how many times a hour should the water go through the sump?

[MikeInToronto]

To the OP, I believe the recommended rate is ~5x but this is only what I read.

"I saw it on TV so it has to be true!"

[golf nut]

Originally Posted by MikeInToronto

Now if your argument is that a low-flow overflow extracts surfactants better, perhaps you can discuss that more.

That is the whole point Mike.

Firstly we all have overflow commonly called prefilter boxes...Why call them this?

Because they are moving the surface water only from the tank when done properly, If you imagined that fish waste, coral waste and detritus was similar to oil it isn't hard to visualize oil floating on the surface of the DT, the prefilter box is there to remove it, the slower the removal the more concentrated that would be , if the extraction rate is increased the oil is mixed with more water and becomes diluted.
So this oil/ water mix then goes to the sump where some use filter sock for containing large bits etc, it then should enter the skimmer as concentrated as possible and then the skimmer can do it's job properly.

Why anyone would want to keep returning dirty water continuously back to the tank so they can keep skimming a little at a time is beyond me, get it out get rid of it and return clean water back to the tank.

[Zoaelite]

Originally Posted by Mr OM

If you skim it 100% then what you return to the tank is clean, if you skim 10% of it then 90% of what you return is dirty or unskimmed, why would you do that when it costs more money in hydro and pumps to do worse?

When it comes down to it a sump has more uses than placing your skimmer in it, extremely slow flow could invoke negative side effects for your reactors, heaters and makes filter socks practically useless.

Do you have any articles that I could read that would sway my opinion? I understand your logic but in a practical setting nutrients are not only on the surface and increasing the flow allows proteins that are dissolved to be removed.

[golf nut]

Originally Posted by zoaElite

When it comes down to it a sump has more uses than placing your skimmer in it, extremely slow flow could invoke negative side effects for your reactors, heaters and makes filter socks practically useless.

In what way could they be problematic how would a filter sock become useless

what should the flow be through the following?

Refugium
UV filter
Charcoal filter
Phosphate filter
Water polisher
etc etc etc.

all are very low requirements, other than the possibility that the skimmer MAY work at 10 times turn over why would you do it?

[Zoaelite]

Originally Posted by Mr OM

In what way could they be problematic how would a filter sock become useless

what should the flow be through the following?

Refugium
UV filter
Charcoal filter
Phosphate filter
Water polisher
etc etc etc.

all are very low requirements, other than the possibility that the skimmer MAY work at 10 times turn over why would you do it?

The filter sock would loose efficiency because it requires high flow to capture as much particulate as possible. You keep restating your point, your logic is understandable but I need some concrete proof (And no I'm not going to call Euro reef and ask them) before I believe it.

The reason I don't believe you is because I own a skimmer, I have 7X turn over in my main tank and still get a very large amount of skimmate production.

If I slowed the flow down even more to the sump would I get more concentrated skimate...? I highly doubt it, again nutrients don't only exist on the surface they are mostly found dissolved in the water column. Considering that letting your skimmer have more access to the polluted water makes more sense.

[freezetyle]

Ha! thats why i love science. Its all conflicting theories.

[Zoaelite]

Originally Posted by freezetyle

Ha! thats why i love science. Its all conflicting theories.

It makes for some good debates. I would say any pump between 500 GPH and 1300 GPH will work for you, draw your conclusions off of what people have posted.

[golf nut]

Originally Posted by zoaElite

The filter sock would loose efficiency because it requires high flow to capture as much particulate as possible.

It does? how does that work, it is a filter, why so much flow the water falls out of the overflow box at a constant unless you are running a siphon ?

Originally Posted by zoaElite

You keep restating your point, your logic is understandable but I need some concrete proof (And no I'm not going to call Euro reef and ask them) before I believe it.

As Jack Nicholson would say "you can't handle the truth"

Originally Posted by zoaElite

The reason I don't believe you is because I own a skimmer, I have 7X turn over in my main tank and still get a very large amount of skimmate production.

as compared to what?

Originally Posted by zoaElite

If I slowed the flow down even more to the sump would I get more concentrated skimate...? I highly doubt it, again nutrients don't only exist on the surface they are mostly found dissolved in the water column.

Of course you will, if you slow it down by half the surfactants delivered to the skimmer will be double in the same time frame

Originally Posted by zoaElite

Considering that letting your skimmer have more access to the polluted water makes more sense.

That is the point.

[Zoaelite]

It does? how does that work, it is a filter, why so much flow the water falls out of the overflow box at a constant unless you are running a siphon ?

Water flowing out of an overflow box is proportional to the amount of water going into your tank... from your return pump, as that level increases more will flow out of the overflow box. More flow through a filter means that more particulate will be captured. This is a very simple concept, no need to be snarky if you can't understand it.

As Jack Nicholson would say "you can't handle the truth"

I'm not touching that one...

as compared to what?

As compared to not getting any skimmate at all, If I didn't have positive results out of my skimmer I would assume something is wrong. I'm getting positive results so I'm assuming my mode of skimming is correct.

Of course you will, if you slow it down by half the surfactants delivered to the skimmer will be double in the same time frame

Magically more surfactant is generated because less water is getting to the skimmer? Do you read what you write before posting?

This is my last post on the topic, as I don't enjoy arguing in circles.

[banditpowdercoat]

I have a DIY Recirc skimmer on ly 150, return pump is a Little Giant 4 Mqdx, like 1100GPH or something at 0 head. I was running about 6-700GPH through sump. I throttled the return back, and added a N/P pellet reactor T'd off the return pump. Now, I am about 300GPH i would say, and my skimmer works WAY better. I'm pulling more tea than before, and consistent. No adjustments were made to skimmer, or water height. Just flow.....
Make your own conclusions from that