how to, skimmer

reefster316 · 12/25/2011, 09:47 PM

Hello all. im brand new to the hobby, but have a vision of this beautiful reef tank im thing to turn. into reality. a bought a 210 and built my stand, my sump/refugium and cut the hole in my fall for a flush mount. going to begin plumbing but not sure about skimmer i bought used. it is a aquatic systems design skimmer with two pumps. does it need another pump to feed it or just run a tap off the drain pipe, not sure how much water pressure it needs. thanks

nlgill13 · 12/25/2011, 10:03 PM

posting a pic might help

Danzig · 12/26/2011, 01:54 AM

Should rotate the pics, easier on the eyes and neck. Just right click where you saved it too and click rotate clockwise.

batchelor2169 · 12/26/2011, 01:50 PM

That skimmer is a recirculating simmer. The two pumps that are mounted on the skimmer are the recirculating pumps. You will need to either get another pump or "T" off from your return pump to feed the skimmer.

reefster316 · 12/26/2011, 08:37 PM

I tee one of the drain lines and used a ball valve between tee and drain outlet to control how much water goes to skimmer . should this work

Danzig · 12/26/2011, 11:07 PM

judging by the number of posts ive seen that you made, it looks like you jumped the gun on starting a reef tank, you have alot more you need to learn before you get started. I dont want to see you get ahead of yourself, have a mistake and then lose interest after spending alot of money. Read all the stickies you can. good luck

reefster316 · 12/27/2011, 09:19 AM

Yes i did but now im in for the long haul.. just need a little guidance and i think ill be good.. thanks

batchelor2169 · 12/27/2011, 04:59 PM

I'm not saying you cant feed it form your drain pipe, I've just never seen it done that way.
Don't be afraid to try something different or something thats never been done before, it's your time and your money. I just ask that you dont act careless when it comes to the lives of your tank inhabitants. If you're unsure of how to plumb it off your return, search "return manifold" in the DIY forum. Don't let the number of posts on this forum that a person has made be mistaken for experience, knowledge or success, some people just like to type more than others. Research and patience are the most important things. Nothing good happens fast in this hobby. We've all been where you're at.

Dustin1300 · 12/27/2011, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danzig

judging by the number of posts ive seen that you made, it looks like you jumped the gun on starting a reef tank, you have alot more you need to learn before you get started. I dont want to see you get ahead of yourself, have a mistake and then lose interest after spending alot of money. Read all the stickies you can. good luck

Last time i checked knowledge was not measured by rc posts. I started reef months before joining and had already read 4-5 books!

reeftivo · 12/27/2011, 06:38 PM

drain feed can work well but can also pose problems with fluctuating water levels in the skimmer. If you can eliminate the air that usually accompanies drain effluent then go for it.

A feed pump would be less hassle though.

always try and keep it simple

Borge · 12/27/2011, 07:05 PM

I always fed skimmer return from display.
I also put 6000L through it.
Worked like a charm. Fall height was about 3-4 meters. Enough force to foam without recirc pumps

Well I got a friend using a t-valve to do what you ask, works well, but he also added a t to allow overflowing directly to sump instead of overflowing the skimmer in case of adding an arm or two with some coral

If there is to much flow I rather throttle back my return pump, that way I remove a lot of salt creep due to my height and force of flow. ( dumping it inside the skimmer)

Surface is skimmed and flows into a foam frictioner, jup sounds just right to me. Using skimmer on water meant for dt just sounds backwards. I like it skimmed before getting to my return pumps

12/26/2011, 01:54 AM	#3
Danzig Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 694	Should rotate the pics, easier on the eyes and neck. Just right click where you saved it too and click rotate clockwise. __________________ Keep our planet clean "PH s/b 7.9-8.3, salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp abt 80. Alk and cal will not rise if mg is low."

12/26/2011, 11:07 PM	#6
Danzig Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 694	judging by the number of posts ive seen that you made, it looks like you jumped the gun on starting a reef tank, you have alot more you need to learn before you get started. I dont want to see you get ahead of yourself, have a mistake and then lose interest after spending alot of money. Read all the stickies you can. good luck __________________ Keep our planet clean "PH s/b 7.9-8.3, salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp abt 80. Alk and cal will not rise if mg is low."

12/27/2011, 06:38 PM	#10
reeftivo Skim junkie Join Date: May 2008 Location: chino, CA Posts: 3,417	drain feed can work well but can also pose problems with fluctuating water levels in the skimmer. If you can eliminate the air that usually accompanies drain effluent then go for it. A feed pump would be less hassle though. always try and keep it simple __________________ I told you not to be stupid you moron!(Stern) Current Tank Info: 60 gal cube/20g tideline sump-mixed reef, Aquamaxx c-tech Ca Rx, Akula 160 skimmer, paxbellum N18, mitras LX7 lighting with T-5s, apex controller

12/27/2011, 07:05 PM	#11
Borge Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Trondheim / Norway Posts: 82	I always fed skimmer return from display. I also put 6000L through it. Worked like a charm. Fall height was about 3-4 meters. Enough force to foam without recirc pumps Well I got a friend using a t-valve to do what you ask, works well, but he also added a t to allow overflowing directly to sump instead of overflowing the skimmer in case of adding an arm or two with some coral If there is to much flow I rather throttle back my return pump, that way I remove a lot of salt creep due to my height and force of flow. ( dumping it inside the skimmer) Surface is skimmed and flows into a foam frictioner, jup sounds just right to me. Using skimmer on water meant for dt just sounds backwards. I like it skimmed before getting to my return pumps __________________ - -- --- Current Tank Info: 1000L + sump

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12/25/2011, 10:03 PM	#2
nlgill13 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Boulder,CO Posts: 1,291	posting a pic might help

12/26/2011, 01:50 PM	#4
batchelor2169 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: eugene,or Posts: 34	That skimmer is a recirculating simmer. The two pumps that are mounted on the skimmer are the recirculating pumps. You will need to either get another pump or "T" off from your return pump to feed the skimmer.

12/26/2011, 08:37 PM	#5
reefster316 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 59	I tee one of the drain lines and used a ball valve between tee and drain outlet to control how much water goes to skimmer . should this work

12/27/2011, 09:19 AM	#7
reefster316 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 59	Yes i did but now im in for the long haul.. just need a little guidance and i think ill be good.. thanks

12/27/2011, 04:59 PM	#8
batchelor2169 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: eugene,or Posts: 34	I'm not saying you cant feed it form your drain pipe, I've just never seen it done that way. Don't be afraid to try something different or something thats never been done before, it's your time and your money. I just ask that you dont act careless when it comes to the lives of your tank inhabitants. If you're unsure of how to plumb it off your return, search "return manifold" in the DIY forum. Don't let the number of posts on this forum that a person has made be mistaken for experience, knowledge or success, some people just like to type more than others. Research and patience are the most important things. Nothing good happens fast in this hobby. We've all been where you're at.