Running an External Skimmer Remote from a Sump (20ft or So away)

[Ryan Fletcher]

I have a large system, and am in the process of running a skimmer into a closet about 15-20 ft away from the sump using soft plumbing... I am getting a good amount of air pushed thru the return line from the skimmer.. I'm guessing it is because it does not have the correct fall all the way to the sump as I have it coming over the top creating a bit of a upward climb before falling into the sump... I think this in turn creates a flush from the back-reassure,,, this creates a unstable water level in the skimmer body.... I am hoping this will be fixed with a 90 once I get the correct plumbing pieces... my question is... does anyone else run similar setups successfully.. any gotchas'. I don't see why it would not work correctly as long as you have a powerful enough supply pump to the skimmer,, and I have that covered with a Vector M1. running at 30% or so... I have no doubt others have done it,, and I am hoping successfully

Ryan

 

[lapin]

I run an external. You dont want back pressure. Try elevating it so the exit slopes downward or is parallel.

 

[Ryan Fletcher]

 

[Ryan Fletcher]

I run an external. You dont want back pressure. Try elevating it so the exit slopes downward or is parallel.

yep that's the plan. been running this one for years.. just much closer to the sump that it dumps into... level was rock solid.. seems to be much more challenging from a distance.. are you running the external from a distance away. or right next to the tank?

 

[Ryan Fletcher]

 

[Ryan Fletcher]

You can see the black tubing this is the plumbinbing coming from the skimmer to the tank. At the end it rises a bit to come over the side of the sump. My guess is this is the problem with the back pressure. Also the black line is under the water until I get the 90. And may be adding to the back pressure

 

[Ryan Fletcher]

In the video u can hear the flush and level change

 

[Ryan Fletcher]

Think I may have just figured it out... needed a bigger hole in the riser tube in the plumbing to take some of the pressure offf,,and give me more air mix... it is not perfect,, but it pretty close to staying exact level. anyone see any reason this would be a problem?