Skimmer question

Matt · #1 01-05-2008, 06:03 AM

OK, so I finally broke down and bought a quality skimmer, that's sized for my tank, a EuroReef RS-80. All you kids out there: listen to the experts; buy better gear the first time! Skimmer one, a PM bullet, was a fine skimmer, just too tall for my sump, and difficult to adjust in the cramped quarters. So, it was sold. I replaced it with a skimmer from Aquagiant, and honestly, it was a good little skimmer, but undersized, and not right for this job. It is for sale, if anyone needs a small skimmer w. pump for $50. (separate thread).

Finally, the question: I have a three-chamber sump, as below. The return has been in the right chamber, the feed from the overflow in the left. However, there is not enough room in the middle chamber for the RS80. So, I reconfigured the return to draw from the middle chamber, and put the RS80 in the right. Great, except... no water flow. So, I put a powerhead to push water into the skimmer chamber. How much turnover should I plan for this? I'm worried that the skimmer will just recycle the same water too much... I know I should re-plumb the sump, and I will - someday. Until then?

untamed · #2 01-05-2008, 06:11 AM

Can you drill a hole in the baffle that is between the RS-80 and the return chamber? Place the RS-80 pump intake as close as you can to that hole. That way it will draw water mostly from the other chamber.

Matt · #3 01-05-2008, 02:58 PM

A hole in that baffle will create a single water pool in the sump, and the skimmer won't have a stable water level any more.

Tom R · #4 01-05-2008, 03:47 PM

I think I would quickly plumb the overflow to the far right chamber with the RS-80. This will put your dirtiest water right in the skimmer chamber. I would then put the return in the far left chamber ensuring that the return is as far away from the sources of microbubbles as possible.

Tom R