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DaveK · 05-10-2007, 07:13 PM

Here is the thing about skimmers. There are a lot of low priced junk ones on the market. I don't consider a coralife superskimmer 65 to be in that class, but it's a smaller skimmer.

One thing you are going to find out in reek keeping is that you should always buy top quality. It's much less expensive in the long run. The Aqua-C skimmer you like is an example of this. So are the Livereef skimmers.

They will last you many years, and seldom, if ever give you a problem.

I would select one rated for a tank about double your current tank size. Manufacturers tend to be "optimistic".

Here is the bottom line. SW livestock is very expensive. It only takes a few losses to pay for the top quality equipment you should have ad in the first place.

As for building a skimmer, yes it can be done. However, a good design is critical. Also, the differences between a "fair" skimmer and an excellent one are often very subtle. If you go this route, you will save some money, but it's not going to be that much. This is because to get it exactly right, you'll likley rebuild sections of it a few times. Many people have gone through 4 or 5 rebuilds to get their DIY skimmer going just right.

On the up side, once you get everything just right, you can have a excellent skimmer, with the exact features you want.

05-10-2007, 07:13 PM	#5 (permalink)
DaveK Neon dottyback Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Philadelpahia, PA Posts: 664 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: skimmer upgrade Here is the thing about skimmers. There are a lot of low priced junk ones on the market. I don't consider a coralife superskimmer 65 to be in that class, but it's a smaller skimmer. One thing you are going to find out in reek keeping is that you should always buy top quality. It's much less expensive in the long run. The Aqua-C skimmer you like is an example of this. So are the Livereef skimmers. They will last you many years, and seldom, if ever give you a problem. I would select one rated for a tank about double your current tank size. Manufacturers tend to be "optimistic". Here is the bottom line. SW livestock is very expensive. It only takes a few losses to pay for the top quality equipment you should have ad in the first place. As for building a skimmer, yes it can be done. However, a good design is critical. Also, the differences between a "fair" skimmer and an excellent one are often very subtle. If you go this route, you will save some money, but it's not going to be that much. This is because to get it exactly right, you'll likley rebuild sections of it a few times. Many people have gone through 4 or 5 rebuilds to get their DIY skimmer going just right. On the up side, once you get everything just right, you can have a excellent skimmer, with the exact features you want.