Looking for sump or external skimmer

[firewill65]

I have a friend that has a 180 and is running a small sump with bioballs and there is no room for a skimmer. There is plenty of room under the tank...Whats the best (cheaper) solution to get him set up with a skimmer? Find a larger cheap sump? Do we ditch the bioballs? He has minimal live rock and feeds self prepared seafood mix. Do they make a cheaper external skimmer? Any advice would be appreciated...thanks!

 

[firewill65]

Forgot to mention I have an old ASM G3 I can give him...so I guess the cheaper way is a larger sump?

 

[Sagz70]

If you are looking to just run a skimmer in the sump I would assume you could just get a standard 75 for the sump and add baffles for the bubbles.

I'm not sure if that's the best idea but that's the route I would take.

 

[firewill65]

If he gets a 75, can he just ditch the bio balls slowly? He currently has some live rock and maybe 1-2 inches of sand.

 

[mlivvy]

bioballs aka nitrate balls.

 

[loqix]

I hate bio balls. Use live rock instead