External Skimmer Horror Stories Please

M

Meli

I'm still debating on going with an external skimmer. So, I'd like to know the worse case senerios. What happened, how it could have been avoided (if possible), final cost of clean up, smells that hung around, etc. Stories that happened to others are welcomed too. Thank you.
 
The worst one I know of!

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1080179

For the record I've had an external now on mine for over a year with no issues but I make sure it has a cuoff when overflowed, etc. What size are we talking about?
 
I have had an external skimmer on my systems from the beginning. I use a Becket skimmer and they do not seem to have the same problem with overflowing when certain chemicals are added. I would also never use an external skimmer without an air cutoff on the waste collector such as pictured on this page. Scroll down to bottom.
http://triggersys.com/protein_skimmers.html
 
Thank you for the links. Is the main problem with external skimmers the cups overflowing or are their other problems? From what I understood, Steve's tank looks like it was a problem with his clean pumps being more effectient than the dirty ones. Are there other problems related to the pumps that would cause a similar water loss?
Mine's a 240 gallon tank. I haven't decided on the sump size yet. Waiting to make a final decision on the skimmer.
 
I just solved my skimmer proplem last night. I added a 45 gallon stock tank as an equipmet sump and I am turning my 29 long former sump/refugium into reugium and hopefully a grow out tank. I was running an Auqa C 150 externaly with a mag seven pushing it. Skimming was poor and anytime I turned the pump off and on again water would shoot out of the air holes unlil I opened the gate valve and re tweaked it. It is now sitting in the sump running wide open with the one inch injector upgrade and fed from an external Little Giant mdq4sc and it rocks, turn on the pump no valve adjustment required just full open and it starts a foam colum right away. Skims a nice wet sludge in no time at all for the first time ever the skimmate is draining into my gallon jug. Extra bonus for me is it is flood proof. I can post pics later if you want to see the new setup
Pat
 
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