Will this work

Miller Aquatic · Jan 13, 2025

So I have a wet dry sump and am trying to see if I can put my big protein skimmer in there I will have a bubble trap so not worried about bubbles but trying to see if I can put it in with the return pump. Do you see any problems with this tight setup. I’m not wanting to put the protein skimmer on the left cause of the drain height. It will fit but not much room maybe i could use a stand in there to elevate it away from skimmer. I’m gonna fill that area with media on left.

Quietman · Jan 13, 2025

The constant level changes in the return section (by design) could cause issues with the skimmer depending on how sensitive it is to water height changes.

You could add a container or a divider to the return pump section so the pump isolated from the "skimmer section". Can't really tell how much room you have to work with in the picture.

Miller Aquatic · Jan 13, 2025

Quietman said:
The constant level changes in the return section (by design) could cause issues with the skimmer depending on how sensitive it is to water height changes.

You could add a container or a divider to the return pump section so the pump isolated from the "skimmer section". Can't really tell how much room you have to work with in the picture.

I have an ato. It is a reef octopus 202s classic I think it recommends 7-9” water height

Quietman · Jan 13, 2025

I assumed ATO. Even with an ATO there are minor water level changes which might cause issues depending how touchy that skimmer is, might not be a problem at all. Plus if you're like me, I forget to add water to makeup occasionally, no biggie - I see bubbles in the tank from the return sucking air and add water. If there's a skimmer there, you could be tweaking for hours afterwards.

This is all definitely a 'might' and not a 'will'. Plus even at worst it's a livability and annoyance issue rather than functional or damage concern. And a lot can be managed by a water level alarm, or a divider or monitor makeup water container. Hard to know until you install and run it. Which I would. Why not try? Good luck and let us know how it comes out.