Small in sump skimmer options

[Race37]

I am setting up a 30 gallon total nano reef and trying to decide on a skimmer that will sit in my sump, I was looking at the large hydor slim skim, any opinions on it or is there a better option, can not go any bigger, this will be even a tight fit.

 

[fort384]

If you can't go any bigger, you are going to have trouble finding anything else that will fit. Unfortunately I have not heard great things about the slim skim.

The bubble magus NAC3+ is only slightly bigger, and I can tell you from personal experience is a very good skimmer. It keeps my 57 at 0 NO3 and 0.00 PO4 with regular feeding and normal stocking.

 

[Hondatek]

My suggestion for people with sumps too small to fit a decent skimmer is simple. Build an algae turf scrubber. It is basically a plastic canvas screen that has water running down it and is lit from both sides. It grows algae and strips your tank of nutrients . Every week you clean the algae off and toss it or dry it in sheets and feed to your fish. I run one on my 180 and I love it. Here is a video of it in action so you get the idea.

 

[Race37]

I am running a fuge, same concept I think, basically what I'm doing is I'm adding a second tank on the back, same profile as the display tank but half the thickness, it will work just like a hob filter, but much larger. And where I'm putting the tank I can't have a sump below it. The sump will be 6" thick and that is where the size limit is, can't do a wet dry system, just doing carbon media, fuge, and skimmer. I will look into the other skimmer but can't find where to find its dimensions and how deep to run it.

 

[fort384]

Bulk reef supply gives the dimensions.

 

[Hondatek]

Yep same concept just the algae scrubber is way more efficient . I just thought I would throw it out there since most people don't know that they can run their whole system just with one scrubber. Good luck with your build.