protien skimmers

NH81 · 11/19/2009, 09:36 PM

stand alone or in-sump? on larger tanks lets say 120-250g, what do you all prefer? Beckett style?

tkeracer619 · 11/19/2009, 09:52 PM

In sump pin wheel skimmer.

The MSX200 is a poster child skimmer for a budget on a 120. For a 250g display you would probably want to do something larger. A Vertex IN-280 or MSX 250/300 is what I would consider a good starting point. The cones are really nice these days but still pricey. If you can afford the cone skimmers I would go that route.

Becketts are great but power hungry. I currently run a Precision Marine Bullet XL-1 beckett skimmer. It pulls great skim mate.

Jared J · 11/19/2009, 09:58 PM

+1 on the Vertex

gpask · 11/19/2009, 10:58 PM

I've always preferred in-sump, but that's because space has always been limited for me.

NH81 · 11/20/2009, 04:48 PM

the space is there for whatever tickles my fancy. the basement of the house is unfinished and working for a contractor, i can do anything necessary to hide equipment.
i will deffinately look into the vertex.

champ128 · 11/20/2009, 05:37 PM

I like in sump just in case something goes wrong it doesn't go wrong onto my floor

lin0501 · 11/20/2009, 10:42 PM

I prefer in sump for the same reason as the above poster. Less leaks to check for. I went with an in sump Octo Extreme 200 on my 125g and I love it.

Ph0ton · 11/20/2009, 10:51 PM

+1 on in sump. Dont have to worry about overflowing on the floor.

jollyballs · 11/21/2009, 10:28 PM

definate +2 on in the sump.

jonrauh · 11/21/2009, 11:05 PM

in the sump.
I have an MSX250 on my 215.

NH81 · 11/22/2009, 07:58 AM

would you know the foot print of the MSX250?

D' kingfisher · 11/22/2009, 09:52 AM

i' d go with the in sump.dont have to worry about flood and cleaning for extra work.

NH81 · 11/22/2009, 09:53 AM

D, what skimmer are you running? what size is your tank setup?

Lightsluvr · 11/22/2009, 10:04 AM

Many people seem to be worried about overflows from external (recirculating) skimmers... Yes, they can happen, but the same could happen with external return pumps, media reactors, etc.

My first two skimmers were cheap brands in the sump, and instead of emptying into a collection bucket, they continually overflowed into the sump, sending all that nice smelly skimmate back into the tank...

If you have a good quality skimmer with an outlet in the collection cup, you minimize overflows...

JME.

LL

NH81 · 11/22/2009, 11:27 AM

overflowing water is more or less the least of my worries as the basement in the house is unfinished. once i lay out my basement im gonna allow for a drain in the flow for the inevitable overflowing the tank. i guess they all have their benifits and need to look into the differnent types and find one that will suit my situation. but everyones opinions mean alot, even if they are common sence, repetative or just from experience. i am all ears.

mdntrdr · 11/22/2009, 11:30 AM

I use stand alone next to my DT.

MRC-MR2 beckett style.

Anemonebuff · 11/22/2009, 11:39 AM

The problem they have with the overflowing on the floor is that your auto top off will run as much as you skimmer overflows. It will drop the SG to dangerous levels.

NH81 · 11/22/2009, 11:59 AM

true. i might rig up an alarm when spillover gets to be a significant amount. shouldnt be too hard to do.

kelleyga36 · 11/22/2009, 12:13 PM

cone skimmers work great

tkeracer619 · 11/22/2009, 12:16 PM

Any skimmer ran externally or with an external collection chamber needs some type of shut off.

Becket collection chambers do this with ping pong balls.
Needle wheel skimmers need an ATO in the collection chamber used to turn off the pump in case they overflow.

If it is internal it doesn't matter unless it does it all the time. In which case you would want to keep all that stuff from going back into the tank.

Harpo1966 · 11/22/2009, 12:17 PM

in the past all of my skimmers have been external. There was no specific reason it is just the desigh of the skimmer that I chose (Aqua C & Deltec) My next skimmer Alpha 170 will be in sump. Basically the manufacturers decided for me.

David

mdntrdr · 11/22/2009, 12:19 PM

Any skimmer ran externally or with an external collection chamber needs some type of shut off.

Becket collection chambers do this with ping pong balls.

mdntrdr · 11/22/2009, 12:20 PM

OOPS and they do it very well.

11/19/2009, 09:36 PM	#1
NH81 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: MD Posts: 58	protien skimmers stand alone or in-sump? on larger tanks lets say 120-250g, what do you all prefer? Beckett style?

11/19/2009, 09:52 PM	#2
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	In sump pin wheel skimmer. The MSX200 is a poster child skimmer for a budget on a 120. For a 250g display you would probably want to do something larger. A Vertex IN-280 or MSX 250/300 is what I would consider a good starting point. The cones are really nice these days but still pricey. If you can afford the cone skimmers I would go that route. Becketts are great but power hungry. I currently run a Precision Marine Bullet XL-1 beckett skimmer. It pulls great skim mate. __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

11/21/2009, 11:05 PM	#10
jonrauh Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Muir Beach Posts: 119	in the sump. I have an MSX250 on my 215. __________________ <º))))>< Have fun every day! ><))))º> Current Tank Info: mixed reef 215gallon also clown breeding set up

