Feeding recirc? Help!

[ClayWagner]

Need some help on ideas to feed my new recirc pump from a "reefready" internal overflow. Any ideas/pictures greatly appreciated! I have a sump with a 3 part system (fuge->return<-old non recirc skimmer) which will be the same but just the output will go into the skimmer compartment.

Thanks,
Clay

[daytonreefRob]

Is your skimmer going to sit in your sump or outside? What size skimmer is it? What size is your display tank?

In general, I would shoot for 1.5x your system volume per hour through your skimmer. It is not really important to push water quickly through the skimmer. The slower it goes through, the more dwell time you will get and the skimmer will be able to better process the water.

[ClayWagner]

Well it's a 90 gal (sry) and I planned on going with 150GPH because this skimmer is very big (8x18" with foot 4.5" riser) for my system. The skimmer will actually be externally driven and completely outside of the stand as well (sry again! ). Any thoughts?

[homebrewdude]

are you planning on feeding it with a pump or from your tank drain line?

[ClayWagner]

Drain line from the internal overflow.

[ClayWagner]

Any ideas?

[mg426]

I run about 1.5 tank volume/hr through my skimmer . It is direct fed from my overflow. Since I began direct feeding I have noticed an improvement in my skimmers ouput.

[ClayWagner]

How do you seperate your overflow? Or is your overflow 1.5 tank volume/hr....I know I will use my overflow to feed, just in question as how to feed it.

[jimdogg187]

Originally posted by ClayWagner
Need some help on ideas to feed my new recirc pump from a "reefready" internal overflow.

I'm a little confused....

Are you trying to feed a pump (don't know why or how you'd do that) or are you trying to feed a skimmer?

To feed a skimmer from the drain, you want to T off the one of the lines, and direct water to the skimmer input.

You can measure the throughput with a gallon jug and a stop watch. You want around 1.5 times your system volume flowing through the skimmer.

Here's how I plumbed mine

[homebrewdude]

That looks easy in your picture..

My tank has a center overflow and my skimmer will be on the end of the tank...

Not sure if I can even do it...

And I have 2-1/2 dia drains