Protein Skimmer Rookie Mistake

[egwich]

Hey Everyone,

Newer to the hobby. Have had a tank about three months. 55 Gallon and I have a pair of Clowns (also had a Mantis Shrimp tag along for the ride with my live rock what a story that was but he's gone now). ANYWAYS. Plan on adding some more fish but my guy at the LFS told me I could wait a little bit to hook up the protein skimmer since it won't be doing anything until I get some actual bio load on there. I do not have a sump, I have a canister so I bought a skimmer that will hold on the back. Because I'm an idiot and didn't think things through my tank is too close to the wall for me to hang the dang skimmer on the back. I need about another half an inch. I shook my head at myself pretty bad on this....but looking for some advice. With the water and live rock I'm assuming my tank is probably about 700 lbs....so moving it is out of the question.

I know nothing about sumps so I wasn't really prepared to jump into the world of sumps just yet. Does anyone know of any thin looking protein skimmers that hang on the back? Hanging it on the side isn't really an option because of the lights. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

It's really crazy all the small mistakes you make when first starting out and not really having anyone there to help you out.

 

[Crabs McJones]

How much room do you have between the tank and the wall? What skimmer dod you purchase?

 

[egwich]

How much room do you have between the tank and the wall? What skimmer dod you purchase?

Xyclone Protein Skimmer (Aquatop). Dimensions are 8.5 X 5.25 X15.75. I'd say I have about four and a half inches back there.

 

[MTBake]

I did the same thing with my very first tank. I hung the skimmer on the side of the tank instead Worked fine.

 

[Raege]

How much space do you have? Thinnest one I’ve seen was three inches cpr bak pak 2 rated to 60 gallons. More expierenced folks could tell you if you could run an in-tank model skimmer made for lower gallon nano tanks effectively or not maybe.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Perhaps something like this? Its 3 1/4 inches wide
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/reef-octopus-bh100-hang-on-the-back-protein-skimmer-1.html

 

[DesertReefT4r]

Getna thinner skimmer to fit. Best solution would be to drain the tank water into buckets and brutes and pull the tank away from the wall.

 

[evilchef70]

If you can get that reef octo hang on back to fit. It is money. I had one and loved it to death. Skimmed the heck out of my tank. The side is about the only other solution. Either that or drain the tank.

 

[McArcher]

Instead of a new skimmer, have you thought about doing a really large water change and try sliding the tank out far enough to fit the skimmer you have while the tank is half full?

 

[Mical]

This one is compact https://aquarium.bulkreefsupply.com/search?w=BH50&asug= and will work on 55gal. I have one on 65gal and works like a champ

 

[egwich]

Tha

Perhaps something like this? Its 3 1/4 inches wide
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/reef-octopus-bh100-hang-on-the-back-protein-skimmer-1.html

That might work. I'll have to do an exact measurement but

Instead of a new skimmer, have you thought about doing a really large water change and try sliding the tank out far enough to fit the skimmer you have while the tank is half full?

Right now I'd rather buy something and return the one I bought. Only because even with a tank half full it should still weight around 300 lbs. It's also on a stand. The only way I could do it is really get the fish out, empty the water almost all the way, take out the live rock (because otherwise if I move anything it's probably going to cause an avalanche) but even with all that I'd be afraid that there would be some die off with my live rock. But this is probably the worst case scenario.

 

[egwich]

If you can get that reef octo hang on back to fit. It is money. I had one and loved it to death. Skimmed the heck out of my tank. The side is about the only other solution. Either that or drain the tank.

Looks like this one is the winner. I measured a little more than 3.5 inches of room and this one is 3.25....should work. Thanks for the input. It's a little more expensive but if it's as good as you say it is I'm sure I won't be disappointed.

 

[Royy13]

I would look into a hang on back overflow and install a sump. Then you have so many more options for your tank.

 

[egwich]

I would look into a hang on back overflow and install a sump. Then you have so many more options for your tank.

Honestly, I wouldn't even know where to begin with a sump. I think I'm going to upgrade in a year or so. I like the 55, but as soon as I saw how many cool fish I was missing out on by not having a 210 or something I realized that once I get a hang of what I'm doing - then I'll upgrade and do a sump for the big one.