Need skimmer help

dohc97

dohc97

Active member
Im planning a new custom built tank with built in sump and wondering what skimmer would work best for my tank. With the dimensions im looking at right now, the total system volume comes out to somewhere around 40 gallons. Im looking to buy either a euroreef or asm skimmer, im not too clear on which size i should pick though. I thought that if i asked guys on here i might get good answers. The tank will mostly be lps corals, some sps, a pair of maroon clowns and probably a blue spotted jawfish, thats it for livestock in the tank. I need to make a decision on the skimmer so i can move forward with the planning of the tank(need skimmer footprint info for the builder).
 
what model would you suggest though? i dont mind getting top of the line equipment as long as its properly sized. I have been reading up on skimmers quite a lot and it seems that people think that it should be sized accordingly, if i go too big it might just be a waste. I know for sure that a small one would just be crap as well. I need to narrow choices to maybe 2 or 3 models so that i can get the builder the area i need in my sump for the skimmer.
 
Out of the 2 you are thinking about, go ER for sure. The RS80, smallest model should be more than adequate. I've owned both ER and ASM, ER much better built and performs better than the ASM I had. If you plan to upgrade in the near future, then you might want to get something bigger. I am a big fan of recirculating skimmers myself.
 
Honestly, the price difference between ER and ASM right now isnt that large. The performance difference is huge though.


Are you a DIY'er? If so, I'd reccomend buying a reef Octopus NW150/NW110, and doing the meshmod on it. It'll cost you less than $150, and will perform much better than the ASMs that are similar in cost. If you're not willing to mod, buy the ER.
 
thanks for the suggestions guys, i think i will go ahead and get the euroreef rs80. Is there a way to run this skimmer as a hob on the sump or does it have to be in the sump? reason is because checking it i see that it needs an area of 9"x9" which is a little more width than what i wanted of my built in sump. If it has to be in sump i will alter the dimensions of the tank.
 
Nope on the ER. The recirculating model is much more $, but can run independantly outside of the sump. There maybe other skimmers with small footprint, but the smallest that I've seen that pulls the poop out of the fishes is the new ATi Bubblemaster 150 for $399 and it footprint is 6.5" x 7" with the pump installed inside the skimmer body like the new mini Bubblekings.
 
well guys its a no on the ER. Skimmer area i will have to work with is 6" by 11", i wasnt willing to make my sump 9" wide. Suggestions for good skimmers to fit this footprint? Price range i would say anywhere between 180-300 depending on how good(and well reviewed) the skimmer is.
 
I've had no problems out of any of the ASM skimmers I have run.... anywhere from the mini to the G2. The ASM mini, or G1 would suffice for your system, the G2 is nearly 2 feet tall, and it is as wide as a ten gallon tank is deep.

Robbie
 
Tunze 9010

Tunze 9010

I recommend the Tunze 9010 for small sumps. If you purchase the sump kit for the 9005, the combination will cost as much as the 9010.

Alternatives include external skimmers but they are pricey.

Kodyboy is getting good results from his Typhoon HOB skimmer. I'm not sure how it will work when hung on a sump as the manufacturer's FAQ does not recommend this.
 
Any first hand experience with the skimmers being suggested? I would love to hear from people who own or have owned these skimmers. Interested on a skimmer that i wont have to be constanly fiddling with. So far i have received great advice through a pm from a user. Im leaning towards an H&S over ER or ASM. Im not in a hurry for the skimmer since i have about 3-4 months before i need to buy it, just doing my homework:)
 
I had the typhoon running in a sump for a while, and it worked fine (had to keep the water level up though as in needed to be about 16" to make it work) but the collection tube hose barb needs to be turned so the skimmate can collect, I think it works better if the tube can "hang strait down". The whole unit is 22" long and from the bottom to the elbows that hang on the tank is about 16". If you could hang it from the sump I am sure it would work fine.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9019913#post9019913 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dohc97
Im leaning towards an H&S over ER or ASM.
Click to expand...
Are you leaning towards the external versions of these skimmers? I'm not sure if anything much larger than a Tunze will fit inside your sump.
 
Actually the 2 smallest H&S skimmers should work in my sump. The tank hasnt been built so ill alter skimmer section length to 12". The width works out fine.
 
well i was thinking anywhere between $150-$300, willing to go higher for something that might be easier to setup(not much fiddling). The 2 H&S models im looking at go for $280 and around $380. Im trying to go with the best equipment that i can afford and im not in a huge hurry. The tank itself is going to be custom made out of acrylic, lighting will be a tek t5 fixture, chiller, ato, controller, etc....
My current tank is a 20L nano that is low tech and low budget, i have learned the basics and now i want to do a really nice system. I cant go larger than the 40 total volume system so im doing the best i can with what space i have.
 
I would think the tunze 9010 would do a better job than the little H&S skimmers (H&S 110?) that I have seen online.
 
Smart Decision

Smart Decision

Most aquarists start with cheap skimmers and are later forced to upgrade (myself included). I think that you are doing things smartly. To upgrade my skimmer, lighting and return pump will cost me another $1,000. If I had made smarter purchases from the start, I would have been better off.

I don't think that you can "over-skim" a tank. But even if your skimmer is capable of doing more, you can always use it on a bigger tank in the future.

Good luck!
 
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