Thoughts On External Skimmers?

[Zach]

Been running my system skimmerless the last little while as I've always relied on algea in the sump and mechanical filtration to get rid of the nasties. I don't keep any sps so it's never been a big concern for me. I don't have room in my sump for a skimmer but I've been thinking i might want some sps (not actually so much my thinking as my fiancé 's....but I guess that basically makes it mine)

Anyone use external skimmers? Any pros or cons? What's the best value?

Sent from my SM-G903W using Tapatalk

 

[Luke.]

I've been using the eshop psk 100 (rated for 100 gallons) it's a hob skimmer with one of the biggest cups I believe for a hob skimmer works great as long as you use a tube attacked to the cup where the overflow stem is and make the line return back to the beginning of the sump (this is incase it over flows it'll end up in the dump and not the floor , great skimmer I wouldn't recommend it if it wasn't . Decent price aswell .

 

[Nonuser]

The thing I would be most concerned with is what happens when/if the cup overflows or there is a leak?

I have never had an external Skimmer but I have enough issues with the internal one. It acts up when I do a WC or turn my return pump off for feeding, I could only imagine if an external skimmer acted like my internal one it would be water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink.

 

[Zach]

The thing I would be most concerned with is what happens when/if the cup overflows or there is a leak?

I have never had an external Skimmer but I have enough issues with the internal one. It acts up when I do a WC or turn my return pump off for feeding, I could only imagine if an external skimmer acted like my internal one it would be water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink.

That's been my main concern too. The point of attaching an overflow line to the start of the sump makes sense....but I'd have to see it work before I trust it

Sent from my SM-G903W using Tapatalk

 

[shamous113]

I'm running a lifereef vs3-30 on my system and absolutely love it, it can be run in or out of the sump. you would be hard pressed to have this over flow, it has the air intake attached to the skimmer cup, I had this happen once when i was first setting it up. http://www.lifereef.com/

 

[Kyle1970]

I've run deltec mce600 from side of my sump. Great skimmer
AquaC remora on sump side. Good, noisy
Reef Octopus on side of display. No heat transfer from external pump, not too loud, added flow to tank.
Whichever model you get, expect to pay more than for an in sump model

Reef Octopus and deltec have overflow features in the event of cup filling.

 

[AdInfinitum]

I drain my MRC collection cup into a 2 litre jug that hangs on the side of my sump so if the skimmer has an overskim episode the excess just runs into the sump.

 

[Marz]

I drain my MRC collection cup into a 2 litre jug that hangs on the side of my sump so if the skimmer has an overskim episode the excess just runs into the sump.

Do you have a pic of this setup, or is it typical to have an external runoff?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Canadianeh]

I am running Aquamaxxx HOB-1. It is a work horse. It is designed with a small overflow pipe that allows it to go back to the skimmer in case of overflow. Check it out on youtube and other reviews on google. Worth to take a look.

 

[AdInfinitum]

Do you have a pic of this setup, or is it typical to have an external runoff?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Most larger skimmers internal and external have the option of a drain to a remote cup. With my vertex in250 I did the same thing...ran a hose from the drain in the cup to a 2 litre water jug hanging on the inside edge of my sump so I never needed to take the cup off to drain it and when it went crazy it just overflowed back into the sump. (A dollar store plastic water jug with an open handle that hooks over the edge.)

 

[Marz]

Thanks. I will have to check mine.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Skim]

If you are looking at external skimmers, you may want to check out the recirculating type.

 

[Nonuser]

Question, why would you not want to buy a large external skimmer? Even if you have a small tank say 75 gallons buy a one rated for 300 gallons and then you would never need to upgrade
.

 

[shamous113]

Question, why would you not want to buy a large external skimmer? Even if you have a small tank say 75 gallons buy a one rated for 300 gallons and then you would never need to upgrade
.

A oversized skimmer may not work consistently, and if it does you can strip the tank of all nutrients.

 

[Nonuser]

A oversized skimmer may not work consistently, and if it does you can strip the tank of all nutrients.

I was thinking that was the reason. Thanks for the support info

 

[Kyle1970]

Is noise an issue?

If not you can usually pick up an AquaC for a good price.

 

[shamous113]

I was thinking that was the reason. Thanks for the support info

Welcome.That said, IMHO most skimmer manufacturers over rate their skimmers which kind of creates a bit of a quagmire when it comes to properly sizing your skimmer.

 

[AdInfinitum]

A oversized skimmer may not work consistently, and if it does you can strip the tank of all nutrients.

I personally believe that is a myth...foam fractionation has limitations as to what compounds it can remove and at what concentrations. Where I would agree that some designs of skimmers may not readily develop stable foam heads or be difficult to adjust when they are very mismatched to the system load, I think the idea of large skimmers "stripping the water bare" is more a product of the endless marketing of the newest and greatest skimmer design....

I am currently running my 25 gallon frag tank with a skimmer rated for 265 gallons (it was all I had around) and I still have tons of pods, great growth, and I must change water weekly to keep nutrient levels under control.

 

[shamous113]

I personally believe that is a myth...foam fractionation has limitations as to what compounds it can remove and at what concentrations. Where I would agree that some designs of skimmers may not readily develop stable foam heads or be difficult to adjust when they are very mismatched to the system load, I think the idea of large skimmers "stripping the water bare" is more a product of the endless marketing of the newest and greatest skimmer design....

I'm on the fence weather it's a myth or not...I believe if I remember correctly a properly sized skimmer will remove only 20 - 35% of the measurable Total Organic Carbon (TOC) in reef tank, that said you hear about people unintentionally ending up with a ULNS tank....probably caused by a combination of other factors but not limited to skimming all the toc out of the tank. I guess it also depends on what type of corals you keeping,softies vs sps and the water conditions that they prefer.

 

[Bill]

Like you I had no space in my sump so I purchased a Reef Octopus 5000 external skimmer. These are very well made, I clean the skimate cup once a week. There is a overflow connection in the cup that you can drain to a bucket but I have never had to use it, the skimate is thick and dark. This model has a recirculating pump but makes very little noise. The only real noise is where the water coming from the skimmer dumps back into the sump, but if you install the dump water pipe low enough in the sump it will be silent. This is by far the best skimmer I have tried, its costly but works perfectly.