Protein Skimmer Mod

dankolle · 01/10/2008, 09:48 AM

I wanted to run this by everyone and see if it makes sence. I donâ€™t have a sump that I can put a protein skimmer in, but I donâ€™t think a hang on back will suffice for the level of biology I want in my tank in the next year or so. I am thinking about getting a Berlin Turbo XL w/ Rio 3100 pump rated at 900GPH, which is only made for in-sump use. So this is where the mod comes inâ€¦.

Does anyone see a problem with me submersing the pump in the tank and have it pump down to the skimmer in my cabinet below, then back into the tank from the output of the skimmer? I would make the mod using the proper sized fittings, and add a return pump if it placed too much strain on the single feed pump. I donâ€™t think it will be a problem, and I have experience with plumbing, so it doesnâ€™t seem too hard of a thing to pull off. But I donâ€™t have any experience with protein skimming, and wondered your thoughts.

Thanks,

Dan

luke33 · 01/10/2008, 09:53 AM

If its for your 55g tank there are a few skimmers out there more than enough for that size that are hot. What you are suggesting is going to make that skimmer much less effective than it already is. The feed pump would work but the return on its output would not work. There's no way for you to match the return and feed exactly.

kevin gu3 · 01/10/2008, 10:57 AM

Right, no way you want to pump it both down and up.

The only way to do it without a sump is to put the skimmer over the tank so it overflows back into the tank as fast as the water comes in. You could put it in a cabinet above the tank.

dankolle · 01/10/2008, 01:21 PM

What if I did a ghetto sump? Like a 5 Gallon bucket with a return pump enough to keep up?

luke33 · 01/10/2008, 01:24 PM

Get a rubbermaid container. One as large as you can that will fit, get a utube overflow and set up a sump. It will be your best edition to your system. Well worth it. You could to that relatively cheap and then get an inexpensive skimmer that will work well.

FishTruck · 01/10/2008, 01:35 PM

Make sure to plan a bubble trap of some sort just in case. A five gallon bucket will limit you in that regard.

*(The other problem with your original mod plan, is that the water coming out of your skimmer may have lots of bubbles. Those get chopped up in your pump and look bad in the tank).

Good luck.

Ryan.

luke33 · 01/10/2008, 02:11 PM

The big problem is that your feeder pump and return pump aren't going to match up and your either going to flood your tank or empty the bucket.

mg426 · 01/10/2008, 02:16 PM

Dont do it, The two pump idea is just a mess waiting to happen.
Either gavity feed or gravity return.

dankolle · 01/11/2008, 10:25 AM

I never thought of matching the flows would be a problem, thanks for your input guys. My question now is sizing...

#1: How big of a sump should I have in place? (55 Gallon Display Tank)

#2: What GPH should I shoot for being carried into the sump? (I am only going to have a Protein Skimmer in the SUMP Most Likely the ASM Mini-G Protein Skimmer w/ PC-1000 Needle Wheel Pump, but I don't know the GPH for that pump)

#3: What GPH should I shoot for being carried back into the Aquarium? I'm assuming I need to match the GPH from the tank to the sump, but is that an accurate measurement?

01/10/2008, 02:16 PM	#8
mg426 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: maryland Posts: 6,923	Dont do it, The two pump idea is just a mess waiting to happen. Either gavity feed or gravity return. __________________ I found a way to make a small fortune running a reef tank. Start with a large fortune. Unofficial President of the SEACLONE haters club Current Tank Info: 125 mixed reef 110 lbs LR, 1x250watt XM 20K MH 2x175watt XM 20K MH on Magetics 2X96 watt actinic PC, 220 watt VHO actinic, 30 gallon refugium, closed loop system powered by Sequence Dart MSX 200 skimmer 38 gallon sump, Oceansmotions squirt

01/10/2008, 09:48 AM	#1
dankolle Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 61	Protein Skimmer Mod I wanted to run this by everyone and see if it makes sence. I donâ€™t have a sump that I can put a protein skimmer in, but I donâ€™t think a hang on back will suffice for the level of biology I want in my tank in the next year or so. I am thinking about getting a Berlin Turbo XL w/ Rio 3100 pump rated at 900GPH, which is only made for in-sump use. So this is where the mod comes inâ€¦. Does anyone see a problem with me submersing the pump in the tank and have it pump down to the skimmer in my cabinet below, then back into the tank from the output of the skimmer? I would make the mod using the proper sized fittings, and add a return pump if it placed too much strain on the single feed pump. I donâ€™t think it will be a problem, and I have experience with plumbing, so it doesnâ€™t seem too hard of a thing to pull off. But I donâ€™t have any experience with protein skimming, and wondered your thoughts. Thanks, Dan

01/10/2008, 09:53 AM	#2
luke33 Moved On Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 8,375	If its for your 55g tank there are a few skimmers out there more than enough for that size that are hot. What you are suggesting is going to make that skimmer much less effective than it already is. The feed pump would work but the return on its output would not work. There's no way for you to match the return and feed exactly.

01/10/2008, 10:57 AM	#3
kevin gu3 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Whitmore Lk, MI Posts: 732	Right, no way you want to pump it both down and up. The only way to do it without a sump is to put the skimmer over the tank so it overflows back into the tank as fast as the water comes in. You could put it in a cabinet above the tank. __________________ Divert all money to life support. Your wallet will be assimilated. Resistance is futile. Current Tank Info: 90g reef, 29g anemone exile tank

01/10/2008, 01:21 PM	#4
dankolle Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 61	What if I did a ghetto sump? Like a 5 Gallon bucket with a return pump enough to keep up?

01/10/2008, 01:24 PM	#5
luke33 Moved On Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 8,375	Get a rubbermaid container. One as large as you can that will fit, get a utube overflow and set up a sump. It will be your best edition to your system. Well worth it. You could to that relatively cheap and then get an inexpensive skimmer that will work well.

01/10/2008, 01:35 PM	#6
FishTruck Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Downers Grove, IL Posts: 805	Make sure to plan a bubble trap of some sort just in case. A five gallon bucket will limit you in that regard. *(The other problem with your original mod plan, is that the water coming out of your skimmer may have lots of bubbles. Those get chopped up in your pump and look bad in the tank). Good luck. Ryan.

01/10/2008, 02:11 PM	#7
luke33 Moved On Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 8,375	The big problem is that your feeder pump and return pump aren't going to match up and your either going to flood your tank or empty the bucket.

01/11/2008, 10:25 AM	#9
dankolle Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 61	I never thought of matching the flows would be a problem, thanks for your input guys. My question now is sizing... #1: How big of a sump should I have in place? (55 Gallon Display Tank) #2: What GPH should I shoot for being carried into the sump? (I am only going to have a Protein Skimmer in the SUMP Most Likely the ASM Mini-G Protein Skimmer w/ PC-1000 Needle Wheel Pump, but I don't know the GPH for that pump) #3: What GPH should I shoot for being carried back into the Aquarium? I'm assuming I need to match the GPH from the tank to the sump, but is that an accurate measurement?