Pluming Skimmer to overflow? Would this work?

[Andrew Schubert]

My tank is upstairs and the overflow returns the water back down into the basement sump. I’m wondering, would it work to plumb my recirculating skimmer and/or algae scrubber to the overflow pipping and then into the sump. I’ve never heard or seen someone do this, but not sure why it wouldn’t work? It would be an easy way to minimize the need for extra pumps by just letting gravity to all the work for you.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

My tank is upstairs and the overflow returns the water back down into the basement sump. I’m wondering, would it work to plumb my recirculating skimmer and/or algae scrubber to the overflow pipping and then into the sump. I’ve never heard or seen someone do this, but not sure why it wouldn’t work? It would be an easy way to minimize the need for extra pumps by just letting gravity to all the work for you.

If by 'overflow piping' you mean the drain pipe, I'd worry it would slow the flow too much...

 

[Andrew Schubert]

If by 'overflow piping' you mean the drain pipe, I'd worry it would slow the flow too much...

My thought would be to split the overflow pipping and have one run to the skimmer, which I can regulate and hav the remaining flow back to the sump as normal. I’m getting around 1000GPH through the overflow. So I’d think u could potentially direct 100GPH of that through the skimmer.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

My thought would be to split the overflow pipping and have one run to the skimmer, which I can regulate and hav the remaining flow back to the sump as normal. I’m getting around 1000GPH through the overflow. So I’d think u could potentially direct 100GPH of that through the skimmer.

Since the skimmer requires a pump for foam fractionation, I can't see how gravity alone would drive this. Once the water hits the skimmer, the flow will basically stop, or at least slow considerably.

The overflow rating of 1000gph just means that it is large enough (or small enough, depending on how you look at it) to handle a pump that pushes 1000gph, it doesn't increase the velocity of water falling by gravity alone.

It would be a good idea if it worked, but gravity just isn't enough to replace a pump in this situation.

 

[Fuzznutz36]

I'm pretty sure it would work fine for a recirc skimmer, as the feed pump has nothing to do with the foam fraction...you would need to match the feed pump gph for the skimmer though...what skimmer do you have?


Edit: just found this on BRS under the RO Classic 150ext:

• Requires a feed pump or plumbed from an overflow to inject water into skimmer

 

[tbrown]

My thought would be to split the overflow pipping and have one run to the skimmer, which I can regulate and hav the remaining flow back to the sump as normal. I’m getting around 1000GPH through the overflow. So I’d think u could potentially direct 100GPH of that through the skimmer.

I've considered this. The biggest issue is making sure that you get the small bubbles and a good vortex. Also, you want to make sure you get the contact the with the air so that the skimmer can do it's job. That's often achieved through some sort of reversal of flow or massive vortex. I'd say it's definitely doable but it may take some modification to make it work efficiently and effectively.

 

[welsher7]

This used to be done a lot and can be very efficient if done right. There are a few things you need to consider. one is the recirculating skimmers require a certain amount gph of water through the skimmer to function properly. so you have to match that volume from the display. The other is air bubbles entering the skimmer and breaking up the foam head in the skimmer. I ran a skimmer off one my overflows for years without issue.

 

[Andrew Schubert]

I'm pretty sure it would work fine for a recirc skimmer, as the feed pump has nothing to do with the foam fraction...you would need to match the feed pump gph for the skimmer though...what skimmer do you have?


Edit: just found this on BRS under the RO Classic 150ext:

• Requires a feed pump or plumbed from an overflow to inject water into skimmer

This is my skimmer

Regal 200EXT 8" Recirculating Protein Skimmer (VarioS)

BRS Recommended for tanks up to: Heavy Bioload (Most Common) - 175 Gallons Medium Bioload - 250 Gallons Light Bioload - 400 gallons Reef Octopus Recirculating 8" Protein Skimmer from Reef Octopus - with a controllable VarioS DC pumps to process more or less water, depending on your aquariums...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

 

[Andrew Schubert]

Glad to see my thinking is on the right track. I think it might be easier to run my algae scrubber off the overflow then the skimmer. So might try that and leave a feed pump in the skimmer. It’s not like I don’t have 6 extra pumps always laying around anyways …just thought it could reduce the clutter and one less pump for maintenance

 

[Fuzznutz36]

Says that skimmer will need 600-1000gph fed to it...

 

[Andrew Schubert]

Says that skimmer will need 600-1000gph fed to it...

yea ... i miss spoke, my current return pump has 2,000 gph flow . So I think it would still be doable, but might try it on my algae scrubber instead. Seems simpler with potential less problems.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

yea ... i miss spoke, my current return pump has 2,000 gph flow . So I think it would still be doable

Are you thinking of plumbing it after your return pump? If you're still relying on gravity and the skimmer requires 600-1000gph, gravity-feeding it won't work regardless of how powerful your pump is.

 

[Fuzznutz36]

Erin, it's a recirc skimmer...we're talking about the feed pump/water, not the foam fraction pump.

Andrew, it's definitely doable, just a matter of doing it!

 

[ReefGeezer]

I tried this on a smaller scale a long time ago. There is air in the water returning from the display tank. It causes big bubble to enter the skimmer and kills the foam. I scrapped the project pretty quickly though.

 

[Kodski]

As long as you can provide the skimmer with enough water and you can prevent large bubbles from entering the skimmer it definitely will work. By feeding the skimmer via a full siphon drain, you shouldn't have to worry about any air bubbles causing issues with the foam head. I have the regal 250-ext and its a great skimmer. I personally have mine running of my manifold fed by my second pump.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Erin, it's a recirc skimmer...we're talking about the feed pump/water, not the foam fraction pump.

Andrew, it's definitely doable, just a matter of doing it!

Thanks for the explanation! I'm honestly not familiar with that kind of skimmer.

 

[Fuzznutz36]

Thanks for the explanation! I'm honestly not familiar with that kind of skimmer.

No worries, a recirc skimmer does not rely on the needle wheel pump to pull water into the skimmer body. Instead, an external pump (or drain in this case) feeds the skimmer body and the needle wheel pump is just for foam fraction inside the skimmer. This makes it so the skimmer does not need to sit in a predetermined water depth (or in any water for that matter).