If you could!

[bavass]

If you had $400 to spend on a new skimmer what would you buy?

 

[mr_X]

What area do you have to put it in? Are we talking any footprint?

 

[ccCapt]

I'm looking into getting this 1 for my 125g. What size tank are you looking to put it on?
Reef Octopus SUPER SRO 2000INT In-Sump Protein Skimmer - AquaCave.com

 

[bavass]

I am trying to decide what skimmer to buy for my 55g Reef, I am looking at air draw and gph and so far spec wise the SWC 180 looks to be the better. I could be wrong. I am trying to stay around these footprints.

SRO-XP 1000 SSS - 9.5”x7.5”x20.5" (3.5" neck) / Bubble Blaster HY1000S (?? watts) / 400-500 lph (14-18 scfh) air draw / 150g Max Rating
SWC Xtreme 180 Cone - 9"x8"x21" (3" neck) / Sicce PSK-2500 (24 watts) / 900-1100 lph (32-39 scfh) air draw / 250g Max Rating
NAC 7 - 9.25"x8.5"x20" (?? neck) / Atman 2500 (27 watts) / 600 lph (21 scfh) air draw / 180g Max Rating
Extreme XS 160 - 8"x10"x21.25" (?? neck) / Sicce PSK-600 (30 watts) / 650 lph (23 scfh) air draw / 160g Max Rating
Warner Marine 12-15 watts 900-960 lph airSmall footprint of 8.5"x8.5"x21" Rated up to a 160g tank.
Skimz Kone 181 Air intake: 540 l/h L 210mm (8.4") x W 210mm (8.4") x H 535mm (21.4")

 

[mr_X]

The SWC cone with the psk 2500 is the best one in that list.

 

[bavass]

The SWC 160 looks nice too

 

[bavass]

I keep looking at the SWC's but it's hard to shy away from the Octopus skimmers lots of people use them and there is s reason for that! The SRO 2000 INT would that be way overkill?

 

[ccCapt]

I've read some not so good things about the Sicce PSK series pumps, which is what is keeping me away from the the Octopus Diablo or Extreme SX skimmers. The SRO uses a much better (supposedly) BubbleBlaster pump. The SRO XP cones also use the BubbleBlaster pump.
This would work great for a 55.
Super Reef Octopus XP 1000SSS CONE Protein Skimmer - AquaCave.com

 

[bavass]

I've read some not so good things about the Sicce PSK series pumps, which is what is keeping me away from the the Octopus Diablo or Extreme SX skimmers. The SRO uses a much better (supposedly) BubbleBlaster pump. The SRO XP cones also use the BubbleBlaster pump.
This would work great for a 55.
Super Reef Octopus XP 1000SSS CONE Protein Skimmer - AquaCave.com

I was looking at that skimmer and I think I am going to go with a SRO XP 2000INT still looking at the SWC 160 & 180. What keeps me leaning towards Octopus is there is a reason it seems most reef keepers use Octopus skimmers and 2000INT seems to be real popular

 

[mr_X]

the old psk 2500 would start backwards some times, other than that, they are fine. I had an Octo skimmer with 3 of the old 2500's and they did screw up when you shut them off, but a little tinkering and they were fine.

From what I understand, they have corrected that issue. They are much more efficient pumps than the bubble blaster. Smaller, less power, and more air draw.
As for the octo being the best, it's Identical to the SWC and MSX skimmers (depending on the model of course), and the lower Octos have humungous pumps that need to be upgraded IMO.
In the end, it's all about the pumps. Skimmers are just reaction chambers. Without a good pump, they are a piece of pretty plastic.