Flow question.....

ctniners · 12/11/2009, 01:13 PM

I need some help I hope I can make sense…..

I have a 75 gal display (all SPS) …….with a 40 gal breeder…

I have a 700 gph Overflow……I have a Mag 7 (700 gph) in the 3rd compartment going back to the tank…..

So….

I am trying to upgrade my skimmer since it keeps giving me headaches, besides it is rated for 100 gal tanks (usually over rated) so I want to get a better one…..

My question is this…..I am interested in buying a MR-1 which uses a Mag 12 (1200 gph) ….. knowing my overflow and my return…….will this be a good idea?

1. Does it matter having a pump pulling that amount of water (and coming out of course) in the skimmer compartment?

I hope I am making sense, I just don’t know if it will cause over turbulence or overflow since my return pump is only a Mag 7.

As always, thank you for your help.

Wilberheim · 12/11/2009, 01:16 PM

It sounds like to me you are asking that if you have a 1200GPH pump running the skimmer you are worried about it overflowing?

If so, then you have nothing to worry about as long as the water is being pulled out of the same compartment in the sump as it is being returned to.

ChadTheSpike · 12/11/2009, 01:32 PM

Is the 40 breeder your sump and is it under your tank?
Does the skimmer draw from and return to your sump?

If I have your system right in my mind, then first, you actually have around 3-500 gph based on how you have it plumbed (head loss). And second if the skimmer draws and returns to your pump, what it flows does not matter compared to your return.

If the skimmer draws more per hour (lets say 3 times return) all that means is that, on average, your skimmer processes the water going through the pump three times before the water returns to your DT.

Basically the skimmer removes as much water from the sump as it returns to it, so the total result is the level in the sump remains the same. This same concept is true of your return pump, each is independent.

ctniners · 12/11/2009, 01:33 PM

so what you are saying is that as long as the overflow from the tank to the sump is not greater than the return to the tank then any pumps inside the sump dont really matter....is that correct?

ChadTheSpike · 12/11/2009, 02:08 PM

Thats correct.

As a side note, whether you are using a siphon overfow or are drilled, your overflow will equal the return. (within the capacity of the overflow)

ctniners · 12/11/2009, 02:11 PM

Cool......anybody had any experience with the MR-1 skimmer?...it looks like a good skimmer

12/11/2009, 01:13 PM	#1
ctniners Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: CT Posts: 938	Flow question..... I need some help I hope I can make sense….. I have a 75 gal display (all SPS) …….with a 40 gal breeder… I have a 700 gph Overflow……I have a Mag 7 (700 gph) in the 3rd compartment going back to the tank….. So…. I am trying to upgrade my skimmer since it keeps giving me headaches, besides it is rated for 100 gal tanks (usually over rated) so I want to get a better one….. My question is this…..I am interested in buying a MR-1 which uses a Mag 12 (1200 gph) ….. knowing my overflow and my return…….will this be a good idea? 1. Does it matter having a pump pulling that amount of water (and coming out of course) in the skimmer compartment? I hope I am making sense, I just don’t know if it will cause over turbulence or overflow since my return pump is only a Mag 7. As always, thank you for your help.

12/11/2009, 01:16 PM	#2
Wilberheim Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 128	It sounds like to me you are asking that if you have a 1200GPH pump running the skimmer you are worried about it overflowing? If so, then you have nothing to worry about as long as the water is being pulled out of the same compartment in the sump as it is being returned to. __________________ 180 Build w/OM 4 way Closed loop. 90 Gallon sump/grow out tank.

12/11/2009, 01:32 PM	#3
ChadTheSpike Reef Engineer Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Washington DC Posts: 1,526 Blog Entries: 1	Is the 40 breeder your sump and is it under your tank? Does the skimmer draw from and return to your sump? If I have your system right in my mind, then first, you actually have around 3-500 gph based on how you have it plumbed (head loss). And second if the skimmer draws and returns to your pump, what it flows does not matter compared to your return. If the skimmer draws more per hour (lets say 3 times return) all that means is that, on average, your skimmer processes the water going through the pump three times before the water returns to your DT. Basically the skimmer removes as much water from the sump as it returns to it, so the total result is the level in the sump remains the same. This same concept is true of your return pump, each is independent. __________________ ~Chad "Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies." Current Tank Info: 195 gallons of fun

12/11/2009, 02:08 PM	#5
ChadTheSpike Reef Engineer Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Washington DC Posts: 1,526 Blog Entries: 1	Thats correct. As a side note, whether you are using a siphon overfow or are drilled, your overflow will equal the return. (within the capacity of the overflow) __________________ ~Chad "Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies." Current Tank Info: 195 gallons of fun

12/11/2009, 01:33 PM	#4
ctniners Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: CT Posts: 938	so what you are saying is that as long as the overflow from the tank to the sump is not greater than the return to the tank then any pumps inside the sump dont really matter....is that correct?

12/11/2009, 02:11 PM	#6
ctniners Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: CT Posts: 938	Cool......anybody had any experience with the MR-1 skimmer?...it looks like a good skimmer