Beckett skimmers

[xtrstangx]

I'm interested in seeing how the BB guys have set up your beckett skimmers. Where is your feed pump for the beckets? Have any pictures?

I am thinking thinking of a MR-2 with probably a PCX-40 for my 180g BB.

Thanks guys!

[Weatherman]

Precision Marine Bullet 3, driven by an Iwaki 40RLT:



The tank is 120 gallons

About the only change I'd make for a 180-gallon tank would be to drive the skimmer with an Iwaki 55.

An MR-2 is a good choice. If you have enough room, and MR-3 would be better (the MR-3 is about the same size as the Bullet 3). If I was going with a Gen-X pump, I'd go with a PCX-55HP.

[motorslave]

MR-2 with a PCX-55 (best option from MRC) I just bought a second injector and an 8" riser. This is my old set up for my 150 The new set up will be a different sump with the pump pulling from the first chamber and the skimmer returning to the same chamber so there will be a bit of a recirculation action going on. The skimmer will also be out of the sump on the new set up with the intake pulling air from outside the tank room and house.

R

[xtrstangx]

I'll have to think and be creative what I can do with this pump. Do you think it would be OK to have it the intake for the injector pump on the same part as the return (from the sump)?

I can't put it on the side of the sump like you did motorslave... I have a 23" countertop that the sump is going on and my sump is 18" deep.. the best I could do was drill in the "skimmer" area, then run a pipe down 3' to the intake of the pump.

[motorslave]

Well. if you drop the pump down 3' then it will have some extra head to fight against and that will drop the efficiancy of the skimmer considerably. Is there anywhere on the counter for the pump? The distance form the sump to the pump will be less of a factor than pump to skimmer. If you can find a way to keep the pump up close to the skimmer, even if there is distance for the sump to the pump youy can make larger plumbing so the pump isnt working to draw water. Can you get a picture of the hwole area you have to work with? It took me quite a bit of thinking to fitt all that stuff in that stand so just start placing things in different area and look at it for a while. remeber, pump to skimmer as short a run as possible, sump to pump make bigger diameter plumbing if its a lobg run and eliminate any vertical drop to the pump if you can as it will decrease what gets pushed to the slkimmer.

R

[xtrstangx]

It won't drop 3' vertically. It has to be 3' horizontal, which shouldn't be a problem.

I'll try to get a picture today after work.

[Wiskey]

I have a MRC MR-2, I drive it with a PCX 55 and I love it. Here is a pic.



HTH,
Whiskey

[xtrstangx]

Do you guys think I will be better off with a MR-2 driven by a GenX 55HP (or whatever all of you are running) over an ASM G-4X?

[motorslave]

Yes, the 55 is the pump that Andy says gives the best performance. Being that he makes the skimmer I would go with what he says!!!!

R

[Loverotties]

Some Nice set-ups!

[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.

[xtrstangx]

Do becketts have to be run externally? I thought you could have them in sump..

[motorslave]

Check my picture above! It was in the sump but will be external when the the new set up is done. Its just alot easier to clean and all when there is room around it! If you do it in the sump make sure its in a chamber with a constant water level as changeing water levels would change the back pressure on the exhaust of the unit, thus changing the water level in the skimmer.

R

[Wiskey]

It can be in the sump, but I reccomend it is elevated in such a way that the discharge is half way out of the water.

Motorslave is right too, it needs to be in a constant water level.

Whiskey

[pwest]

Wiskey: what's the deal with the vertical tube that T's off your skimmer gate valve exit and then goes up and disappears off the top of the picture? Some kind of a vent stack??