Recommendations - Protein Skimmer for a 20 Gallon Nano?

j.falk · 04/05/2019, 07:40 PM

Hey guys - I'm having trouble finding a good skimmer for a 20 gallon nano tank that I'm getting ready to set up. It needs to be a hang on the back (HOB) model and I want to find something that runs quiet. Any suggestions?

Crooked Reef · 04/05/2019, 08:36 PM

Honestly, unless you are doing something in it that creates a huge mess like a dwarf lion, angler or a mantis shrimp, put the money towards a ro/di system and keep up on water changes. With water changes in a tank that size you really don’t need a skimmer.

mcgyvr · 04/05/2019, 08:51 PM

I agree..water changes is all one needs on such a small system

scattered · 04/05/2019, 11:33 PM

I just removed mine. Water changes are enough and my water was too clean at the moment.

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j.falk · 04/06/2019, 03:53 AM

The tank is going where weekly / biweekly water changes won't be an option. I was hoping with a skimmer added, it would make it possible for the water to only need to be changed once every 4-6 weeks.

billdogg · 04/06/2019, 08:54 AM

What are your stocking plans? I kept a 60g cube for 22 years with a fairly light load of fish, soft corals and a few easy LPS. No skimmer. HOB biowheel and a canister filter. I did water changes maybe every 6 weeks, often it would go 8.

j.falk · 04/06/2019, 08:56 AM

I was planning on 1 or 2 Ocellaris clowns, 1 cleaner shrimp, 3 dwarf blue leg hermits and a few dwarf cerith snails. No corals.

scattered · 04/06/2019, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j.falk

I was planning on 1 or 2 Ocellaris clowns, 1 cleaner shrimp, 3 dwarf blue leg hermits and a few dwarf cerith snails. No corals.

I was using the Aquatic Life 115 with no mods. It pulled plenty of skimmate. I have a higher bioload than you are talking about. 2 black misbar saddleback clowns, a dragonet, pacific cleaner, a couple sexy shrimp, a porcelain crab, assorted nerite, nassaurius, and turban snails, and a tiger conch.

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j.falk · 04/06/2019, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scattered

I was using the Aquatic Life 115 with no mods. It pulled plenty of skimmate. I have a higher bioload than you are talking about. 2 black misbar saddleback clowns, a dragonet, pacific cleaner, a couple sexy shrimp, a porcelain crab, assorted nerite, nassaurius, and turban snails, and a tiger conch.

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Do you have all of that in a 20 high?

scattered · 04/06/2019, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j.falk

Do you have all of that in a 20 high?

Fluval XII 13.5G, about 10G actual water volume. 3.5 months old for this tank. I had been out of the hobby for ~7 years before starting this tank. It is still hardening the algae/anaerobic bacteria cycles but coming along nicely. I have not been able to regularly detect nitrate or phosphate over 1PPM, usually they are undetectable. I do weekly 1G changes and 1/4-1/2 G during the week

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Anemone · 04/06/2019, 11:32 PM

I used an AquaMaxx-HOB1 on a JBJ 28 gallon nano. Worked well.

Kevin

j.falk · 04/07/2019, 06:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anemone

I used an AquaMaxx-HOB1 on a JBJ 28 gallon nano. Worked well.

Kevin

Thanks Kevin - I appreciate the recommendation.

zeebies · 04/11/2019, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anemone

I used an AquaMaxx-HOB1 on a JBJ 28 gallon nano. Worked well.

Kevin

I use the same on my 20 gallon reef. Just cleaned the dirty thing out today!

Sugar Magnolia · 04/12/2019, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anemone

I used an AquaMaxx-HOB1 on a JBJ 28 gallon nano. Worked well.

Kevin

Yep, very nice skimmer for small systems.

dkeller_nc · 04/13/2019, 07:05 AM

Well, not a HOB option, but I use a Tunze Comline DOC 9004 in a 20 gallon live rock tank that I use for holding fish for a few weeks until I introduce them to my display. Absolutely silent, and because it's compact and made of dark plastic, it's very unobtrusive.

That said, I purchased a new 20 gallon from Petco's dollar-a-gallon sale that I'll be drilling this weekend to put in an overflow. I'll use a 10 gallon tank for a sump, which will allow me to move everything out of the tank - skimmer, heater and ATO sensor.

I highly recommend this option if you've the time to do it, as it'll give you a lot more equipment choices.

j.falk · 04/13/2019, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anemone

I used an AquaMaxx-HOB1 on a JBJ 28 gallon nano. Worked well.

Kevin

Quote:

Originally Posted by zeebies

I use the same on my 20 gallon reef. Just cleaned the dirty thing out today!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sugar Magnolia

Yep, very nice skimmer for small systems.

