Thoughts on skimmer exhaust?

Mhayes462 · 11/10/2012, 09:29 AM

What's everyone's thoughts on where the skimmer should dump clean water in a three chamber sump? I have the skimmer in the first chamber and use to have the exhaust in the same chamber. It wasn't producing a lot of skimmate, so I figured the cleaner water mixing with the dirty water was diluting it a bit and defeating the purpose. So I move the exhaust over to the second chamber. Does it even matter? I have a Vertex IN-80.

Mike Hayes

cantonreef · 11/10/2012, 12:15 PM

I don't think it makes a big difference.

jwoyshnar · 11/10/2012, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cantonreef

I don't think it makes a big difference.

It will make a difference if the return pump goes out and the skimmer is still running. It'll empty the water out quick out of the first chamber and run dry

azjohnny · 11/10/2012, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwoyshnar

It will make a difference if the return pump goes out and the skimmer is still running. It'll empty the water out quick out of the first chamber and run dry

good point

cherubfish pair · 11/10/2012, 01:22 PM

I would leave the exhaust in the skimmer chamber for this reason. The water won't be diluted, it will be skimmed more than once and will be cleaner if anything.

Mhayes462 · 11/11/2012, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwoyshnar

It will make a difference if the return pump goes out and the skimmer is still running. It'll empty the water out quick out of the first chamber and run dry

Well, not exactly. Between my first and second chamber is only one baffle about 5 inches high. No bubble trap. So it would dump into chamber two and then flow back into chamber one and just keep circulating like that.

Mike Hayes

cherubfish pair · 11/19/2012, 09:38 PM

I see so the 5 inch baffle just keeps the algae from being sucked into the skimmer.

swcc · 11/20/2012, 11:43 AM

I did this experiment with my euro reef 80.. what I found is it actually pulled a little less skimmate however the skimmate smelled much worse and was more concentrated. I matched the return flow so the water went into chamber with the skimmer and had to leave through the skimmer to get to second chamber. no worries on flooding as if return goes out sump will fill over the sump baffle anyways. I woud suggest to take full advantage you want the return to match the skimmer and the water to have to go through the skimmer as if the water is flowing over the sump baffle the skimmer is missing a lot. too bad your baffle is not set to your skimmer optimum depth.

swcc · 11/20/2012, 12:03 PM

I should add something to my xperiment thought. the skimmer baffle was 6 1/4" and with water overflowing set the water height to 6 1/2". now seeing as the water was no longer going over the baffle, I had to adjust my skimmer a bit for the lower sump depth. this adjustment meant the bubble column up the neck had finer bubbles. The reason for the lower amount of skimmate and it being more concentrated may have been just due to this and not due to seperating the output from the skimmer chamber.

cherubfish pair · 11/29/2012, 04:39 PM

You all should get recirculating skimmers. You can adjust them regardless of the water height in your sump.

11/10/2012, 09:29 AM	#1
Mhayes462 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 331	Thoughts on skimmer exhaust? What's everyone's thoughts on where the skimmer should dump clean water in a three chamber sump? I have the skimmer in the first chamber and use to have the exhaust in the same chamber. It wasn't producing a lot of skimmate, so I figured the cleaner water mixing with the dirty water was diluting it a bit and defeating the purpose. So I move the exhaust over to the second chamber. Does it even matter? I have a Vertex IN-80. Mike Hayes

11/10/2012, 01:22 PM	#5
cherubfish pair Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Libby, Montana Posts: 7,061 Blog Entries: 1	I would leave the exhaust in the skimmer chamber for this reason. The water won't be diluted, it will be skimmed more than once and will be cleaner if anything. __________________ pairo chero Thanks for looking at my build thread and subscribe to it if you already haven't yet! Current Tank Info: thirty rimless

11/19/2012, 09:38 PM	#7
cherubfish pair Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Libby, Montana Posts: 7,061 Blog Entries: 1	I see so the 5 inch baffle just keeps the algae from being sucked into the skimmer. __________________ pairo chero Thanks for looking at my build thread and subscribe to it if you already haven't yet! Current Tank Info: thirty rimless

11/29/2012, 04:39 PM	#10
cherubfish pair Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Libby, Montana Posts: 7,061 Blog Entries: 1	You all should get recirculating skimmers. You can adjust them regardless of the water height in your sump. __________________ pairo chero Thanks for looking at my build thread and subscribe to it if you already haven't yet! Current Tank Info: thirty rimless

11/10/2012, 12:15 PM	#2
cantonreef Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 62	I don't think it makes a big difference.

11/20/2012, 11:43 AM	#8
swcc Moved On Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Tampa Fl Posts: 1,659	I did this experiment with my euro reef 80.. what I found is it actually pulled a little less skimmate however the skimmate smelled much worse and was more concentrated. I matched the return flow so the water went into chamber with the skimmer and had to leave through the skimmer to get to second chamber. no worries on flooding as if return goes out sump will fill over the sump baffle anyways. I woud suggest to take full advantage you want the return to match the skimmer and the water to have to go through the skimmer as if the water is flowing over the sump baffle the skimmer is missing a lot. too bad your baffle is not set to your skimmer optimum depth.

11/20/2012, 12:03 PM	#9
swcc Moved On Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Tampa Fl Posts: 1,659	I should add something to my xperiment thought. the skimmer baffle was 6 1/4" and with water overflowing set the water height to 6 1/2". now seeing as the water was no longer going over the baffle, I had to adjust my skimmer a bit for the lower sump depth. this adjustment meant the bubble column up the neck had finer bubbles. The reason for the lower amount of skimmate and it being more concentrated may have been just due to this and not due to seperating the output from the skimmer chamber.