Turbo Flotor Skimming

urville · 04/23/2008, 02:15 PM

I have a stand alone 1000 with the ocean runner 2700.

The manual says feed with over flow but use a ball valve, then it says control the flow and let excess of with a t-valve.

Now my overflow plumbing is 1" and I dont have a perfectly straight pipe coming in because I used 45 degree elbows to minimize slowing of flow. So i assume that I should put a Tee thats 1" on each side with the other port 1/2 so i can hook a nipple and then a tube with ball valve to the skimmer input? or would I lose to much flow to the open 1" end?

Actually any examples and photos of how you plumbed it that worked is great. Just shopping ideas.

I'm not totally sold on it, maybe it doesnt work well, fluctuates too much? I know protein skimming surface water sounds good to me. On the other hand my refuge is seperate from the sump, so in my sump where the skimmer is at is a tiny area that just barely holds it and it has two incoming overflow outputs. So it's pretty high flow. Myabe i should just pump it from that area with a mini jet. If you use a pump which ones worked best?

drtrash · 04/23/2008, 06:18 PM

I use a rio 180 and fits and works great

urville · 04/24/2008, 05:02 AM

I would think it would be the same, except for altitude... that may factor... hmmm....

All I found were these oddly named maxi-jet adjustable return pumps in the right range, that werent in fact related to the actual maxi-jets.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...9&pcatid=18989

AZDesertRat · 04/24/2008, 09:54 AM

I use a MJ600 powerhead to feed mine. I tried a MJ900 and it was too much flow without valving it down.

urville · 04/24/2008, 12:56 PM

Yeah, I have this Marineland? powerhead on it now... Only I think the name on it is regent. I could be remembering wrong but I had thought it said for regent by marineland. It's way too powerful and I have no idea it's rated gph anymore. I have that long gray piece into the intake with 1/2 vinyl tube on it. It comes up from that in an arch and back down into the water to the powerhead so as to stop kinks... But because my sump has such powerful flow theres lots of air and I notice that the restricted flow isnt strong enough to push the air down into the skimmer. It makes the flow change as the air builds up... lol... I have the valve almost all the way closed. If i open it creates tons of pee colored water every hour or so, it is new but...

Locally we only have Hagen Aqua clear and marineland Penquins. I think maybe I need to change the location of the feed pump to the other corner of the sump to avoid so much air build up. Honestly everything that comes in there is surface skimmed water so...

04/23/2008, 02:15 PM	#1
urville Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Federal, Wy Posts: 767	Turbo Flotor Skimming I have a stand alone 1000 with the ocean runner 2700. The manual says feed with over flow but use a ball valve, then it says control the flow and let excess of with a t-valve. Now my overflow plumbing is 1" and I dont have a perfectly straight pipe coming in because I used 45 degree elbows to minimize slowing of flow. So i assume that I should put a Tee thats 1" on each side with the other port 1/2 so i can hook a nipple and then a tube with ball valve to the skimmer input? or would I lose to much flow to the open 1" end? Actually any examples and photos of how you plumbed it that worked is great. Just shopping ideas. I'm not totally sold on it, maybe it doesnt work well, fluctuates too much? I know protein skimming surface water sounds good to me. On the other hand my refuge is seperate from the sump, so in my sump where the skimmer is at is a tiny area that just barely holds it and it has two incoming overflow outputs. So it's pretty high flow. Myabe i should just pump it from that area with a mini jet. If you use a pump which ones worked best?

04/23/2008, 06:18 PM	#2
drtrash Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: S. Scottsdale, AZ Posts: 2,178	I use a rio 180 and fits and works great

04/24/2008, 05:02 AM	#3
urville Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Federal, Wy Posts: 767	I would think it would be the same, except for altitude... that may factor... hmmm.... All I found were these oddly named maxi-jet adjustable return pumps in the right range, that werent in fact related to the actual maxi-jets. http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...9&pcatid=18989

04/24/2008, 09:54 AM	#4
AZDesertRat Moved On Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NW Phoenix Posts: 16,621	I use a MJ600 powerhead to feed mine. I tried a MJ900 and it was too much flow without valving it down.

04/24/2008, 12:56 PM	#5
urville Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Federal, Wy Posts: 767	Yeah, I have this Marineland? powerhead on it now... Only I think the name on it is regent. I could be remembering wrong but I had thought it said for regent by marineland. It's way too powerful and I have no idea it's rated gph anymore. I have that long gray piece into the intake with 1/2 vinyl tube on it. It comes up from that in an arch and back down into the water to the powerhead so as to stop kinks... But because my sump has such powerful flow theres lots of air and I notice that the restricted flow isnt strong enough to push the air down into the skimmer. It makes the flow change as the air builds up... lol... I have the valve almost all the way closed. If i open it creates tons of pee colored water every hour or so, it is new but... Locally we only have Hagen Aqua clear and marineland Penquins. I think maybe I need to change the location of the feed pump to the other corner of the sump to avoid so much air build up. Honestly everything that comes in there is surface skimmed water so...