20g sumps

[DevilBoy]

ok i will just switch the 2 pumps then, i will use the PCX40 on the skimmer and the PCX 30 on the CL, sound like a better plan??

[Geoff]

argh. you are going to make me look up pump curves aren't you.

when you put a pump on a skimmer expect the pump to only move 50% of its rated volume. this is a good guess. every pump is different so it is better to look at the pump curves to be sure.

G~

[DevilBoy]

Originally Posted by Geoff

argh. you are going to make me look up pump curves aren't you.

when you put a pump on a skimmer expect the pump to only move 50% of its rated volume. this is a good guess. every pump is different so it is better to look at the pump curves to be sure.

G~

yes i am..... since i dont even know how to read the darn things

[Geoff]

i would put the 40 on the skimmer it can handle a much higher head pressure than the 30. that way you have the most amount of water going through the skimmer.

G~

[DevilBoy]

Well guess what everyone i got a surprise from UPS today.... Here are the photos......







Hmm an unopened box what could it be????





It looks like it could be skimmer?????





and here it is unpacked....YEA!!!! its my skimmer!!!!!!







Well now i am off to read the pamphlet that Andy sent with this bad boy, hopefully i know how to assemble it. this is my first REAL skimmer my other ones were just the HOBs...

[DevilBoy]

Originally Posted by Geoff

i would put the 40 on the skimmer it can handle a much higher head pressure than the 30. that way you have the most amount of water going through the skimmer.

G~

Ok Geoff that is what i will do then. I will order both pumps this week.

Will the PCX 30 have enough flow to drive my closed loop?

[Geoff]

is this with or without eductors. i would say no, if you are wanting to use eductors. it can only handle 14' of head pressure. go with a T3 for this. same amount of flow, but twice the head pressure.

G~

[DevilBoy]

Originally Posted by Geoff

is this with or without eductors. i would say no, if you are wanting to use eductors. it can only handle 14' of head pressure. go with a T3 for this. same amount of flow, but twice the head pressure.

G~

As of right now i have the CL plumbed with 2 outlets with loc-line "y"ed off to 2 flare nozzles on each output for a total of 4.


When reading the pamphlet it told me plumb the inlet of the pump to the inlet of the beckett injector. I understand this. But what should i do with return outlet of the pump? how does that get plumbed and to where?


Oh i forgot to add that when i do the calculator over on RC to see how much GPH flow i would get out of my CL with the pump and it asks me for the ID of the pipe, to use the dimension of the pipe for my outlets or the diameter of the pipe that is plumbed coming out of the pump??? i went from 1.25" pipe all the way to where i "T" off and run the CL up and over tank, and that is at 3/4 for my 3/4 outlets. so what dim should i put in there? i tried them both, and if i put in the 3/4 i get about 740 GPH but if i put in 1.25 it tells me about 1025 GPH, thats a big difference so i dont know which one is right?

[Geoff]

it would be closer to the 3/4" flow. if the size is that different than i would just run the calculator with the total length of 3/4" pipe only. not the total length of the entire plumbing. does that make sense. the amount of flow lost due to the 1.25" plumbing will be negligable compared to the 3/4" plumbing.

i am a little confused on the skimmer plumbing. the outlet for the pump should go to the inlet for the beckett. not the other way. there would not be enough pressure to pull a foam through a beckett. besides the pump would really not like it.

G~

[DevilBoy]

This is what the pamphlet says to do:

The skimmer maybe used either in your sump or outside. If using the in the sump, place the skimmer in your sump. Make sure all flange screws are tight and the gate valve is open. Connect your your pump to the fitting on the injector. Turn your pump on and adjust the skimmer water column until it is about 1-2" up the first riser. You can adjust the water level by closing the gate valve more or opening the gate valve more.

Thats all it says. Pumps have inlet and and outlet fitting. So even if i plumb the outlet fitting of my pump to the injector fitting. What should i do with the other pump fitting? Where does it get plumbed too?

What should i do with the CL?

[Geoff]

you need to drill a hole in your sump for a bulkhead for the inlet for the pump. you do not need a bulkhead bigger than the inlet for the pump. this is how the water gets into the pump. i would drill the hole on the end of the sump where the drain from the tank enters the sump. i am still assuming you are going to put the skimmer in the sump. this is perfectly acceptable even if the pump is outside.

G~

[DevilBoy]

I will have to have 2 bulkheads on my sump then?? I have one end of the sump drilled for a bulkhead for my return pump...

I didnt know i had to have 2 of them

[Geoff]

is this an acrylic sump or a glass sump. if acrylic any hole saw from HD or Lowe's will work. if glass a diamond hole saw is needed.

G~