Quick SumpSkimmer Question by a Newbie

[rick42_98]

Can someone briefly discuss the benefits of Skimmer placement. In the sump or next to it. The advantages or disadvantages. Also what are the plumbing differences? I have a 72 gal. Bowfront (non-drilled) I want to setup as a reef tank eventually. I think I want to start as a FOWLR and move up. If the skimmer is next to the sump isn't there more room in the sump for refugium space? Anyway, thanks for the help. :roll: [/b]

 

[metalac]

the way i look at it there is much less skimmer plumbing involved with a sump and in the case something bad happens, leak, power outage, dead pump, etc there is less chance water will go all over the place.

 

[rick42_98]

I assume you mean with the skimmer IN the sump as opposed to next to it. Cool.....good point.

 

[metalac]

correct. What do you plean to keep in your sump besides the skimmer?

 

[rick42_98]

Well, I'm not sure....there will be baffles, the refugium section with a light above....and what else is there???....a pump?....should the pump be external to the sump or in the sump?

 

[metalac]

Well, I'm not sure....there will be baffles, the refugium section with a light above....and what else is there???....a pump?....should the pump be external to the sump or in the sump?

it can be both, but once again it's safer to be in the sump, in case it fails. How big of a sump are you getting? The case with out-of-sump skimmers is that you don't have a whole lot of options out there, while in-the-sump skimmers are everywhere.

The problem is that refugium would take up a lot of room so you might want to see if you could fit another tank and somehow connect the two, so you have one completely separate area for the refugium and then another your filtering, return pump, etc. I have a link home that might explain how to do this. I'll post it.

By the way how big of a sump are you planning anyways? and how much room do you have?

 

[rick42_98]

I was eying the AquaC EV120 or EV180. Looks to me like it could go outside OR inside the sump but I may be wrong. I was planning for a 20 or 30 gallon sump. The stand gives me 4 feet wide by about 18 inches deep in the middle. If I go to add Coral I guess I would need a Calcium reactor (maybe) so I didn't know if this too should be in the sump or outside. I don't want to buy things twice. I want to try to do it right the first time through.

 

[metalac]

well technically EVERY skimmer could probably be used outside with an external pump and correct plumbing, but there are issues because sometimes it "burps" or the water level changes slightly, so the skimmer floods a little and so forth, and this happens on the daily basis.

The skimmer you want seems to be sump skimmer. Description I found on marinedepot.com says "The new EV Series skimmers are designed to run in sumps WITHOUT BEING RAISED".

As far as calcium reactor I'd suggest you DIY . I made mine for few pennies. Using a mason jar some air tubing and air valve (the ones that come with air pumps). I fill it with limewater and slowly drip it into the sump, that's it. It looks ugly, but who cares, it works and it's out of sight. If you want I can post some pics and such to show you how it's done, basically the hardest part is drilling two holes on the top of mason jar

Just so you know I'm no expert at ALL. I just started my reef about a month ago and I'm just telling you the HUGE amount of stuff I had to learn in order to make an educated guess. I think you're headed in the right direction by asking all the right questions and getting all the facts right before doing anything.

 

[rick42_98]

Metalac...You have been extremely helpful....I will do more research, of course, but you have given me some great ideas. I really like the DIY Calcium reactor. Thanks again.....

 

[metalac]

Metalac...You have been extremely helpful....I will do more research, of course, but you have given me some great ideas. I really like the DIY Calcium reactor. Thanks again.....

Thanks man. I'm still confused myself with the whole aquarium, but I got my going and it's doing good so far, so I'm more than willing to share my info. If you want me to post a pic of that reactor let me know.