Feeding a pressure pump from the Overflows, Doable?

[ReefEnabler]

Hello,

I'm unexpectedly changing the skimmer on my 400g system from an insump skimmer to an ETSS 800 XR downdraft. The pump is an Iwaki 55.

I didn't plan for an external skimmer originally, so the only place with room to put bulkheads in the sump is the Return section. Obviously the skimmer is best fed from the display tank drains, or at least the part of the sump where the drain goes.

My sump:

that pump is my return barracuda. the rear pump is a Snapper for fuge and frag tanks. the only place for my iwaki is between the two.

Is it possible to feed the iwaki 55 from my overflows? I have two 1.5" dursos that combine into a 2" drain pipe (see filter sock in photo [no i wont be using the sock usually]).


I've heard of people doing this, but not with pressure rated pumps. Since drain water has air in the pipe, can this work??? or would I need a full siphon standpipe from the display tank to do this?

Thanks, and I appreciate any info!

Ryan

 

[psteeleb]

you recognized the problem, you don't want the chance of sucking in the air. The typical drain set up allows for air to move back up the stand pipe as gravity pulls the water down. I'm not saying it can't be done (add in a seperation chamber/tank) , but you may be better off just making it an over the top closed loop and take the air issue out of the equation. HTH

 

[ReefEnabler]

"but you may be better off just making it an over the top closed loop "

Sorry I'm a bit confused by that suggestion.... kinda sounds like what Erics suggested..... installing the bulkhead for the Iwaki between the snapper and barracuda (sump return section), and then running a tube from that bulkhead over the baffles into the skimmer section of the sump.

Is that what you're talking about??? Will the Iwaki be self-priming in that case, since the tubing would have to raise a few inches above water level??


Or did you mean something else entirely?

Ryan

 

[psteeleb]

I think I'm confussed here so I went back and read the thread again

So are you looking at 3 external pumps? If so here is what I'd do.

1 for the skimmer

1 for main return and manifold off this for frag tank, fuge etc and let these remote tanks drain back to sump

and 1 for a closed loop taking the sump out of the picture


or drill in another bulkhead, but I would be worried about moving too much water through the sump and having issues with the drains not keeping up, mico bubbles, etc

or just go with 2 pumps (skimmer and return/fuges)

 

[ReefEnabler]

Pete, I like your idea of running all my tanks off the 'Cuda. I originally was going to get a chiller, but now I'm not, so the flow going to the display will be too much unlesss I do what you suggest.

I will only have to make some minor changes for it to work.

only part about your post that confused me again would be:
"and 1 for a closed loop taking the sump out of the picture"

are you talking about closed loop in the display tank?? If so I have a OM-4way powered by a Dart in the display.... just didn't mention it in this thread yet.

 

[psteeleb]

haha - Ryan, you got pumps coming out your ears

and yes, I was referring to the 3rd pump being a closed loop on the display (not sump). I didn't realize you already had one.

 

[ReefEnabler]

you know it baby!

thanks, I will have to try it out. if it works well then I won't be needing the snapper yet. Maybe I can use it for a closedloop for my next tank