Need help picking a skimmer

[kamehameha]

I got a free sump with my new tank (not cleaned up just yet) and I am not sure what skimmers might fit inside. I was thinking about an IceCap K1-100 or 130 but I think it may be too big. The return bay is ~4 3/4" x ~9 1/2" but the return pump takes up about half of the length.

So does anyone know of a skimmer that can handle 75g+ that could fit in about a 4" x 4" bay, and not too expensive? I am hoping to stay around $175 or less.

I am planning to setup my sump with Filter floss first, then some bio media (Seachem Matrix & Bio Max rings) from my current filter, then a fuge, possibly phosphate pads before the return bay, then a skimmer and return pump. Does this look okay?

 

[shwareefer]

You normally wouldn't put the skimmer in the return section because you don't want microbubbles to get pumped to the display. Could you not sacrifice some of the fuge for a skimmer?

 

[Greybeard]

I'd have to concur with shwareefer... the section you've labled 'Fuge' would probably be the place to put a skimmer. The return pump section is the one section of a properly set up sump system where the water level varies with evaporation, which plays havoc on a skimmer. Yeah, an ATO will 'correct' the problem, but even then, no space, micro bubbles from the skimmer will go straight into the tank...

I'd make the center section a skimmer area. Maybe add a macro algae reactor, or a turf algae scubber, instead of having an open refugeum. I ran a Skimz macro reactor for some time, worked great, until the light broke, and the company's gone. Tunze makes a decent one, several other makers as well.

 

[kamehameha]

You normally wouldn't put the skimmer in the return section because you don't want microbubbles to get pumped to the display. Could you not sacrifice some of the fuge for a skimmer?

Do you mean like section off a part of it for the skimmer or put it in with the fuge? I do have pods going in my tank now and would like to keep them going, would a skimmer kill them off?

 

[Twoddler]

I agree, would be a mistake to try and fit a skimmer in the return pump section.

 

[Murphs_reef]

Bubble Magus c3.5 would work well..

 

[mdb_talon]

The skimmers you mention I certainly dont think will fit there. I dont know of any in-sump skimmer that would other than getting a small nano style skimmer designed for small AOI tanks.

I would turn the the far right side as your "refugium". The tall skinny section where the drain directly goes to. Lit from the side. I would use thin black plastic to line the inside section of it so light does not penetrate to the floss/biomedia section. The only negative i see with this approach is pods then flow into floss (my answer would be not use floss other than occassionally to polish it up).

Then as others suggest skimmer in the middle section.

 

[mdb_talon]

Bubble Magus c3.5

Not in a 4x4 space. Need at least 4.5" at the smallest side.

 

[shwareefer]

Do you mean like section off a part of it for the skimmer or put it in with the fuge? I do have pods going in my tank now and would like to keep them going, would a skimmer kill them off?

I don't think sectioning off is 100% necessary. Pods are dumb but they're not THAT dumb that they just go for pump rides all day. They tend to stick to surfaces.

The baffle before the return chamber will have to be made taller either way. As it stands the water will have to be higher than the baffle so that your pump isn't sucking air and that would mean the entire sump's water height will be subject to evaporation and the ATO. Either section off for the skimmer with a taller baffle or just make the existing one taller to have the whole fuge section have deeper water.

 

[Midrats]

Is a refugium that small even worth doing? I'd scratch that plan and put a Tunze 9410 in there instead. Wait... the water level looks like it will be way to low as that is a wet/dry sump. You could run it higher but fluctuations in the skimmer compartment are no good as has been mentioned an ATO will be a must.

 

[kamehameha]

I am planning to run the water level higher than intended and with an ATO. I don't see any benefit to running it low like that. Plus not having to lift water jugs over the tank is nice.

 

[kamehameha]

I don't think sectioning off is 100% necessary. Pods are dumb but they're not THAT dumb that they just go for pump rides all day. They tend to stick to surfaces.

