Why doesn't this work?

hobojones · 03/15/2015, 09:13 PM

Hopefully this is a quick and easy question for someone out there. I'm just starting to build out my first tank and am hitting a bit of an issue. I just finished filling the tank up and turning on the pump/protein skimmer. The problem is I can't get the protein skimmer to move any water into the refugium section. I put in ball valves so I can easily tune the flow to each section. If I completely close the ball valve to the middle section no water moves to the refugium. The protein skimmer just backs up and overflows.

The protein skimmer says the water level should be 8-10 inches and the baffles set it at 9 inches. The refugium section is higher at 13 inches which is what I'm guessing the problem is.

What are your thoughts? How do I fix this? I'm guessing I'll probably have to rip a bunch of this apart and T the return line into the sump. Any better options?

Matthias7 · 03/15/2015, 09:25 PM

I have a sump set up similar to yours. I t'd a line of my return to feed my refugium was simple ( just used a true Union ball valve to control flow. Not understanding how you are trying to use your skimmer to pump water to that section).

Justdrew · 03/15/2015, 09:28 PM

Water doesn't flow uphill. You can't have middle section lower than last section.

Sn8kbyt · 03/15/2015, 09:29 PM

Depending on the skimmer most are not capable of moving water any distance and altering their plumbing may adversely affect the performance of the skimmer. As Matthias said it is best to tee off of the return line for your refugium.

thegrun · 03/15/2015, 09:35 PM

+1, the skimmer should just discharge back into the section it is in. The sump should then function properly.

Sammykonga · 03/15/2015, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thegrun

+1, the skimmer should just discharge back into the section it is in. The sump should then function properly.

+1

eeyore357 · 03/16/2015, 02:14 AM

Skimmer should discharge back to same section, return pump should feed the fuge (with a valve for flow control), and the middle divider on the right side should be open at the bottom.

hobojones · 03/17/2015, 07:24 AM

Yeah. I think it's just that it can't pump the water uphill. I'm not sure why I made the refugium section taller. The middle baffel on the right doesn't go all the way down. I just drew that wrong.

Anyways, thanks for the help everyone. I'll be redoing my plumbing and t'ing off the return line with a ball valve.

killinit123 · 03/17/2015, 07:40 AM

also wouldn't you want your refugium section before your return line?? otherwise there is going to be no water in your refugium and even if there is wouldnt there be no flow in there?

I think if you switch the baffles around you would be good.. and make the middle section the refugium.. if your skimmer is sitting too low int he water simply make a stand out of egg crate and your all set.. you probably dont even need to tear anything apart just simply rotate your sump.. either that or just move the equipment to the appropriate section

hobojones · 03/19/2015, 11:50 AM

There is a lot of things in play. The refugium is on the side so I can adjust flow through it without changing the overall flow for everything. I've heard different advise on whether the flow rate Should be high or low. This way I can set it to be whatever I want it to be.

The refugium on the right will have water flowing through it. The output from the protein skimmer was supposed to push water in it for is flow. That didnt work so now the return line will push water into there in addition to returning water to the tank.

03/15/2015, 09:28 PM	#3
Justdrew Dad with Triplets! Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 583	Water doesn't flow uphill. You can't have middle section lower than last section. __________________ "As Far As You Know!" -Fletch Current Tank Info: 40 Breeder, 2X Radion XR15W, Vortech MP40 & MP10, Simplicity Aquatics 240DC Skimmer, Apex Controlled

03/15/2015, 09:29 PM	#4
Sn8kbyt Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Manitowoc, WI Posts: 607	Depending on the skimmer most are not capable of moving water any distance and altering their plumbing may adversely affect the performance of the skimmer. As Matthias said it is best to tee off of the return line for your refugium. __________________ 220 gallon DT and 90 gallon sump, all DC powered, APEX gold with DOS, feeder, and a few extra modules, Avast Marine swabbie on Skimz Monster 258, 6 Rapid LED Onyx fixtures, BRS dosers, 4 Jaebo RW-15. Current Tank Info: 220 Gallon, 29 Gallon, 2-20L QT, and a 20 gallon tall octogon tank waiting to be setup for a seahorse tank.

03/16/2015, 02:14 AM	#7
eeyore357 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Alabama Posts: 121	Skimmer should discharge back to same section, return pump should feed the fuge (with a valve for flow control), and the middle divider on the right side should be open at the bottom. __________________ 180 gallon marineland dual cornerflow, eshopps R-300 refugium, SRO3000INT skimmer, 3 Evergrow 165w LEDs, 2 Jebao WP-40P, Danner Mag drive 18 return pump, Hydor smart ATO,... Ocellaris pair, Yellow Ta Current Tank Info: 180 gallon & 20 gallon long QT

03/15/2015, 09:25 PM	#2
Matthias7 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 238	I have a sump set up similar to yours. I t'd a line of my return to feed my refugium was simple ( just used a true Union ball valve to control flow. Not understanding how you are trying to use your skimmer to pump water to that section).

03/15/2015, 09:35 PM	#5
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	+1, the skimmer should just discharge back into the section it is in. The sump should then function properly.

03/17/2015, 07:24 AM	#8
hobojones Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 3	Yeah. I think it's just that it can't pump the water uphill. I'm not sure why I made the refugium section taller. The middle baffel on the right doesn't go all the way down. I just drew that wrong. Anyways, thanks for the help everyone. I'll be redoing my plumbing and t'ing off the return line with a ball valve.

03/17/2015, 07:40 AM	#9
killinit123 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: upstate New York Posts: 611	also wouldn't you want your refugium section before your return line?? otherwise there is going to be no water in your refugium and even if there is wouldnt there be no flow in there? I think if you switch the baffles around you would be good.. and make the middle section the refugium.. if your skimmer is sitting too low int he water simply make a stand out of egg crate and your all set.. you probably dont even need to tear anything apart just simply rotate your sump.. either that or just move the equipment to the appropriate section

03/19/2015, 11:50 AM	#10
hobojones Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 3	There is a lot of things in play. The refugium is on the side so I can adjust flow through it without changing the overall flow for everything. I've heard different advise on whether the flow rate Should be high or low. This way I can set it to be whatever I want it to be. The refugium on the right will have water flowing through it. The output from the protein skimmer was supposed to push water in it for is flow. That didnt work so now the return line will push water into there in addition to returning water to the tank.