what hang on the back skimmer should I go with

[Myka]

If it were my tank, I wouldn't set it up until it was drilled with an internal overflow installed. You can always put plugs in the holes until you are ready to get the sump hooked up. It is risky to drill it when there is water in it, and difficult to impossible (depending on what type you want) to install an internal overflow. It really takes a lot of work to drill a tank after it has been set up. Those hang on siphon overflows are horrible, so I wouldn't even consider one of those.

If drilling it now isn't an option, I would go skimmerless until the tank gets drilled. I would also run it bare bottom and be sure to not overstock fish until the skimmer and sump are installed. Of course weekly 10-25% water changes will make a big difference too.

Imo, the Remoras aren't worth the cost for tossing them in the trash. I have owned a Remora and a Remora Pro and really think they are quite a waste of money. Imo, those people who think Remoras are good skimmers, have never had a better skimmer to compare to. Sure, they are a better skimmer than a BakPak or a SeaClone, but that doesn't take much! Imo, the only HOB skimmer worth spending money on is a Deltec.

Here is my other 2 cents The over the side over flows are fine as long as you drill them and have a siphon nipple put on attach to a power head or a aqua lifter to. This will always keep any air that may accumulate in there out. If power outage happens then when power comes back on the air is siphoned out never over flows and never fails.

I went straight to a Aqua Medic Multi T1000 works great and is rated up to 250g tanks I still use it on my 110g with 40g sump. Aqua romera's are mid range skimmers and work good for the price but if you have a bit more money then go with the skimmers that are the best. An redSea, Deltec and Aqua Medic, there is another that I can not remember right now. Anyways those are the ones I would recommend unless you can not afford the price of these units I would say go for a Romera Pro. I would also say on a large tank I would definitely have a skimmer as it's a pita to do the amount of water changes that would be needed and not worth it. There has been a couple of Aqua Medics multi's come in on here in and around Calgary over the last 6 or so months do a search and see if they are still for sale. Mine take thick black smelly skim out of my tank. I have a pic on photo bucket of the stuff. In the end it is your choice and up to you as to what you get and use.

here is a link for a Red Sea Berlin:
http://www.marineandreef.com/Berlin_...p/rrs50055.htm


These skimmers have been around for a long time and have been improved most skimmers these day are based on this form of skimming. Down draft skimmers are very good at what they do.
Bill

[mseepman]

It's my understanding that Oceanic Corals (a Canreef vendor) will very soon be able to get the Super Reef Octo skimmers and they offer a nice XP1000 HOB skimmer (cone style even) for an okay price. I would talk to Ian....they may even have a shipping promo that would work for you.

Research them on the net...I think most people have good stuff to say about them.

[Madreefer]

Originally Posted by Myka

Imo, the Remoras aren't worth the cost for tossing them in the trash. I have owned a Remora and a Remora Pro and really think they are quite a waste of money. Imo, those people who think Remoras are good skimmers, have never had a better skimmer to compare to. Sure, they are a better skimmer than a BakPak or a SeaClone, but that doesn't take much! Imo, the only HOB skimmer worth spending money on is a Deltec.

Totally agree. Found mine to be finicky, noisy and really did'nt pull that much crap at all.

[randy123]

Originally Posted by Madreefer

Totally agree. Found mine to be finicky, noisy and really did'nt pull that much crap at all.

Really? I have to empty mine quite regularly... I wonder why the discrepency in performance? Anyways, they are good HOB skimmers IMO, especially for the price. Unless she is quite wealthy and doesn't mind dropping big money on a high-end skimmer (deltec, etc) she says she is only going to keep running for a few months.

Fishgirl, have you considered going sumped immediately with an overflow box? That way you can go and directly buy the sump skimmer you will be using permanently. You can easily modify the setup to drilled when you are ready for it? I am running an overflow box, and although it isn't as nice as having the tank drilled, i have found it to be reliable. As others have said, with an aqualifter to maintain suction, it has a perfect record at recovering from power outages without any overflows.

