protein skimmer options

[kipreefer]

I am a poor college student and my father and i tried to develop our own protein skimmer and spent about 130 bucks on pvc and proto types. But unfortinality it works some days but other days it doesnt. what type of hang on skimmers work efectively on a 90 gallon aquarium for the best price. I am familiar with prizm skimmer and the back packs but i know the backpacks are to small. Any ideas because i dont have a sump to place a skimmer off of or in.

 

[mtellin]

how heavily stocked is your 90 gallon? I can think of quite a few good decent priced HOT skimmers but they made be a bit undersized for a 90 gallong tank.

Mike

 

[lionfish1]

mtellin I saw one retail outlet www.atlantisaquatic.com they recommend a senator 900 pump for the PM Hot-1 protein skimmer, up to 100 gal capacity with that pump, kipreefer it's gonna put a $200 hole in youre pocket, check it out.

 

[DJ88]

Putting a 900GPH pump on that skimmer will end up in a mess in my opinion. I have built and sold HOT skimmers like the HOT 1 and if you put too large a pump on it you have to throttle it back and waste the power it comes with. I found a MJ1200 or a RIO 800 are about as big as you can go or else it will overflow unless you restrict the pumps output before the water even gets to teh skimmer.

You are talking about 4 times as many gallons per hour.

The one good thing about the HOT style is that it allows for a longer contact time. By forcing huge amounts of water through it you will severely decrease how well it operates. If it will work at all. IMO

I had a HOT skimmer on a 90 with a tang and two cowfish plus a few other small fish. It worked fairly well. Beyond that I would not use it. 90 is the edge of its capabilities.

That is all in my experience and opinion tho.