Skimmer directly to overflow

[jesspaul]

Can I run a Beckett skimmer so the the tank over flow all goes into the skimmer input. I have about 600gph comming down the tube and four foot of head so I think its about the same as a mag 9

[Geoff]

that is basically the way i have my system setup. you just need to make sure that the pump does not overrun the overflow. generally is not a problem since becketts add a lot of backpressure so the pump will not be pushing near its max. something to consider when doing this though: make sure the skimmer is taller than the tank. the skimmer needs to drain back into the tank and not out of its collection cup.

G~

[jesspaul]

THanks Geoff buts thats not what I had in mind. Could be a cool way to feed a dump bucket I was thinking of sending the water headed to the sump into the skimmer first. Like below.

[Geoff]

yea, that is the way i have mine, but the skimmer dumps into a mini sump for temp control then back into the tank.

the way you have it drawn will not work. you have two pumps fighting each other. if the skimmer pump draws 300gph total and the return pump pumps 301gph you are in trouble. flooderooo. it is extremely difficult if not impossible to match two pumps in this fashion. it is just a better idea to let the overflow drain into the sump. that way the water draining the tank equals the water being pumped back by return pump.

G~

[jesspaul]

I agree with the two pumps statement, but what I am contemplating is that there is only one pump. The pump returning water to the tank is it. There is no pump on the skimmer, I'm depending on the flow from the tank to drive the beckett. My goal is to replace five different pumps with one. I currently have three return pumps on four different tanks and two small skimmers all feeding back to one sump.

[hawaii4485]

but if the pump pushing water up is faster than the speed of the water going through the overflow then the top will over flow. thats why is good to give the skimmer its own pump and output within the sump.

[yardboy]

Plus will a "Mag 9 equivalent " drive a Beckett skimmer? They produce a lot of backpressure and I wonder if 4 ft. of head is enough to push 600gph through one.

[jesspaul]

Plus will a "Mag 9 equivalent " drive a Beckett skimmer?

I wish I knew. I would feel pretty sure about it if I had 8 or 9 feet of head to play with, but if I had that much space it wouldn't bother me.

[yardboy]

Just whatever you try make sure you got unions so you can reconfigure without too much hassle. Casey, are you listening?!

[jesspaul]

Just whatever you try make sure you got unions so you can reconfigure without too much hassle.

Actually I was thinking of a built in bypass. I've got the floor wet so many times I don't do water changes anymore, I just keep the shopvac and 30gal mixed water ready.