Protein Skimmers

[AdAndrews]

Hi guys, I have a 33 gallon tank, bioload will be faily high coming from what will be eventually, 1x 6inch puffer(messy eater) and a pair of adult common clowns.

I want to look into a skimmer now so that 1) i know what i need to save for, and 2) so that i can look out for second hand ones.

My problem is, i dont really want to have that much equipment in the tank, so external would be a better option for me.

Second thing for me to consider, is that the space behind the tank isnt all that great, about 6cm, I can probably move it to 8 or 10, but thats something i dont really want to do.

So, ive been looking at skimmers, deltex mce300 seems too deep so wont fit behind the tank, and then secondly the Red Sea Prizm skimmer, this is only 6cm deep so will fit, but ive read things about it not being particularly good, although its rated for a much larger tank than mine, is that really a bad thing?

What shall i do, or shall i just not bother having a skimmer?

thanks

Adam

 

[ben1987]

Gotta be the deltec, prizms are cack!

well worth having one if you can get it on there somehow!

 

[AdAndrews]

Gotta be the deltec, prizms are cack!

well worth having one if you can get it on there somehow!

It says its something like 17cm deep, thats definately too much, models like the V2 are partly external, right? if im correct, is it that the pump is the only thing in the water, if i pick a suitable size model, im sure this wont be that bad, and i should be able to hide it with rock.

im really stuck ideally, i would prefer a sump, but the extra weight with the tank ebing upstairs, and the fact that it may overflow, well, and the cost, puts me off.

Can you guys recommend a site for all things salty? im currently looking on Charterhouse aquatics, as i have used them in the past..

 

[AdAndrews]

options so far that i can see are:

Red sea prizm
BOYU Hang-on Protein Skimmer 600L
TMC V2 Skim 120 Nano Skimmer
TMC V2 Skim 400- using it externally.

as you can see, i dont have a clue

 

[ben1987]

i suppose you could make like a weir but with no holes and have a dry box and run one sort of in the tank but not wet.

shame you cant have a sump

 

[AdAndrews]

Thought about something, im not sure if it would work..

The v2 400 skim for example can be run in hang on mode, right? and im thinking the connections that has to the tank is water coming in, via the rio pump, and then through the skimmer and coming out the other end is water that comes back into the tank.

Well, could i run a closed loop system, using something like an Eheim pump(out of tank) i would have an outlet taking the water from the tank, through the skimmer, and then connected back up to the tank?

seems to me like it would work, but obviously im unsure about how skimmers work to some state.

 

[seffieuk]

Why would the deltec mce 300 be too deep, a third of it goes above the tank?

Seffie x

 

[AdAndrews]

Why would the deltec mce 300 be too deep, a third of it goes above the tank?

Seffie x

it says its 17.5cm front to back, that would be the space that would be needed behind the tank. If i move my tank that much forward i wont be able to open the cabinet doors.

 

[ben1987]

take the hinges off the doors and magnet them on, so you can just take the whole door off?

 

[AdAndrews]

take the hinges off the doors and magnet them on, so you can just take the whole door off?

thanks for your help mate, and i dont mean this in a nasty way, but i dont want to move my tank forward that much, for several reasons, where its situated for one would make it look terrible brought out, i wouldnt be able to access my external filter..