Anyways, when you do drill I would suggest taking the tank down and emptying it first. It isn't just a question of the tank being under more stress being full of water, the mechanics of drilling a filled tank are downright scary...and there would need to be room for a person holding a drill with a large bit on it to fit behind the tank. Anyone who would drill a hole in glass without being directly behind it is insane. Holes are best drilled with water to cool the glass to prevent heat stress...and this doesn't work so well on a vertical surface either. Drilling a tank always has risk at the best of times, but in this scenario the likelihood of disaster has been compounded very high!

[Myka]

Originally Posted by randy123

Really? I have to empty mine quite regularly... I wonder why the discrepency in performance? Anyways, they are good HOB skimmers IMO, especially for the price. Unless she is quite wealthy and doesn't mind dropping big money on a high-end skimmer (deltec, etc) she says she is only going to keep running for a few months.

My Remoras pulled crap out if I fiddled with them once a week (or more!). Finicky as all heck. I eventually figured they did a better job collecting dust in the closet than skimmate on the tank.

Since she will only be running the HOB for a year or so, that is why I suggested she just stock lightly, and go skimmerless until she is ready to buy a good in-sump skimmer (a good in-sump will cost the same as a shoddy Remora Pro anyway). It is a big tank to run skimmerless, but it really seems like a waste to spend the money on a Remora that will only be used for a year anyway...

[randy123]

Originally Posted by Myka

for a year or so, that is why I suggested she just stock lightly, and go skimmerless until she is ready to buy a good in-sump skimmer

Stock lightly and do frequent water changes for a year? I don't know about you, but I don't have that much discipline

HOLY WOW thank you so much for all the great advise and input. I guess I left out a few important keys here, so I'll fill in the blanks. I am renting this house right now and my tank is on the main floor its going up in a safe area against the joist my landlord has looked and told me where to put it. It is 112gal I THOUGHT it was 125gal but i measured wrong Its 72''x20''x18''. I thought it was 72x 20x20. ANYWAY the reason I can't drill it right now is cause I don't feel comfortable putting another tank full of water on a main floor. SO once I find a place to buy and that is mine I will just do this for now. SO no the tank will be empty when I drill it. I haven't completely thought it over what I am going to do with all my stuff when I move that will be another thread another day lol. FOR now I just want a skimmer so I can add some coral and fish and have a nice looking tank, nothing over crowed or to heavy but something non the less very nice to look at. Someone told me to check out Saltwater connection they said there skimmers were as good as bubble king??? not sure any imput on this.

[Madreefer]

Originally Posted by Fishgirl

Someone told me to check out Saltwater connection they said there skimmers were as good as bubble king??? not sure any imput on this.

For sure they are. Like comparing a Kia to a Cadillac. But I can bet it will do a much better job than the Remora.

[Myka]

I am 6 months away from a Red Seal Carpenter (journeyman). Your tank is spreading the (not particularly significant) weight along 6'. If your floor can't support that and a sump then the building should be condemned! Don't worry about that weight, it is not significant as long as you place it properly. A tanks' length should always be perpendicular to the direction the floor joists run so that the tank sits over as many joists as possible instead of just running the length of one. Know what I mean?

Really, save yourself the trouble and get the tank drilled now with a sump. You should find a 30 gallon sump to have enough room for a skimmer and return chamber. The sump will only be half full anyway, so you're only adding about 150 lbs to the total. That is only about 10% of the weight of the display tank. The weight of a small sump is not significant.

You can buy a good quality in-sump skimmer for less money than you can buy an ok quality HOB skimmer.

My 2 cents.

Originally Posted by randy123

Stock lightly and do frequent water changes for a year? I don't know about you, but I don't have that much discipline

I moved my tank's contents from BC to SK (and got a bigger tank in the process of course). That was last May, and my tank is still lightly stocked (fish-wise anyway lol), and it gets weekly water changes like clockwork. I have a big @$$ skimmer on it too. Hehehe...I despise nutrients.