What should I do for a skimmer?

Bnortz · 02/14/2011, 03:17 PM

Hey guys I'm in a bit of a dilemma on what I should do. My 60 Gallon is currently cycling with about 40 lbs. of LS and 60 lb. of LR and 6 snails. I'm going to be QTing my first fish soon. As of now, i dont have a sump or skimmer. I can't seem to find a sump that fits under my stand as I only have about 19 inches of width for anything to fit under. What I want your guy's opinion on is whether I should just get a HOB Skimmer or if i should somehow find a sump which I would also need a Overflow and then the in sump skimmer. I'm leaning towards the HOB skimmer because it will save me a lot of money and I could get it faster but I'm aware that they're less affective then in sump. Let me know what you all think. Thanks.

Dustin1300 · 02/14/2011, 03:25 PM

HOB will work but having a sump is so nice because you can hide all the equipment. If you want the most volume condensed then you could get an acrylic one made by yourself

HOB is effective as long as your tank water level is always the same. If that level fluctuates then you will not have a consistent skimmer.

Sk8r · 02/14/2011, 03:39 PM

got a basement? I drilled a couple of discreet holes in the wooden floor, right to unlimited space for stuff, AND a floor drain.

Outside of that, you could get an armoire or buffet at a garage sale and turn it into a sump-hangar. There is also no law that says a stand cannot be wider than the tank.

Bnortz · 02/14/2011, 04:09 PM

My tank is in a basement

davocean · 02/14/2011, 04:15 PM

While a sump is preferred, many run sumpless w/ HO gear successfully.
Tunze makes a good HO, Deltec does and some used ones floating around, I think reefoctopus makes a HO.

Reverend Reefer · 02/14/2011, 04:38 PM

well if yer running a fowlr, i wouldn't worry about a skimmer at this point. a sump is a lotta work to design, plumb, and etc. if u want a skimmer though, i would get a decent HOB one that will go in your future sump upgrade along with yer new bigger and better reef ready tank! the tunze and octopus ones are pretty good.

of course, if u have the cash and time, get a sump. you'll need to drill your display tank (or get a siphone overflow), you'll need to decide what type of plumbing (pvc or soft tubing), you'll need a strong return pump to go from the sump to the display (eg. mag-drive or eheim pump), you'll need to buy a sump or make one with different sump sections, decide if you want a refugium, get a light for the refugium, and you'll need to have a section for the skimmer you buy, and make sure it fits in that section of the sump. AND i guess in your situation, you'll either need to make a new stand or design a sump that will fit in there and get a skimmer that will fit in that.

hope that helps.

Bnortz · 02/14/2011, 05:45 PM

Yeah I think for now I'll just wait and save up for everything I'd need for the sump, skimmer, overflow, and return pump. I'll add my first few fish and keep up with my PWCs and what not. Once I'm set with my sump and skimmer then I'll take it further from a FOWLR and start adding some corals, probably within a year.

davocean · 02/14/2011, 06:10 PM

Eh, I'd have a skimmer on even for a FOWLR.

landers96 · 02/14/2011, 08:46 PM

I thinks a 20 long is only 12" wide. That's what I started off with as a sump and had room for my skimmer, fuge and return.

Bnortz · 02/14/2011, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davocean

Eh, I'd have a skimmer on even for a FOWLR.

Yeah I'm gonna get one as soon as I can, for me it's really a money issue as im only 15.

landers96: A 20 long is about 22" it wouldn't fit I tried.

MBryant · 02/14/2011, 09:55 PM

dude you can build a sump out of plexiglass. i had to build one for a 55g when the stand was only 10" deep but i could go 30"wide and made it about 12" tall cost about 60$

duncantse · 02/14/2011, 09:57 PM

Hey Bnortz, I'm 15 too

It's really hard trying to get all the equipment ready since the money issue. I have a 20 gallon with only a power filter as a filtration. I am planning to buy some PC lights ($130) and a decent protein skimmer within the next 1-2 months. Just take your time and go step by step.

hanley0019 · 02/14/2011, 10:10 PM

I ran a fowlr without a skimmer for a while. Just keep up on your water changes. The sump is the best bet. If it was me id go skimmerless until you have enough money to do a sump and skimmer right.

02/14/2011, 03:17 PM	#1
Bnortz Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Bay Village, Ohio Posts: 825	What should I do for a skimmer? Hey guys I'm in a bit of a dilemma on what I should do. My 60 Gallon is currently cycling with about 40 lbs. of LS and 60 lb. of LR and 6 snails. I'm going to be QTing my first fish soon. As of now, i dont have a sump or skimmer. I can't seem to find a sump that fits under my stand as I only have about 19 inches of width for anything to fit under. What I want your guy's opinion on is whether I should just get a HOB Skimmer or if i should somehow find a sump which I would also need a Overflow and then the in sump skimmer. I'm leaning towards the HOB skimmer because it will save me a lot of money and I could get it faster but I'm aware that they're less affective then in sump. Let me know what you all think. Thanks.

