is there any reason to chose an in sump skimmer or pump if you have room for external

[spacenyc]

setting up my sump and while i have a tight space in my stand it just seems to me there are no benefits to an in sump if you can fit it externally in your stand. am i wrong, please let me know.

 

[NYreefNoob]

i run an external pump, less heat to tank with external. some people to nervous to run stuff external why alot dont

 

[ming]

If the skimmer overflows, I rather it overflow back into the sump. Although it might be nasty water, if the skimmer overflows for a long time externally, not only would you end up with a lot of water on your floor, but for me, my ATO will keep replenishing any water therefore causing the tank SG to go lower and lower possibly wiping out your system. With an insump, the worse case would be the few days of skim will be dumped back into the tank which wouldn't be as catastrophic.
Also, when cleaning the skimmer cup, you may have to turn off the pump or dial it down on external or bubbles may start coming out.

 

[MIKE NY]

mine is in the sump just for peace of mind..if anything leaks, fitting etc.. it will be in the sump and I fitted a tube on the collection cup that goes to an external 5 gal container which when full will shut down the skimmer. The only draw back is the extra heat from the pump which helps in the winter......

 

[jf2381]

I have mine in the sump because the skimmer I wanted is only offered as an in-sump model.

 

[ming]

Also, in sump usually, not always, means a submerged pump which will typically be quieter then an external pump as the sound is muffled from the water. If its being placed in someplace you want silent, that may be a concern as I learned from vortech's.
But, if heat is a concern, then external will heat the water less in the summer

 

[JavyJaverson]

usually internal pumps are more energy efficient than external. And external skimmers overflowing could get annoying and even disastrous depending on your auto top off method

 

[Reef_Paddy]

External skimmers, unless gravity fed usually require an additional feed pump also so could be slightly more expensive to setup and run.

 

[Wes]

if the skimmer overflows, i rather it overflow back into the sump. Although it might be nasty water, if the skimmer overflows for a long time externally, not only would you end up with a lot of water on your floor, but for me, my ato will keep replenishing any water therefore causing the tank sg to go lower and lower possibly wiping out your system. With an insump, the worse case would be the few days of skim will be dumped back into the tank which wouldn't be as catastrophic.
Also, when cleaning the skimmer cup, you may have to turn off the pump or dial it down on external or bubbles may start coming out.

+1

 

[bogliman]

mine is in the sump just for peace of mind..if anything leaks, fitting etc.. it will be in the sump and I fitted a tube on the collection cup that goes to an external 5 gal container which when full will shut down the skimmer. The only draw back is the extra heat from the pump which helps in the winter......

+1

also some pumps cannot survive outside the sump like the Mag pumps. there is a warning that marineDepot added from their site on Magpumps that Magpumps overheat and melt the casing. in this case if you have that pump out of the sump then expect a lot of leaks which also means that the salt water from your tank will be less while your RO water from your ATO will try to replenish fresh water instead of maintaining the 1.023-1.025 SG.