recirc loop on a skimmer

[Stircrazy]

I am looking for input on why this would or wouldn't be good.

the new skimmer I am building has dual Becketts,

what would be the result of putting another bulkhead in the side and using that for the suction of a pump which pumps into one of the Becketts.. so I will have my MAK4 sucking from the sump into the skimmer through one Beckett and the second Beckett will be on the "recirculating loop"

Steve

 

[G~]

what kind of a recirculating loop is this? was it going to be a CLS before this idea? i would think you would really have to worry about water drainage with that idea.

unless the inlet for the recirculation loop is in a significantly different place than the supply source for the sump i do not see any advantage to drawing from a separate source.

sweet looking haus of a skimmer though.

G~

 

[big t]

I understand exactly what you are talking about, and I think that it would work good to optimally have contact time w/ the water inside, yet you will be getting a good amount of water going thru it. I think that you should try it both ways, and see which seems to produce the most nasty gunk and let us know.

 

[DonW]

The Auquamedic turbo floater works kind of like that and works well. Like Tom said it will increase your contact time. I would think you will have to slow your flow on one or the other to keep it from over foaming, but should work.

Don

 

[big t]

Hey Don, his skimmer will be a little different then our's in that I assume that he will have a gate valve on the outled which will be at the bottom and this is what he will use to adjust the height of the foam head. It is pretty neat how those beckett/ downdraft skimmers work like that.

 

[Stircrazy]

OK I might not have been clear when I said

"so I will have my MAK4 sucking from the sump into the skimmer through one Beckett and the second Beckett will be on the "recirculating loop"

what I mean is one Beckett will be like any other skimmer.. sucks from the tank sump, through the Beckett then the water returns to the sump.

what I am thinking for the second Beckett is for it to have its own pump that draws water from the bottom of the skimmer and re injects it via the second Beckett into the skimmer again.

this way my flow through the skimmer its self will be under 1200gph (or less depending on head pressure) but the foam production should be equivalent to if I had double that.


whats a CLS?

Steve

 

[Stircrazy]

I would think you will have to slow your flow on one or the other to keep it from over foaming, but should work.

Don

with the Beckett's you adjust your flow of water to set the high of water in the tube.. then you use the air intake valve to adjust the amount of foam.. so i can have full water flow and then adjust my foam to the dryness I want by allowing more or less air to enter the Beckett.

Steve

 

[DonW]

Tom
I get it the skimmer height is controled by a exit valve. This would act just like the "throttle" valves on the turbo floater.

Don

 

[Zephrant]

Steve- That is an idea that I have kicked around as well. The down side is now you need two pumps- One for recirculating, and one to drive your Beckett input.

I think it is worth a shot- If you T out of the exit line for your recirculating pump input, you will not need to make any extra holes in the base. Makes it easier if you change your mind and go back to a conventional running pattern.

Good luck-

Zeph

 

[G~]

the only problem i could see is that depending on where the recirculation inlet is, it could increase the flow towards the skimmer outlet. this could cause more bubbles to be released into the system.

how do pumps like pumping aerated water? this could cause extra stress on the pump. aerated water has a much lower specific gravity, could burn out the pump.

just some more thoughts.

G~

 

[Stircrazy]

I have a large enough sump on the bottom of the skimmer that with a couple baffles bubbles shouldn't be a problem.

Steve