Rule of Thumb for Skimmers (1 Viewer)

[mwilliams62]

What is the rule of thumb for skimmers size to cordinate with tank sizes???

 

[soymilk]

Rule of thumb for skimmers is to fit the largest one you can physically fit on there. Lol

 

[mwilliams62]

LOL...
So then what would be a good size skimmer for a 55gal tank and a 180 gal tank????????

 

[R-BallJunkie]

LOL...
So then what would be a good size skimmer for a 55gal tank and a 180 gal tank????????

are you ganging these two tanks together into one sump area. i agree w. SM as big as you can shoehorn into your sump. i believe the manufacturers put numbers out that arent really realistic. i like to see the airdraw and volume to gage a skimmers effectiveness. i have a 58G tank with a skimmer "rated" for 180 supposedly.

GL

C

 

[mwilliams62]

Nope I have a 55gl tank that needs a skimmer on it and it needs to be able to fit behind the tank and the wall barely 4" clearance..
For the 180 gal tank is my future tank and I wanted to know what size of skimmer that I needed to be looking for...

 

[bevoboy]

+1 to the "biggest you can fit". However, bigger does not always mean better. You'll want to look at flow rate and air pull. Both of these relate to skimmer efficiency.

I'll tell you from experience (yes, I sometimes learn from my mistakes) that you don't want to skimp on this piece of equipment. Buy the best one you can get on the front end so you're not looking to replace it in 6 months.

 

[DustinB]

There has been some discussion on the size of a skimmer in relation to the tank and biggest you can fit was not generally accepted. Larger skimmers require a larger amount of waste to form a proper foam head and remove the waste from the water column. This means that with a gigantic skimmer on a smaller tank it will take some time for the organics to build up and be able to be removed. There is also some speculation that the extended time allows for further breakdown of a fair amount of these organics into nutrients a skimmer is incapable of removing.

Ideally you would check the rating of the skimmer for a heavy bioload and make sure that rating it the same size or larger than your tank volume. Some people go with the idea of twice your tank volume for a heavy bioload. If you ever plan on carbon dosing, I would definitely recommend twice the volume. Either way, twice the volume has always worked for me, good fairly constant skimmate production.

For example, I run an octopus 100g skimmer on my 40B and an XS200 on my 90.

 

[mwilliams62]

So for my 55 Ishould go with a skimmer rated for 100g are 125g???

And for the future 180g tank I woukd need to be looking for a skimmer for 300g or would that be too much??????

 

[RR-MAN]

So for my 55 Ishould go with a skimmer rated for 100g are 125g???

And for the future 180g tank I woukd need to be looking for a skimmer for 300g or would that be too much??????

Sounds good...also budget plays a major role in my decision (accountant here).

 

[R-BallJunkie]

its seems you 55 will need a HOT, since your describing only having 4" behind the tank....here's some reviews.
http://glassbox-design.com/2009/5-high-performance-hang-on-the-back-skimmers/
i would keep away from CPR's personally.

 

[bevoboy]

This thread on RC may help you with this topic. I found it simultaneously enlightening, boring and hilarious. It is quite long and when you've finished you will know more about skimmers than you ever wanted.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1589426&highlight=picking+a+skimmer

Happy hunting!

 

[mwilliams62]

Thanks guys I have deceided to go with the Reef Octopus because it the box shape will fit nicely behind the tank I think it is the BH100..

Now the Happy Hunting time for the Big guns for my FUTURE 180gal tank..


Mr. accountant who has the beat prices for the big skimmers???

 

[RR-MAN]

Thanks guys I have deceided to go with the Reef Octopus because it the box shape will fit nicely behind the tank I think it is the BH100..

Now the Happy Hunting time for the Big guns for my FUTURE 180gal tank..


Mr. accountant who has the beat prices for the big skimmers???

I have no idea, not familiar with Reef Octopus.

If you buy a Deltec skimmer I can help.

 

[mwilliams62]

I have never seen or heard of that brand before "Deltec"...

 

[DustinB]

I have never seen or heard of that brand before "Deltec"...

$$$

 

[mwilliams62]

LOL .... lots of $$$ huh??? Which I don't have right now...But soon to change... i just can't wait till I will I have my 180gal build thread out there... hopefulk sometime in the next couple of months... Will need all the advise and help in getting that big puppy up and running....