Skimmer selection...limited space (1 Viewer)

[RickD]

I'm fairly new to the hobby and really enjoying it too much that I've even neglected my other hobbies (golf...)

I setup my 120g tank with about 150# of live rock and a DSB. Right now I have no fish, just soft corals, snails, and hermits. I plan to put about 8+ non-aggresive, reef fish into the tank, but I'm trying to take my time. I would like to add a "live" sump (refugium) to my system. Right now I do not have a skimmer, but I like to add one for peace of mind. The aquarium (Oceanic custom) I have is built into a wall as a divider between rooms. I do not have alot of cabinet space, 24 x 36 x 16. I would like to put an insump skimmer, but due to space requirements in the sump, I cannot have both in the sump.

Will a hang-on skimmer be just as efficient?
Which ones do you recommend?

Thanks...

 

[Guest]

If you only have room for one, go with a good skimmer. I tried it the other way around (refugium only, no skimmer) and it didn't work too well. The problem with a skimmerless system is that it can't handle a large influx of nutrients. So if you have, say, a large order of snails where half of them die in the first week (*ahem*), then you're screwed.

You MIGHT be able to go with both, if you use an external skimmer. I'm partial to the Deltec's, and they can be used externally or in-sump. An AP600 would be about right for your system.

http://www.deltecusa.us/proteinskimmers/ap600.php