Author Topic: HOB Skimmer Question (Read 1919 times)

~reefchik~ · « **on:** August 06, 2009, 15:00:51 »

Anyone can answer of course, but I'm hoping one of the sponsor shops will jump on this and have something wonderful in stock

Before we give up and try to install a sump under the new 90 gallon tank, I wouldn't mind considering a HOB skimmer if there is one that:

A) does a good job
B) doesn't cost a $1000
C) has a depth of less than 3.5 inches (meaning that's the space I left between tank and wall).

The only skimmer I've ever used is a CPR Bakpak on my 20 gal. There's not enough room for it, even if I wanted to try it for the interim. But it's time to skim this tank, and time's a wastin'. Need help!

TechGuy · « **Reply #1 on:** August 06, 2009, 15:18:32 »

What do you intend to keep first off

And welcome to the forum.

jungliztkruger · « **Reply #2 on:** August 06, 2009, 19:54:34 »

I'm very fond of the aquac line of skimmers. my remora sticks back about 3 inches from the tank so you should have about a half inch to spare. you can pretty much set it and forget it. (no messing with airlines or anything like that). i think brand new they are about 150 which will give you some great skimming and wont break the bank

TechGuy · « **Reply #3 on:** August 06, 2009, 20:10:19 »

I asked what you want to keep for a very good reason.

Your Skimmer is VERY important. And you mentioned a sump. A sump is simple, and fairly cheep. I noticed you don't have a drilled tank. Look into the CPR Overflows. They are very thin. They require a $20 Aqua lifter pump, but well worth the money. In a few months you won't see them with all the Coraline.

But when you are considering a sump, thinking about your skimmer is VERY important.

Its like this. Do it right now, or pay later.

Say you buy that HOB skimmer, and decide you want SPS Corals? Now you need a GOOD skimmer, and most HOB skimmers aren't all that great. The longer the pre-mixed air and water travels thru the tube, the more the bubbles join together, and you REALLY want small micro bubbles. On the subject of microbubbles. A HOB skimmer, and no sump = lots of microbubbles in the display, and nobody wants that! With a a sump, you can set up a bubble trap, and your water has more time to get rid of the tiny, cloudy bubbles before the return pump puts the water back in the display.

If it were me, I would invest in a sump. I had issues with nitrates all the time before I started using a sump. That Fluval? Its nice, buts its old school tech. Its a good setup for a freshwater tank. Nitrifying bacteria in a saltwater reef is alot different that freshwater. You will be greatly rewarded in the end with a stable system. Plus with a sump, you can get a nice recirculating skimmer. With a sump you can have a refugium. A refugium is a complete ecosystem aswell. You have all kinds of pods breeding, and the young make it back to the display, pods eat other algae, and waste matter. Macro algae in a fuge can consume MASSIVE amounts on Nitrates, and Phosphates.

Seriously, a good sump, and GOOD skimming is the key to a successful, happy, reef tank.

~reefchik~ · « **Reply #4 on:** August 06, 2009, 23:41:09 »

<<sigh>>

TechGuy, I admit, I agree with everything in your post. I'm just nervous about a sump. I have visions of power failures and floods.

My DH is super handy with plumbing and anything else you can name. But this is my hobby, and he's clueless about it. So it's sort of a situation where, I'm scared to set up a sump myself, and although he could probably follow plans to build one (say from my existing 20 gallon tank that's now empty except for the live sand) he's squeamish about it for the same reasons I am.

Well, in his defense I have to admit I almost burned down our new house in 2002 with my last big reef tank which began dripping from an Aqua-Clear filter which I was using to polish the water and didn't set up a drip-loop....yadda yadda. He was home that day, smelled smoke and saved the day.

Anyway..I digress.

My other thought was to get to a LFS around here and buy a sump setup, and then maybe even find out if someone wants to put it together for me. To have it done right by another reefer would be worth it. I know I'll need a good hang-on overflow, and there again, I know nothing about those and how to know if I'm getting a good one or not. And then again, if I go to the trouble to get a sump, I want one with a refugium

I'd like a nice Octopus or MSX skimmer, because I know how important skimming is. So all HOB skimmers put micro bubbles in the tank? Like the Bakpak? I hated that.

And to answer your question, yeah, I do want some SPS down the road. At least montiporas.

lazylivin · « **Reply #5 on:** August 06, 2009, 23:55:48 »

Quote from: ~reefchik~ on August 06, 2009, 23:41:09

Well, in his defense I have to admit I almost burned down our new house in 2002 with my last big reef tank which began dripping from an Aqua-Clear filter which I was using to polish the water and didn't set up a drip-loop....yadda yadda. He was home that day, smelled smoke and saved the day.

Here is a thread for you http://www.ohioreef.com/index.php?topic=5734.msg46166;topicseen#msg46166

Aquatic Specialists · « **Reply #6 on:** August 07, 2009, 00:04:23 »

reefchic,
I am Justin with Aquatic Specialists in Troy, if you are seriuos about setting up reef tank a little more up to date, I can help you. I am well versed in customized sumps and recirculating skimmers. Can even teach you everything you need to know about the system and how it all works. It just sounds complicated and seems intimidating, it really isn't. I am a dealer of Euro-Reef and Octopuss Skimmers, excellent choices by the way. I offer installation and maitenance services. As well as custom builds, if you would like to stop in and check out some of my sumps that I built and maybe talk a little more indepth about some of your options you are more than welcome.
Thanks,
Justin

pontiac2002gtp · « **Reply #7 on:** August 07, 2009, 01:19:25 »

You don't have to worry about floods if you set it up right the sump can hold what water your tank can drain if the power ever goes out or for cleaning the return pump and definatley put it on a gfci mine pops more than I would like to admit.

