to external skimmer or not

[Tank14]

I posted this in the equipment forum but I also wanted to get the opinions from my friends nearest me. :beer:

In setting up my plans for a sump, I am now toying with the idea of using an external skimmer since i have some extra room in my stand. My biggest fear is that it will overflow onto the floor. Looking for people's experience with an external skimmer. Are you happy with that choice or if you could do it again, you would go with an internal skimmer?

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

I've never used an external skimmer (not the biggest skimmer fan in general) but I share your fear. I would certainly not ever even think of running an external skimmer (or any equipment externally for that matter) without multiple preventive measures. Luckily those measures are pretty easy to implement. Stuff like:

1) Route the air hose for the skimmer's venturi intake into the top of the collection cup/waste collector such that when it gets full it blocks off the hose, effectively shutting down the skimmer
2) Put the skimmer in some sort of shallow vessel (think: a big baking pan or tupperware) to contain any overflows. Get one of those leak-detector relay devices meant to shut off electrical equipment when a leak is detected, and put the sensor in the pan with the skimmer, with the relay set to turn off the skimmer pump when a leak is detected.

 

[jfl14609]

I always suggest internal skimmers although i might add my favorite skimmer ever was external. The only reason for this recommendation is if it leaks or overflows it goes into the sump not the stand

 

[Capt_Cully]

I always suggest internal skimmers although i might add my favorite skimmer ever was external. The only reason for this recommendation is if it leaks or overflows it goes into the sump not the stand

X2

I love my internal skimmer, but once in a while they just go haywire. A little build up on the Venturi, a change in water depth, a change in outflow pressure, whatever. The last thing you want is stinky skimmate all over your floor. My skimmer JUST overflowed 2 days ago, still don't know why, but it's all in the sump.

I know oneradtek and blurry both run very nice externals, perhaps they can join in and offer a counterpoint of view.

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

I know oneradtek and blurry both run very nice externals, perhaps they can join in and offer a counterpoint of view.

They're probably too busy peeking under their stands to see if the skimmer has overflowed to offer much input on this thread.

 

[tmz]

In sump skmmers here.

 

[oneradtek202]

They're probably too busy peeking under their stands to see if the skimmer has overflowed to offer much input on this thread.

under my stand!? oh please i keep mine in my basement. not many people can run external skimmers under the tank, because they are generally space hogs.

I absolutely love my external skimmer. my skimmer has a great tube that goes from 3/4 of the cup height back to the skimmer body to recirculate anything that gets overflowed.

since the skimmer doesnt need a water level to run, it is very constant. set it and forget it. it has a large collection cup so i only have to change once a week, and its chock full of garbage.

i run a reef octopus ext-2000 and it was possibly the best thing i ever bought IMO

 

[oneradtek202]

im also going to add the build on these skimmers will impress even the most skeptic leak person. it is rock solid and no area for possible leaks. the only area would be the return tube which is what you have to plumb to so if you dont glue it, thats your fault!

 

[Willistein]

What about cleaning the venturi and pump impeller? Can you disconnect an external skimmer and service it without water everywhere?

I have an Octopus internal and I just take the pump off and let the extra water from the skimmer body flow into the sump. My sump is always the same level with the ATO float switch so it's very constant.

 

[Tank14]

under my stand!? oh please i keep mine in my basement. not many people can run external skimmers under the tank, because they are generally space hogs.

I absolutely love my external skimmer. my skimmer has a great tube that goes from 3/4 of the cup height back to the skimmer body to recirculate anything that gets overflowed.

since the skimmer doesnt need a water level to run, it is very constant. set it and forget it. it has a large collection cup so i only have to change once a week, and its chock full of garbage.

i run a reef octopus ext-2000 and it was possibly the best thing i ever bought IMO

It turned out that i have some extra room in my stand even with the sump in there. Looking at the extra space, I thought about having an external skimmer instead of having a skimmer section in the sump. I was looking at that same skimmer as an option.

 

[oneradtek202]

I haven't had to clean it yet. However the skimmer sits higher than my sump and is fed by an external mag)5 . When i power that off all water drains out of my skimmer to where its dry, because of back siphoning from the intake . Simply unscrew the bubble blaster fittings and it comes right off. Yea i had skimmers in my sump under ATO constant water level. However what happens if your main pump fails? It would overflow. In mine i have no worries about that. I have owned internal and external. I would highly recommend external. and in the picture below you will see that tube that helps keep the skimmer from overflowing and flooding things. the water level reaches that height and it recirculates it back into the skimmer.

so for everyone afraid of leaking, you dont have ANYTHING external on your sump? Such as piping, GFO/carbon canisters or refugiums? all those can have fault too. it seems alot of people trust those for some reason.

reasons for me.

ease of accessing the skimmer
set it and forget it mentality behind it
amount of skimmate, huge skimmer with lots of surface area for bubbles
quality of the build


you will not regret spending the extra cash on this skimmer! i just saw one on the F/S forums on here for like 425$
here it is right after setup, in break in period. wet skimmate, but you get the idea

 

[Tank14]

That's great info Brandon. I will definitely take a second look at the reef octopus external skimmer.

 

[pascal32]

I love having an external skimmer. This thing is a monster and fitting it in a sump would be a tall order, no pun intended.

Cleaning is easier, it is not taking up sump space, easier to adjust (no need to prop the skimmer up) and I can leave it running when the main return pump is off since water level in the sump doesn't affect it. There is some risk to overflowing - this skimmer is like Brandons in that it has an air intake inside the sump so if it overflows the skimmer should recirculate the gunk. I did overflow it the other day after putting in brand new filter socks. The plan is to add an avast skimmate collector with a shutoff.

I have the air intake Tee'd for a soda lime reactor which i still need to put back after the rebuild.

 

[jfl14609]

so for everyone afraid of leaking, you dont have ANYTHING external on your sump? Such as piping, GFO/carbon canisters or refugiums? all those can have fault too. it seems alot of people trust those for some reason.

I have actually run external for years at a time the only problem I had was when i got lax on cleaning it and the overflow tube got clogged and it made a mess. But I will say this I position my sump under the bulkheads and all plumbing is over the sump last thing I want is water on my living room floor. If you go external look at etss downdraft skimmers they are far from efficient but man they are just evil skimmers if I had the room i would still have one