multiple skimmers

[Reesj]

What do you guys think about having 2 small skimmers instead of 1 big skimmer if there is room in the sump ?
For my 700 liter (180 gallon tank) fowlr tank I'm thinking of going for a red starfish 130plus (400-500l) skimmer as have a small bio load now. Then hoping to add another skimmer that is rated for about 400l.
Cost wise , it seems I will be spending roughly the same if I go for 2, 400-500l skimmers here than a 700-800l skimmer.
What are you guys experience and what do you think is better?
Does having 2 smaller skimmers work same, not as well or better than that one large skimmer?

 

[Cali Reef Life]

Id go with the big one. Less maintenance and easier to control 1 then 2 plus sometimes smaller ones are not as tall so look up size of sump. Opinion though haven't tried two.

 

[00W]

What do you guys think about having 2 small skimmers instead of 1 big skimmer if there is room in the sump ?
For my 700 liter (180 gallon tank) fowlr tank I'm thinking of going for a red starfish 130plus (400-500l) skimmer as have a small bio load now. Then hoping to add another skimmer that is rated for about 400l.
Cost wise , it seems I will be spending roughly the same if I go for 2, 400-500l skimmers here than a 700-800l skimmer.
What are you guys experience and what do you think is better?
Does having 2 smaller skimmers work same, not as well or better than that one large skimmer?

I have run 2 for many years, ran 3 for a bit then switched back to one.
This has been debated many times and there are some good older threads on it, smart stuff and good reading.
Just pop it into the search up top.
I've always believed 2 smaller ones were better especially using one down the line from another.
My rule of thumb is whatever the skimmer is rated for cut that in half.
Also buy the best skimmer/s you can afford so as not to pay later when a company goes out of business, which seems to happen a lot, or they update and don't make your parts anymore.
I've ditched all my skimmers and gone to one large venturi skimmer and I'll never look back. Makes all the needle wheel skimmers I've had seem like a giant waste of money.
Hope that helps you.
Joel

 

[Doctorgori]

All depends on the sump layout…

I am currently forced to use a ReefOcto 150 with a Red Sea 300 due to sump dimensions; a proper sized beast will just take up too much space ,,,,whereas the two smaller skimmer fit into a rectangle vs a large square…

Basically with a Reefmat, 2 reactors, 2 returns, …it becomes easier to move around and arrange smaller blocks than work around a large skimmer with a large base…

 

[Reesj]

I have a 4 foot 1.5 foot sump. Also as much head and side space as want. So from What I can see space is not a problem.
From what I have read, when the bio load is small, having a very large skimmer for it is not idle.
So one of the main reason for me to think of going 2 small once instead of 1 is, I'm having quite small fish at the start and not that many.
For me from logical point of view also, it seems that having water intake off of two point in sump might be better than having it in one point for a large skimmer.