sump setup

Baldy · #1 06-08-2011, 07:56 PM

Hi all,

I have a 75g setup rigt now with a fluval 404 canister filter, and am looking at building a sump for it. I don't have much room in the cabinet, so 12-15 g is all I can fit. At the moment I have a maxijet 1200 running a remora c skimmer, and another one running a phosban reactor with bioplastic pellets in it. Is itok to return all the sump flow through the skimmer/reactor with 1 pump? I'm planning on using a mag drive 9 as a return pump which will work great split between the two. The reactor could use the extra flow anyway. Or should I use 2 return pumps?

sphelps · #2 06-08-2011, 08:36 PM

The one return pump can feed everything but the sump size seems a bit small for the tank. What are the inside dimensions of the cabinet?

DeneBanger · #3 06-08-2011, 08:38 PM

The skimmer and reactor should go down in the sump and continue to run off the maxijets so they will be independent of the return pump. Combining the two will probably be your biggest mistake and you'll be throwing away money.

sphelps · #4 06-08-2011, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeneBanger

The skimmer and reactor should go down in the sump and continue to run off the maxijets so they will be independent of the return pump. Combining the two will probably be your biggest mistake and you'll be throwing away money.

Explain?

DeneBanger · #5 06-08-2011, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sphelps

Explain?

Skimmers are usually designed to run with a specific pump or powerhead, by the time you play around with trying to eliminate the powerhead and tee off the return...you'll probably find that the skimmer doesn't perform as it used to and you'll wind up going back to the maxijet anyway.

You could probably get away with plumbing the reactor into the return but I think that is about as far as I'd go.

sphelps · #6 06-08-2011, 09:10 PM

Perhaps but I don't believe the skimmer in question is that sensitive and it would take about 2min to dial it in to match the power head and with a proper manifold you'll never have to reset it. And worst case he'll still have the maxi-jet so no money is wasted.

Using a single return pump to feed multiple pieces of equipment is very common practice. It certainly would make more sense here given the size constraints.

Baldy · #7 06-08-2011, 09:38 PM

I have no problem with where the skimmer and reactor are on the back of the tank. I will measure when I get home, but I think 30g would be the sump capacity right full. Height is the biggest constraint.

As far as dialing in the equipment, I could see a possible issue with the skimmer flow, but the reactor could definitely use more than the maxijet puts out.

My question was more to do with should I return through a couple nozzles in the corners, or is it fine to return through the reactor and skimmer only?

Baldy · #8 06-08-2011, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sphelps

Perhaps but I don't believe the skimmer in question is that sensitive and it would take about 2min to dial it in to match the power head and with a proper manifold you'll never have to reset it. And worst case he'll still have the maxi-jet so no money is wasted.

Using a single return pump to feed multiple pieces of equipment is very common practice. It certainly would make more sense here given the size constraints.

what would you describe as a "proper manifold"