Quietest skimmer for bedroom nano reef

[allsite]

I’m building a 12 gallon long aquarium in my bedroom. It’s just shy of 10 inches deep.

I’m looking for a quiet skimmer. The glass nano skimmers with drainage lines caught my eye, but another user mentioned it makes loud sucking/gurgling noises. My current/setup tank has a hob skimmer and it’s very annoying.

So I’m looking for a recommendation that isn’t huge budget, isn’t physically huge and isn’t hugely disturbing on the ears. Optimistic indeed.

Thanks in advance for any recommendations.

 

[Quietman]

Many small desktop skimmers. The Tunze Comline DOC series are very quiet and efficient and it's a trusted and proven. At that size tank though...ever thought about forgoing the skimmer? Oversize an HOB filter and WC.

 

[Water Dog]

At 12 gallons, the quietest skimmer will be no skimmer at all. Nano skimmers are notoriously poor in the performance department. I know as reefers, we like to be gearheads with all the pieces of equipment we add to our tanks. However, for such a relatively small volume of water, you’re much better served doing regular water changes on a weekly basis.

 

[allsite]

Many small desktop skimmers. The Tunze Comline DOC series are very quiet and efficient and it's a trusted and proven. At that size tank though...ever thought about forgoing the skimmer? Oversize an HOB filter and WC.

I’ll check out the comline. Yes I have considered forgoing, but a friend with far more experience convinced me otherwise. The aio filter will be very overpowered, so maybe I will omit omit the skimmer. Thanks for putting this in my head.

 

[allsite]

At 12 gallons, the quietest skimmer will be no skimmer at all. Nano skimmers are notoriously poor in the performance department. I know as reefers, we like to be gearheads with all the pieces of equipment we add to our tanks. However, for such a relatively small volume of water, you’re much better served doing regular water changes on a weekly basis.

That’s 2 points for no nano skimmer. My pleasure to not buy it and not have to hear/look at it. I’m leaning in this direction.

 

[mickeysreef <*))))<]

no skimmer in my 29. nitrates are near 0 with a refugium i rigged in one of the back chambers. ordered some liquid phosban to knock down the .25 PO4

 

[Townes_Van_Camp]

I use a mame skimmer in my bedroom. I drive it with an aqueon quiet flow 40 pump. The closest thing to silent that I could find. I tried many before I settled on that pump.

 

[AJsReef]

Add me to the “no skimmer” tally, of all the nano tanks I ran I tried one nano skimmer once (IM skimmer) and was never impressed by the performance.

Routine water changes are the key to nanos imo. Take that money you would’ve spent on a skimmer and maybe work on an auto water change system instead

 

[AJsReef]

no skimmer in my 29. nitrates are near 0 with a refugium i rigged in one of the back chambers. ordered some liquid phosban to knock down the .25 PO4

Be careful with lanthanum chloride (liquid phosban) without a skimmer or 10 micron sock it can precipitate in the water and find its way into fishes gills.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Ice Cap K-1 skimmers

 

[Townes_Van_Camp]

Ice Cap K-1 skimmers

Have you used the K1 nano? I rolled the dice on it last night for my 25 lagoon. But I did so on name recognition.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Have you used the K1 nano? I rolled the dice on it last night for my 25 lagoon. But I did so on name recognition.

Yes and now I have the K2-50

 

[DaneGer21]

I vote no skimmer and a few added water changes, if needed.

 

[MaxTremors]

You don’t need a skimmer on a tank that size of you keep up with water changes. But if you want one, I can’t say enough good things about the Aquamaxx NF-1. It’s got a tiny footprint, is virtually silent, is easy to adjust/dial in, has no micro bubbles, and is a workhorse. I think the MSRP is $89.99, but they were out of stock everywhere a few months ago, and I ended up paying 129.99 for mine (on Amazon). Excellent nano skimmer and will fit in the back of most AiO tanks.

 

[Brady4000]

+1 no skimmer.

 

[allsite]

This is just a mockup but perhaps the no skimmer route with 385gph pump, slightly oversized aio media space. I think I’m going to give that a try and decide. Got a list of great skimmer in case I change my mind. Thanks all who contributed.

Pump is a Sicce Silent 1.5, arrives tomorrow

 

[Ef4life]

This is just a mockup but perhaps the no skimmer route with 385gph pump, slightly oversized aio media space. I think I’m going to give that a try and decide. Got a list of great skimmer in case I change my mind. Thanks all who contributed.

Pump is a Sicce Silent 1.5, arrives tomorrow

385gph seems like way too much for your filter, that pump will probably suck that aio chamber dry

 

[allsite]

Add me to the “no skimmer” tally, of all the nano tanks I ran I tried one nano skimmer once (IM skimmer) and was never impressed by the performance.

Routine water changes are the key to nanos imo. Take that money you would’ve spent on a skimmer and maybe work on an auto water change system instead

I've never tried auto water change, not even sure how it works but ummm.....yes please

 

[allsite]

385gph seems like way too much for your filter, that pump will probably suck that aio chamber dry

It's adjustable flow but you have me thinking. If I don't make a mess of it I can return it. Do you think the 1.0 (250 gph adjustable) version is a better fit. That one was recommended in another thread.

My idea was to have a high gph pump with a spin steam and possible omit a powerhead. What you say about the dry chamber has be second guessing. I haven't built one of these before.

 

[Ef4life]

It's adjustable flow but you have me thinking. If I don't make a mess of it I can return it. Do you think the 1.0 (250 gph adjustable) version is a better fit. That one was recommended in another thread.

My idea was to have a high gph pump with a spin steam and possible omit a powerhead. What you say about the dry chamber has be second guessing. I haven't built one of these before.

If you have adjustments it should be ok, hard to really say. But I do understand what your trying to do with no wave pumps in display. I’m in the same boat setting up my new cube nano. I’d rather not have anything in the display.

there is always drilling a tiny hole in the aio wall to let water into the back chamber at a low level to keep the chamber with at least enough water for the pump and heater to remain submerged