Skimmer help

[Sgc1107]

First let me say I'm still new (4mo in) to this hobby, please keep this in mind when responding to me

I'm going to start a custom 150gl build this summer and I'm thinking I want to do a 55gl sump. I think a good place to start is to decide what skimmer to get to know what I need for water depth before I figure chamber sizes in the sump. Am I thinking the right way?

What skimmers should I be looking at for the amount of water I'll have? I want to do it right the first time but my knowledge on skimmers isn't very great, and there's so many out there! Just looking for some that I can start doing research on.

Oh, It will be a reef tank

 

[mr_X]

Making your partitions 10" tall will accommodate most skimmers. A standard 55 is barely 12" wide on the inside. You are going to have to look for space saving skimmers. I would suggest a 40 breeder for a sump. a much better footprint.

 

[Sgc1107]

Making your partitions 10" tall will accommodate most skimmers. A standard 55 is barely 12" wide on the inside. You are going to have to look for space saving skimmers. I would suggest a 40 breeder for a sump. a much better footprint.

Will this still give me enough flow to suntan a 150gl? I've always heard bigger is better when it comes to sumps.

Any brands you suggest for skimmers? What brands to avoid?

 

[crister13]

The size of the sump doesn't make your flow rate go down. You want about 5-10x your tank size through your sump per hour.

 

[crister13]

Oh and uhhh reef octopus skimmers are good and not too expensive.

 

[Sgc1107]

Oh and uhhh reef octopus skimmers are good and not too expensive.

I was actually just looking at this brand, good to hear

 

[mr_X]

Yep. Octopus, SWC, MSX, JNS, Bubble Magus, Vertex, and Seaside Aquatics are all decent skimmers. Just take the manufacturers' recommended tank sizes with a grain of salt. They seem to exaggerate their abilities. A good rule of thumb is to choose a skimmer that's rated for a tank 1.5 to 2 times larger than yours.

 

[Sgc1107]

Yep. Octopus, SWC, MSX, JNS, Bubble Magus, Vertex, and Seaside Aquatics are all decent skimmers. Just take the manufacturers' recommended tank sizes with a grain of salt. They seem to exaggerate their abilities. A good rule of thumb is to choose a skimmer that's rated for a tank 1.5 to 2 times larger than yours.

So if I'm looking at the reef octopus what model should I go with?

 

[crister13]

I have the NWB 200 on my 150. Rated up to about 250 gallons.

 

[Sgc1107]

I have the NWB 200 on my 150. Rated up to about 250 gallons.

I was looking at this one.. Will this fit nicely in a 40gl breeder?

 

[crister13]

Yes. It'll fit. Just make sure your stand can fit it cuz it's tall.

 

[Sgc1107]

Yes. It'll fit. Just make sure your stand can fit it cuz it's tall.

Will 31 inches work? I'm making my own sump too and need to know where to place the baffles, what size section will I need do you think?

 

[crister13]

Just look up the skimmer and read the dimensions.

 

[Sgc1107]

Just look up the skimmer and read the dimensions.

I did but is it giving me the Dimensions it needs or it's actual size? On BRS they don't say, just says Dimensions 16x11x28 so I'm guessing this is the size of the space I need? I hope it's not 28" tall if so I gotta recalculate some stuff!

 

[crister13]

If it says dimension on the page for the skimmer it would make sense it's the dimensions OF the skimmer. It's huge. That could be right.!

 

[Sgc1107]

If it says dimension on the page for the skimmer it would make sense it's the dimensions OF the skimmer. It's huge. That could be right.!

Oh my gosh! Lol

 

[crister13]

I'm not positive but its a big skimmer. It's on the right. This is a 55 gallon sump.

 

[Sgc1107]

I'm not positive but its a big skimmer. It's on the right. This is a 55 gallon sump.

If that's a normal 21" tall 55gl then it's definitely 28" tall!! How many inches do you need to get the cup off? If only 3" I may be ok!

 

[crister13]

You need like an inch.

 

[Sgc1107]

Do you think the DNW150 would work in a 150gl, i will be using a filter sock as well, so that will help cut down the skimmer's work. It's a 4" difference!