Feeding the skimmer from overflow

lobsterotomy · 07/13/2009, 10:14 PM

Is there any detriment to feeding the skimmer directly from the overflow drain? Wouldn't that increase the efficiency of skimming, as all of the skimmed surface proteins would have to go through the skimmer?

I was thinking of plumbing the intake of the skimmer into a T fitting, and having the drain drain into the top of the tee, and the other end open to the rest of the skimmer section - this way if the drain isn't supplying enough water it can suck in more from the skimmer section, and if it's draining faster than the skimmer intakes water, it can drain out into the skimmer section. There would also be some sort of way to get rid of the air in the drainline first before supplying the skimmer of course as not to mess with the skimmer's performance.

Any thoughts? Is there any reason not to do this?

07/13/2009, 10:14 PM	#1
lobsterotomy I'd frag it. Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 308	Feeding the skimmer from overflow Is there any detriment to feeding the skimmer directly from the overflow drain? Wouldn't that increase the efficiency of skimming, as all of the skimmed surface proteins would have to go through the skimmer? I was thinking of plumbing the intake of the skimmer into a T fitting, and having the drain drain into the top of the tee, and the other end open to the rest of the skimmer section - this way if the drain isn't supplying enough water it can suck in more from the skimmer section, and if it's draining faster than the skimmer intakes water, it can drain out into the skimmer section. There would also be some sort of way to get rid of the air in the drainline first before supplying the skimmer of course as not to mess with the skimmer's performance. Any thoughts? Is there any reason not to do this?