• EXTERNAL SKIMMER

  • Tracey

Here's a question for the experts. I'm trying to make a marine aquarium. The conditions are as follows: I don't want an internal skimmer, they look disgusting. We're ruling out hang-on-back skimmers for the same reason. An external one is just super. But there's no room in the cabinet for a sump. Who can tell me if there are skimmers that can be used without a sump, or plumbing schemes for operation without a sump. The skimmer is planned to be placed below the water level. Most manufacturers say it's possible, but no one sends any diagrams. Everyone says the inlet pipe from the aquarium needs to be shortened to a length that equals the volume of the skimmer itself. This is to prevent the entire aquarium from draining into the skimmer. What do you say?

Emily

As a physicist, I have a hard time imagining such a device. A skimmer is just an open plastic pipe, and the law of communicating vessels is still in effect.

Yvette209

Isn't it easier to redesign the cabinet? Rather than reinventing the wheel, especially since the costs of invention will be much higher. As for the hanging foam separators, Red Sea has a very compact model, the Prizm Pro, and the design won't spoil the appearance of the aquarium. We have posted information about Red Sea products on the forum.

Wendy

Redesigning the cabinet is not easier. It is made of solid mahogany and serves as a connecting part of two tanks, etc. It is part of the interior and its structure. If the skimmer cannot overflow more volume than the skimmer itself, I see no problems. Hanging ones do NOT work for me. I would rather post a photo of the aquarium so that everyone understands why it is specifically inside and without a tray.

Jessica5348

The law of communicating vessels is known not only to physicists. The point is that it is possible to calculate a situation where a skimmer cannot overflow with more water than the skimmer itself. This is what it's about.

Julie3950

This is practically impossible; at least none of the serial models will suit you, that is for sure. The skimmer must be completely filled with water, and its capacity is exactly as much as the air bubbles occupy. And how do you envision the overflow design?

Jeffrey

What if you just make a partition in the corner of the aquarium and put a skimmer there (for example, like in the office aquarium), and then cover the partition with stones? If done correctly, it will look neat and unobtrusive. The skimmer you want to make is unlikely to be feasible; you could essentially create a setup where the aquarium is in one room and the filtration system is in another, connecting the entire system with PVC pipes. I have dealt with such a system.

Phyllis

The design of the overflow is extremely simple. A hole is drilled in the back wall with the calculation that a certain volume remains above the pipe. Specifically, the volume of the internal part of the skimmer. Identical pumps are placed before and after the skimmer. Thus, there cannot be more water in the skimmer by gravity than can enter the aquarium's outlet pipe. I tested this setup on several aquariums yesterday. Everything works. In the aquarium that simulated the skimmer, the volume was always the same, regardless of the operation of the pumps. That's it. Physics.

James3382

Be sure to tell how much the repair will cost you; I am very interested in all the consequences of the experiment. You need an empty skimmer to hold the overflowing water, or an additional tank connected to the skimmer. The water level in the aquarium will drop anyway, and this water needs to go somewhere. And the aquarium, as far as I remember, is not small. Calculate how much water will fit in one centimeter of the height of your aquarium.

Emma

It looked beautiful on paper, but they forgot about the ravines. (c) Theoretically, this is certainly possible, but practically, for such a system to work reliably, the volume of the skimmer must be comparable to the volume of the aquarium.

Brandon4517

Indeed, you should put your thoughts on paper and share photos. Otherwise, giving advice, especially diagnosing, without seeing the patient (well, you understand what this leads to).

Michelle104

I read all this and think that, in principle, it is possible to install automation somewhere for about $5,000 and everything will work. You can create a colossal skimmer (provided that the necessary requirements for the sump are met) - do you need this? I think not. Let's return to physics - why is all this tied to the sump? Because in the sump, you can achieve a compartment with a constant water level (from which water is drawn for the skimmer). In the designed sump, the condition is met that the volume of the latter will allow it to hold all the water that will spill from the aquarium through the overflow when the return pumps are turned off. (period)