External Protein Skimmer?

Rubasu · 12/22/2015, 12:58 PM

Hi Everyone -

I currently have a canister filter (oops) that I am getting rid of. I would like to have a protein skimmer, though. My question is - Are there external skimmers that do NOT hang on the back and also do not need to be in the sump? I would like to have it under my tank where my canister is currently.

I do not have a sump, nor an overflow to bring the water down to the skimmer, so it would have to bring it down and push it back up by itself (like the canister filter does)

I've tried googling this, but all I can find is either one that goes in your sump or a HOB skimmer. Any suggestions?

Swanwillow · 12/22/2015, 01:21 PM

you want to search for external skimmers. The issue I think you're going to run into is that they're not made to pump the water back up, its more of a -to the side- type system. Is there a reason you cannot get a small sump under the tank? Even a 5 gallon bucket with diy pvc overflows, a small return pump and a skimmer would work.

FirstContact · 12/22/2015, 01:22 PM

Skimz makes some external skimmers. You can get them at BRS or Aquacave.

zoolan70 · 12/22/2015, 01:30 PM

What you are asking for does not exist. The reason a canister filter can both suck water down and pump it back is that it is a closed system. As water is pushed back up, water has to replace it or a vacuum would form.

A skimmer is an open system. External skimmer are designed to be fed at a certain rate, and gravity drain back to a sump. Hang on the back skimmers either use a pump in the tank pushing water to the skimmer, or the pump is inside the skimmer, and pulls the water in via suction. That only works if the outlet for the skimmer is above the top of the tank (hence the reason they hang-on-the-back).

The only way you could do it with a larger external skimmer would be to put an external skimmer above your tank, and put a pump in the tank to push the water up to the skimmer and let it gravity feed back down into the tank.

Rubasu · 12/22/2015, 01:31 PM

I don't have a drilled tank. I have looked into a diy pvc overflow, but from what I read, there's a risk of floods...

I have a spare 20g tank that I can make into a sump and I actually have easy access from my DT to the basement (only about 3ft down from my tank because it's a bi-level home) and I want to get a sump and put it down there for easy access. But, the risk of flooding my DT worries me unless it's drilled.

Jade5051 · 12/22/2015, 03:01 PM

Drilling is definitely your best option and a well designed HOB overflow is very safe. I used that same HOB overflow for over 10 years and it has never failed once.

Swanwillow · 12/22/2015, 06:09 PM

There's a risk of floods with any system, honestly. I had a drilled tank fail, I've had a hob overflow stay strong. I had another drilled tank that didn't fail... We have glass boxes with water in them

12/22/2015, 12:58 PM	#1
Rubasu Registered Member Join Date: May 2015 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 230	External Protein Skimmer? Hi Everyone - I currently have a canister filter (oops) that I am getting rid of. I would like to have a protein skimmer, though. My question is - Are there external skimmers that do NOT hang on the back and also do not need to be in the sump? I would like to have it under my tank where my canister is currently. I do not have a sump, nor an overflow to bring the water down to the skimmer, so it would have to bring it down and push it back up by itself (like the canister filter does) I've tried googling this, but all I can find is either one that goes in your sump or a HOB skimmer. Any suggestions? __________________ 40 Breeder / 20L Sump: Ocellaris Clown - Green Star Polyps, Kenya Tree, Brown Palys, Blue Mushrooms...and the clean up crew.

12/22/2015, 01:21 PM	#2
Swanwillow goby girl Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Bemidji MN Posts: 2,025	you want to search for external skimmers. The issue I think you're going to run into is that they're not made to pump the water back up, its more of a -to the side- type system. Is there a reason you cannot get a small sump under the tank? Even a 5 gallon bucket with diy pvc overflows, a small return pump and a skimmer would work. __________________ my advice:walk away. do nothing. til tomorrow. if its still alive, it will hopefully be fine. If you do not see it, do not try to find it. it may be hiding. just LEAVE it alone Current Tank Info: starting over! 125 gallon. Soon to be home to Blackfoot clowns, A. nigripes

12/22/2015, 01:22 PM	#3
FirstContact Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Glenn Dale, MD Posts: 1,613	Skimz makes some external skimmers. You can get them at BRS or Aquacave. __________________ No man is an island entire of itself; any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee. John Donne Current Tank Info: 120g Reef 100g Rubbermaid Sump, 20g Refugium; previous tank: 46g Drilled; Self Plumbed, Birds Nest, Anchor, Xenia, Zoas, Yuma Yuma Ricordea, Chalice, Mushrooms, Brain, Acan, Anenome Plate; Clams, Other Inverts, Fish, Live Rock

12/22/2015, 01:30 PM	#4
zoolan70 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Lakeville, MN Posts: 248	What you are asking for does not exist. The reason a canister filter can both suck water down and pump it back is that it is a closed system. As water is pushed back up, water has to replace it or a vacuum would form. A skimmer is an open system. External skimmer are designed to be fed at a certain rate, and gravity drain back to a sump. Hang on the back skimmers either use a pump in the tank pushing water to the skimmer, or the pump is inside the skimmer, and pulls the water in via suction. That only works if the outlet for the skimmer is above the top of the tank (hence the reason they hang-on-the-back). The only way you could do it with a larger external skimmer would be to put an external skimmer above your tank, and put a pump in the tank to push the water up to the skimmer and let it gravity feed back down into the tank. __________________ 500 gallon in-wall with 250 extra gallons of sumps / frag tanks / etc behind it.

12/22/2015, 01:31 PM	#5
Rubasu Registered Member Join Date: May 2015 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 230	I don't have a drilled tank. I have looked into a diy pvc overflow, but from what I read, there's a risk of floods... I have a spare 20g tank that I can make into a sump and I actually have easy access from my DT to the basement (only about 3ft down from my tank because it's a bi-level home) and I want to get a sump and put it down there for easy access. But, the risk of flooding my DT worries me unless it's drilled. __________________ 40 Breeder / 20L Sump: Ocellaris Clown - Green Star Polyps, Kenya Tree, Brown Palys, Blue Mushrooms...and the clean up crew.

12/22/2015, 03:01 PM	#6
Jade5051 That guy... Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Illinois Posts: 1,218	Drilling is definitely your best option and a well designed HOB overflow is very safe. I used that same HOB overflow for over 10 years and it has never failed once. __________________ The dream that is now a memory - http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2550891

12/22/2015, 06:09 PM	#7
Swanwillow goby girl Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Bemidji MN Posts: 2,025	There's a risk of floods with any system, honestly. I had a drilled tank fail, I've had a hob overflow stay strong. I had another drilled tank that didn't fail... We have glass boxes with water in them __________________ my advice:walk away. do nothing. til tomorrow. if its still alive, it will hopefully be fine. If you do not see it, do not try to find it. it may be hiding. just LEAVE it alone Current Tank Info: starting over! 125 gallon. Soon to be home to Blackfoot clowns, A. nigripes