What pump to buy for DIY re-circ skimmer

caseyjones · #1 11/17/2007, 08:40 AM

I'm going to convert a Coralife Super Skimmer that I have laying around. It's the 125 model so it's about 22" tall and around 5" wide. I will probably use the original plumbing as the feed/return and will drill out holes for the needle wheel re-circ pump. My total sysmtem volume is 65 gallons with a moderate to heavy stock. What pump would you guys recommend? Thanks in advance for any info.

Harold Edwards · #2 11/17/2007, 06:59 PM

if you want a quiet pump do not buy a gen-x. If you don't mind the noise they are good and cheep and work good. I would recommend a gen-x 2400 with needlewheel for that size skimmer.

caseyjones · #3 11/17/2007, 07:53 PM

Thanks Harold, thats what I really needed recommendations on, what size pump to use for this size. I will check them out.

clevername2000 · #4 11/17/2007, 08:19 PM

I second the gen-x2400 I have a skimmer thats the same size which i switch out the original pump with the gen-x...needles to say its a bit loud but gets the job done

hahnmeister · #5 11/17/2007, 08:47 PM

Id do a Quiet One 3000... sure, it can do up to 1000lph of air, but the amount of water is passes is very low (like 1500lph of water). Gen-X style pumps that create just half of the airflow of this will throw twice as much water around.

Its a $40 pump, easy to mod with enkamat for a threadweel. You can turn back the air to 700lph or so and have a very nice, quiet pump for cheap.

Next best option? Threadwheel eheim 1250.

caseyjones · #6 11/23/2007, 12:06 PM

Bump

pescadero · #7 11/23/2007, 12:23 PM

i have a similar thread on pump selection for a 6-inch skimmer:

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...readid=1255392

i started that thread so that i wouldn't hijack yours, as our skimmer designs seem to be different and may require different pumps; my skimmer will be gravity fed from upstairs tank overflows.

caseyjones · #8 11/23/2007, 02:33 PM

I was thinking of gravity feeding mine but I won't get the same flow that you will since my sump is below my tank. I'm going to feed it with a small pump and I am trying to find a good needle wheel pump to use as a recirc. pump.
This will be my first recirculating skimmer, what do I need to consider as far as maximizing my air intake?

hahnmeister · #9 11/23/2007, 04:52 PM

Just make a good venturi, and dont put the pump under more than 18" of water depth.

jwardana · #10 12/26/2007, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by hahnmeister
Gen-X style pumps that create just half of the airflow of this will throw twice as much water around.

Its a $40 pump, easy to mod with enkamat for a threadweel. You can turn back the air to 700lph or so and have a very nice, quiet pump for cheap.

Hahn, (been reading alot of your comment from various mod skimmer thread, seems that you have a lot of experience with modded mesh):
I'm in the middle of modifying Gen-X 2400 for a skimmer pump. But it hardly hit 300lph of air. I've done meshmod.
Any suggestion? ventury design? dimension of the mesh?

TIA,
Jim.

hahnmeister · #11 12/26/2007, 01:03 PM

2400s only can get up to about 12 scfh from what I remember. The 4100's are the star of the Gen-X line. I am no expert when it comes to the Gen-X pumps though. I have messed with a 4100 before... just a little, but I find these pumps to be 'scary', so I quit using them.

edsimmons · #12 12/26/2007, 01:26 PM

What are you going to do about the "Inner chamber" of the skimmer?

pescadero · #13 12/26/2007, 07:43 PM

has anyone got long term experience with the quiet one 3000 pump in an aspirating skimmer where the pump is mounted externally (dry)?

i just bought a pair of the QO3k pumps for a skimmer project. be forewarned that although the packaging says "internal/external use" on the box, there's a red slip of paper stuffed in the box that says "for internal use only."

I've also heard anecdotal reports of QO3k pumps running hot and burning out in air-cooled installations.

GuySmilie · #14 12/27/2007, 12:23 AM

That's odd. I bought one a few weeks back and there was no red paper warning message in the box.

luke33 · #15 12/27/2007, 01:53 AM

I plersonally don't care for the QO's anymore, there a pita to mod and have start up problems. The genx's are cheap as well but rust. I'd jus go with a sedra or OR.

pescadero · #16 12/27/2007, 04:20 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by GuySmilie
That's odd. I bought one a few weeks back and there was no red paper warning message in the box.

I don't know whether or not the red slips of paper are something new. I bought the pumps from AquariumGuys. They drop-shipped them from a fulfillment center in Pennsylvania. I'm guessing that a drop shipper would have pretty rapid turnover and that the pumps would be recent production models.