Recircularting Protein Skimmer Setups

[GoatmealJones]

Unfortunately my 50 gallon reef is not drilled so everything is HOB, including my reef octopus 90 skimmer, hob refugium, hob phosban reactor running carbon, etc.

I currently can afford a recirculating skimmer to replace my HOB model, particularly the Reef Octopus CLSC-110EXT (https://www.aquariumspecialty.com/r...xternal-protein-skimmer.html#customer-reviews).

Would I be able to run this under my tank without having a sump itself? Or do such skimmers only work from the flow generated by a sumps return pump. I would greatly like to nix my huge bulky HOB skimmer that not only looks "dirty", but even blocks led lighting in the corner region of my tank.
Any input appreciated! Im willing to get creative if necessary, the skimmer really is an eyesore with 2 large input/output valves and skimmer cup almost 12 inches above my tanks rim. I do not mind having to spend extra money to make it work if neccesary for plumbing, etc.

 

[Mortie31]

Unfortunately my 50 gallon reef is not drilled so everything is HOB, including my reef octopus 90 skimmer, hob refugium, hob phosban reactor running carbon, etc.

I currently can afford a recirculating skimmer to replace my HOB model, particularly the Reef Octopus CLSC-110EXT (https://www.aquariumspecialty.com/r...xternal-protein-skimmer.html#customer-reviews).

Would I be able to run this under my tank without having a sump itself? Or do such skimmers only work from the flow generated by a sumps return pump. I would greatly like to nix my huge bulky HOB skimmer that not only looks "dirty", but even blocks led lighting in the corner region of my tank.
Any input appreciated! Im willing to get creative if necessary, the skimmer really is an eyesore with 2 large input/output valves and skimmer cup almost 12 inches above my tanks rim. I do not mind having to spend extra money to make it work if neccesary for plumbing, etc.

Basically no not under your tank, the skimmer overflow return pipe has to be above the tank/sump waterline, you could sit it on a box alongside your tank and use a pump from your tank to feed it then overflow back into the tank, hope that makes sense.

 

[JumboShrimp]

I’m not sure I am following you 100%, but let me take a stab at this. Are you asking whether a recirculating skimmer can simply stand alone outside your tank? I guess that’s a ‘yes & no.’ The water piped in has to come OUT. So usually that is just an open skimmer pipe dumping water out into a sump. Even assuming you could close-pipe the return water directly back into your display tank, every time the skimmer cup overflows (not an out-of-the-question event), wouldn’t the overflow water just spill into your stand or onto your floor? I hope this helps and isn’t just more confusing. Others will chime in. Best wishes!

 

[GoatmealJones]

Oh I see, I disregarded the fact that it is not a closed system due to the skimmer air outlet ;Facepalm

Edit: what if you added a "return" pump right at the skimmer outlet to direct water out of the skimmer and into the tank? Would act as a suction in that sense.

 

[Blue Spot Octopus]

Do you have enough wall space to set up another tank? It will be easiest and best way to do it. Do you have a lot of coral? I know a guy that has a 60 gallon cube and use the Aqua Maxx HOB-1 on his tank, his tank is amazing, so sump easy peazy.

 

[GoatmealJones]

I thought that a recirulating skimmer would work much like a canister filter does: uses a "primary" pump to draw water out of the display, forcing the water through the in-line skimmer, which is then forced forward to the tank via backpressure. Is this not how it works? Want to avoid sumps of any kind due to fear of U Tube failure given non drilled.

 

[Mortie31]

I thought that a recirulating skimmer would work much like a canister filter does: uses a "primary" pump to draw water out of the display, forcing the water through the in-line skimmer, which is then forced forward to the tank via backpressure. Is this not how it works? Want to avoid sumps of any kind due to fear of U Tube failure given non drilled.

Unfortunately not, if you plumbed it like that it would simply pour water out of the top...

 

[GoatmealJones]

Argh, I have misled myself for months planning to buy an "external" skimmer when I had the cash for it Not willing to use U tube for a sump setup due to risk unfortunately.

 

[GoatmealJones]

Im not a plumbing expert whatsoever, could this potentially work if I put the skimmer on a shelf above the tanks water level?

 

[Mortie31]

Im not a plumbing expert whatsoever, could this potentially work if I put the skimmer on a shelf above the tanks water level?

Yes that will work, as long as the outlet pipe is above the tank water level

 

[Mortie31]

Argh, I have misled myself for months planning to buy an "external" skimmer when I had the cash for it Not willing to use U tube for a sump setup due to risk unfortunately.

Another thought, if you would prefer a sump, could you temporarily drain the tank, and drill 2 holes and fit an overflow box, then you can have a dip and n internal skimmer and it will all look cleaner.

