Beckett.....to recirculate or not to

[TxAggie08]

I've got the basic idea on building a beckett, So im going to aks the last couple i have and let it go at that.


First off, the skimmer im getting ready to build is not going to be more than 24" tall or so......i realise thats not the most effecient but that what i have room for. Will this be an issue?(ie is there a practical minimum height.)


Second, I have a viaqua 4900 that i have built a rudimentary single injector skimmer with. WIth this pump(or one similar) would it be better to build a 1 or 2 injector skimmer?


Third, i intend to buy a acrylic sump, and build the skimmer into the sump itself. Were should the skimmer pick up(ie should it pickup were the water dumps into the sump, or after the fuge area).

Finaly, wich would be better, a smaller pump circulating water in to the skimmer, with the larger pump on a closed system pulling water out of base of the skimmer and firing it into the reaction chamber? Or should i just use the primary pump to run water into the skimmer and drive the injector? I can't get search to work so i cant find old threads on this subject.


Illd appreciate yalls help on this....

 

[Ereefic]

I have a recirculating model MRC skimmer. I am putting water into the skimmer via 2 overflow drains. I then have a GRI 520 pulling water from the box and pushing it through the 2 injectors.

Works real nice.

My MR-2 is only 24" tall and works good, though taller would be better IMO.

Is the viaqua pump pressure rated?

 

[TxAggie08]

Ummmmmm.....not shure. I know it will drive the beckett reasonably well(and im wanting to say it met the head/flow ratio that the guy who sold me the beckett recommended).

Im vaguely considering running it recirculating and going external but i realy cant afford the pump to do that....

 

[Ereefic]

I ran a flow pump on a MR-2 and then switched to a pressure pump, night and day difference. The flow performed decent, but the pressure blew it away.

 

[Waylander]

A lack of height can be offset with wider riser and feed tubes. That is the traditional approach to becketts as it minimizes turblence and slows movement by increasing volume.

Not a chance that pump would drive two becketss. (I'm amazed that it will drive one.)

Skimmer before fuge. Let the skimmer remove the bulk of the waste and the fuge utilize the remains. Besides - you don't want to skim out the flora and fauna that needs exported to the display.

Recirculators are nice and do have benefits. How big a tank are you talking about?

 

[TxAggie08]

Just a standard 75. WE lost everything in the hurricane( you know rita...the one the news doesnt care about), and weve got to completely redo everything. I have a 65x4 pc fixture now, and i want to set up a decent fuge and skimmer so i can keep some corrals.

Is there a pressure rated submersible pump btw? I wish I had had the money to buy the mag 9 or 12 when i bought a new return last time..... all ive got is a 7.5 and its not going to hack it for corral. if i didnt have to get a new return i could get a new skimmer pump.....

 

[thesaent14]

i am planing to do the same type of skimmer i have a gem-x 40 to use with the skimmer i want to know what is beter to , get the water from the overflow drains to the skimmer and reloop with the gem-x or get the water from the fuge to the pump and to the skimmer any one with any drawing on wat beter

 

[thesaent14]

bumb

no answer any one on whats beter please or how is suppoust to be conected

 

[Ereefic]

It should be better to get the 'raw' overflow water directly into the skimmer, regardless of type of skimmer. Since your protiens are on the surface of the water, and that is what is going down your overflow, it only makes sense.