One pump for sump and skimmer?

oct2274 · 03/30/2006, 12:09 PM

I want some opinions on if I can run one eheim 1260 for both my sump and skimmer. Would it be possible to T off the return to tank with a gate valve to my skimmer which requires 1 to 1.5 tank volume flow? The tank will be 112 gallons and the 1260 has a flow of 634 gph. I'm thinking that it should be able to handle a 5X turnover on the tank and be able to handle the flow needed for the skimmer as well. Please give me your educated input on this idea. I really would rather not run two pumps if possible cause I don't want to run a chiller if at all possible and would like to keep the electric costs down.

TIA,
Chad

trmiv · 03/30/2006, 12:16 PM

I think it's a better idea to have separate pumps. The problem is, by the time the water reaches your return pump, it's gone all the way through the sump. When you skim, you want to feed the skimmer the rawest water from the overflow you possibly can. If the water has gone through the sump, refugium and whatever else you have down there before it hits the skimmer, you are really impacting skimmer peformance.

Feeding the skimmer from the overflow is the best way to do this, but not always practical. Ifyou can't do that, the best idea is to direct the overflow into a small container, and stick your skimmer feed pump in that container. I have my overflow feeding a small container that is a tad higher than the water level of the sump. In that container I have a mini-jet 606 that feeds my skimmer.

Reefmaniac1 · 03/30/2006, 01:00 PM

Ditto the seperate pumps.

03/30/2006, 12:09 PM	#1
oct2274 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Plano, TX Posts: 2,347	One pump for sump and skimmer? I want some opinions on if I can run one eheim 1260 for both my sump and skimmer. Would it be possible to T off the return to tank with a gate valve to my skimmer which requires 1 to 1.5 tank volume flow? The tank will be 112 gallons and the 1260 has a flow of 634 gph. I'm thinking that it should be able to handle a 5X turnover on the tank and be able to handle the flow needed for the skimmer as well. Please give me your educated input on this idea. I really would rather not run two pumps if possible cause I don't want to run a chiller if at all possible and would like to keep the electric costs down. TIA, Chad

03/30/2006, 12:16 PM	#2
trmiv Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 3,082	I think it's a better idea to have separate pumps. The problem is, by the time the water reaches your return pump, it's gone all the way through the sump. When you skim, you want to feed the skimmer the rawest water from the overflow you possibly can. If the water has gone through the sump, refugium and whatever else you have down there before it hits the skimmer, you are really impacting skimmer peformance. Feeding the skimmer from the overflow is the best way to do this, but not always practical. Ifyou can't do that, the best idea is to direct the overflow into a small container, and stick your skimmer feed pump in that container. I have my overflow feeding a small container that is a tad higher than the water level of the sump. In that container I have a mini-jet 606 that feeds my skimmer. __________________ Current tank: Red Sea Reefer 350 Deluxe, Avast Marine Pegleg 180 skimmer, Gyre 150, Eheim 1262 return

03/30/2006, 01:00 PM	#3
Reefmaniac1 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Durham, NC Posts: 2,580	Ditto the seperate pumps. __________________ "Stupidity is not necessarily punishable by violence. Although, there are days when I wish it were." - Solomon Short Current Tank Info: None due to disaster...and moving.