[gerry45]

my stand space is only 18 inches high under my 75 gallon tank.

if i put a sump,either 20 gallon tank or acrylic trickle filter in this space,will either a hang on back or in sump skimmer fit?

the main reason for this is to hide all my heaters,pumps,sterilizer,not to mention micro bubbles!!

or I could settle for a out of tank sterilizer but hate more powerheads.

could use one turbelle stream with controller or try closed loop but looks hard to build one.

[Steven Pro]

You might be better off with a hang-on setup. Getting a skimmer that can fit in an area only 18" and still get the collection cupp off could be difficult.

[Reefland]

Is this a standard 75 gallon with a standard stand?

[gerry45]

so if i go hang on i need room behind the stand to have skimmer a bit higher than the opening? In that case maybe i should use a 20 gallon tank and build baffles rather than a trickle filter.

the trickles have lids and not sure if hang on will work on them

[gerry45]

actually its a home built stand,4 post legs and lower shelf about 3 inches above floor

[Steven Pro]

Can you yank out the shelf and place the sump lower?

[BubbaWPB]

I use an old trickle filter as a sump - I took out the balls and took off the lid... I have the tank return flow though a filter sock. My protein skimmer hangs on the side of the sump that used to have the bioballs in it.... although 18 inches sounds pretty dang tight.

[golfish]

You could aslo try a recirc skimmer\external, you'll probably have to set it up out side of the stand. It would probably be a better investment then a HOB skimmer.

[showfish]

I converted an old wet/dry. I took the bio-balls out and replaced with about 10 lbs. of live rock frags. I put the skimmer in the first chamber, for this chamber has the most consistent water volume. You might be able to do something like this as well.

[Randy]

75 gal is a nice size tank. Investing in equipment to suit a confined space may end up being a problem. I'd consider the "tight space" to be the problem in the first place. Why not modify or rebuild the stand for better equipment?

You would likely appreciate it much more in the end.