Help with choosing a skimmer, is water depth super important?

[Sarah1990]

I have a 300l system which I have GHA in. I have been running without a skimmer but I want try nopox to get rid of the GHA and so I will need a skimmer.
The section I want to put the skimmer in is 15cmx17cm.
I have found the bubble magus z5 to be the only one that would possibly fit and even that would be a squeeze as it's the exact measurement one way. My question for this skimmer is that the recommended water level is 8" but mine is 10" would this still work or is there a skimmer (that's not too expensive) that would work in these dimensions?
300l system
10" water depth
15cmx17cm section in the sump

 

[mtfish]

Skimmer will work best at depth recommended. Just put a 2 inch block under the skimmer to get it up to the 8 inch depth needed.

 

[sam2110]

Water to high will produce really wet skim

 

[Sarah1990]

Skimmer will work best at depth recommended. Just put a 2 inch block under the skimmer to get it up to the 8 inch depth needed.

I dont know why I didn't think of that haha thank you. Do you have any idea what I could use as a block?

 

[piranhaman00]

I make stands for my skimmers using egg crate, PVC, and cable ties. Cut PVC to height you want skimmer out of water, drill holes in them so you can use cable ties to attach to egg crate as platform. Works really well.

 

[Mick51]

I have the Z8 and I have the water level between 8-9 and it’s been fine at either level.. the skimmer is a beast very happy with it

 

[Sarah1990]

I make stands for my skimmers using egg crate, PVC, and cable ties. Cut PVC to height you want skimmer out of water, drill holes in them so you can use cable ties to attach to egg crate as platform. Works really well.

Thank you very much

 

[Smokeshow]

I have a bubble magus curve 5 elite which has a recommended water height of 8-11" my skimmer chamber is 10" deep and it produced alot of wet skim. So much i had to empty it every day. Raised it up 2" to 8" water height using 3/4" pvc for legs and gluing it to a piece of plexiglass. Works much better now

 

[Bepis]

If you have the money go for reef octo or nyos

 

[KrisReef]

If your footprint is that tight I am wondering if there will be enough height and working wiggle room to get the skimmer in the sump in the first place. This can be an issue also.
HTH

 

[Sarah1990]

If your footprint is that tight I am wondering if there will be enough height and working wiggle room to get the skimmer in the sump in the first place. This can be an issue also.
HTH

That's a good point, its second hand and seems a bad design. Theres two little sections on the right where the overflow comes in and then goes to the the next little section which is where I want the skimmer, then it goes to a larger rectangle where I have refugium and then another the same size where I have the return pump. My only other option seems to be to remove my refugium

 

[KrisReef]

That's a good point, its second hand and seems a bad design. Theres two little sections on the right where the overflow comes in and then goes to the the next little section which is where I want the skimmer, then it goes to a larger rectangle where I have refugium and then another the same size where I have the return pump. My only other option seems to be to remove my refugium

I have an external skimmer for this reason. R.O., and it’s been very reliable.

 

[Pistondog]

That's a good point, its second hand and seems a bad design. Theres two little sections on the right where the overflow comes in and then goes to the the next little section which is where I want the skimmer, then it goes to a larger rectangle where I have refugium and then another the same size where I have the return pump. My only other option seems to be to remove my refugium

What KrisReef said.
If you have room you can add a skimmer external to the sump, keeping the refugium intact.

 

[stanleo]

Yes, water height is important. When I do a water change I have to unplug the skimmer cause if that section of the sump gets too high while I am adding the new water into it, the skimmer goes crazy.