Adding a sump - can I tee off my return to feed my skimmer?

[vokrey09]

Hello everyone!

I am finally adding a dump to my 40gallon softy/LPS reef.

I am wondering if it would be ok to tee off my return pump, a Jebao DC3000 w/ adjustable flow, to feed my hob cpr bakpak 2r+ which I will be hanging in my sump.

The sump will have 3 compartments..
Filter sock > refugium > return.

I know that people usually put their skimmer in the first compartment, so will it matter that the water moving through my skimmer (hanging in the refugium section) is coming from the last compartment ?

I understand that a lot of people advise not to tee off the return, but since I am using an adjustable return pump and installing a gate valve on the line to the skimmer, I should be able to have a lot of control over the flow. I'm not worried about losing return pressure either because the pump can already handle a lot more than my overflow.

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

Also, if you feel like commenting on a good reason to place the return compartment in the middle and the refugium on the right, please do.


I have been toying with this idea lately and would like to hear some input

[billdogg]

As long as the pump can provide enough flow for both I don't think there would be any problem at all other than you skimmer won't be getting the "dirtiest" water, but rather water that has at lesat been partly skimmed already.

As for not T'ing off the return - lots and lots of people do it for other reactors.

[ericarenee]

As long as the pump can provide enough flow for both I don't think there would be any problem at all other than you skimmer won't be getting the "dirtiest" water, but rather water that has at lesat been partly skimmed already.

As for not T'ing off the return - lots and lots of people do it for other reactors.

+
My opinion the skimmer will get the same water no matter what. You do not want floating partials to get inside the skimmer . especially if its venturi . will just stop up the port

[Dkuhlmann]

I have the same exact skimmer and mine is in the middle section of my sump and you don't need to "T" it off of anything, it has it's own pump. What is your reasoning behind the "T"? I don't follow.

[vokrey09]

I have the same exact skimmer and mine is in the middle section of my sump and you don't need to "T" it off of anything, it has it's own pump. What is your reasoning behind the "T"? I don't follow.


One less pump using electricity. Also, one less pump to make noise, which is important because my tank is in my bedroom

[Dkuhlmann]

LOL well I can tell you it doesn't use hardly any elec and it's very quiet. So to each his own. Good luck with whatever you do