I need a great 12x12 footprint(or-less), in-sump design. Under $500.

[King_Neptune]

I'm searching around, a lot of the threads that I pull up from google are a few years old. Wondering if there's any 2010 models that have had great reviews.
I was thinking an Octopus might be a good choice, I currently have a Tunze 9010, but Im really at the edge of its rating with my 160g system that is starting to get heavily stocked.

 

[ReefLogic]

I have a Reef Octopus and love it. It was way under $500. What size tank?

 

[returnofsid]

I'd suggest the MSX MiniS Cone. they rock and will handle a decent stocked 160, just fine.

 

[King_Neptune]

I have a Reef Octopus and love it. It was way under $500. What size tank?

DT is a 125 brick/55sump/5g fuge.(so I guess thats 185g system sorry, not 160). It's mainly SPS atm. But now that I have my corals in place, I'm starting to stock with fish.

I currently have:
2 adult engineer gobies(12" long).
7 Blue Chromis.
Cleaner wrasse.
6 line wrasse
Adult Purple Tang
Adult Copper Band Butterfly(amazingly he only likes mysis and Aptasia)

I plan to add a good half dozen more fish over the next several months.
Flame hawkfish and Powdered blue tang are on the list. But Im also gonna get a few more smaller fish as well...maybe a pair of Royal Gamma's and some Anthea's. If that seems to hold well...I'll consider adding a couple more.

So while I would call the tank a medium load ATM, it will transition to pretty heavily stocked over the next 3 months. So ill be taking it up a notch in skimming power before I make my final push to filling it with fish.

 

[ReefLogic]

and the Deltec's are like way expensive right? You could get the Octopus and do that mesh mod.

 

[King_Neptune]

mesh mod?
Id rather not mod things, unless it really poses no threat to the longevity of the skimmer.
Ideally, id like to get 3-4 years out of this thing.

 

[ReefLogic]

I honestly don't know if it affects the longevity but I don't think so....you are simply adding mesh to the impeller I believe to make more air.

 

[King_Neptune]

I kinda like this one:
http://www.aquacave.com/reef-octopus-nwb-200-br-needle-wheel-protein--br-skimmer-496.html
But the larger footprint would mean Id have to put it on the far side of my sump.(it will accommodate 12x19 footprint). It just means, I have to move all my LR that's currently in the 12x19 chamber to the 12x12 chamber. Lame, but not a game breaker.

Overall it seems like the best Reef Octopus under $500

 

[King_Neptune]

or this one:
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store...opus-extreme-200-protein-skimmer/category/38/
same story
and under $300

 

[ReefLogic]

or this one:
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store...opus-extreme-200-protein-skimmer/category/38/
same story
and under $300

I think this is the one I got.

 

[Skimmy]

got a couple... pm'ed ya