11/22/2009, 10:04 AM	#14
Lightsluvr Tangaroa to 500 gallons Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Edmond, OK Posts: 5,855	Many people seem to be worried about overflows from external (recirculating) skimmers... Yes, they can happen, but the same could happen with external return pumps, media reactors, etc. My first two skimmers were cheap brands in the sump, and instead of emptying into a collection bucket, they continually overflowed into the sump, sending all that nice smelly skimmate back into the tank... If you have a good quality skimmer with an outlet in the collection cup, you minimize overflows... JME. LL __________________ Click on my username and select "Lightsluvr's Home Page" for a recap of our build thread - AGE Hybrid Tank in a 500G system with dedicated fish room. (Takes a few minutes for photos to load) Leave a note if you stop by... Current Tank Info: 350G AGE Hybrid reef tank. 500G+ total water volume. Three sumps for filtration. Barracuda Gold return and Hammerhead Gold closed loop pumps. DIY T5 light system on rails. MP40W x3 to supplement closed loop. 130G Water management system.

11/22/2009, 11:30 AM	#16
mdntrdr Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Illinois Posts: 550	I use stand alone next to my DT. MRC-MR2 beckett style. __________________ Midnight Rider Current Tank Info: 220G. AGA ~ RR ~ SSB mixed reef ~ 40G. DSB sump/fuge ~ GFO and GAC reactors ~ 72" Aqualight Pro ~ MRC-MR2 Skimmer ~ THAT'S HOW I RIDE!!!!

11/19/2009, 09:58 PM	#3
Jared J Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 431	+1 on the Vertex

11/19/2009, 10:58 PM	#4
gpask Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Morro Bay, CA Posts: 52	I've always preferred in-sump, but that's because space has always been limited for me.

11/20/2009, 04:48 PM	#5
NH81 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: MD Posts: 58	the space is there for whatever tickles my fancy. the basement of the house is unfinished and working for a contractor, i can do anything necessary to hide equipment. i will deffinately look into the vertex.

11/20/2009, 05:37 PM	#6
champ128 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: bloomfield, MI Posts: 65	I like in sump just in case something goes wrong it doesn't go wrong onto my floor

11/20/2009, 10:42 PM	#7
lin0501 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: New Jersey Posts: 53	I prefer in sump for the same reason as the above poster. Less leaks to check for. I went with an in sump Octo Extreme 200 on my 125g and I love it.

11/20/2009, 10:51 PM	#8
Ph0ton Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: State College, PA Posts: 64	+1 on in sump. Dont have to worry about overflowing on the floor.

11/21/2009, 10:28 PM	#9
jollyballs Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Vanderbilt, PA Posts: 60	definate +2 on in the sump.

11/22/2009, 07:58 AM	#11
NH81 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: MD Posts: 58	would you know the foot print of the MSX250?

11/22/2009, 09:52 AM	#12
D' kingfisher Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: florida Posts: 108	i' d go with the in sump.dont have to worry about flood and cleaning for extra work.

11/22/2009, 09:53 AM	#13
NH81 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: MD Posts: 58	D, what skimmer are you running? what size is your tank setup?

11/22/2009, 11:27 AM	#15
NH81 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: MD Posts: 58	overflowing water is more or less the least of my worries as the basement in the house is unfinished. once i lay out my basement im gonna allow for a drain in the flow for the inevitable overflowing the tank. i guess they all have their benifits and need to look into the differnent types and find one that will suit my situation. but everyones opinions mean alot, even if they are common sence, repetative or just from experience. i am all ears.

11/22/2009, 11:39 AM	#17
Anemonebuff Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: LI,NY Posts: 3,877	The problem they have with the overflowing on the floor is that your auto top off will run as much as you skimmer overflows. It will drop the SG to dangerous levels.

11/22/2009, 11:59 AM	#18
NH81 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: MD Posts: 58	true. i might rig up an alarm when spillover gets to be a significant amount. shouldnt be too hard to do.

11/22/2009, 12:13 PM	#19
kelleyga36 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: powder springs ga Posts: 47	cone skimmers work great

11/22/2009, 12:16 PM	#20
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	Any skimmer ran externally or with an external collection chamber needs some type of shut off. Becket collection chambers do this with ping pong balls. Needle wheel skimmers need an ATO in the collection chamber used to turn off the pump in case they overflow. If it is internal it doesn't matter unless it does it all the time. In which case you would want to keep all that stuff from going back into the tank. __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

11/22/2009, 12:17 PM	#21
Harpo1966 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Motor City Posts: 74	skimmers in the past all of my skimmers have been external. There was no specific reason it is just the desigh of the skimmer that I chose (Aqua C & Deltec) My next skimmer Alpha 170 will be in sump. Basically the manufacturers decided for me. David

11/22/2009, 12:19 PM	#22
mdntrdr Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Illinois Posts: 550	Any skimmer ran externally or with an external collection chamber needs some type of shut off. Becket collection chambers do this with ping pong balls. __________________ Midnight Rider Current Tank Info: 220G. AGA ~ RR ~ SSB mixed reef ~ 40G. DSB sump/fuge ~ GFO and GAC reactors ~ 72" Aqualight Pro ~ MRC-MR2 Skimmer ~ THAT'S HOW I RIDE!!!!

11/22/2009, 12:20 PM	#23
mdntrdr Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Illinois Posts: 550	OOPS and they do it very well. __________________ Midnight Rider Current Tank Info: 220G. AGA ~ RR ~ SSB mixed reef ~ 40G. DSB sump/fuge ~ GFO and GAC reactors ~ 72" Aqualight Pro ~ MRC-MR2 Skimmer ~ THAT'S HOW I RIDE!!!!