The baffle before the return chamber will have to be made taller either way. As it stands the water will have to be higher than the baffle so that your pump isn't sucking air and that would mean the entire sump's water height will be subject to evaporation and the ATO. Either section off for the skimmer with a taller baffle or just make the existing one taller to have the whole fuge section have deeper water.

Well the more I think about this thing the less it makes sense to me. I don't know why that little baffle is there really. The sticker on the other side shows what the water level is supposed to be at and its way higher than that baffle.

I think what I will do is just get the IceCap skimmer and use it in the middle section and forgo the fuge for now. Maybe I can get a reactor like @Greybeard suggested down the road if needed. Maybe even something like this thing to hang on the sump: Hang on Fuge from BRS

Are fuges/reactors needed for only keeping fish and softies?

 

[Murphs_reef]

Sounds like a solid plan. I'm not sure a skimmer AND. A fuge would end up working out anyway.. all the stuff you want to feed the fuge and coral with is being stripped by the skimmer...
I wouldn't even go phosphate pads, unless you have a problem with PO4.

Fuge and/or reactors are not needed at all. It's a filtering style / choice.

 

[kamehameha]

Sounds like a solid plan. I'm not sure a skimmer AND. A fuge would end up working out anyway.. all the stuff you want to feed the fuge and coral with is being stripped by the skimmer...
I wouldn't even go phosphate pads, unless you have a problem with PO4.

Fuge and/or reactors are not needed at all. It's a filtering style / choice.

Currently my Phosphate hovers around .3 ppm so I think I do need to get it lowered a bit, was hoping the skimmer would take care of that problem. I guess ill just add the skimmer and check it over a week or two before I decide on the phos pads.

 

[Murphs_reef]

The skimmer won't help with the current level. To do that youll need to export. A liquid Phosphate remover, gfo or water change. But 0.3 really isn't that much to get alarmed about... A single dose of Phosphate remover will get that under 0.2.. don't aim for 0.00 though...

 

[ying yang]

Hi im no help on skimmer as I got a skimmer with my tank and it does the job so just stuck with it but I have a question .
In section you put phosphate pads - return pump section it's glued to side ? Or the water has to go over top of so sump water level be extremely high ?
It looks like water will run past at the side so all sump level will be same water level ? It looks like last way I say

As mentioned in at least one post above the return pump section is usually the level that fluctuates so ato is needed but if that last piece of plastic isn't glued at side then all water be same level ?
Just noticed it and thought I point out to see what others say ^_^

Looks like doesnt go all way to edge with my eyes

 

[shwareefer]

Well the more I think about this thing the less it makes sense to me. I don't know why that little baffle is there really. The sticker on the other side shows what the water level is supposed to be at and its way higher than that baffle.

I think what I will do is just get the IceCap skimmer and use it in the middle section and forgo the fuge for now. Maybe I can get a reactor like @Greybeard suggested down the road if needed. Maybe even something like this thing to hang on the sump: Hang on Fuge from BRS

Are fuges/reactors needed for only keeping fish and softies?

It's an old school bioball sump. They were noisy and splashy and that baffle was just an effort to make some bubbles head to the surface before going under the next one. It's just not as thought out as newer designs with under over under baffles. It's a nice chunk of acrylic, easy enough to mod into something more with the times.

 

[BVF]

You could section off the fuge and put a skimmer on the right half.

 

[Murphs_reef]

I bet @SantaMonica would have a nice algae scrubber that would fit in there a treat..

 

[kamehameha]

It's an old school bioball sump. They were noisy and splashy and that baffle was just an effort to make some bubbles head to the surface before going under the next one. It's just not as thought out as newer designs with under over under baffles. It's a nice chunk of acrylic, easy enough to mod into something more with the times.

I am a bit worried about it being loud and splashy considering how far the water is going to fall through the bio media section. If its too noisy I am probably just going to have to buy/make another sump. This tank is going in the living room so I want it to be quiet.

I also just tested the overflow plumbing a little bit ago and one of the bulkheads is leaking a tiny bit, so I am going to have to figure that out. Hopefully it just needs tightened or something, I would hate to have to silicone it and wait the 48+ hours for it to cure.