External Skimmer Plumbing

[BigHildy53]

For my first saltwater tank I went with a 180g setup. I have an external Reef Octopus 10" Regal 250EXT Recirculating Protein Skimmer to install. Unfortunately I didn't plan as well as I thought in terms of leaving room behind the tank for the skimmer; so space is kind of tight. I have a Trigger Systems Emerald 39 for a sump. I use a manifold off the Vectra L1 return pump to run BRS jumbo canister with carbon and an Avast Marine Vibe for Zeovite.

Can the output from the skimmer be plumbed directly into the tank? Getting it back into the sump may be difficult. My biggest concern is siphoning; but a check valve and output just above the tank water line should re-mediate that risk.

Comments?

 

[MasterBacon]

For my first saltwater tank I went with a 180g setup. I have an external Reef Octopus 10" Regal 250EXT Recirculating Protein Skimmer to install. Unfortunately I didn't plan as well as I thought in terms of leaving room behind the tank for the skimmer; so space is kind of tight. I have a Trigger Systems Emerald 39 for a sump. I use a manifold off the Vectra L1 return pump to run BRS jumbo canister with carbon and an Avast Marine Vibe for Zeovite.

Can the output from the skimmer be plumbed directly into the tank? Getting it back into the sump may be difficult. My biggest concern is siphoning; but a check valve and output just above the tank water line should re-mediate that risk.

Comments?

The output can be plumbed to the DT but most skimmers don't have enough head pressure to pump it that high.????

 

[mcarroll]

Consider switching skimmers to something that'll fit? There are plenty of great options for a 180. I'd start by looking at the positively diminutive Tunze DOC Skimmer 9410 or DOC Skimmer 9410 DC

• Immersion depth from 140 to 240 mm (5.5 to 9.5 in.) without setting.
• Dimensions without post-filter (L x W x H): 250 x 180 x 415 mm (9.8 x 7.0 x 16.3 in.)

 

[BigHildy53]

I already purchased the skimmer; and I know it's over rated for my tank. I'm using a Varios 6 pump to "feed" the skimmer. The pump is in the sump; the water goes over the sump wall, down to the input of the skimmer and exits the skimmer and travels back up over the sump wall. Even at the lowest setting on the feeder pump, the water in the skimmer raises up into the collection cup and overflows. There is water from the skimmer exiting into the sump; but obviously not enough. I had to take the 1.5'' output plumbing from the skimmer and take it down to 1''.
Is the feeder pump too powerful?
Is reducing the 1.5'' output to 1'' restricting how much water can exit?
Should I raise the sump and re-do the plumbing so that the sump exit is above the rim of the sump?

 

[Starwar]

Is reducing the 1.5'' output to 1'' restricting how much water can exit?

Any change to the output of the skimmer will effect the water height. I have a Lifereef skimmer and simply adding a vinyl hose to the barb raised my water back pressure. And since the output is simply flowing out of the skimmer and not being pumped, you can't have the water travel in an upwards direction without more back pressure.
The recommended feed in gph is between 900-1200 gph...how many gph is the pump supplying at the lowest level. I found its max is around 1750 which is overkill for sure.

Their is a problem with the idea of feeding the skimmer into the display tank...
most skimmers pull water from one section and return the water to the same section of the sump..so it has no effect on water volume...if you were to force 1000 gph into this skimmer and send it to the DT, (in addition to the DT return pump)...the sump flow would have to nearly double in order to keep up with the water being pulled out of it. My Durso drain would sound like and industrial strength toilet flusher lol