02/14/2011, 03:25 PM	#2
Dustin1300 Reefaholic Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Carmel, IN Posts: 5,135	HOB will work but having a sump is so nice because you can hide all the equipment. If you want the most volume condensed then you could get an acrylic one made by yourself HOB is effective as long as your tank water level is always the same. If that level fluctuates then you will not have a consistent skimmer. __________________ INDMAS President Check out my tank in the Large Tank Forums, "A Reefaholic's 1000+ Gallon Mixed Reef System Build"! Current Tank Info: 600 Gallon DT, 140 Gallon Grow Out Tank, 125 Gallon Sump, 90 Gallon Fuge, 200 Gallon Fish QT, 15 Gallon Frag QT

02/14/2011, 03:39 PM	#3
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	got a basement? I drilled a couple of discreet holes in the wooden floor, right to unlimited space for stuff, AND a floor drain. Outside of that, you could get an armoire or buffet at a garage sale and turn it into a sump-hangar. There is also no law that says a stand cannot be wider than the tank. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

02/14/2011, 04:15 PM	#5
davocean Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 14,655	While a sump is preferred, many run sumpless w/ HO gear successfully. Tunze makes a good HO, Deltec does and some used ones floating around, I think reefoctopus makes a HO. __________________ There's a fine line between owning your tank and your tank owning you! Current Tank Info: SCA 120g RR Starfire, Tunze silence 1073.02 return, 40g sump w/ fuge, SWC Extreme 160 cone skimmer,Geismann reflexx 4xT5, 2x Panorama Pro LED strips, Vortech MP40QD

02/14/2011, 04:38 PM	#6
Reverend Reefer Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Toronto, ON, Canada Posts: 883	well if yer running a fowlr, i wouldn't worry about a skimmer at this point. a sump is a lotta work to design, plumb, and etc. if u want a skimmer though, i would get a decent HOB one that will go in your future sump upgrade along with yer new bigger and better reef ready tank! the tunze and octopus ones are pretty good. of course, if u have the cash and time, get a sump. you'll need to drill your display tank (or get a siphone overflow), you'll need to decide what type of plumbing (pvc or soft tubing), you'll need a strong return pump to go from the sump to the display (eg. mag-drive or eheim pump), you'll need to buy a sump or make one with different sump sections, decide if you want a refugium, get a light for the refugium, and you'll need to have a section for the skimmer you buy, and make sure it fits in that section of the sump. AND i guess in your situation, you'll either need to make a new stand or design a sump that will fit in there and get a skimmer that will fit in that. hope that helps. __________________ - Rev. Tank: 65G glass 48" long tank; Sump/Fuge: 30G. Lighting: LEDs+single T5 strip. Maintenance: ATO Kalkwasser + 10% weekly WC, daily feedings LPS+Softies dominated.

02/14/2011, 04:09 PM	#4
Bnortz Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Bay Village, Ohio Posts: 825	My tank is in a basement

02/14/2011, 05:45 PM	#7
Bnortz Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Bay Village, Ohio Posts: 825	Yeah I think for now I'll just wait and save up for everything I'd need for the sump, skimmer, overflow, and return pump. I'll add my first few fish and keep up with my PWCs and what not. Once I'm set with my sump and skimmer then I'll take it further from a FOWLR and start adding some corals, probably within a year.

02/14/2011, 06:10 PM	#8
davocean Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 14,655	Eh, I'd have a skimmer on even for a FOWLR. __________________ There's a fine line between owning your tank and your tank owning you! Current Tank Info: SCA 120g RR Starfire, Tunze silence 1073.02 return, 40g sump w/ fuge, SWC Extreme 160 cone skimmer,Geismann reflexx 4xT5, 2x Panorama Pro LED strips, Vortech MP40QD

02/14/2011, 08:46 PM	#9
landers96 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: vermilion Posts: 361	I thinks a 20 long is only 12" wide. That's what I started off with as a sump and had room for my skimmer, fuge and return.

02/14/2011, 09:55 PM	#11
MBryant Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Edmond Posts: 257	dude you can build a sump out of plexiglass. i had to build one for a 55g when the stand was only 10" deep but i could go 30"wide and made it about 12" tall cost about 60$

02/14/2011, 09:57 PM	#12
duncantse Fish Advisor Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 1,604	Hey Bnortz, I'm 15 too It's really hard trying to get all the equipment ready since the money issue. I have a 20 gallon with only a power filter as a filtration. I am planning to buy some PC lights ($130) and a decent protein skimmer within the next 1-2 months. Just take your time and go step by step.

02/14/2011, 10:10 PM	#13
hanley0019 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 60	I ran a fowlr without a skimmer for a while. Just keep up on your water changes. The sump is the best bet. If it was me id go skimmerless until you have enough money to do a sump and skimmer right.

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