Need good But smaller protien skimmer help!

So i got a red sea max 34 G reef tank. All set up but my protien skimmer is the biggest piece of junk!! so i want to rip the thing out (self contained tank) and get (idk what they are called? but have about a 1 or 2 inch inlet and another hose leading out.) Just so i can put the hoses in the back bold em in, and put the skimmer in my stand.
Am i crazy for thinking this??

 

looks like its working, can you adjust the water flow or air?

 

It has the air valve. Tried it in every position like 100 times. Finally i pulled the valve off and left it open. Then rigged up a little fresh water air pump and plumbed it into the water inlet of my pump. Now it works, but barely.
have maybe a cm of protein in the bottom from 2 or 3 days.

 

Hi, well...that may be all you will get, the tank looks fairly new. It is a small tank. I am not sure what you mean when you say you want to "put it in your stand?"

 

I saw somewhere that someone modified their RS to have a small overflow that feeds a sump. You can also just drill a 1" bulkhead to feed a sump and one for the return. Remember to remove the in tank return if you decide to do this.