External Skimmer Operation

BigCity · 06/23/2011, 05:21 PM

Wondering what the best way would be to use an external skimmer, is it easier to just plumb a pump from the sump to the skimmer and then the output directly back to the sump with pipe. OR Could I place the skimmer in a small container like a 10 gallon and let the skimmer discharge into the container to create in essence a second sump. Then I could just install a bulkhead at the appropriate height and let it gravity feed back to the main sump.

I just don't have room to get one under my stand and in my main sump. Unfortunate for me I bought a complete setup from someone else and they failed to mention I needed to have it all installed in the sump and put it in at the same time in order to get it all to fit.

BigCity · 06/24/2011, 08:36 AM

No one has any suggestions?

4deepwater8 · 06/24/2011, 09:20 AM

It would be hard to have a pump that pumped water into a bucket and then another pump to pump water from skimmer bucket back into the sump. If one of the pumps was faster than the other you would have a mess. Maybe you could just rig the skimmer to be like a hang on the back. Where the pump in the sump put water directly into the skimmer and than have the skimmer was piped that gravity put the water back into the sump.

4deepwater8 · 06/24/2011, 09:21 AM

Wow. I didn't explain myself very well.

BigCity · 06/24/2011, 10:09 AM

Yeah, that was the idea about the 10 gallon tank or similar container that I could let the skimmer just discharge into it and then gravity feed the water from that container back to the sump.

06/23/2011, 05:21 PM	#1
BigCity Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Avon, IN Posts: 206	External Skimmer Operation Wondering what the best way would be to use an external skimmer, is it easier to just plumb a pump from the sump to the skimmer and then the output directly back to the sump with pipe. OR Could I place the skimmer in a small container like a 10 gallon and let the skimmer discharge into the container to create in essence a second sump. Then I could just install a bulkhead at the appropriate height and let it gravity feed back to the main sump. I just don't have room to get one under my stand and in my main sump. Unfortunate for me I bought a complete setup from someone else and they failed to mention I needed to have it all installed in the sump and put it in at the same time in order to get it all to fit.

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06/24/2011, 08:36 AM	#2
BigCity Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Avon, IN Posts: 206	No one has any suggestions?

06/24/2011, 09:20 AM	#3
4deepwater8 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: T.S., FL Posts: 67	It would be hard to have a pump that pumped water into a bucket and then another pump to pump water from skimmer bucket back into the sump. If one of the pumps was faster than the other you would have a mess. Maybe you could just rig the skimmer to be like a hang on the back. Where the pump in the sump put water directly into the skimmer and than have the skimmer was piped that gravity put the water back into the sump.

06/24/2011, 09:21 AM	#4
4deepwater8 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: T.S., FL Posts: 67	Wow. I didn't explain myself very well.

06/24/2011, 10:09 AM	#5
BigCity Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Avon, IN Posts: 206	Yeah, that was the idea about the 10 gallon tank or similar container that I could let the skimmer just discharge into it and then gravity feed the water from that container back to the sump.