Beckett skimmers

[motorslave]

That is a siphon break of sorts. If the exhaust tube was completely closed, the water exiting the skimmer would create a kind of siphon. That would cause problems keeping the water level set in the skimmer as the siphon would pull water out of the skimmer. Youd never be able to get the water level up. The pipe just goes up and breaks the pressure by letting air into the line.

R

[pwest]

When I first set mine up, I experimented with a vent stack like that, applying the same reasoning. But, I couldn't see any difference with or without it. As you can see from my picture, I don't have one now and have no trouble setting and maintaing the water level wherever I want it. Is your drain into the sump submerged, or does it dump onto the surface? (Mine is not submerged--that might have something to do with it)

-Phil

[motorslave]

Well, Im stumped! That was always my understanding of using that type of set up. I will now quietly slink into a dark corner and await the arrival of one who can better explain!

R

[Weatherman]

It looks, to me, like a way to let air escape if you have problems with air building up in the drain line.

If you set up your skimmer so the drain line immediately slopes downward, even at a very small angle, there shouldn’t be any need to set up another way to let air escape.

[Wiskey]

You are all right. The stack is all the extra pipe I had left over because I paid $7 for that pipe and I was not going to waist any. The stack only really needs to be a foot or so tall. The stack works 2 purposes, my drain is submerged so it prevents rising of the water level when a bubble get's cought in the pipe, and it also prevents a syphon draining the skimmer when it goes the other way.

After doing that I noticed my waterlevel with the air on was far more consistant.

Thanks,
Whiskey

[mwitten]

Originally Posted by pwest

Here's a shot of my MR-2 driven by an Iwaki 55. My MR-2 is one of the older models with the thinner flanges and smaller guage O-rings which were always difficult to properly re-seat after cleaning the skimmer. This weekend, I replaced the O-rings with neoprene gaskets (home-made). Now, cleaning is much faster, and I can run the water level up into the second riser without fear of leaks due to a poorly seated o-ring.



The tank is a 150g and the sump is about 35g. The skimmer pump pulls water out of the bottom of the first sump chamber (where the water enters from the display tank) and the skimmer drains back in a chamber or two downstream.

(Phil, you know all this, but...)

After adding about 100+ gallons to my overall system, I did a skimmer upgrade. I use a BL-55, and just re-worked the plumbing and went from one old-syle injector to two new-style injectors. Skimming has improved considerably, however I am having seriousl level issues. Based on this thread, I am suspecting my drain is going from syphon to bubble-blocked, and needs a vent. I'll give it a try tonight...

Point is, it may be that the lower flow did not have this issue, while the new higher flow (estimating well over half-again the old system flow, if not twice) had made this problem visible. Makes a lot of sense. Something to watch if you upgrade. Vents are easy!

-Mike

[NoSchwag]

Originally Posted by Weatherman

It looks, to me, like a way to let air escape if you have problems with air building up in the drain line.

If you set up your skimmer so the drain line immediately slopes downward, even at a very small angle, there shouldn’t be any need to set up another way to let air escape.

I know when I put my hand over the hole, my skimmer drains immediately so I figure I need it. Maybe it's because my skimmer drains under the water line?

[Weatherman]

The output of the drain light from my skimmer is also below the water line in my sump. I don't have any problems keeping the drainline free of air, because it immediately slopes downward from the skimmer.

[trueblackpercula]

hope this helps

[Flatlander]

I ran my beckett like the normal way, above the sump. I have also ran it sitting on the sumps bottom. For sure the push height is less. I never see any difference if the output is submerged. Of course the output requires a different setting and the skimmer would overflow at that setting if it was rasied above the water level.

[trueblackpercula]

in action