skimmer footprints, why so big?

da1jewfish · 01/08/2009, 09:23 AM

All of these skimmers I'm looking at have large footprints... all of them seem to. For example, most of the in-sump minimum footprint is 8" X 10" for the Octo Extreme 160, then it goes up to 11.5" X 13.5" footprint, etc.
My question is do they really take up that much room in the sump?
That is a lot of room. I have 3 tanks with sumps/ fuges and none of my sumps have enough room to accomodate unless I removed the Chaeto, which I don't want to do.

Any ideas?

asmujica · 01/08/2009, 10:36 AM

Try an external or have you looked at the tunze skimmers?

m8j4c · 01/08/2009, 11:21 AM

+1 on trying an external skimmer!
But I have to agree that in sump skimmers do have a rather large footprint. I had some issues trying to find one that worked in my sump as well.

seapug · 01/08/2009, 11:56 AM

Tunze 9015 footprint is only about 4" X 5" and is good up to about 400 gallons.

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_Aquari...o_classic.html

nikon187 · 01/08/2009, 01:13 PM

yes most in sump skimmers have a large footprint..The 2 smallest ones are the tunze as mentioned above and the bubbleking mini with a footprint of 8" X 8"

stanlalee · 01/08/2009, 02:29 PM

I notice the output pipes and pump locations on the body always seem to be offset in a way that makes takes up lots of space. they are never say 180deg from each other on a cylindrical skimmer. I always wonder if this is function over form or actually just an oversite.

Untamed12 · 01/08/2009, 03:09 PM

I think the answer to "why"...is that sumps typically get installed below tanks, so height is an issue.

The skimmer loses effectiveness (ability to process more tank volume) as the chamber gets smaller, so if height is a concern then they make the skimmer wider.

After that, it becomes a matter of optimizing the pump placement and plumbing to save that little bit of space. More expensive skimmers consider this while others don't.

da1jewfish · 01/08/2009, 08:14 PM

Ok, thanks for all the comments all. The Tunze's look nice, but a little too steep on pricing.

Are the HOB skimmers that uses the Sicce's the better ones?

d2mini · 01/08/2009, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by nikon187
yes most in sump skimmers have a large footprint..The 2 smallest ones are the tunze as mentioned above and the bubbleking mini with a footprint of 8" X 8"

OMG. Bubbleking REALLY likes their skimmers.

shag26272 · 01/08/2009, 09:54 PM

DAS, you can run it external

01/08/2009, 09:23 AM	#1
da1jewfish Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: West Palm, FL Posts: 990	skimmer footprints, why so big? All of these skimmers I'm looking at have large footprints... all of them seem to. For example, most of the in-sump minimum footprint is 8" X 10" for the Octo Extreme 160, then it goes up to 11.5" X 13.5" footprint, etc. My question is do they really take up that much room in the sump? That is a lot of room. I have 3 tanks with sumps/ fuges and none of my sumps have enough room to accomodate unless I removed the Chaeto, which I don't want to do. Any ideas?

01/08/2009, 10:36 AM	#2
asmujica Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Monterrey, México Posts: 5,580	Try an external or have you looked at the tunze skimmers? __________________ Where has the tank gone?

01/08/2009, 11:56 AM	#4
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	Tunze 9015 footprint is only about 4" X 5" and is good up to about 400 gallons. http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_Aquari...o_classic.html __________________ insert clever saying here. Current Tank Info: 200 gallon custom Marineland DD peninsular tank. LPS dominated mixed reef. Previous 90 gallon mixed reef TOTM April 2009.

01/08/2009, 01:13 PM	#5
nikon187 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Edmonton Alberta Posts: 4,717	yes most in sump skimmers have a large footprint..The 2 smallest ones are the tunze as mentioned above and the bubbleking mini with a footprint of 8" X 8" __________________ ----------------- Current Tanks: New 210 custom 84 x 24 x 24, 60g sump, SWC 250 extreme with bubble blaster 5000, 2 vortech mp40, 2 vortech mp10, 12 T5, Water blaster 5000, warner marine bio pellets, 60g clownfish cube, red carpet anemone with a 25g sump,SRO octopus 1000sss, 250w radium, lumenarc large.

01/08/2009, 03:09 PM	#7
Untamed12 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 1,578	I think the answer to "why"...is that sumps typically get installed below tanks, so height is an issue. The skimmer loses effectiveness (ability to process more tank volume) as the chamber gets smaller, so if height is a concern then they make the skimmer wider. After that, it becomes a matter of optimizing the pump placement and plumbing to save that little bit of space. More expensive skimmers consider this while others don't. __________________ Fishlist: Tangs: Yellow, Vlamingi, Blonde Naso, Unicorn, Atlantic Blue Others: Maroon Clown(s), Foxface, Majestic Angel, Hawkfish and more.. Current Tank Info: 400gal Envision Acrylic reef started 04/07

01/08/2009, 11:21 AM	#3
m8j4c Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Livermore, Ca. Posts: 69	+1 on trying an external skimmer! But I have to agree that in sump skimmers do have a rather large footprint. I had some issues trying to find one that worked in my sump as well.

01/08/2009, 02:29 PM	#6
stanlalee Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: hampton roads, va Posts: 1,799	I notice the output pipes and pump locations on the body always seem to be offset in a way that makes takes up lots of space. they are never say 180deg from each other on a cylindrical skimmer. I always wonder if this is function over form or actually just an oversite.

01/08/2009, 08:14 PM	#8
da1jewfish Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: West Palm, FL Posts: 990	Ok, thanks for all the comments all. The Tunze's look nice, but a little too steep on pricing. Are the HOB skimmers that uses the Sicce's the better ones?

01/08/2009, 09:54 PM	#10
shag26272 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: New Orleans, LA Posts: 3,088	DAS, you can run it external __________________ .