Skimmer Question

[anthworks]

What would you reccomend for a medium / heavy stocked 150 gallon tank in the H&S line? How is availabilty of this skimmer?

Thanks
Anthony

[FinsReef]

If an upgrade in tank size is not in the near future, they I would recommend either the 150-F2001 which is the internal model, or the A150-F2001 Recirculating model. IF you are planing on upgrading to over 200g then consider the 200-1260 or the A200 series. They are in stock at this time.

[anthworks]

What is the minimum water level for the in sump model? The 200-1260?

Thanks

[FinsReef]

5" min water level.

[anthworks]

So along that line could I use an external in 3" of water?

Thanks for your help.

[FinsReef]

The external is not dependent on water level. The External models need a way to feed the water into them. It can be done by tee'ing off your drain, or using a feed pump. If using a feed pump then the water level would need to be deep enough to cover what ever pump you use, which is generally 3 to 4 ". The A200 would require a feed rate of up to 350gph.

[anthworks]

I have a shelf in the center compartment of my sump. The shelf sits in about 3" of water, the compartment depth is about 9". What way do you recommend the skimmer be fed? Pump or tee'd off return. I could do either with my setup no problem.

[djfrankie]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6824666#post6824666 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by anthworks
I have a shelf in the center compartment of my sump. The shelf sits in about 3" of water, the compartment depth is about 9". What way do you recommend the skimmer be fed? Pump or tee'd off return. I could do either with my setup no problem.

Off your return...much better protein removal.

that's how I do mine and it saves the extra pump and electrical costs.

HTH,
djfrankie

[anthworks]

I guess you can control the flow with a ball valve. How do you dial in the flow rate?

[djfrankie]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6826572#post6826572 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by anthworks
I guess you can control the flow with a ball valve. How do you dial in the flow rate?

A ball valve will be fine. I dialed it in by using an empty gallon of milk. See how long it takes to fill up the gallon and multiply times 60 to get your GPM (minute). Then take that number and multiply times 60 to get your GPH (hour). I have mine set up around 240 GPH or 15 seconds to fill the gallon.

GPH=(60/n)60
n=number of seconds it takes to fill the milk gallon

HTH,
djfrankie

[anthworks]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6830959#post6830959 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by djfrankie
A ball valve will be fine. I dialed it in by using an empty gallon of milk. See how long it takes to fill up the gallon and multiply times 60 to get your GPM (minute). Then take that number and multiply times 60 to get your GPH (hour). I have mine set up around 240 GPH or 15 seconds to fill the gallon.

GPH=(60/n)60
n=number of seconds it takes to fill the milk gallon

HTH,
djfrankie

Thats a good plan. Thanks for your help.

[FinsReef]

The Advantage of the External skimmer is that there is several ways to "feed" the skimmer.
The most productive is to tee off of your drain line and directly feed the skimmer with surface skimmed water. That is often the hardest way to hook the skimmer up. As if you do not get a surge free feed, then it will actually decrease performance.

Then you can feed it by a seperate pump, which is the easiest. The plus is that you can put the feed pump in the first section of you sump and get water that has just come off your overflow. The drawback is that it uses more electricity and requires another pump to add heat to the system.

The third was is to tee off of your return line. It is more energy effecient to do this method over a feed pump, but it does recirc some already filtered water back into the skimmer. It does not add extra heat however.

HTH,