How to feed new recirc skimmer?

jhildebrand · 06/13/2008, 03:52 PM

Ok guys - what would you do here? I've built my dream fish room for my 260 display complete with a 75 gallon refugium and 50 gallon remote DSB on a rack in the basement that then flow down to a 150 gallon equipment sump/stock tank. One overflow goes thru each.

My question is, what is the best way to feed the Octopus 250 recirculating skimmer I just bought? I want it to be fed from one of the lines from the DSB or fuge to avoid adding yet another pump.

Would it be correct to assume that the line from the fuge is a bad idea because it would then skim anything beneficial that is reproducing and potentially going back to the main display? I can use the feed from the DSB if I increased the flow. Feel free to weigh in on this and let me know if this is the most logical thing to do. The plumbing would be easier from the fuge, but I don't want to defeat part of the purpose of having it in the first place...

builderguy · 06/13/2008, 04:21 PM

Feed it by teeing off of the overflow and installing a pvc gate-valve to have 1.5-2 times total tank volume/hour through the skimmer.

jhildebrand · 06/13/2008, 04:26 PM

I'd love to - but the overflows are only 1" - not enough flow to split up...

builderguy · 06/13/2008, 04:28 PM

Mine are 1" too and the water will be returned to the sump anyway. What's your total flow through each overflow?

jhildebrand · 06/14/2008, 08:29 AM

I don't know the exact flow through each, but the pump is putting up about 1100 GPH. If I tee off of one side, I'll rob too much flow from either the fuge or DSB.

painkiller1009 · 06/14/2008, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by jhildebrand
I don't know the exact flow through each, but the pump is putting up about 1100 GPH. If I tee off of one side, I'll rob too much flow from either the fuge or DSB.

Just tee off before the fuge or DSB. Then just have the skimmer empty back into the one you teed(spelled right?) off of.
So if you tee off the fuge have the skimmer empty into the fuge.
If you tee off the DSB then skimmer empties into the dsb.
No loss of flow through either this way.

builderguy · 06/14/2008, 06:28 PM

Exactly

jhildebrand · 06/16/2008, 04:54 PM

Thanks. It'll be interesting trying to make it fit, but that's a better option...

06/13/2008, 03:52 PM	#1
jhildebrand Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Green Bay Posts: 782	How to feed new recirc skimmer? Ok guys - what would you do here? I've built my dream fish room for my 260 display complete with a 75 gallon refugium and 50 gallon remote DSB on a rack in the basement that then flow down to a 150 gallon equipment sump/stock tank. One overflow goes thru each. My question is, what is the best way to feed the Octopus 250 recirculating skimmer I just bought? I want it to be fed from one of the lines from the DSB or fuge to avoid adding yet another pump. Would it be correct to assume that the line from the fuge is a bad idea because it would then skim anything beneficial that is reproducing and potentially going back to the main display? I can use the feed from the DSB if I increased the flow. Feel free to weigh in on this and let me know if this is the most logical thing to do. The plumbing would be easier from the fuge, but I don't want to defeat part of the purpose of having it in the first place... __________________ 1000 gallons of liability Current Tank Info: 1000 gallon total system volume - 260g mixed reef - Fish room: 270g fiberglass grow out tank, 150g LPS cube, 150g sump, 150g 'fuge, remote DSB frag tub + 14g nano

06/13/2008, 04:26 PM	#3
jhildebrand Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Green Bay Posts: 782	I'd love to - but the overflows are only 1" - not enough flow to split up... __________________ 1000 gallons of liability Current Tank Info: 1000 gallon total system volume - 260g mixed reef - Fish room: 270g fiberglass grow out tank, 150g LPS cube, 150g sump, 150g 'fuge, remote DSB frag tub + 14g nano

06/14/2008, 08:29 AM	#5
jhildebrand Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Green Bay Posts: 782	I don't know the exact flow through each, but the pump is putting up about 1100 GPH. If I tee off of one side, I'll rob too much flow from either the fuge or DSB. __________________ 1000 gallons of liability Current Tank Info: 1000 gallon total system volume - 260g mixed reef - Fish room: 270g fiberglass grow out tank, 150g LPS cube, 150g sump, 150g 'fuge, remote DSB frag tub + 14g nano

06/16/2008, 04:54 PM	#8
jhildebrand Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Green Bay Posts: 782	Thanks. It'll be interesting trying to make it fit, but that's a better option... __________________ 1000 gallons of liability Current Tank Info: 1000 gallon total system volume - 260g mixed reef - Fish room: 270g fiberglass grow out tank, 150g LPS cube, 150g sump, 150g 'fuge, remote DSB frag tub + 14g nano

06/13/2008, 04:21 PM	#2
builderguy Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: North Natomas, CA Posts: 1,470	Feed it by teeing off of the overflow and installing a pvc gate-valve to have 1.5-2 times total tank volume/hour through the skimmer.

06/13/2008, 04:28 PM	#4
builderguy Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: North Natomas, CA Posts: 1,470	Mine are 1" too and the water will be returned to the sump anyway. What's your total flow through each overflow?

06/14/2008, 06:28 PM	#7
builderguy Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: North Natomas, CA Posts: 1,470	Exactly