Need recommendations for skimmer that runs in 6 inches of water

Hi all.

I need recommendations for an internal skimmer that will operate in 6 inches of sump water. My sump (an Oceanic Systems Reef Ready) is fixed at a level of 6 inches, so I am limited to that. Does anyone have any recommendations?


Thanks.
Harlock

 

Harlock I did some researching for you.Try the SWC120 OR 180 they recomend water levels of 5-8 inches. I have never used them so maybe another member can help you out. I just read a couple reviews on them and they seem pretty good.

Xtreme 120 Cone Protein Skimmer

 

You can do an external skimmer. Then it can run in 2" of water... As long as the intake is covered.

 

This is old but a good review of an Octopus skimmer at this depth. You might want to call Octopus as I am sure they have skimmers that will work at 6 inches and I know they are good quality.
http://www.3reef.com/forums/protein...eview-super-reef-octopus-xp-2000-a-75705.html
Heres another good read with some people comparing depths.There are some people on it that are running skimmers at 6 inches.
http://www.3reef.com/forums/protein-skimmers/lets-talk-skimmer-water-depth-height-112654.html

 

We discussed that in PM Dingo. He must have changed his mind but there is definitely skimmers that will run at this depth.Octopus has some.

 

Vince,

I really want to get the Skimz 122 external, but I may not have enough room in my sump cabinet. My sump is 17 inches tall and the inside of the cabinet is 30 inches tall. I'll have to elevate the skimmer so the return will fit in the sump. Since the skimmer is 23 inches tall, I only have about 6 inches of elevation to play with. So it all depends on how far up the return is from the bottom of the skimmer whether is will fit. I plan to contact Aquacave and ask them to measure that distance for me.

I threw out the question about the 6 inches just in case the 122 won't fit.

Thanks for the links and your help!


Harlock

 

coralife super skimmer can run in like nothing.. i love mine, just an idea

 

Man, this is frustrating! None of the internal skimmers I've looked at (SWC, Octopus) will fit in my limited sump space or will run in the depth of water I have.

I really like the Skimz SM122 external, but I'm not sure it will fit in my cabinet when it's elevated. Can someone provide me the measurement from the bottom of the skimmer (ground level) to the bottom of the return pipe (which would be contacting the top of the sump)? I looked for this measurement on-line and could not find it.

Once I have this measurement, I can calculate how much I need to elevate the skimmer to get the return into the sump and determine the clearance from the top of the cabinet. I'm really hoping the SM122 is going to fit!


Thanks.
Harlock

 

You can make the return pipe as long as you want so I am not sure I understand the problem. If you have to raise the skimmer in order to get the return pipe over the edge of the sump extending the return so it makes it into the sump should not effect its performance.
Aqua Cave sells these you could call them I am sure they can help you out.
Heres the manual I found on Aquacave.

http://www.aquacave.com/Manuals/skimz/Skimz_e-series_SM_ext-Manual.pdf

 

The length of the return pipe is not the problem. It's the bend as it goes into the sump. The horizontal location of the return pipe from the skimmer is fixed, if I'm not mistaken. To get the return into the sump, I need to elevate the skimmer. Keep in mind that my sump is 17" tall and my cabinet is 30" tall. The skimmer is nearly 24". If I have to elevate the skimmer more than 6", I'll be in trouble.

Does this make a little more sense? It's hard to explain this without pictures.


Harlock