Massive sub pumps or cut into return line for skimmer? - Page 4

StirCrazy · #31 11-15-2011, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Myka

Steve, I was referring to a past conversation with Hustler about the 5000 gph return pump.

oh ok.. I'll go back to my rock and wait for a picture then.

I would have answered sooner but I had to make a emergency run to Victoria and back yesterday..

Steve

Hustler · #32 11-16-2011, 03:16 AM

heres a pic

the rest can be seen in my tank build update

Thanks again for all the help guys..... and DEZ lol

StirCrazy · #33 11-17-2011, 02:46 AM

hmm.. just got a quick sec here, just got up and I have to go back to work in an bit, but looking at the pictures of your build where I can realy see the sump, if I am right, you have your skimmer sucking off the chamber that you overflows spill into and returning to the middle.

When I set up a sump I set the skimmer up in a recirulation set up. so I suck off the last chamber and return to the first.

you will have problems doing this also because you made you last chamber so small. if it were my sump, I would redesign your second set of baffels and also move them to the right to give you a larger volume of water where you return pump draws from. maybe double the volume. then I would make your skimmer suck off the same chamber. and return to the intake of the sump.

Steve

Hustler · #34 11-17-2011, 03:35 AM

Ohh my sump has a few flaws for sure.... Its not "ideal" but it will have to do... at one time i had the skimmer running direct from an overflow..... but it didnt pan out....
Its running off the return now and thats that.... to be honest with the two clowns and the few corals..... it hasnt even made it yellow yet nevermind any green or cake.... my water is crystal and very little if any wast ATM.... and the skimmer will eat anything that goes in there but it isnt ideal I know....
This is my first "kick at the cat" so to speak so Ill be happy figuring out what all this does and make it work 75%..... the next build ill have some background behind me and it will work alot better

Myka · #35 11-17-2011, 03:42 AM

You have a bunch of live rock in there, you should be getting skimmate...maybe it isn't dialed in ideally? Could you take a pic of the skimmer froth? Take it so we can see the water in the skimmer, the froth, and the cup if you can (and you want to lol).

Hustler · #36 11-17-2011, 03:58 AM

well I sure can... Its only been going 2 days.... and its just starting to give me foam

havent really givin it any time to be trialed by jury just yet lol.... I just know the 2 lil clown eat a pinch of misis every 2 days and eat it all and the 40 crabs eat thier poop and the snails eat theres and so on...... I need some fish LOL

Hustler · #37 11-19-2011, 02:10 PM

Well here they are...
I dont know how long it taked for a skimmer like this to "break in" but it hasnt yet.
Also i dont know if I have enough to even make any waste in my tank?
If i do.... and it did.... Then Ive got to cut the plumbing again and buy 2 big bugger sub pumps

Its getting about 2000gph now...

mike31154 · #38 11-19-2011, 02:39 PM

Don't know much about your type of skimmer, but those bubbles look way too big & not enough either. I think main chamber should be almost white with finer bubbles, so definitely some tweaking of pumps/air mixture required.

StirCrazy · #39 11-19-2011, 11:09 PM

not working very good for a beckett skimmer. bubble size eh... beckets arnt as fine as needle wheels and such, but the cylinder should be pure white.

Steve

Myka · #40 11-19-2011, 11:59 PM

I'm not sure how a Beckett works...is there an air intake to adjust? That skimmer isn't working very well. Even if there is nothing to skim (which there should be something in your tank because you have rock) the chamber should be totally white with bubbles. Maybe email your pic to the manufacturer and ask them go to get it working properly. As far as breaking in, I've never had a skimmer take more than an hour to produce foam, and not more than a week to produce a cup of green/brown skimmate.