View Full Version : How to prevent in sump skimmers from overflowing?
plancton
02/06/2010, 07:57 PM
Whenever there's a power failure and I'm not there to take care of it, my sumps gets filled with tank water and the skimmers gets water almost neck high, and so when power goes back on, the skimmer's pump starts drawing so much water so that the cup overflows and all the collected skimmate goes back to the tank.
I figure the pump could be controlled by an ATO but that would be expensive, unless there's a cheap way to do it.
I also wonder if there's some kind of power contact that will shut off power in case of power failure and won't turn back on unless there's manual intervention or something. I figured something like that could exist, and cheap.
What can you tell me?
Trolldoll
02/06/2010, 08:11 PM
DIY float switch in the lid of the skimmer. Im doing this tomorrow but I have it going to a controller.
plancton
02/06/2010, 08:17 PM
Yeah exactly, but the controller is expensive.
down and outman
02/06/2010, 09:41 PM
Drill a hole near the surface in your return line. That will break the vacuum and reduce how much water siphons back. Be sure to keep it clear of algae.
lordofthereef
02/07/2010, 12:35 AM
Put the skimmer in a bucket (or some other container that can hold water) and set up exactly how high the water can go in the bucket (by drilling holes at the top water level). Have your overflow drain into this container, which will subsequently drain into the sump that it is in. Your water level in the container will always be level. Doing something like this is also beneficial for the every day running of the skimmer because there will never be water level fluctuations.
The above is the best option IMO. If all you are worried about is just keeping the majority of the skimmate from getting reintroduced you can simple drill a small hole in the skimmate cup and add a small hose barb to it (glue works just fine here) and attach some hose (a little bigger than airline tubing, that tends to get clogged I feel) and have that drain into a larger container (say a 2-5 gallon jug) outside of the sump. The risk here is that in your case if the jug is small you run the risk of flooding the jug and dumping water onto your floor. This method also will not help keep the water level steady in the skimmer chamber.
sedor
02/07/2010, 12:46 AM
If the power is off the skimmers pump should be as well. I've never had my skimmer overflow in the small amount of time it takes the sump to drain after the return comes back on, not to mention the pump is pumping the same amount of water no matter how high the water is. Do you tend to skim fairly wet? What type of skimmer?
connecticut cichlids
02/07/2010, 12:47 AM
Yeah exactly, but the controller is expensive.
not really....in the area if $50. Give or take a few dollars. A single float top -off controller from autotopoff.com would be your friend in a situation like this.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v119/JHutch/305c4bf2.jpg
DEXNC
02/07/2010, 11:36 AM
simply lift your intank return line about 1/4 inch below your tank water line turn of your pump and you can see how much return to your sump.
mscarpena
02/07/2010, 12:04 PM
How about just adding an anti-siphon device to you return line like a check valve. This allows water to flow through, but when your return line siphons back a flapper closes and does not allow water to pass through thus preventing the skimmer from overflowing.
Trolldoll
02/08/2010, 07:19 PM
not really....in the area if $50. Give or take a few dollars. A single float top -off controller from autotopoff.com would be your friend in a situation like this.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v119/JHutch/305c4bf2.jpg
You can use a float switch without the controller. Float open skimmer on float closed skimmer off. Someone correct me if Im wrong.
connecticut cichlids
02/08/2010, 08:48 PM
A float switch without a controller...let me clarify my statement before... Although you may not need a "controller", you should still use a relay coupled with the float switch. I meant the relay as the controller. You don't want 110v running through that float switch, without a relay
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