Internal vs External Protein Skimmer

joegoersch · 12/02/2011, 08:05 PM

I've searched for advantages and disadvantages of internal vs external protein skimmers and didn't find too much on the forum.

I just called Reef Octopus (Coralvue) and asked technical support there. The feeling the gentleman there had was that external skimmers have a big advantage in that only with externals can you control the volume of water flow going to the skimmer chamber. With internals generally the gate valve will control water flow but changes the air flow . The pump pumps water (in an internal) and generates bubbles based on that. Not independantly controlled variables.

Leaking seems to be a potential concern with externals, but perhaps one could put them in some sort of raised container (if vertical space permits) plumbed to the sump, so a leak would be a non-issue.

I'm working on a new build a 120 gallon DT with either a 29 gallon fuge or maybe getting a bigger (50 gallon fuge) and am considering either the Reef Octopus 2000 Int vs the 2000 external.

Any thoughts ?

jimmy frag · 12/02/2011, 08:11 PM

internal will heat the water in the sump more than one ext. leaks can be a problem on the ext. also over flowing. even in a container, it will still empty the sump.

dzfish17 · 12/02/2011, 08:15 PM

Ive heard the same thing about external skimmers being more productive. My skimmer sits on a shelf on the side of my tank (no sump). The return is just above the tank and the shelf serves as a drain pan just in case the skimmer overflows.

Tat2demon · 12/02/2011, 09:34 PM

I will always go with an internal. Ive seen skimmers of my own and of friends that have suddenly filled up for no apparent reason after several weeks of normal operation.

joegoersch · 12/03/2011, 06:14 AM

My thought was to put skimmer into a bucket which would be a little elevated above sump, and plumbed to sump so if skimmer overflows, the water would drain down into sump.

thor109 · 12/03/2011, 07:09 AM

If you raise your skimmer above the water level it is drawing from it will reduce flow inside the skimmer. Most external / HOB skimmers are designed to run at or close to water level. Skimmers do leak and overflow. If you put it on main tank and made some kind of drain pan that went into sump you would be protected. If above water level maybe you could use a bigger pump. It might work ok with stock pump , I guess you would have to try.

Some new designs in sumps have a skimmer chamber that maintains a constant water level. This prevents you internal skimmer from needing adjusted do to evaporation.

joegoersch · 12/04/2011, 06:24 AM

My skimmer will be below the DT but above the sump. I think even if I raise skiimmer a foot it'll still be 3 feet below DT. I'm thinking about skimming with the Reef Octopus .SRO 2000 ext

12/02/2011, 08:05 PM	#1
joegoersch Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 327	Internal vs External Protein Skimmer I've searched for advantages and disadvantages of internal vs external protein skimmers and didn't find too much on the forum. I just called Reef Octopus (Coralvue) and asked technical support there. The feeling the gentleman there had was that external skimmers have a big advantage in that only with externals can you control the volume of water flow going to the skimmer chamber. With internals generally the gate valve will control water flow but changes the air flow . The pump pumps water (in an internal) and generates bubbles based on that. Not independantly controlled variables. Leaking seems to be a potential concern with externals, but perhaps one could put them in some sort of raised container (if vertical space permits) plumbed to the sump, so a leak would be a non-issue. I'm working on a new build a 120 gallon DT with either a 29 gallon fuge or maybe getting a bigger (50 gallon fuge) and am considering either the Reef Octopus 2000 Int vs the 2000 external. Any thoughts ?

12/02/2011, 08:15 PM	#3
dzfish17 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Fresno,Ca. Posts: 2,545	Ive heard the same thing about external skimmers being more productive. My skimmer sits on a shelf on the side of my tank (no sump). The return is just above the tank and the shelf serves as a drain pan just in case the skimmer overflows. __________________ 600g (96x36x46) FOWLR

12/02/2011, 09:34 PM	#4
Tat2demon Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Sioux Falls, SD Posts: 833	I will always go with an internal. Ive seen skimmers of my own and of friends that have suddenly filled up for no apparent reason after several weeks of normal operation. __________________ Nate cham - "Taste it, if it tastes like poop.....it is." Current Tank Info: 400 gallon in progress. 8x3x2.5

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Please Help me find the right protein skimmer.	Seanl	Lighting, Filtration & Other Equipment	4	08/19/2011 05:03 AM
Protein skimmers	getsmart111	New to the Hobby	0	11/11/2010 01:22 AM
protein skimmer	rdog	Lighting, Filtration & Other Equipment	9	03/09/2010 08:24 PM
Protein Skimmers	Bigjoe1985	New to the Hobby	3	10/13/2009 06:35 AM

12/02/2011, 08:11 PM	#2
jimmy frag Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: burlington ontario Posts: 845	internal will heat the water in the sump more than one ext. leaks can be a problem on the ext. also over flowing. even in a container, it will still empty the sump.

12/03/2011, 06:14 AM	#5
joegoersch Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 327	My thought was to put skimmer into a bucket which would be a little elevated above sump, and plumbed to sump so if skimmer overflows, the water would drain down into sump.

12/03/2011, 07:09 AM	#6
thor109 Registered Member. Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Plainfield, Indiana Posts: 822	If you raise your skimmer above the water level it is drawing from it will reduce flow inside the skimmer. Most external / HOB skimmers are designed to run at or close to water level. Skimmers do leak and overflow. If you put it on main tank and made some kind of drain pan that went into sump you would be protected. If above water level maybe you could use a bigger pump. It might work ok with stock pump , I guess you would have to try. Some new designs in sumps have a skimmer chamber that maintains a constant water level. This prevents you internal skimmer from needing adjusted do to evaporation.

12/04/2011, 06:24 AM	#7
joegoersch Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 327	My skimmer will be below the DT but above the sump. I think even if I raise skiimmer a foot it'll still be 3 feet below DT. I'm thinking about skimming with the Reef Octopus .SRO 2000 ext