Protein Skimmer advice needed! - Aquarium Advice

Clown Monarch · 10-01-2004, 02:12 PM

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 [acronym:583411cb17="Power compact fluorescent"]PC[/acronym:583411cb17] 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 · 10-01-2004, 02:20 PM

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 · 10-01-2004, 03:39 PM

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 · 10-01-2004, 03:45 PM

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 · 10-01-2004, 03:49 PM

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 · 10-01-2004, 04:00 PM

What is a cpr?

Clown Monarch · 10-01-2004, 04:12 PM

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?

10-01-2004, 02:12 PM	#1
Clown Monarch Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Northwest Indiana Posts: 636 Images: 2	Protein Skimmer advice needed! 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 [acronym:583411cb17="Power compact fluorescent"]PC[/acronym:583411cb17] 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? __________________ We'll be fighting in the streets with our children at our feet, and the morals that they worshipped will be gone. And the men who spurred us on sit in judgment of all wrong, they decide and the shotgun sings the song. 125 [acronym="Saltwater"]SW[/acronym] 80 lb [acronym="Live rock"]LR[/acronym] 330w [acronym="Power compact fluorescent"]PC[/acronym] Euphyllia, Alveopora, Pachyclauvularia (Metallic Green and Daisy), Frogspawn, Torch, Gold Nepthea, Kenya Tree, Galaxea, Pulsing Xenia, various leather (umbrella, toadstool, fingers, devil fingers, lettuce) Maroon Clown/White tip LT anemone, Powder Blue Tang, Female Swallow Angel, SixLine Wrasse, Solar Fairy Wrasse, Firefish, Fathead Anthias, Blue Mandarin, 3 Chromis, 3 Green Gobies

10-01-2004, 02:20 PM	#2
RocketSeason Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: May 2004 Location: Peoria, IL Posts: 1,614 Images: 7	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? __________________ Hardware: 37 gallon [acronym:afe57201e8="Saltwater"]SW[/acronym:afe57201e8] tank and stand by Oceanic Systems, Magnum 350 Pro Canister Filter (half carbon), CPR Bak Pak 2R skimmer, Maxijet 1200 Powerhead, RenaCal 150 W heater, Compact fluorescent lights with moonlights. 40 lbs of liverock, 3" sand bed. Software:2 Tank-Raised Ocellaris Clowns, 1 Purple Firefish, 1 Electric Orange hermit crab, 18 Blue Legged hermit crabs, 8 or so Nassarius snails, Xenia, Blue, green, and Green Striped Mushrooms. Click here to vote for AquariumAdvice.com: The friendliest, fishiest place on the net! Central Illinois Marane Aquarist (CIMA) member.

10-01-2004, 03:45 PM	#4
Clown Monarch Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Northwest Indiana Posts: 636 Images: 2	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? __________________ We'll be fighting in the streets with our children at our feet, and the morals that they worshipped will be gone. And the men who spurred us on sit in judgment of all wrong, they decide and the shotgun sings the song. 125 [acronym="Saltwater"]SW[/acronym] 80 lb [acronym="Live rock"]LR[/acronym] 330w [acronym="Power compact fluorescent"]PC[/acronym] Euphyllia, Alveopora, Pachyclauvularia (Metallic Green and Daisy), Frogspawn, Torch, Gold Nepthea, Kenya Tree, Galaxea, Pulsing Xenia, various leather (umbrella, toadstool, fingers, devil fingers, lettuce) Maroon Clown/White tip LT anemone, Powder Blue Tang, Female Swallow Angel, SixLine Wrasse, Solar Fairy Wrasse, Firefish, Fathead Anthias, Blue Mandarin, 3 Chromis, 3 Green Gobies

10-01-2004, 03:49 PM	#5
malkore Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Nebraska, USA Posts: 6,540	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. __________________ Visit my aquarium pages - see specs on my tanks, and photos of how they've evolved My other passion: TheNinja 500R - updated 9/18/05

10-01-2004, 04:00 PM	#6
Clown Monarch Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Northwest Indiana Posts: 636 Images: 2	What is a cpr? __________________ We'll be fighting in the streets with our children at our feet, and the morals that they worshipped will be gone. And the men who spurred us on sit in judgment of all wrong, they decide and the shotgun sings the song. 125 [acronym="Saltwater"]SW[/acronym] 80 lb [acronym="Live rock"]LR[/acronym] 330w [acronym="Power compact fluorescent"]PC[/acronym] Euphyllia, Alveopora, Pachyclauvularia (Metallic Green and Daisy), Frogspawn, Torch, Gold Nepthea, Kenya Tree, Galaxea, Pulsing Xenia, various leather (umbrella, toadstool, fingers, devil fingers, lettuce) Maroon Clown/White tip LT anemone, Powder Blue Tang, Female Swallow Angel, SixLine Wrasse, Solar Fairy Wrasse, Firefish, Fathead Anthias, Blue Mandarin, 3 Chromis, 3 Green Gobies

10-01-2004, 03:39 PM	#3
two11devan Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: California Posts: 501 Images: 10	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.

10-01-2004, 04:12 PM	#7
Clown Monarch Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Northwest Indiana Posts: 636 Images: 2	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? __________________ We'll be fighting in the streets with our children at our feet, and the morals that they worshipped will be gone. And the men who spurred us on sit in judgment of all wrong, they decide and the shotgun sings the song. 125 [acronym="Saltwater"]SW[/acronym] 80 lb [acronym="Live rock"]LR[/acronym] 330w [acronym="Power compact fluorescent"]PC[/acronym] Euphyllia, Alveopora, Pachyclauvularia (Metallic Green and Daisy), Frogspawn, Torch, Gold Nepthea, Kenya Tree, Galaxea, Pulsing Xenia, various leather (umbrella, toadstool, fingers, devil fingers, lettuce) Maroon Clown/White tip LT anemone, Powder Blue Tang, Female Swallow Angel, SixLine Wrasse, Solar Fairy Wrasse, Firefish, Fathead Anthias, Blue Mandarin, 3 Chromis, 3 Green Gobies

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