Does speed of water flow through sump affect skimmer performance?

ken6217 · 09/13/2011, 07:40 AM

I was curious if the speed of water flow through sump affect skimmer performance? I changed my return pump a few weeks ago and it has a much higher flow rate. I also noticed that my skimmer is not pulling out basically nothing and the water in the skimmer neck looks more like boilng water. No foam.

I have two skimmers and I have this issue with both; Reef octopus 1000sss and an BM Nac 3+. Both of these are good skimmers and both are doing nothing.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Ken

James77 · 09/13/2011, 07:48 AM

There could have been soemthing in the pump- some type of oil- that could cause what you are experiencing. Or maybe something was added from another source. But, no, generally speaking sump flow speed would have no real effect on skimmer performance.

ken6217 · 09/13/2011, 07:57 AM

It wouldn't be oil from a new pump as the pump has been in for about a month or so. Has to be something else.

The tank does not have a big bio load (Firefish, Friedmoni, small Mystery wrasse, and small pair of perculas) in a 40 gallon with 10 gallon sump. I do not feed heavy. I am doing 10-15% water changes a week though.

Even still I would think I would at least get a foam head with some color to it.
Ken

James77 · 09/13/2011, 08:06 AM

Even with a super low bio-load, the inside of the skimmer should not look like boiling water. The only times I ever see that are when it is new, right after a waer change, or when I add something to the water.

Both the skimmers started doing that at the same time? Are they both in the same sump or on the same system?

ken6217 · 09/13/2011, 08:11 AM

James,
Both are not in at the same time, but both are acting the same way.

If I get anything into the cup (by raising the water level high), it is basically clear water.

I have had many tanks and many skimmers in the past, but I have not come across this problem before.
Ken

James77 · 09/13/2011, 08:22 AM

anything else different at all since the problem started happening, like new media, filters, food, etc? Anything going on in the house like painting or the like?

Did the problem happen right at the same time the pump went in, or soon after?

Puzzled as well, just throwing possibilities out there

.

ken6217 · 09/13/2011, 08:25 AM

I appreciate the replies.

Nothing else has changed at all. I'm at a loss.

I'm still going to switch back the pumps though when I get back home tonight just to check and see if it makes a difference.
Ken

ken6217 · 09/13/2011, 08:34 AM

I think the speed going through the sump does should a difference. If it was an external skimmer, you would be advised on what size feed pump. So with an internal skimmer, I would think that the speed of the water processed should also make a difference.
Ken

allsps40 · 09/13/2011, 09:51 AM

Yeah but a recirc skimmer needs a feed pump, an in sump skimmer does not get its water flow from water current in the sump, if that makes sense. It gets its flow from the pump. If you had very little flow through your sump them yes it could effect your skimmer, the skimmer would polish all the water in the sump basically just reskimming the water. I like to have a high flow through my sump. I feel this supplies the skimmer and reactor with new dirty water to be polished. Check the venturi on the skimmers they will get plugge with salt after a while.

ken6217 · 09/13/2011, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by allsps40

Yeah but a recirc skimmer needs a feed pump, an in sump skimmer does not get its water flow from water current in the sump, if that makes sense. It gets its flow from the pump. If you had very little flow through your sump them yes it could effect your skimmer, the skimmer would polish all the water in the sump basically just reskimming the water. I like to have a high flow through my sump. I feel this supplies the skimmer and reactor with new dirty water to be polished. Check the venturi on the skimmers they will get plugge with salt after a while.

That was my point. I am going to switch back the pumps though and check the skimmer.

The pump I am using is 792 gph I believe. My tank is 39 gallons.

No salt creep in the skimmer pump. Note I have same lack of performance from two different skimmers.
Ken

BonsaiNut · 09/13/2011, 11:22 AM

Water flow in a sump should not make a difference - unless the water flow in the sump is somehow directly plumbed into the skimmer.

If you are using the same skimmer pump to regulate the water flow in your skimmer, bubble contact time with the water (in the skimmer) should remain unchanged.

jcw · 09/13/2011, 11:29 AM

I would think the difference it makes would not explain the change in the skimmers.

FWIW, I run two eheim 1260 in my sump with an ATB 840, elegance and now a 1050 and have not had skimmer performance issues. DT 125g, sump about 30g.

Like James77 said, the big bubbles occur when something is added to the tank. But you haven't added anything new. For me, I feed with food soaked in a drop or two of omega3 and HUFA (fats) and it takes about 1/2 hour for the skimmer to return to normal.

Good luck finding the cause. Putting everything back to before is probably a good first step.

allsps40 · 09/13/2011, 08:20 PM

That is a lot of sump flow for a 39g tank. I used a Mag 3 then upgraded to a Mag 5 on my 40B. The Mag 5 500gph was perfect.

TheFishTeen · 09/13/2011, 10:09 PM

I hope it doesn't! My sump runs at over 5,000 gph!