I have an Aqueon 20 high that I'd like to put it on, but I have two concerns:

1. Will it fit over the rim of the aquarium?

2. If it does fit over the rim, will the skimmer inlet/outlet tubes prohibit the use of a glass canopy?

I really want a good skimmer for this tank but I don't want to spend $230 if it won't fit on the aquarium with a glass canopy.

j.falk · 04/13/2019, 04:27 PM

Disregard.

zeebies · 04/13/2019, 04:51 PM

It attaches to the rim fine. You just need to do a couple of tweeks to the glass top:

IMG_3320.jpg

I cut some black plastic needlepoint stuff to fit over the hole so everything is covered.

j.falk · 04/13/2019, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zeebies

It attaches to the rim fine. You just need to do a couple of tweeks to the glass top:

Attachment 400982

I cut some black plastic needlepoint stuff to fit over the hole so everything is covered.

Awesome...that I can do! Thank you for your help!

zeebies · 04/13/2019, 05:56 PM

Good luck.

04/05/2019, 07:40 PM	#1
j.falk Registered Member Join Date: May 2017 Posts: 632	Recommendations - Protein Skimmer for a 20 Gallon Nano? Hey guys - I'm having trouble finding a good skimmer for a 20 gallon nano tank that I'm getting ready to set up. It needs to be a hang on the back (HOB) model and I want to find something that runs quiet. Any suggestions?

04/05/2019, 08:36 PM	#2
Crooked Reef Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 1,765	Honestly, unless you are doing something in it that creates a huge mess like a dwarf lion, angler or a mantis shrimp, put the money towards a ro/di system and keep up on water changes. With water changes in a tank that size you really don’t need a skimmer. __________________ “In wine there is wisdom; in beer there is freedom, in water there is bacteria.” - Benjamin Franklin Current Tank Info: 90 gallon reef. Biocube 29 lionfish tank. Mantis tank.

04/05/2019, 08:51 PM	#3
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	I agree..water changes is all one needs on such a small system __________________ Who me?

04/05/2019, 11:33 PM	#4
scattered Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2019 Posts: 158	I just removed mine. Water changes are enough and my water was too clean at the moment. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ like lost words

04/06/2019, 08:54 AM	#6
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	What are your stocking plans? I kept a 60g cube for 22 years with a fairly light load of fish, soft corals and a few easy LPS. No skimmer. HOB biowheel and a canister filter. I did water changes maybe every 6 weeks, often it would go 8. __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

04/06/2019, 03:53 AM	#5
j.falk Registered Member Join Date: May 2017 Posts: 632	The tank is going where weekly / biweekly water changes won't be an option. I was hoping with a skimmer added, it would make it possible for the water to only need to be changed once every 4-6 weeks.

04/06/2019, 08:56 AM	#7
j.falk Registered Member Join Date: May 2017 Posts: 632	I was planning on 1 or 2 Ocellaris clowns, 1 cleaner shrimp, 3 dwarf blue leg hermits and a few dwarf cerith snails. No corals.

04/06/2019, 11:32 PM	#11
Anemone Cloning Around Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Valencia, California Posts: 25,267	I used an AquaMaxx-HOB1 on a JBJ 28 gallon nano. Worked well. Kevin __________________ Back in the pool, swimming with the sharks... Current Tank Info: Red Sea 425XL w/Kessil AP700, Vertex 180i Skimmer, 2 x Vortech MP40s

04/13/2019, 07:05 AM	#15
dkeller_nc Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Central NC Posts: 5,062	Well, not a HOB option, but I use a Tunze Comline DOC 9004 in a 20 gallon live rock tank that I use for holding fish for a few weeks until I introduce them to my display. Absolutely silent, and because it's compact and made of dark plastic, it's very unobtrusive. That said, I purchased a new 20 gallon from Petco's dollar-a-gallon sale that I'll be drilling this weekend to put in an overflow. I'll use a 10 gallon tank for a sump, which will allow me to move everything out of the tank - skimmer, heater and ATO sensor. I highly recommend this option if you've the time to do it, as it'll give you a lot more equipment choices.

04/13/2019, 04:27 PM	#17
j.falk Registered Member Join Date: May 2017 Posts: 632	Disregard. Last edited by j.falk; 04/13/2019 at 04:59 PM.

04/13/2019, 04:51 PM	#18
zeebies Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: NE Coast Posts: 851	It attaches to the rim fine. You just need to do a couple of tweeks to the glass top: IMG_3320.jpg I cut some black plastic needlepoint stuff to fit over the hole so everything is covered.

04/13/2019, 05:56 PM	#20
zeebies Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: NE Coast Posts: 851	Good luck.