Sumpless 90g skimmer?

Killerflash · Nov 20, 2015

Hey everyone, I have a 90 gallon fowlr tank; it's not drilled unfortunately. It has been running for 2 months now and all is well, everyone and everything looks good.
No algae at all yet besides a little coralline growing on a few rocks very slowly. I do want to get a skimmer though I just didn't have money for one at the start as I got most of my stuff in a package on Craigslist for a good deal.
Currently I run two canister filters (cascade 1200 & marine land 220) on it and have plenty of live rock and sand.
I'm curious what do you guys think I should go with? I've been seeing a lot of good things about the reef octopus HOB skimmer as well as the Coralife.
Also should I ditch the canisters if/when I get the skimmer or continue to use them? (Or maybe just one?)

billwill · Nov 20, 2015

Well, I can say that I've never had a protein skimmer that didn't go haywire at some point or another and start overflowing. Every HOB I've used through the years would overflow at least once a month all over the floor. The research I've done would point to the Aquamaxx HOB as being one that has the best design for when it does overflow. Believe me; they will all overflow at one time or another.

klesel · Nov 20, 2015

I ditch the canister there nitrate. Factory unless you clean every week not a coralife fan there a lot of good hob skimmers octopus are great as cpr makes a great hob look on cl as well as your local club or lps see if used skimmers

Killerflash · Nov 20, 2015

billwill said:
Well, I can say that I've never had a protein skimmer that didn't go haywire at some point or another and start overflowing. Every HOB I've used through the years would overflow at least once a month all over the floor. The research I've done would point to the Aquamaxx HOB as being one that has the best design for when it does overflow. Believe me; they will all overflow at one time or another.

Yeah that's kinda what I am afraid of happening which is why I delayed it a bit, but now I am starting to get more fish. I want a sump, but I do not have my tank drilled..
Can I still make one work easily without it drilled and just get a better skimmer to put in the sump to avoid the eventual overflow of a hob skimmer?

klesel said:
I ditch the canister there nitrate. Factory unless you clean every week not a coralife fan there a lot of good hob skimmers octopus are great as cpr makes a great hob look on cl as well as your local club or lps see if used skimmers

I hear that a lot, but I actually haven't had any nitrate problems yet as I clean both of mine out about every 10-14 days

Killerflash · Nov 21, 2015

I've been thinking about a glass-holesoverflow and adding a sump and skimmer in underneath in place of my canisters and maybe run one occasionally for mechanical filtration or with carbon if needed.

ShoreReefer · Nov 21, 2015

You can install an overflow box to run down to sump underneath and put the protein skimmer in the sump

Napa Reefer · Nov 21, 2015

I have an Aquamaxx HOB1 I'm selling...only used it for 2 weeks and then I decided to get a bigger tank that came with a sump...

3dees · Nov 21, 2015

ditch one or both canisters. I run one on occasion with carbon for my softies tank but they can be a problem unless cleaned often. I have a 120 gal. sumpless tank with a RO BH-2000 hob skimmer. over two years and no complaints. never overflowed and removes a lot of crap. pump in on the outside so it doesn't add any heat and one less piece inside the tank.

Reefing Madness · Nov 21, 2015

Don't touch the Coralife, they are horrible.
Its either the Reef Octopus or the Aquamaxx. Both are beasts for HOB Skimmers.
The canister filters are ok to run, because you can always just chuck in carbon when you need it.

Killerflash · Nov 21, 2015

JSmith said:
You can install an overflow box to run down to sump underneath and put the protein skimmer in the sump

That's what I was thinking of doing now that I've heard some bad things about hob skimmers overflowing all over..

Napa Reefer said:
I have an Aquamaxx HOB1 I'm selling...only used it for 2 weeks and then I decided to get a bigger tank that came with a sump...

Thanks I'll have to consider it if I do not end up doing an overflow with a sump!

3dees said:
ditch one or both canisters. I run one on occasion with carbon for my softies tank but they can be a problem unless cleaned often. I have a 120 gal. sumpless tank with a RO BH-2000 hob skimmer. over two years and no complaints. never overflowed and removes a lot of crap. pump in on the outside so it doesn't add any heat and one less piece inside the tank.

It's nice to hear that about the HOB skimmer. That's what I was originally thinking about using, but kinda got scared off from them after reading things about them overflowing and what not.

Reefing Madness said:
Don't touch the Coralife, they are horrible.
Its either the Reef Octopus or the Aquamaxx. Both are beasts for HOB Skimmers.
The canister filters are ok to run, because you can always just chuck in carbon when you need it.

I know someone selling a skimmer and wet dry filter by aqua/pro clear aquatics. Never heard of them before but I was thinking of buying it and turning the filter into a sump with an overflow? Have you heard of the brand if so what do you think about them and that idea? It's supposedly rated for 200 gallons.

Killerflash · Nov 21, 2015

I think I'll just go with my initial thought and get a reef octopus hob skimmer, probably the bh 1000 and ditch my smaller canister filter.
If/when I get another tank, I'll have it drilled and have a sump on that one.

3dees · Nov 22, 2015

when reading reviews, you need to realize that some people will use or set up a product wrong, then write a review bashing the product.

Killerflash · Nov 22, 2015

3dees said:
when reading reviews, you need to realize that some people will use or set up a product wrong, then write a review bashing the product.

I understand that, it wasn't really from reviews that I heard it from, but from a few knowledgeable people I know who have used hob skimmers and then again from the previous reply by billwill on here so it was nice to hear good things from people.

Also would you recommend the bh 2000 for my tank over the 1000?

3dees · Nov 23, 2015

the 1000 would probably be enough, but I would still go for the 2000. depends on how heavy a bio load you intend on.

Killerflash · Nov 23, 2015

3dees said:
the 1000 would probably be enough, but I would still go for the 2000. depends on how heavy a bio load you intend on.

I'm not really sure how you accurately measure bio load tbh, other than the amount of fish in the tank and size. I wouldn't think mine is going to be a real large bio load, but I'm not sure.

I'll list what I plan to have in the tank eventually and maybe you or someone else could let me know:
1 Yellow-finned flasher wrasse
1 Smith's blenny
5 Blue/green reef chromis
1 Yellow clown goby
1 One spot foxface
1 Black cap basslet OR Orchid dottyback
2 True percula clowns
1 Flame angel & coral beauty

I would love to also have a kole tang and/or a group of 3 resplendent anthias, but that is probably too much to have in a 90 gallon tank?

3dees · Nov 23, 2015

just my opinion, but I wouldn't add any tang to a four foot tank. 5 chromis' will probably become one. two dwarf angels might work if added together but a 90 doesn't give them much room to have their own space. I would go with only one. with that amount of fish, I would go with the BH-2000.

Killerflash · Nov 23, 2015

3dees said:
just my opinion, but I wouldn't add any tang to a four foot tank. 5 chromis' will probably become one. two dwarf angels might work if added together but a 90 doesn't give them much room to have their own space. I would go with only one. with that amount of fish, I would go with the BH-2000.

Appreciate the fast response! I suppose I will go with the 2000 then; as for the tang, that's fine as I wasn't super crazy about getting one I just kinda liked the idea if it would work, as my main goal is to get the angels to work. I already have the chromis and a few others and all has been well for a few weeks now so I'm hoping it stays that way. I've heard of people who do well with groups of these chromis and some who end up with just one as you said so we will see!
Any input on the 3 resplendent anthias?