Plumbing, A few new Questions

[GreenSpottedPuffer]

Originally Posted by spoot

GSP, the PM bullet 2 can run external, but I'm not sure about inline. I have the bullet 3 for my ceylons' 120g. The guy I purchased it from had the pump fed from a section of his sump that tank water overflowed into. The skimmed water would then drain into the return chamber to be pumped back up into the tank. His overflow gph was higher than the skimmer pump GPH so he did not have to worry about it running dry.

When I eventually hook up my skimmer, it will be in a recirculating fashion. My over flow will be less than half of the GPH of my skimmer pump, so my skimmer will drain into the same chamber as the pump intake.

Not sure if this makes sense. It's a little late and I'm lacked of sleep.

It makes a bit of sense but I still dont really get it

My overflow will definitely be more GPH than my skimmer pump (mak4). I am really just trying to figure out how to run it externally if not in-line. Basically, I do not want it in my sump.

[GreenSpottedPuffer]

Oh and I like the "herbie" !

[Todd]

basically if you want your skimmer to run inline you need to have it above your sump, so that the water can fall back into the sump. A quiet way to do this would be to have it fall against a side of the sump or, down a sheet of glass. Or for a slick set up would be to have it plumbed into your rubbermaid sumps, making sure that the waterline in your sump is at the same level that you want your skimmer waterline to be. Basically since the skimmer is an 'open system' you cant have the skimmer sitting in the bottom of your cabinet and pump water up and over your sump, as it will cause the water in your skimmer to be too high, so you can raise up your skimmer, or lower your return into the sump.

So yes your skimmer can be run inline, but not in the same way that a pump could be.

[GreenSpottedPuffer]

Thanks, that helps alot. I kind of knew the return from the skimmer had to be above the water level in the sump but I was not sure. Only other question, is where and how would I put it "in line"?

As for the overflow, I think I will try the herbie style because I like the simplicity and the silence that most people seem to get. I will have to plumb my return over the back of the tank instead of back through the overflow (because you need both drains for the herbie method) but thats ok. I will use a Gate valve to restrict the flow instead of a ball valve. Anyways, I think its a great idea! I am though still wondering about what return pump to use for this method.

I had originally planned on using a Dart for the return but that may just be too much anyways. The drain is 2" (I forget how much GPH that is), so Im sure it could handle a Dart but maybe something smaller would be better? What do you guys think? I prefer an external pump for sure though. Oh I just realized that Darts can be throttled back too...Maybe thats the best idea then.

[spoot]

If you want your skimmer pump to be fed from the overflow pipe, your overflow GPH, and thus your return pump GPH must be higher than the mak 4 GPH (which is ~1100GPH). The excess water from the overflow would be tee-d off into the first chamber of your sump.

If you just want to have the skimmer fed from the sump, all you need to do is drill 2 holes in the sump. one for the skimmer pump and the other for the skimmmer drain.

Are you going to have a refugium?

Make a sketch of your plan in ms paint and we can work from there.

[GreenSpottedPuffer]

Thanks Spoot! No I do not want it fed from my overflow pipe. I just want it plumbed into one of the rubbermaids. Or I may plumb it between the first rubbermaid and the second which is the refugium. The refugium will be the bigger container. The first one is just for the overflow return and stuff like heaters. Although I may just end up using two containers the same size and then putting the skimmer IN the first one. Not sure yet.

I will draw up a few of the different plans and post them soon.

[GreenSpottedPuffer]

1st rough drawing of plans...Pick it apart!!!

Thanks.