skimmer overflow...

GQJake81 · 03/04/2010, 05:05 PM

if i have a skimmer that overflows....how long and how much will it overflow?

thing is, i'm considering plumbing it externally and i have a 5 gallon tank it fits in perfectly, and i wanna contain any overflow obviously, but i don't know how much or how long an external skimmer would overflow. i will be feeding it with a maxijet 1200.

if i plumb the skimmer externally, i can run a 20 gallon fuge. if it's internal then i have a really small return area and a small 5.5 gallon fuge.

also, if i do run the skimmer in the sump/fuge and it's a recirc with a feed pump, does the water level in the sump matter? or can i sink it like 11 inches underwater?

thanks!

drparker · 03/04/2010, 05:28 PM

No you can't run the skimmer in 11" of water. Most like around 7 or 8 and the one I have likes 6.5". If you don't already have one look at external models.

A skimmer can go haywire and overflow plenty really no way to answer that ?. I was testing my new SRO xp-3000 skimmer last night on a cycling tank, I dumped some skimage from another tank into the sump and that beast went wild even with the output full open. It easily overflowed 3 gallons in 10 minutes.

However there are ways to design your sump and skimmer plumping so that an overflow does not flood your floor or empty your tank.

I.E. Put the 5 gallon tank higher than the sump drill a hole in the side of the five gallon tank, about 2" off the bottom. Then put in a 1" bulkhead and run a line back to the sump. That way if your skimmer overflows more than few gallons it gets dumped back into the sump.

Or put a float switch in the five gallon that will cut-off power to the skimmer pump if it gets triggered.

03/04/2010, 05:05 PM	#1
GQJake81 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Indiana Posts: 260	skimmer overflow... if i have a skimmer that overflows....how long and how much will it overflow? thing is, i'm considering plumbing it externally and i have a 5 gallon tank it fits in perfectly, and i wanna contain any overflow obviously, but i don't know how much or how long an external skimmer would overflow. i will be feeding it with a maxijet 1200. if i plumb the skimmer externally, i can run a 20 gallon fuge. if it's internal then i have a really small return area and a small 5.5 gallon fuge. also, if i do run the skimmer in the sump/fuge and it's a recirc with a feed pump, does the water level in the sump matter? or can i sink it like 11 inches underwater? thanks! __________________ 41 G. Octopus DNW 110 skimmer. Eheim 1250 return. Vortech MP10. 20 G sump. 45W LED fixture.

03/04/2010, 05:28 PM	#2
drparker Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Palatine, IL Posts: 2,652	No you can't run the skimmer in 11" of water. Most like around 7 or 8 and the one I have likes 6.5". If you don't already have one look at external models. A skimmer can go haywire and overflow plenty really no way to answer that ?. I was testing my new SRO xp-3000 skimmer last night on a cycling tank, I dumped some skimage from another tank into the sump and that beast went wild even with the output full open. It easily overflowed 3 gallons in 10 minutes. However there are ways to design your sump and skimmer plumping so that an overflow does not flood your floor or empty your tank. I.E. Put the 5 gallon tank higher than the sump drill a hole in the side of the five gallon tank, about 2" off the bottom. Then put in a 1" bulkhead and run a line back to the sump. That way if your skimmer overflows more than few gallons it gets dumped back into the sump. Or put a float switch in the five gallon that will cut-off power to the skimmer pump if it gets triggered.