skimmer question
- Thread starter viet-tin
- Start date
robchuck
Active Member
Good call going with the sump! That opens up soooo many options for skimmers. There are two types of skimmers that I'd recommend: needle-wheel skimmers and high-pressure injection skimmers.
The needle-wheel skimmers (Euro Reef, Geosreef, ASM) are great in that they produce great skimmate with minimal noise and power consumption. One of these is probably your best bet for a 100 gallon tank. If your budget allows, the Euro Reef CS6-1 would probably be your best bet.
High-pressure injection skimmers (MRC, AquaC, Precision Marine, Aerofoamer, etc) also produce quality skimmate like the needle-wheels, but require a pressure-rated pump and can sometimes be noisy. Don't count any of these out, especially if you can find a good deal on one.
The needle-wheel skimmers (Euro Reef, Geosreef, ASM) are great in that they produce great skimmate with minimal noise and power consumption. One of these is probably your best bet for a 100 gallon tank. If your budget allows, the Euro Reef CS6-1 would probably be your best bet.
High-pressure injection skimmers (MRC, AquaC, Precision Marine, Aerofoamer, etc) also produce quality skimmate like the needle-wheels, but require a pressure-rated pump and can sometimes be noisy. Don't count any of these out, especially if you can find a good deal on one.
robchuck
Active Member
There are some really good HOB skimmers on the market (AquaC Remora & Remora Pro, MRC, Lifereef; though the last two need 8-10" clearance behind the tank. Deltec makes a really nice HOB skimmer, but it's more expensive than a Euro Reef and very hard to find in the US).
The drawback to HOB skimmers is that they aren't as large as in-sump skimmers, which doesn't allow the bubbles as much contact time as they'd have in an in-sump skimmer. And most of the HOB skimmer's designs are limiting in the size of pumps that can be used (this is important, especially with your 100 gal that would benefit with a large pump).
Also, no matter what the ratings may say, 100 gallons is really pushing the limits on just about all of the readily-available HOB skimmers listed capacity rating.
The drawback to HOB skimmers is that they aren't as large as in-sump skimmers, which doesn't allow the bubbles as much contact time as they'd have in an in-sump skimmer. And most of the HOB skimmer's designs are limiting in the size of pumps that can be used (this is important, especially with your 100 gal that would benefit with a large pump).
Also, no matter what the ratings may say, 100 gallons is really pushing the limits on just about all of the readily-available HOB skimmers listed capacity rating.