TechGuy · « **Reply #8 on:** August 07, 2009, 08:29:01 »

Floods aren't an issue if set up properly. I lost power last week, and everything was fine.

I have an auto top off in my sump, set up at the perfect level, aqualifters to make sure the overflows restart. So now floods here. As long as your overflows can move more water than the return pump, you'll be fine.

GFCI's are a requirement in this hobby! I too have popped my GFCI's a few times do water changes and maintenance. Its all too easy to get a power strip wet.

I have an Octopus skimmer. Its incredible! Go talk to Justin, and look at the live rock tank and its sump.

lazylivin · « **Reply #9 on:** August 07, 2009, 11:11:54 »

I use a Aqua C Remora Pro HOB skimmer that has served me very well the past 5 years with similar tank volume. If you are looking for a sub $250 skimmer, It is widely considered best in class. I too would like something a bit more on the high end side but space, cost and current skimmer performance has made this lower on the priority list.

You need 3.25 inches of clearance between the wall and tank. If you choose to get one pick the Mag Drive 3 Pump with it. Should be around $225 -$250 new with pump.

~reefchik~ · « **Reply #10 on:** August 07, 2009, 12:03:03 »

Quote from: Lazylivin on August 06, 2009, 23:55:48

Here is a thread for you http://www.ohioreef.com/index.php?topic=5734.msg46166;topicseen#msg46166

Oh, I did it smarter this time, believe me. I installed one of those Shockbusters from Lowes into the outlet behind the tank and every cord is drip-looped!

~reefchik~ · « **Reply #11 on:** August 07, 2009, 12:13:23 »

Justin, I think a drive to Troy might be indicated

Lazylivin: the biggest one they have (the Pro) would probably marginally do the job on my 90. For some reason I thought AquaC Remoras didn't have that great a rep, but Marine Depot does have a lot of good reviews on that model. The noise comments concern me. The tank is in our family room which is small anyway. Something to think about anyway, so thank you!

TechGuy · « **Reply #12 on:** August 07, 2009, 12:23:19 »

Quote from: ~reefchik~ on August 07, 2009, 12:13:23

Justin, I think a drive to Troy might be indicated

Lazylivin: the biggest one they have (the Pro) would probably marginally do the job on my 90. For some reason I thought AquaC Remoras didn't have that great a rep, but Marine Depot does have a lot of good reviews on that model. The noise comments concern me. The tank is in our family room which is small anyway. Something to think about anyway, so thank you!

You will forget about the noise after long. I shut everything down to replumb some things. I had no idea just how loud the tank was lol.

~reefchik~ · « **Reply #13 on:** August 07, 2009, 13:56:35 »

Why did this have to get so complicated?!

Oh yeah, I know. Free tank. Like a free pet. Nothing is free.

The CPR overflows are too wide (deep) for the space I have behind the tank. An Eshopps looks like it would work.

UD Flyer · « **Reply #14 on:** August 07, 2009, 14:12:31 »

If the tank is located near the corner you could possibly put an overflow on the side of the tank, then cover it so it isnt such an eye sore.

lazylivin · « **Reply #15 on:** August 07, 2009, 15:59:08 »

Quote from: ~reefchik~ on August 07, 2009, 12:03:03

Oh, I did it smarter this time, believe me. I installed one of those Shockbusters from Lowes into the outlet behind the tank and every cord is drip-looped!

This is good to hear.

~reefchik~ · « **Reply #16 on:** August 07, 2009, 17:04:27 »

Quote from: UD Flyer on August 07, 2009, 14:12:31

If the tank is located near the corner you could possibly put an overflow on the side of the tank, then cover it so it isnt such an eye sore.

1 inch of clearance between side wall at one end of tank.

TechGuy · « **Reply #17 on:** August 07, 2009, 17:05:33 »

Quote from: ~reefchik~ on August 07, 2009, 17:04:27

1 inch of clearance between side wall at one end of tank.

Wow. I can walk all the way around my tank. The back is a little tight. But I wanted to make absolutely sure I had room to work if needed.

~reefchik~ · « **Reply #18 on:** August 07, 2009, 17:21:51 »

Well, see, that was the big issue with accepting this tank. I already have a FW 20 high in this room, and it's where our family spends all our time. We even had to move an entertainment center out of the spot and wall-mount our Flat Screen TV to make this happen.

There was really only this one corner to put it in, as it was the only 48" wall space we could make. I always thought I'd put a big SW tank in the finished side of the basement, backed up to a stud wall where we could cut holes and have all the mechanics on the unfinished side. No load-bearing issues with a big tank, and no plumbing worries.

Didn't quite turn out that way

So here's what I'm dealing with:

end view - this end faces the room.

jungliztkruger · « **Reply #19 on:** August 08, 2009, 22:06:55 »

Quote from: TechGuy40 on August 06, 2009, 20:10:19

A HOB skimmer, and no sump = lots of microbubbles in the display

i have not had a single case of microbubbles in the the tank from my remora... even throughout the break in process. I am also using this unit without the surface skimmer and bubble trap box and still have no issues with it. i put it on the tank, set it to skim wet, and walked away. i am only using the remora and not the pro version.

should you decide to add a sump to your existing setup, just about everyone on this site would love to help engineer and build it for you and help you install it too. alot of people on here might even be able to build you what you need for alot cheaper than what you may see at an online retailer. saving money is generally on the top of everyone's list of things to do.

if building a sump seems like too much for ya now, go with an aquac... you wont regret it! the noise is comparable to that of some of the larger skimmers that would be inside your sump and is completely bearable.

2024 Ohio Reef Frag Swap

Author Topic: HOB Skimmer Question (Read 1919 times)