what to do when sump to tall for skimmer?
 

I have a bit of a dilema. My sump, is 20.5" tall, 29" headroom in stand. The water level in the sump is 17" Now, when I built the stand, I wasn't thinking. Now, I have not much room to get into the sump, as the door opening to the stand is 23" The skimmer I have now is not very good, berlin skimmer that I cut the base down to get into the sump a little easier. My delema is, what skimmer can have a higher water level so I can put it outside the sump, yet have water flow back into sump, yet be low enough that it will still work in the stand???? Hers a pic, and you can see my skimmer on a eggcrate stand to get it above it's max waterline. I know a lower sump is an option, But I like the extra water volume.

http://banditpowdercoat.com/Powderga...%20%282%29.jpg

You could always run an external BK or something that doesn't need to be in the sump. Other than that it may be easier to just build a new stand with some extra height taken into consideration. Just my two cents

Well, considering I just set the tank up, not doing another stand. And a BK, what is the max height of water? My skimmer is external compatable too, But I can not get it high enough to get the outlets above the edge of the sump. Thats the problem. I would consider even external the stand, If I found a nice, but not Mtg breaking skimmer that could also be a nice conversation piece??? I have seen pics of peoples tanks with 6ft tall skimmers and such.

When we move, then I'll do a taller stand, but tank is at 34" to bottom of tank, any higher and not nice to look at while on couch.

This is the same issue I had with the 75 gal that I was given. Is a shallower sump a possibility?

Joe

I guess you can't move the sump and have a fish room or something?

I moved my sump out to the garage a few months ago and love it. I can't believe I waited all these years to do it.

Ya, moving sump not a possibility. Shallower, well, ya maybe. I was hoping someone would know of a "this skimmer would work" solution LOL

Is running an external outside of the stand a possibility at all?

Maybe one of those Tunze skimmers? They look fairly low profile given their ratings and I've heard they're pretty good ...

THERE'S NO CONVERSATION PIECE LIKE A BUBBLE KING! They're a work of art. I think the External versions run between $1500 and $2000 depending on the size you need. Just don't expect them to skim 3 times the amount because they're 3 times the cost lol. But you could place it beside the tank on a stand and then you don't have to worry about how deep the water is that it sits in. I believe another option is SWC. I believe they have an external version as well and I believe they're priced around the $1000 mark.

Outside the stand is a possibility, for sure. Guess I need to start saving pennies LOL

+1 Tunze 9010
http://www.jlaquatics.com/product/tz...er+-+9010.html

The Tunze is a good skimmer?? Havn't read anything about them yet.

I have read they are good.
I bought one, will be in the sump when I get my 120 finished.
But don't count on that to be happening soon.

I have also heard good thing about them. I've never owned one but I know a couple people who have and they claim to work really well.

Maybe if the (external) skimmer didn't fit in the stand you could build a box for it so it would look like a plant stand or something?

I had a similar dilemma. I made my stand short (28"). I made the floor of the stand lower than yours instead of making it raised the bottom is just plywood, so the skimmer and the sump sit only a 1/2" off the carpet (on the plywood bottom). Then I used a 15g for a sump which is only 12" tall. This gives me lots of room to get in there, and is just barely big enough for backflow from the pipes. I can fully remove my EuroReef RS-180 from the sump if I want to without tearing the whole thing apart.

how many inches are you looking to gain?

Not to sure. I think I may just have to get a shallower sump one day.

if its just a couple of inches then cut down the cup.

Well, I am going to need a better skimmer. This Red Sea berlin skimmer just isn't very good I'm afraid. And don't want to cut down a new skimmer LOL. I have cut this one allready, the base.

What I really was searching for, I guess, was a skimmer that had it's outlet pumped, not gravity drain to the sump. So I could pump the skimmer outlet over the sump edge. But I guess that's a far fetched dream

Well, not sure this is better, but it is a skimmer driven by a pump, not gravity fed, run external to my tank. I don't have a sump... yet, but when I do, it will be a similar DIY el cheapo, counter current, air stone skimmer. It is 'outside' the tank (sump in your case) so it may be as tall as you wish to make it. Only downside I can see is there's more potential for flooding if it overflows, but that risk can be mitigated in a number of ways. So far not a problem in my case. Aquaclear 301 powerhead, 8 watts, Stellar W-60 air pump, 3.2 watts. No doubt there are much more professional & efficient rigs out there, but this works fine for me and can be run on back up power for quite a while with such low power consumption.

http://hlj1yw.blu.livefilestore.com/.../P1010815c.JPG

http://hlj1yw.blu.livefilestore.com/.../P1010815d.jpg

what about a HOB skimmer and just hang it on your sump? Like an AquaC Remora you could even keep the Berlin going as well.

how high is the skimmer your running now. If you want a in sump one the vertex 100 is 20.5 inches tall and needs a water level of 7 to 11".

so if you had a 6" platform in your sump and put a vertex 100 on it that would leave you with about 3" of room above the skimmer.

Steve

Nah.