Skimmer for Acryllic Sealed Top Tank??

[mcmasterson]

I have an established 46 gallon sea clear bowfront acryllic tank. Dont have a sump or a skimmer yet. Looking to get a skimmer without a sump for the time being. So i figure a HOB skimmer would be best. My issue is the tank has a sealed top except for a small cut out for my emperor 400 filter and a small hole for the heater cord. So my question is do they make a skimmer that i can have sitting below the tank in my cabinent and somehow have the tubing go through the small heater hole which is about 1 1/2-2" diameter?
I dont want to or hire anyone to drill a hole in the tank either.
Is there anything out there or any ideas?
thanks!
Bruce

 

[acrylic51]

Yeah could do several things.....the easiest would be to just modify the hood and get a HOB. I'd suggest something like a Tunze, octopus new HOB is another. The hardiest way you could feed an external skimmer from your overflow to the skimmer and back into the tank. Honestly the last method would be alot more work and extra cost of the skimmer and the adjustments. All in all IMHO just easier and cheaper to modify hood and a good HOB skimmer.

 

[mcmasterson]

Thanks for your reply! The problem i am facing is i dont have a "hood" it is a sealed acrllyic top. There is open spaces directly under my lighting but the openings are inches from back, perhaps that is what you mean?. I really dont have an option to hang anything on back unless i cut holes into the top. I dont want to drill the acryllic as i dont want to risk any cracking. Is there anything out there that you can have the skimmer by itself under your tank with the inlet and outlet going into a small 1-2" hole in the top of the tank? Or maybe even under the lighting into the center open top? Would the Tunze or octopus be something like i described? I am complete noob when it comes to skimmers and how they operate.
Thanks!
Bruce

 

[acrylic51]

Drilling the acrylic would be super easy, but I understand. You could get an external skimmer and use a pump to pull water to supply the skimmer, but thenbyou have the issue of returning the water back to the tank.

 

[aquaknight]

Can you post pics of the setup? It will help a lot with the visualization.
And I know this is off-topic and might steer the thread, but how are you keeping the tank's levels in check (pH specifically) due to the low oxygen exchange? As well as keeping temps low, with the low evaporation? Are you keeping an Octopus or any reason for a lid that tight?

 

[stdreb27]

Originally Posted by acrylic51
http:///forum/post/3266718
Drilling the acrylic would be super easy, but I understand. You could get an external skimmer and use a pump to pull water to supply the skimmer, but thenbyou have the issue of returning the water back to the tank.
Basically, it would be easier and cheaper to just get a sump...

 

[mcmasterson]

Originally Posted by AquaKnight
http:///forum/post/3266719
Can you post pics of the setup? It will help a lot with the visualization.
And I know this is off-topic and might steer the thread, but how are you keeping the tank's levels in check (pH specifically) due to the low oxygen exchange? As well as keeping temps low, with the low evaporation? Are you keeping an Octopus or any reason for a lid that tight?
I have no issues keeping the tank levels in check. The water evaporates just as fast as my 55 Gal glass tank. Temps stay within .1 of a degree for the most part throughout the day. The lid isnt really tight. It is a seaclear acryllic tank so there is a partially covered top and it is mostly covered in the rear part where you would hang stuff on the back. There is about 50% of it open in the center that i put a cover on to prevent fish jump. But the hole is in the center so i cant hang something of the back. It appears my only options are the sump or drilling the tank.
Here is a side image of the top of the tank.

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

 

[acrylic51]

Again I would opt for drilling the tank, which would be super painless and a small sump that you could drop a nice little skimmer into.....You figure a holesaw bit and bulkhead and about 10 minutes worth of work on the tank and you'd basically be home other than the sump.....