Counter Current Skimmer Question

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http://www.hawkfish.org/snailman/snailmandiy.htm

http://liquidreef.freeservers.com/


I am interested in building one of these skimmers for my 55 gallon. I have a stupid question. I can see how to get the water to the skimmer, but I'm not understanding how the water is returning to the tank. Do you need to install a pump? I'm a little confused by the design. At the bottom, you have the gate vaule and another vaulve. I don't understand the purpose. Can someone dumb it down for me...if possible

 

[scotchy]

The water leaves the skimmer at the bottom due to the water entering and creating weight. It travels up the smaller pipe coming from the bottom being push up by the new water entering. Captivereef has a very good diy cc skimmer thread here http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=750821
that should help you out.

Scott

 

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thank's for the info. I think I finally figured it out by studying the design a little longer. I suppose the water exits and is deposited into a sump or fuge usually and then returned to the main tank. What would be the best way if you wanted it to go directly back to the main tank? A small pump at the top of the return drainage? Seems like I've seen a picture on here with that very desgn.