Large Tank Protein Skimmer Recommendation

[BoisBlancBoy]

Just wondering what you guys would use for a 240 gallon tank, with about a 20 gallon sump? I would like to have it in the sump so its out of sight.

[dlp211]

That is a really small sump for a really big tank, but to your question, I would look at the SRO 3000 or 5000. Since you plan on such a small sump I would recommend going with an external model.

[Bubbaboy]

Hey i would definetly check put the skimz monster 251 skimmer. Its sick. I just ordered for my tank. Things is silent and you wont be dissapointed!

[sirreal63]

Honestly...an appropriate skimmer for that tank would not fit very well in a 20 gallon sump. You may need to look at a bigger sump first. What is the shape? If it is a 20 gallon tank, it is very small.

[BoisBlancBoy]

Yeah your right the sump is small, I still have it set up for freshwater. I forgot that I have an empty 55 gallon tank, that I plan on using for my sump, much better correct? With the 55 gallon tank/sump, now what are my options?

Also not sure if this makes a difference, but I do want to get into corals, but probably not for a couple years down the road. Just fish and lots of live rock for the time being.

[sirreal63]

The 55 is better for water volume, but the width may limit dome skimmer choices. The SRO5000 would be a great choice, but the footprint may not fit. The 55 has an internal width of 11.75" and the top rim opening is 10.75". The SRO3000 would fit but is a small capacity skimmer and depending on the bio-load, it may not be sufficient, however it will work and is a beast of a skimmer. Keep the 55's dimensions in mind when skimmer shopping. The top brace is a limiting factor, you need to be able to get the skimmer out easily for cleaning and you may have to shave the brace down a little to get a skimmer in and out, you can do this but you cannot remove the brace on a 55, the cross brace is needed to prevent bowing.

I sound like Debbie Downer...sorry, just trying to be realistic.

[BoisBlancBoy]

No no, thats alright. I mean it either works or doesnt. So here might be another problem that I have. I am not at my house right now so I cant measure my exact height, but I think I may run into a problem with the head height in my tank stand. I know I can get that 55 gallon tank in there no problem, but depending on how the skimmers come apart for cleaning and so forth, once the skimmer is in the sump it might have to stay there. Unless they have ones that come apart easily, or even decent ones that hang on the side of the sump?

[sirreal63]

A standard 55 is almost 21" tall, that is a potential issue, and you cannot cut it down as all panes are tempered. If you have an IKEA near you, they have a 40 gallon tote that is made from very thick HDPE. I use one as my sump, I put the skimmer in a smaller tote with the overflow terminating in the smaller tote, it keeps the skimmer in a constant depth and works very well as a bubble trap. When I run my recirculating skimmer I remove the smaller tote, recircs are not sensitive to water depth. It is an option until a proper sump can be found.

There are no hang on skimmers that would be adequate for your water volume, sadly enough.

[BoisBlancBoy]

Ok I lied my future sump is a 42 gallon. It is 17" tall and I have 21" in my stand. Would this work? Also would you mind posting a pic of your tote setup?

[sirreal63]

That is only 5" and will make skimmer selection tough.

Think tub in a tub for simplicity. I drilled holes in mine to limit the water height to what I wanted and used multiple holes for backup.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v362/sirreal63/sump1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v362/sirreal63/sump.jpg

It works but it is not ideal. I have used a simple plastic tote for a sump for about 8 years now. The IKEA ones are great.

I have limited my sump volume for time being to accommodate the Octo skimmer. We bought our retirement home and the tank will be making a move and then I will put the recirc G3 back into service and up the bio load. I had access to the 55's dimensions as one is sitting about 30 feet away from the 110, it will be the temporary tank while I get the main tank moved and set up.

[BoisBlancBoy]

Alright thanks for posting those. With the inside dimensions of my stand at 17x21" x8' you would recommend finding some totes that would give me the space but also volume?

[BoisBlancBoy]

Alright thanks for posting those. With the inside dimensions of my stand at 17x21" x8' you would recommend finding some totes that would give me the space but also volume?

[sirreal63]

I wish I could, the ones you find at WalMart and the Box stores don't last very long, they were never intended to, much too thin. Usually having a sump built is the way to go, LifeReef makes awesome ones and so do most acrylic places. For the time being and of the totes will work, clear is preferred over colored and you can put two of the same together to help with bowing. Think short term while you get an appropriate sump built. This will allow you to get the right skimmer and have the sump built to fit, and you can get the skimmer as soon as you want. If it were my tank, I would do the SRO5000 but there are other options as well, depending on the budget.

[SWSCJ]

Skimz SK 251

[Bubbaboy]

Skimz SK 251

Exactly. And pretty space consuming! Only 11.7x11.7. Its quiet and it can handle way more than 240 whoch means more fish for your tank.

[SWSCJ]

Running the Skimz on my 450. Sitting in my 80 gal sump w/ attached 30 gal refugium

[biecacka]

i use my GEO in a heavy duty rubbermaid tote from HD. i have 2 of them attached via bulkheads and tubing. works great
corey

[BoisBlancBoy]

First thanks for the replies. Ok here is my question now. Say I used my extra 42 gallon tank for my sump, it would leave me 4" from the top of the sump to the bottom of the stand, only where I have cross members going across, but in between those cross members I would have approx 7.5", would this be enough room to service whatever skimmer would fit? I have roughly 21" of height in my stand. Can you take apart skimmers and take them out in smaller pieces?

I am just trying to avoid using a tote is all.

Question #2. Could I use two lower rated skimmers with a shorter height?

[sirreal63]

It would for a small skimmer but then it would not be appropriate for the volume of water you need to skim.

[BoisBlancBoy]

Anyone have any reveiws or opinions on this: Tunze DOC Protein Skimmer 9011

[sirreal63]

I have no experience with them, but some people love them, some not impressed, but that is the case with every skimmer. You could also look at external skimmers so you wouldn't have to worry about fitting it in the sump.

[biecacka]

+1 on external skimmer. that is what i finally ended up with my GEO. it could go either way so i took it outside the stand
corey

[BoisBlancBoy]

Ok what cons come along with an external?

[RGibson]

That is a really small sump for a really big tank, but to your question, I would look at the SRO 3000 or 5000. Since you plan on such a small sump I would recommend going with an external model.
SRO 3000 ex is the skimmer to get the one i have works very well on my 180 gal tank.

[dlp211]

SRO 3000 ex is the skimmer to get the one i have works very well on my 180 gal tank.

I run a 3000 internal on my 180, that's why I recommended it.

[reefereef]

No cons to an external Skimmer really, you can adjust the flow ti the Skimmer, a plus, they don't take up sump space, and easy to take offline to take out and clean . Get the biggest Skimmer you can fit and don't look back.