Protein skimmer sizing

[Diyreef8401]

Is it worth running an undersized skimmer? I don’t have enough room to run a proper sized skimmer. The biggest I can run is rated for 125 gallons lightly stocked. My tank is 160 gallons. It is only 2 months old so it is still light stocked only 2 clowns an algae blenny, 1 Cromis and a yellow tang. When the tank matured some more I wanted to add some Anthias and a wrasse. So I guess my question is does an undersized skimmer actually do enough to justify the space and electricity.

 

[andrewey]

It's kind of a complicated question. On one hand, the skimmer will still help to aerate your water, undersized or not. In addition, it will still remove some waste products which will help with nutrient export. T

hat being said, you might consider waiting and getting a properly sized skimmer- when you say you don't have enough room, do you mean inside your sump, inside your stand, etc.? Have you looked at any external skimmers, HOB skimmers, in tank skimmers, etc?

Lastly, there are other forms of nutrient export you might consider, such as a large refugium or ATS. Therefore, I think you should consider the question, what tools will best aid me in achieving my goals for this tank- then you can spend your money wisely, rather than getting something that may or may not effectively manage your tank's needs.

 

[Diyreef8401]

The tank is a corner so the stand shape is odd. The biggest sump I could get in there is a 29 gallon. I have a refugium chamber set up now with rubble and Chaeto. I could only fit an external behind the sump and maintenance would be a big pain. Between the plumbing and the light there isn’t a lot of room above the sump. I could probably run a HOB and an internal skimmer in the same chamber.

 

[Reesj]

You can definitly run an under sized skimmer and even, no skimmer with that stocking list. I seriously doubt you might have anything to skim at all in the first hand; if you have any corals at all.
Even 50 punds of live rock should be sufficient to get that stocking list in control, from my experience..

I run a protein skimmer rated for 30 gallon in a 50 gallon system and I hardly get anything to skim even with 2x your stocking list (Got quite a few live rock and corals)...

 

[Blue Spot Octopus]

I never go by skimmer manufacturers ratings unless they are Bubble King or Euro Reef, so I would look for a skimmer that has the pump inside the body of the skimmer. Look into the Simplicity line of skimmers, I use the 240 model it is pretty small, and will easily fit in a 29-gallon sump, what else do you have in the sump?

 

[Diyreef8401]

I never go by skimmer manufacturers ratings unless they are Bubble King or Euro Reef, so I would look for a skimmer that has the pump inside the body of the skimmer. Look into the Simplicity line of skimmers, I use the 240 model it is pretty small, and will easily fit in a 29-gallon sump, what else do you have in the sump?

I have 2 four inch filter socks a five or six inch refuigium chamber then a 8 inch rot so chamber that I was going to use as a skimmer but I currently have it filled with Chaeto and sea lettuce

 

[Blue Spot Octopus]

Now you know one of the problems with a corner tank, they are tough on sumps, some people have made custom so they fit better. Maybe look into Tunze 9012 Comeline skimmers.

 

[jda]

Yes, it is worth it. Get the most effective one that you can, even if it is not ideal.

 

[Reesj]

Yes, it is worth it. Get the most effective one that you can, even if it is not ideal.

You seriously beleive, with his minimal stocking for such a large tank and with a refuigium and filter socks on top, you also need an over sized skimmer? What are you hoping to skim off it ?
For me personally, There is hardly anything to skim with below par DIY algae scrubber runing.

 

[jda]

Why said over sized skimmer? Perhaps you are not fully aware of what a skimmer does. It does more than remove dissolved organics.

 

[Diyreef8401]

You seriously beleive, with his minimal stocking for such a large tank and with a refuigium and filter socks on top, you also need an over sized skimmer? What are you hoping to skim off it ?
For me personally, There is hardly anything to skim with below par DIY algae scrubber runing.

So the reason I have such a low stock is because I can’t find any of the larger fish that are reef safe and will fit the dimensions. I would love to have tangs or a niger trigger. But I wouldn’t be able to keep them long. Are there any suggestions for nice fish that don’t need a long distance to cruise.

 

[Diyreef8401]

Why said over sized skimmer? Perhaps you are not fully aware of what a skimmer does. It does more than remove dissolved organics.

rear question not trying to start anything. What else aside from waste and aeration does it do?

 

[Blue Spot Octopus]

Do yourself a favor, I am still learning, do not get any fish that will get longer than your finger, that way you can get tons of them and what looks like a reef scene. My fish are too big for my 120 and I fear will outgrow my new tank in the garage a 72" x 30" x 24" tank

 

[Reesj]

rear question not trying to start anything. What else aside from waste and aeration does it do?

As far as I kinow it is aeration to increase oxigen and waste removal. Reason I run an under sized skimmer mostly is for the aeration on top of what small out of waste it may pull off.
For a 160 gallon you should be able to keep most of the fish species. From my experience most fish will do fine in tanks even a bit under what the community may recommend.

So my advice is; type the name of the fish as "xx reef safe" on google and go to the live aquaria link. Check the tank size and reef comapatability. Their minimum recommended tank size should be more than adequate

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Good discussion! I'm in favor of getting the best one you can. I usually go for an oversized skimmer personally, so go as big as possible in what you can fit.

 

[X-37B]

If it was my tank, lol.
I would run the sump with no baffles and run a Tunze 9410 dc skimmer.
They are compact work horses that are as close to set and forget as they come.
Its how I run my 120 and my 45 frag/lagoon system.

 

[salty150]

Go for the Tunze 9012 - excellent skimmer and small footprint.

 

[Rich Klein]

Is it worth running an undersized skimmer? I don’t have enough room to run a proper sized skimmer. The biggest I can run is rated for 125 gallons lightly stocked. My tank is 160 gallons. It is only 2 months old so it is still light stocked only 2 clowns an algae blenny, 1 Cromis and a yellow tang. When the tank matured some more I wanted to add some Anthias and a wrasse. So I guess my question is does an undersized skimmer actually do enough to justify the space and electricity.

I have a 165 Gal tank, and run a bit of an oversized Skimmer mostly due to using it combined with a CO2 scrubber to counteract the PH lowering effect of my Calcium Reactor. You wont be ready for that for a while at least, but...

 

[Eric Miller]

my skimmer is rated for 120 gal. tank is 75 gal. I also use a wood air stone in sump for aeration.

 

[VBMike]

Remember that the skimmer is removing coral food. I'm definitely not in the "bigger is better" camp for skimmers. IMHO, undersized is fine, as long as it's not a cheap-o.