Anybody Know A Skimmer Which Works With Large Braces?

[stegoodall]

Hi
does anybody know of any skimmers that can accomodate a 4 inch brace?

thanks
stephen

 

[Aquascaper]

Nothing HoB that I know of.

Usually with a tank that size (must be big with 4" braces) the skimmer would be located in the sump or at least under the stand in the sump cabinet, something like a Berlin model.

 

[crazyelece]

You could also use a remote type if you don't have a sump setup.

 

[stegoodall]

I dont have a sump but what is a remote skimmer?

 

[crazyelece]

Similar to a hang on back, but the pump pumps water to the skimmer, it does its thing, and the water returns to the tank. Basically a hang on back except it doesn't hang. It sits on the ground like a canister filter and is plumbed back and forth.

 

[superman]

stegoodall, I assume that the brace is on an acrylic tank? Or is this tank just a beefy glass tank? If it is acrylic then just drill it and plumb in a sump, very easy to do. Ask any questions if you are wondering.

 

[crazyelece]

Here is a link to the type of skimmer I was referring to.

Skimmer

Also I agree if it is acrylic drill it and add a sump, it is cheap, easy, and will aid in the maintainence.

 

[stegoodall]

Its a 6 foot glass tank. It has no sump because we didn't want to drill it as its quite old so might have cracked. It's a hockney tank. The braces are so big because the hold a flourescent light in each so they have to be big enough to hold a T12 and reflector. It's actually my dads tank lol. I'm just trying to help sort it out for him. It's already set up so to add a sump would be very dificult and it would need a new stand building as the current one is like this from the top:

Stand

and the tank (bold) sits like this:

Tank and Stand

It doesnt have a cupboard or anything at the front.

 

[bunjiweb]

pics dont work, says you need to be logged in.

What you could do is get a skimmer similar to one of these:
http/www.tmc-ltd.co.uk/aquarium/v2skim-skimmers.asp

They are supposed to be very good and are marketed as an alternative "hang-on" skimmer. The V800 would be perfectly adequate for your aquarium.

Silicone it to the side of your aquarium, then you have a pump with piping feeding it and another pipe to return water to the aquarium.

Ben

 

[stegoodall]

try here

is it ok if you extend feed and return pipes from all hang on skimmers? It says that you can with the mc500(?) in it's manual

 

[bunjiweb]

Yes you can quite happily. Just make sure that you dont extend the return pipes upwads as water will back up into the skimmer and it will over-flow out of the collection cup

Excuse the rushed "paint" job.

Ben

 

[stegoodall]

No worries. Thanks for taking the time to help me.

 

[crazyelece]

I did forget to mention if you use a remote skimmer it needs to sit on a stand so the return is higher than the water level in the tank - good catch bunjiweb.

 

[stegoodall]

Ok. I've bought a second hand Deltec AP600 (£52) and this can be used externally, If it needs to be above the water level and can put a shelf up or sort a way around it so it drains down but i think this skimmer should do the trick.