One other area of concern that I touched upon last time is the inability of In-Tank and Hang-On's to skim the oil and other dissolved organics that float at the surface. By having their pumps below the waterline, these harmful accumulations are left unattended. A simple solution to this is to place a small powerhead just below the surface. This creates turbulence and keeps the accumulations more in solution, thereby allowing the pump to deliver them to the skimmer for processing.
So....to summarize In-Tank
and Hang-On designs:
-
Co-Currents are great for smaller systems
up to about 29 gallons or so.
-
Counter-Current models are great for
30 to 75 gallons, both reef and fish-specific.
-
Hang-On's address larger setups and
are more numerous in design and flexibility, usually being recommended
for tanks from 55 gallons and up.
-
Air Driven models are less efficient
and require a separate air pump and frequent replacing of the diffuser.
-
Collection cup drain hoses are a must!
-
Surface agitation is required for non-surface
feeding skimmers.
One last thought regarding adding
a Hang-On skimmer AFTER you have gotten your aquarium established; plan
ahead and make sure that there is at least 6 inches of free space between
the rear of the tank and your wall!!! Nothing is more frustrating than
to buy a skimmer (or any other Hang-On device) only to find that there
isn't any room to mount it!!! Been there, done that.
In Part
3 I go into detail about Installation Options for Co-Current, Counter-Current, Free Standing and In-Sump Skimmer set ups.
Happy Skimming,
