Best hang on skimmer under $200

[MoshJosh]

I've heard the reef octopus skimmers are good. . . but not looking to spend that much. . . plus tank is only 15 gallons (might upgrade to 20 gallons, but we'll see haha). Are there any good options out there. I had/have a reef glass glass skimmer, but it was difficult to dial in/needed dialed in multiple times a week to be effective. . . Any recommendations? I'm OK if it is oversized for the tank.

 

[JumboShrimp]

{BUMP}

 

[theMeat]

A skimmer isn’t something you want to oversize. If there’s not enough proteins the skimmer doesn’t collect efficiently. It’s best to be slightly undersized ime. Reef octopus is probably the best bang for buck. Must say a hang on is a flood waiting to happen because it will overflow at some point. Should run a sump and put skimmer in sump, or on a 20 gal water changes easy enough and just run no skimmer. Avoid the noise and the overflows

 

[jft]

I have used Reef Octo Bh 100 for 4 years on a 125 and 75 gallon tank NEVER overflowed and skimmed Better than My sump skimmers, worth the money compared to alot of junk in the hobby and I have 35 years plus with skimming experience. good luck1

 

[theMeat]

I have used Reef Octo Bh 100 for 4 years on a 125 and 75 gallon tank NEVER overflowed and skimmed Better than My sump skimmers, worth the money compared to alot of junk in the hobby and I have 35 years plus with skimming experience. good luck1

A bh 100 is rated for 50 gal ? On a 125 and 75 gal no wonder it’s producing well. It’s not rocket science. If/when the venturi gets blocked = overflow.
Especially if the skimmer is oversized, where you can’t run on the dry side and you have raise water level in skimmer to run wet skimmate to collect anything

 

[Big Smelly fish]

I have never had a hang in back overflow. I have a aquamaxx 1.5 on a 75 gallon seahorse tank and works very well. I prefer in sump or external skimmers.

 

[ZombieEngineer]

I would rather run no skimmer than a HOB one. That is a flood just waiting to happen. All skimmers overflow and it happens relatively frequently. I will come home to a flooded skimmer at least twice a year.

 

[jft]

A bh 100 is rated for 50 gal ? On a 125 and 75 gal no wonder it’s producing well. It’s not rocket science. If/when the venturi gets blocked = overflow.
Especially if the skimmer is oversized, where you can’t run on the dry side and you have raise water level in skimmer to run wet skimmate to collect anything

I have over 30 years tried all the skimmers on the market. I own a aquarium company. Most in our opinion use the wrong skimmer or oversized NOT producing. When we went with smaller skimmers BETTER production and OUR knowledge of Marine systems has provided EXcellent results over the years, JUST OUR experience.Smaller tanks don t even require a skimmer with periodic water changes. Knowledge is the key and Our tanks thrive, I don t buy into alot of the hype. my opinion and experience.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I've got a 15 gallon softie tank going without a skimmer. Its small enough that its easy to do weekly water changes. Unless you are super heavily overstocked, I would suggest to rethink if you really need a skimmer on such a small tank.

 

[theMeat]

I have over 30 years tried all the skimmers on the market. I own a aquarium company. Most in our opinion use the wrong skimmer or oversized NOT producing. When we went with smaller skimmers BETTER production and OUR knowledge of Marine systems has provided EXcellent results over the years, JUST OUR experience.Smaller tanks don t even require a skimmer with periodic water changes. Knowledge is the key and Our tanks thrive, I don t buy into alot of the hype. my opinion and experience.

Good advice. Pretty much what I said in my first post, Just don’t get how with 30 years experience you can say hob won’t overflow. Have seen so many over my years, of too many models to remember. Guess in an aquarium setting no big deal. Overflow in home on carpet or wood floors and I just couldn’t recommend any hob

 

[jft]

I am sure they do overflow if you don t pay attention or add additives etc or something dies suddenly. WE MONITOR all our tanks, and We use reef octo hang ons on various systems. In 4 years NO OVERFLOW ever. LIke I said knowledge plus Maintenace is the KEY. We clean all skimmers weekly and pay attention to the aspirating pumps and venturis

 

[ZombieEngineer]

I am sure they do overflow if you don t pay attention or add additives etc or something dies suddenly.

Those are all infrequent but normal occurrences in a home aquarium. What you can get away with in a commercial environment with constant maintenance and supervision and what is typical of home aquarium are very different. Here are a bunch of common scenarios that could easily lead to flooring replacement and/or losing tank inhabitants with a HOB skimmer.

- tank to be ignored for a week or two while the owner is on vacation and cup overflows
- used epoxy to attach some frags
- added some medication like fluconazole and forgot to turn the skimmer off.
- Restarted the skimmer after treating something and forgot to run it fully open.
- ATO overfilled by 1/4"

 

[MoshJosh]

I went with an Eshopps in tank skimmer. . . I bought a QQ1 but it didn’t fit the rim and was too tall for my stand/hood. . . had to return it. To some the Eshopps might be an eyesore but hey, it fits haha