How to connect my skimmer correctly

I think you still need the overflow:whistling:. You pumping from the sump to the skimmer. Without an overflow (hang-on box or in-tank chamber) how would the water get from the tank to the sump? A pump in the display tank to the sump?

Or have i misunderstood the question?

(ps, i am a beginner, i might be wrong above)

ops sorry....my bad wasnt thinking...midday blonde moment:razz:
 
Yip. Connected to overflow and output into DSB chamber

Okay, so if i follow your setup do i need three chambers in my sump?

Its two chambers at the moment.
120248eb4f6c1977c.jpg


I was going to reconfigure it to have three chambers:
1st chamber, return from the skimmer, with baffles
2nd chamber DSB
3rd chamber return pumps and heater

Can i leave it with two chambers, 1st DSB (fed from the skimmer), 2nd return and heater (make this chamber smaller so that the DSB is bigger)?
 
Well if your skimmer is external I would say yes, DSB and return chamber would work well.

Give some thought to reactors if you ever want to run them or where you would place your "bags" of media
 
Well if your skimmer is external I would say yes, DSB and return chamber would work well.

Give some thought to reactors if you ever want to run them or where you would place your "bags" of media

I thought most reactors are external to the sump?

With regard to media, yes, i would have to give that some thought - for a 250 litre tank, how much media we talking i might need here?
 
I thought most reactors are external to the sump?

With regard to media, yes, i would have to give that some thought - for a 250 litre tank, how much media we talking i might need here?

You are correct, just give though where and how etc. It can be a nightmare trying to fit loads of different pumps in the return chamber, especially if you haven't planned for it.

When I was talking about media, I meant - carbon, po4 remover, purigen etc.

You have a choice of in the bag or in the reactor. ;)
 
for now, probably gonna go with media in a bag. After getting all this the funds are a bit low, will have to save up for a while for new kit.

I guess i will keep the sump as is, keep some space for more pumps and media in the return chamber.
 
Cool hey ;)

No idea what it is for, came with the skimmer and I have just left it on

The cap with the airtube merely stops a rather annoying gurgling noise from the skimmer, much as a similar cap and pipe will do for your overflow/durso.
Running a skimmer off the overflow is possible, but it requires the system be balanced, i.e. you will need to ensure the overflow delivers the exact flow that the skimmer is designed for, otherwise it will be inefficient or flood the room, it is much simpler to alllow the overflow straight onto the sump and then, using the correct pump, feed the skimmer in that way.
 
Guys, I have a stand alone skimmer i.e. it does not need to be in the sump.

When i hook it up, does it need to be higher then my sump?

I need to connect a pipe from the skimmer outlet to my DSB, thing is they both stand on the same level, but the glass wall of the sump is higher then the skimmer outlet. So i have to run a pipe, out the skimmer, up to over the hight of the sump and then down again into the sump.

Is this going to be a problem? Will water not come out the top?
 
No space my man :(

Have a look at the space i have to work with in the pic below:

120248ef6d3ad3d33.jpg
 
Thanks for all you help guys.

While trying to find a place to raise that skimmer above the sump, it fell and broke :(

So for a while my tank is going to be on hold.
 
Bummer. What part broke broke.? There is very little epoxy will not fix. I would modify the sump (cheap) and run the skimmer external
 
Bummer. What part broke broke.? There is very little epoxy will not fix. I would modify the sump (cheap) and run the skimmer external

Broke on the neck of the skimmer.

Will try some epoxy tomorrow and will see what happens. Thanks for that suggestion :)
 
Hi Dogstar,

All these skimmers are made from Acrylic (Perspex) so try and get some Perpex glue fom a place like Maizeys. Chlorophorm will also work if you can get some.

Regards
Tokkie.
 
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