sump-less skimmer

[tang daddy]

if space is an issue and you can't fit a sump into the design then why not go skimmerless just a 25% wc every week will be fine seeing that you only have softies it shouldn't be a problem, although the problem I see is surface gunk when I had a tank without sump the top surface of water was always chalky white I tried everything to rid it but with no success!

If I were you I would do a hang on over flow with a sump on the side of your tank. I would build a shelf/cabinet just to the side of the tank and fit a 33g sump that way the sump is concealed and you can put some stuff on the shelf like a tv or some flowers whatever....

[Lance]

Hi everyone! I think I finally figured out what to do. The tank is located on an outside wall to the sundeck, so I'm going to build a well-insulated box on the deck and cut a small hole through the wall to run to a large sump/fuge I'll put in the box. Our winters are mild, and with the heat from a submersible pump and the lighting over the sump, I don't think the cold will be an issue. If so, I can always put some type of heater in the box. I'm thinking a Euro-Reef or Aqua C skimmer. Thanks for all the suggestions. Any advice on this or my skimmer choices will be appreciated.

[kwirky]

I'd go with a needle wheel or mesh wheel skimmer over the Aqua C venturi skimmers. I liked my RS-135 euroreef when I had it much more than the Aqua C remora I have now. Even considering the difference in tank volumes I had before and now the Aqua C is pulling nowhere near the ammount of skimmate my euroreef pulled.

[Lance]

That's good to know. The Euro-Reef RS 135 would be a good size for my 90 gal. I think. J & L has them for about $340, pump included. I' ll start shopping for an acrylic sump in the 40 - 50 gal. range.

[kwirky]

try to get a sump with a dedicated skimmer chamber so that the water level doesn't change on the skimmer, or have an auto-top off unit. if the water level changes constantly (from evaporation) then the skimmer doesn't work properly.