Need Recirc-mod advice? Is it worth it? What pump would you buy?
 

I'm thinking of recirc-modding my lovely Coralife 220 super skimmer. This skimmer is on my system which holds a total of 80g, about half of which is sump/refugia.

I am growing a mixed tank, and nutrient levels right now are fairly low b/c of vodka/vitamin C dosing. I cannot detect any nitrate (salifert) nor phosphate (seachem) although phosphate is probably 0.03 to 0.08 (wild guess) since I doubt the Seachem kit's accuracy that low.


Anyhow, the skimmer is adequate but I'd like to make it more efficient. It does pull out the nutrients (and bacterial film from the VSV dosing) but not as quickly as I'd like. I have a hard time getting "dark" skimmate--- it's either wet, or nothing.


I'm thinking of adding a recirc needle wheel pump or something similar, but I'm not about to spend $200 on a Bubble Blaster, I'm just not sure what else is available.

I assume I would be looking for a pump that would do around 350-500 GPH, but have the needle wheel.


In terms of bang-for-the-buck, what would you recommend?

Any help here? I realize I'm using an unpopular skimmer here, but it was free and honestly it does a fine job, but I'd like to mod it and make it even more effective.

I'm not sure if the neck on the CSS is big enough for a bb. Though I am curious as to how it would work. I have a bb 3000 on my octox 200 and it has a 4 inch neck.

I was planning on putting the recirc pump on the main body of the skimmer, which is around 5-6" diameter. Have the intake come from near the bottom, output (with air/water froth) going in near the top.


I'll probably not use a Bubble Blaster, they are FANTASTIC pumps but I just don't have $180-200 to spend on this.