Protein Skimmer advice needed!

[Clown Monarch]

I'm going to turn my 44 gallon pentagon into a reef tank. I think I've figured a way to build a hood to fit (7) 26w PC lights for about 4w per gallon - which will be excellent if it works.

I need advice on a skimmer. I won't have a wet/dry or much space between the tank and the wall (a 44 pentagon fits into a corner). I'm thinking of something I can put directly into the tank and fit in the back corner, hopefully hidden by live rock and coral.

Any suggestions?

 

[RocketSeason]

you could probibly do it with an in-sump style remora or bak-pak. I don't know of a particular brand that has an in-tank style skimmer. what are you doing about mechanicle filtration?

 

[two11devan]

I would suggest spending the extra money and going with the Aqua C Remora hang on skimmer. I went with the BAK PAK about a year ago because it was cheaper.....now I am regreting it because it stopped working. I just bought a remora and I love it. It may be a little bit more expensive, but it is worth it in the long run.

 

[Clown Monarch]

The problem is that I have no room (and don't want room) behind the tank for a hang-on - and I don't want a sump. I was going to run my Fluval canister for mechanical filtration.

What is the difference between just the regular old clear tube with a small powerhead and one of the $150-$200 skimmers?

 

[malkore]

a huge difference. in both how well they can skim, and the amount of tinkering they need to continue skimming.

I thought my prizm wasn't all that bad, but lately it's been giving me fits...and it's not even 3 months old. One day it loses it's prime and doesn't skim for 18 hours...the next day it overfills the collection cup in 10 mins.

considering my tank size, I went with the cpr. only $100, 2 year warranty, not a lot of parts to break, and the pumps they use on them are cheap/easy to find should it fail. the remora's do sound nicer, but if cost is such a huge factor, maybe the cpr is more up your alley.

 

[Clown Monarch]

What is a cpr?

 

[Clown Monarch]

I found it - a cpr bak-pak?

Can I place this unit directly INTO the tank itself? I notice it says for in-sump use only - I'm assuming that only means it has to be under water.

Geez, the thing is huge though. 5" x 7" footprint? Anything smaller that would work for 44 gallons?