Skimmer selection help

[Son512]

The time has come and my 50g tank +20g sump has finished cycling and its time to pick a skimmer.
Tank is going to be a mixed reef with about 6 or so smaller fishes.
Sump area is 14x9 with a height of 24" to the top of the cabinet opening. 27" max height inside the stand.
Sump is designed around having a water level of around 9.5"

Here are the choices
1) Aquamaxx ConeS CO-1 (my initial choice of skimmer) but with it being backordered, is it worth the 1-2 month wait?
2) Reefdynamics INS80 a little over budget but suppose to be a good skimmer. Water Height suppose to be @ 6.5" so I may lose a little space on top.
3) Sea Side Aquatics DC-120?? The hype on DC driven skimmers. That or I can get another SSA/bubble magnus with a proven pump(ES5?). Water Height level is good.

Any other suggestions ? or pick one of the above three

Thanks

 

[tofucube]

None of the above....this!!!

http://www.socalireefs.com/forums/s...an-have-a-skimmer-thread-so-can-I-quot-Thread

 

[tofucube]

All kidding aside, I'd pick aquamaxx...but you already know that

 

[campge]

+1 aquamaxx

 

[Confuse]

The AquaMaxx has a better pump. I'd go with that. You can also look into Reef Octopus skimmers...

 

[janiners305]

Aquamaxx is the way to go if you look up jns it's the same skimmer as the cone 1 and 2 and 3 so if the aquamaxx version is back orderd grab a jns same pump same body same design


Chris

 

[xmas_one]

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2009/1/aafeature2

 

[tofucube]

wow...can't believe I read the whole thing.

1. none of the skimmers OP is asking about is in the research
2. no full tank shot from the people that wrote the paper

booo! j/k

 

[Son512]

Aquamaxx is the way to go if you look up jns it's the same skimmer as the cone 1 and 2 and 3 so if the aquamaxx version is back orderd grab a jns same pump same body same design


Chris

Already tried looking for a jns sk 1. No luck for me but maybe I'm looking in the wrong places.

 

[Son512]

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2009/1/aafeature2

Went thru that article and that's why the reef dynamics ins80 popped on the list. It doesn't have a fancy bubble plate or even a cone design.

 

[xmas_one]

Went thru that article and that's why the reef dynamics ins80 popped on the list. It doesn't have a fancy bubble plate or even a cone design.

I guess I should have written a disclaimer with the original post. My intent was to show that for the most part most skimmers perform the same function. They make bubbles and crap sticks to the bubbles and it overflows into a cup. Differences between similarly sized skimmers typically boil down to build quality and aesthetics. Cones and bubble plates and vortexto 9000 technology does not make a skimmer work significantly better, just a selling point. Any of those skimmers you mentioned in your original post will work just fine.

 

[Emac909]

If u can find an itech 100 I highly recomend u get it. Itech skimmers are built well and perform great. Here's a little something I pulled off the old interweb

Just google i-tech skimmers and look at the reviews I have not heard of one single bad rewiew of an itech skimmer yet. Also I've have my itech 200 for close to 6 years and the pump fires every time when I turn it back on everyday after feeding.