Plumbing Question: Chiller to Skimmer

Andy · 07/04/2014, 11:40 AM

Hi there

I was wondering if anyone can help me with this. I currently have separate pumps feeding my skimmer and chiller. I was wondering if anyone sees a problem with using a single pump to feed the chiller then directly into the skimmer. Will the water temperature coming out of the chiller effect skimmer performance.

Thanks in advance.

Andy

whiteshark · 07/04/2014, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy

Hi there

I was wondering if anyone can help me with this. I currently have separate pumps feeding my skimmer and chiller. I was wondering if anyone sees a problem with using a single pump to feed the chiller then directly into the skimmer. Will the water temperature coming out of the chiller effect skimmer performance.

Thanks in advance.

Andy

Why not T it off and have two separate feeds from a single pump? You could then put a valve on each input and control the flow to the chiller and skimmer.

slief · 07/04/2014, 12:08 PM

It will work just fine provided the water flow is adequate for the chiller and meets the flow requirements of the skimmer. I've done that myself in the past but as I said, the key is setting your flow rates so it meets the needs of both components. The temperature difference should not have much if any negative impact on the skimmer however, depending on the size of the skimmer and it recirculation pumps (if it even uses them), the skimmer may reduce the effectiveness of the chiller. That in turn could make the chiller run slightly longer to cool the tank. The flip side is that the elimination of a pump could also reduce your tanks ambient temperature which would be a good thing.

As whiteshark suggested, the other alternative would be to "T" off your pump and use gate valves to control the flow to the skimmer and chiller. This assuming your pump is powerful enough to feed both devices with optimal flow. The down side to that option is having to have a second return line to your sump. This may not be an issue for you since you are already using two pumps but it's something to consider.

Reefinny · 07/04/2014, 12:11 PM

+1 on t'ing it off and using ball valves to regulate the flow. Make sure your pump is strong enough. I run my entire system off an external pump (well except my skimmer as it is a SRO3000SSS that has the pump inside)

07/04/2014, 11:40 AM	#1
Andy Registered Member Join Date: May 2000 Location: Sudbury, Canada Posts: 329	Plumbing Question: Chiller to Skimmer Hi there I was wondering if anyone can help me with this. I currently have separate pumps feeding my skimmer and chiller. I was wondering if anyone sees a problem with using a single pump to feed the chiller then directly into the skimmer. Will the water temperature coming out of the chiller effect skimmer performance. Thanks in advance. Andy

07/04/2014, 12:08 PM	#3
slief RC Sponsor Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 14,173	It will work just fine provided the water flow is adequate for the chiller and meets the flow requirements of the skimmer. I've done that myself in the past but as I said, the key is setting your flow rates so it meets the needs of both components. The temperature difference should not have much if any negative impact on the skimmer however, depending on the size of the skimmer and it recirculation pumps (if it even uses them), the skimmer may reduce the effectiveness of the chiller. That in turn could make the chiller run slightly longer to cool the tank. The flip side is that the elimination of a pump could also reduce your tanks ambient temperature which would be a good thing. As whiteshark suggested, the other alternative would be to "T" off your pump and use gate valves to control the flow to the skimmer and chiller. This assuming your pump is powerful enough to feed both devices with optimal flow. The down side to that option is having to have a second return line to your sump. This may not be an issue for you since you are already using two pumps but it's something to consider. __________________ Director Customer Support Royal Exclusiv USA For All Royal Exclusiv & Bubble King questions please refer to our Sponsor forum: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/fo...play.php?f=745 Current Tank Info: 480G display mixed reef, 90G sump, 90G refugium, 60G display refugium. Check out my build thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1783476 Last edited by slief; 07/04/2014 at 12:16 PM.

07/04/2014, 12:11 PM	#4
Reefinny Building my Reef Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Huntington, NY Posts: 237	+1 on t'ing it off and using ball valves to regulate the flow. Make sure your pump is strong enough. I run my entire system off an external pump (well except my skimmer as it is a SRO3000SSS that has the pump inside) __________________ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrGjqZtreEPH3IvGxgfbkLA?view_as=subscriber