When buying a skimmer......

[Tajjo]

When buying a skimmer do you usually buy a skimmer rated as close to your tank volume? Or do you go bigger if so how much bigger?

 

[Tajjo]

Also do you add the volume of the sump?

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

I have always add the total water volume and then went over quite a bit. Let's face it many manufacturers are going to go a little overboard with their specs.

 

[dv3]

i think you always want to add the sump volume to the equation but keep in mind your sump probably wont be full either ....with that in mind a reputable skimmer should work for whats its rated for

 

[Aquaph8]

I went way over. Never know when you want to add a frag tank or in line swimming pool, LOL.

 

[Tajjo]

Lol ^

Sounds good. Now to choose which skimmer I want.

 

[spspirate]

I like the overkill!

 

[Tajjo]

How much over do you usually go x1.5? 2?...

Well I'll just ask I have about 75 total gallons what do you think! 120-150 or 180-200? I'll be heavily stocked.

 

[Cole_lol]

I agree I read that they recomend going 2x over your total volume of water... Never know how they come up with there specs....

 

[dallas reefer]

Go big. You can always put a timer on it.

 

[SDguy]

I tend to overstock, so I like to go bigger.

 

[mojo]

it really depends on the skimmer and the pump. How well its balanced and how well its going to fit your system. there is no rule of thumb anymore. Lets start with your display tank volume, load and sump water height.

 

[Larsen]

Bigger is better. .......So she says=)

 

[Tajjo]

Mojo I have about 75 gallons of total water volume. My display is about 52

 

[Tajjo]

Mojo how do you like your avast skimmer? I'm putting a lot of bought into it.

 

[Tajjo]

Bump

 

[Zombie]

I run refugiums, so I go at the rated size for the display. I have even went 5 years with a refugium without a skimmer on a 180 with no problems at all. The corals fish and the tank looked amazing. I had the tank well stocked with fish.

I'm using a Tunze DOC 9010 on my 120
I went with a ASM G3 for the 250 gallon I am setting up.

 

[skulls_and_sparrows]

From the extensive reading I have done, a huge part is neck diameter...but most say 2x total system water volume...

 

[Troylee]

Mojo I have about 75 gallons of total water volume. My display is about 52

Get a skimmer rated close to 120 max... Going over board isnt always good... If you buy a monster skimmer it will only perform for a week and then sit at a idle and do nothing.... 120 would be the biggest I went on 75gal... Just my 2

 

[mojo]

The avast is too big. Check out the sea side aquatics cs1 or sro 1000