09/13/2011, 07:40 AM	#1
ken6217 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: NJ Posts: 2,179	Does speed of water flow through sump affect skimmer performance? I was curious if the speed of water flow through sump affect skimmer performance? I changed my return pump a few weeks ago and it has a much higher flow rate. I also noticed that my skimmer is not pulling out basically nothing and the water in the skimmer neck looks more like boilng water. No foam. I have two skimmers and I have this issue with both; Reef octopus 1000sss and an BM Nac 3+. Both of these are good skimmers and both are doing nothing. Any thoughts? Thanks, Ken

09/13/2011, 07:48 AM	#2
James77 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 8,158	There could have been soemthing in the pump- some type of oil- that could cause what you are experiencing. Or maybe something was added from another source. But, no, generally speaking sump flow speed would have no real effect on skimmer performance. __________________ Jim Current Tank Info: 120g Mixed Reef and 75g Freshwater

09/13/2011, 08:06 AM	#4
James77 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 8,158	Even with a super low bio-load, the inside of the skimmer should not look like boiling water. The only times I ever see that are when it is new, right after a waer change, or when I add something to the water. Both the skimmers started doing that at the same time? Are they both in the same sump or on the same system? __________________ Jim Current Tank Info: 120g Mixed Reef and 75g Freshwater

09/13/2011, 08:22 AM	#6
James77 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 8,158	anything else different at all since the problem started happening, like new media, filters, food, etc? Anything going on in the house like painting or the like? Did the problem happen right at the same time the pump went in, or soon after? Puzzled as well, just throwing possibilities out there . __________________ Jim Current Tank Info: 120g Mixed Reef and 75g Freshwater

09/13/2011, 09:51 AM	#9
allsps40 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Arizona Posts: 4,627	Yeah but a recirc skimmer needs a feed pump, an in sump skimmer does not get its water flow from water current in the sump, if that makes sense. It gets its flow from the pump. If you had very little flow through your sump them yes it could effect your skimmer, the skimmer would polish all the water in the sump basically just reskimming the water. I like to have a high flow through my sump. I feel this supplies the skimmer and reactor with new dirty water to be polished. Check the venturi on the skimmers they will get plugge with salt after a while. __________________ __________ Current Tank Info: Past reef tanks: 20H softy, 29G mixed reef, 55G mixed reef, 40B sps dominant mixed reef and 75G sps dominant mixed reef. No tank currently

09/13/2011, 07:57 AM	#3
ken6217 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: NJ Posts: 2,179	It wouldn't be oil from a new pump as the pump has been in for about a month or so. Has to be something else. The tank does not have a big bio load (Firefish, Friedmoni, small Mystery wrasse, and small pair of perculas) in a 40 gallon with 10 gallon sump. I do not feed heavy. I am doing 10-15% water changes a week though. Even still I would think I would at least get a foam head with some color to it. Ken

09/13/2011, 08:11 AM	#5
ken6217 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: NJ Posts: 2,179	James, Both are not in at the same time, but both are acting the same way. If I get anything into the cup (by raising the water level high), it is basically clear water. I have had many tanks and many skimmers in the past, but I have not come across this problem before. Ken

09/13/2011, 08:25 AM	#7
ken6217 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: NJ Posts: 2,179	I appreciate the replies. Nothing else has changed at all. I'm at a loss. I'm still going to switch back the pumps though when I get back home tonight just to check and see if it makes a difference. Ken

09/13/2011, 08:34 AM	#8
ken6217 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: NJ Posts: 2,179	I think the speed going through the sump does should a difference. If it was an external skimmer, you would be advised on what size feed pump. So with an internal skimmer, I would think that the speed of the water processed should also make a difference. Ken

09/13/2011, 11:22 AM	#11
BonsaiNut Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 4,629	Water flow in a sump should not make a difference - unless the water flow in the sump is somehow directly plumbed into the skimmer. If you are using the same skimmer pump to regulate the water flow in your skimmer, bubble contact time with the water (in the skimmer) should remain unchanged. __________________ "You are a very fine person, Mr. Baggins, and I am very fond of you; but you are only quite a little fellow in a wide world after all!" - The Hobbit; J. R. R. Tolkien

09/13/2011, 11:29 AM	#12
jcw Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: elmhurst, il Posts: 1,778	I would think the difference it makes would not explain the change in the skimmers. FWIW, I run two eheim 1260 in my sump with an ATB 840, elegance and now a 1050 and have not had skimmer performance issues. DT 125g, sump about 30g. Like James77 said, the big bubbles occur when something is added to the tank. But you haven't added anything new. For me, I feed with food soaked in a drop or two of omega3 and HUFA (fats) and it takes about 1/2 hour for the skimmer to return to normal. Good luck finding the cause. Putting everything back to before is probably a good first step. __________________ I don't think Coral can live very long under Sun light. It's too yellow. ...get yourself some LED's. -eznet2u Current Tank Info: 125g DT, custom 30g sump, ATB elegance, eheim 1260, mp40 (too many failed wetsides), gyre 150 (love it)

09/13/2011, 08:20 PM	#13
allsps40 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Arizona Posts: 4,627	That is a lot of sump flow for a 39g tank. I used a Mag 3 then upgraded to a Mag 5 on my 40B. The Mag 5 500gph was perfect. __________________ __________ Current Tank Info: Past reef tanks: 20H softy, 29G mixed reef, 55G mixed reef, 40B sps dominant mixed reef and 75G sps dominant mixed reef. No tank currently

09/13/2011, 10:09 PM	#14
TheFishTeen Registered Member. Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 1,677	I hope it doesn't! My sump runs at over 5,000 gph!

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Can GFO affect skimmer performence?	jsf668	Reef Discussion	3	01/23/2010 01:44 PM
Chemistry parameters that affect skimmer performance?	sjm817	The Reef Chemistry Forum	1	10/03/2008 10:38 AM
Does running lots of carbon affect skimmer performance?	sjm817	The Reef Chemistry Forum	3	12/16/2006 07:03 AM
Does Salinity Affect Skimmer Performance	FSOL	Lighting, Filtration & Other Equipment	10	10/19/2006 01:07 PM
Why does flow though sump affect skimmer function?	ksp75	Lighting, Filtration & Other Equipment	4	06/01/2006 01:34 PM