.

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[five O]

Asm skimmers are great skinner with a base model price and work excellently with very little modification.

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ASM skimmers are outdated technology. They were great skimmers for thier day. New cone skimmers use smaller pumps, using less energy, with better results.

[tomgl]

I'm having good luck with the SWC's.

[lerchcon]

does anyone have one of thee new skimmers from SWC? I was watching youtube and a dude on their had done a review of this skimmer and I like it, I guess I will just have to save my pennies and get the right one the first time. I am looking to see one and measure to see if it will fit on my current Sump, I really dont want to buy another sump :(, but thank you all so much for the help

[lerchcon]

i am doing a dearch on Marine depot and cant find any SWC skimmers, maybe it is under a different name or I really dont know what I am looking for :)

[Narazbad]

Reeffiltration.com

[Xcali1985]

Got an ASM on my 80G love it. Set it and forget it. Well until its time to clean.

[Tlalok]

I have a SWC also and now that it sits at 8" deep it skims pretty awesome!!!!! Nice and quiet!!!!

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[RickMartin]

Mojo just reviewed a new skimmer with a small footprint
http://www.reef2reef.com/forums/equipment-lighting-hardware-diy-discussion/69682-mojo-reviews-sea-side-aquatics-cs1.html

[Aquatic Empires]

swc, vertex, asm, are all good skimmers. brink just got the aquamaxx cone skimmer and he said he is loving it. it was pulling dark gunk within the hour of installing it. it has a sicce pump. there are others but these are the midrange price of skimmers and do really well.

[tomgl]

I was told not to use the Sicce pumps. Supposedly they have a restart problem. Reef Filtration pulled all the SWC's off their site that used them. Also the big forums have tons of post about the same issue.

[bigronbo]

ok everyone is talking about the skimmer and overlooking the real short fall. a mag 12 for 150 gal? i have a mag 18 on a 125 and feel its minimal. i'm going for a mag 24 when i get my 187. you have to account for drops in pressure when you plumb it. seriously i think you will be very disabointed in your return with a mag 12.

[TheGreatAukSociety]

Yeah mag 12 is too small, I have 2 mag 18's on my 180.

[TheGreatAukSociety]

I had to replace the original sicce pump on my Bubblemaster, it would only restart after power outtage some of the time. The replacement restarts just fine. It looks to have been designed slightly differently.

[lerchcon]

ok so I am a little lost a mag 12 pump is around 1200 GPH correct? if so why do I need to cycle a 150 more then ten times per hour? I realize due to friction loss and elbows and all the plumbing will tanke away from the 1200, and that a pump is not really 1200 if it says it is, but How big of a pump do I need that will be Ideal for my tank, and be the perfect match for my needs, of a fish only tank? aslo I am looking to figure out how the power head things work, how do you know how many you need, what exactly do they do, are the "wavemakers?" thanks in advance

is there such a thing as too much flow?

what exactly is a wave maker? is it needed or do powerheads do the same thing?

do i need a circulating powerhead?

does the GPH of the pump need to match the GPH of the powerhead, meaning since your running that much water through a sub pump would it be best to run the same with the powerhead?

I plan on having a center rock design with the sides free and the front free for the fish to raom and then stack the Live rock to the top of water with tunnels of course for the hiding and less stress factor?

[tbone74]

I would go with a mag18 and 2 korilla evo1400 powerheads. If it is fish only a wave maker is not necessary. Just remember the more flow you have the chances are less of algae and cyano out breaks, that is if your water params are kept in check.

[lerchcon]

cool thanks