Need Skimmer help 630 Gallon Tank

[Saltyfish]

Hi

I need help with a rather large tank. I have been reading and reading on skimmers to make sure I got the right one for my needs and one that I will not out grow too fast.

I have had small tanks (50 gal and less) for a little bit now. Smaller tanks are easy to pick equipment out for and if you do go wrong you can always sell it off and not lose too much money.

So here we go....

630 gallon tank brand new
1 Reeflo WAHOO for returns from the sump (room for second one if needed)
1 Reeflo HammerHead for Closed Loop
150 gallon sump
42" high steal 2" tube stand
Exactly 34 inches between bottom support and top tube

If I have a custom sump built I could have it fit between the steal supports to it will rest on the floor. This of course will give me another 6 to 8 inches of clearence. I am willing to do this if I cant find the right equipment to fit under the stand.

Now I am so confused with all the skimmer specs and need to know what I really need. Which one do I buy and why?

I have talked to a couple people and they have told me the make and model but they can't tell me why.

Thanks for your time and help,

 

[apollothesun]

if money is not a conceern, reeflo orca or a bubble king

 

[Saltyfish]

Not to sound like a child but this leads me to the second part of my question..

But Why?

 

[Skimmy]

o.k. lets think about this logically....

650g your trying to skim....
i usually follow the rule of 500 lph of air injection for every 100g of display, so, that would take you to roughly 3500 lph of air injection your looking for, while consuming the least amount of watts and having the best build quality for the least amount of money...

you could do one each of these 2 skimmers, and have 4200 lph air injection and only consume about 90 watts, and spend $710

http://www.shop.reeffiltration.com/product.sc?categoryId=2&productId=22
http://www.shop.reeffiltration.com/product.sc?categoryId=2&productId=21

 

[EriksReptiles]

o.k. lets think about this logically....

650g your trying to skim....
i usually follow the rule of 500 lph of air injection for every 100g of display, so, that would take you to roughly 3500 lph of air injection your looking for, while consuming the least amount of watts and having the best build quality for the least amount of money...

you could do one each of these 2 skimmers, and have 4200 lph air injection and only consume about 90 watts, and spend $710

http://www.shop.reeffiltration.com/product.sc?categoryId=2&productId=22
http://www.shop.reeffiltration.com/product.sc?categoryId=2&productId=21

How do those compare to the bubble king or orca? I just ask because I am in the process to of upgrading.. Mainly the MSX/SWC 250 or how about the 300??

Thanks Erik

 

[VegasMike]

Well, I will give you my opinion on Deltec vs. BubbleKing since that is what I have. Yes, I have both, but that is another story involving another tank...

I run both on the 450 gallon main tank (700 gallons total system). I have a BK 250 Internal (3 years old) and a Deltec AP1003. The Deltec is run externally out of my main sump. The BK is run in a second sump/refugium that feeds directly from the tank, but returns to the main sump.

I like them both. The Deltec skims better, but it has more pumps and is larger with less skimmer turnover. The BK uses quite a bit less energy and has a better build quality.

I get about a gallon of skimmate out of the Deltec a week and about half that out of the BK. Interestingly, the skimmate quality/nastiness appears to be about the same.

I have no experience with the others mentioned, so I will not comment.

Just my $.02.