Plumbing question: Return and Skimmer

[DaddyReefer13]

I currently have a Eheim 1260 as the return and a Mag 5 on an Aqua C Urchin pro Skimmer, in my sump, supporting a 30 gallon set-up. I am noticing a considerable amount of evaporation in my sump while these 2 pumps run.

I have decided to upgrade to a 50G breeder tank and tying to plan out the plumbing for the set-up. I want to minimize the number of pumps to use and considering on splitting the return line to feed on to my skimmer.

Is this a good idea? and would I need to get a stronger return pump to get a similar performance as what I have now?

 

[fritz]

I assume you mean changing your skimmer to a recirculating skimmer that is gravity fed by the drain of your tank. That would use considerably less wattage and produce less heat as well.

 

[autoponicz]

with a 50 breeder.....i would build a new sump with a better skimmer...i think the 1260 for your return will be fine..
also dont forget about an ATO....

 

[DaddyReefer13]

WYE Fitting

actually I was thinking on putting something like the attached on the return line.

One to go to the skimmer and the other to the return to the tank.

 

[fritz]

but the force from the drain is going to be VERY little. Not nearly enough to power your skimmer. The setup that you're referring to is typically called a "Gravity Feed" and is a way of supplying water to a skimmer that has a pump supplying the bubbles. If you look at a recirculating skimmer, such as Euro-reef or DAS, there is a tube with a pump hooked up to it. The pump pulls water from inside the skimmer, adds air to it and pushes the air and water mix back into the skimmer body. It would just keep mixing the same gallon of water all day unless you supplied new water to it. Most people use the design you expressed to do this. The gravity feed feeds water into the skimmer and "clean" water leaves going back into the sump.

 

[latino277]

yes this can be done and yes you would need a bigger return pump, something like a mag 7 or 9 or smilar. you would T off the return line with a ball volve on both out puts. if it works correctly, You would then close the ball valve going to your tank a little at a time. Doing this will force more water to the skimmer...

 

[DaddyReefer13]

Thanks Fritz, autoponics and latino277. . .

- fritz - I think you may have mis-interpreted what I was thinking of doing . . . (I can't describe in writing too well I guess).

- autoponics - I'm considering getting another skimmer depending on what I see out there on the F/S forum (if you have any recommendations, that will be greatly appreciated

- latino277 - I think you got the concept I was going for. Do you think the Iwaki MD55RLT pump is too much for what I'm looking to do?

This site is great . . . keep the good info coming.

 

[latino277]

sorry for the late reply... but I thought you didn't want to drill your sump? I so then you might as well use the separate pump...