 

[GoatmealJones]

Another thought, if you would prefer a sump, could you temporarily drain the tank, and drill 2 holes and fit an overflow box, then you can have a dip and n internal skimmer and it will all look cleaner.

I would ideally have bought a reef ready tank to begin with, but was at the start constricted to a tight budget. Ill only have this tank for around 2 years most likely, untill I enroll in Medical School, so I will just leave the whole sump experience untill I get my (significantly larger) "adult" tank. It will do for now, then it will become my Dads tank to maintain.

 

[JumboShrimp]

Check out post #125 in “90 gal Predator Tank” for a photo of what @Ross B Reef'n is doing with his skimmer... outside the tank, dumping into the sump.

 

[Ross B Reef'n]

This is how my external protein skimmer is setup:

To be honest, I actually undersized my protien skimmer in an effort to maintain a constant head. I say this if cost is a big consideration to you. Maintaining a proper head in your skimmer is much more important, performance wise, than having a massively oversized one.

 

[GoatmealJones]

For the purpose of my tank being somewhat temporary, I dont think I would embark in such an endeavor. That looks like a very well plumbed network you have, very clean look (especially the Octo Skimmer, think those look so cool). How does you skimmer receive input thought. Is it from a drilled output on your DT via gravity (bottom)?

 

[Ross B Reef'n]

For the purpose of my tank being somewhat temporary, I dont think I would embark in such an endeavor. That looks like a very well plumbed network you have, very clean look (especially the Octo Skimmer, think those look so cool). How does you skimmer receive input thought. Is it from a drilled output on your DT via gravity (bottom)?

Thank you very much for the kind words

As far as the technicals, Hydraulics (fluid mechanics) comes into play here.

if you drilled a hole in your DT, it would first and foremost need a standpipe. If you didn't use a standpipe, water would flow down the pipe and out the top of the skimmer until the tank was empty. This will happen because the water itself is trying to find equilibrium in water level due to gravity. So we raise the skimmer up. Whenever the top of your water level is in your DT, draw an imaginary line horizontally in all directions. We must either place the skimmer at a perfect level where the pipe supplies water to the skimmer due to gravity, and can still create a foam head above that water level line, or raise the skimmer up higher and use a pump. With a pump, we can move the skimmer even higher above the water line, and control the amount of flow going through the skimmer.

My setup is a little different than most... a hole was drilled in my sump and a bulkhead was installed. At the bottom on the bulkhead is a pump that supplies flow to the external skimmer. As water flows into the skimmer, the skimmer outlet pipe drains the water back into the sump. In essence, this is no different than putting a pump into the sump (without the hole) and pumping water to the skimmer.

In your case, if your set on getting an external, I would drop a pump in the DT, build a platform above the DT waterline, and put the skimmer on that platform.

 

[GoatmealJones]

Thank you very much for the kind words

As far as the technicals, Hydraulics (fluid mechanics) comes into play here.

if you drilled a hole in your DT, it would first and foremost need a standpipe. If you didn't use a standpipe, water would flow down the pipe and out the top of the skimmer until the tank was empty. This will happen because the water itself is trying to find equilibrium in water level due to gravity. So we raise the skimmer up. Whenever the top of your water level is in your DT, draw an imaginary line horizontally in all directions. We must either place the skimmer at a perfect level where the pipe supplies water to the skimmer due to gravity, and can still create a foam head above that water level line, or raise the skimmer up higher and use a pump. With a pump, we can move the skimmer even higher above the water line, and control the amount of flow going through the skimmer.

My setup is a little different than most... a hole was drilled in my sump and a bulkhead was installed. At the bottom on the bulkhead is a pump that supplies flow to the external skimmer. As water flows into the skimmer, the skimmer outlet pipe drains the water back into the sump. In essence, this is no different that putting a pump into the sump (without the hole) and pumping water to the skimmer.

I see. Reminds me of learning about how barometric pressure sensors work, further but urelated, the magnificent surface tension of water that dictates how it acts as a fluid.I have only ever used a HOB U tube overflow but they are not fail safe, and my tank lies on the carpet of my bedroom which wouldnt bode well with a potential failure in the system. When I am on my own after my education ends, I will certainly be building the 200+ gallon highly plumbed system that I cant at the moment do.

 

[Ross B Reef'n]

You could even use something like a MJ pump and suction cup it to the wall to supply the skimmer.

 

[GoatmealJones]

I think most of my friends and my parents think that my relatively simple 50g HOB reef think that even that is "so intense" and dont get why I love keeping my reef so much.

 

[Ross B Reef'n]

Theres just something so peaceful and rewarding about it