Flow question for 220-help please

[grouper25]

I just filled my new 220 with water and some great live rock and have a flow problem. I cant seem to regulate water flowing into/out of my sump and have lots of turbulance. Here is my current setup:

Water flows from two corner overflow boxes down to a sump below. The sump is a 45 gallon wer dry(rated for 300 gallons) which I converted to a refuge/sump with acrylic sheets. Water enters the top of the sump through two hoses, goes through a filter pad, hits some live rock and chaeto and then goes through a few baffles. On one end of the sump I have a bulkhead which feeds an external Blue Line pump(1200 GPH) pushing water through a UV and then back directly to the tank. On the other end of the sump, I have another bulkhead connected to a GEN X 55 pressure pump(1150 GPH) which pushes water to an MRC 2 Skimmer. Once skimmed , the water flows back directly to the sump. This is what I think is the problem as too much water flow is in the sump and I cant seem to regulate it even when I neck down the flow with valves on each pump.

I am now thinking of getting another pump(which I wanted to avoid) to pump skimmed water directly back to the tank. This way, water which enters the sump from the overflows at a certain volume would be pumped back to the tank by the Blue Line pump only and thus taking out the additional volume which was being returned to the sump after skimming.

Anyone have any ideas on this. I need to fix this quick as the tank is full and dont feel confident leaving the skimmer on while out.\\

Thanks Mates,


__________________
Grouper25

Hobby Experience: 25 years fresh, one salt
Current Tanks: 55 fresh, 220 salt, 20 QT, 10 Nano Reef
Interests: boating , fish , organic gardening



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[uztaryn]

I think I am missing the actual problem... Is the water just turbulent or is it overflowing or splashing everywhere?

If it is overflowing, why not just split the 1st pump to both feed the skimmer and run the return. Multiple pumps usually are not needed.

2nd option... take the drain lines from the tank and run one directly into the skimmer and feed the skimmer that way. This will also eliminate one of the pumps and not limit the return flow.

Hope that helps.

 

[waldomas]

Use a drainline feed for the skimmer and run the skimmer pump as a recirculating pump on the skimmer!

 

[waldomas]

What kind of skimmer and feeder pump do you have?
Needle wheel?
Diameter/height of skimmer?
GPH rating on pump?
venturi?

 

[grouper25]

Flow

Flow

I have an MRC 2 Skimmer with 2 injectors with a GenX 55 pressure pump rated for 1260 GPH. It sits about 12 inches above the sump outside the cabinet and runs back to the sump at a 35 degree angle.

Thanks for helping

 

[waldomas]

I'm not too familiar with the becket skimmers. I do know that they are notorious power consumers.
Perhaps you could run youre skimmer on a seperate overflow? How about placing the skimmer above the display and letting the output drain (via gravity) back into the display?
Any help from someone more familiar with beckets?

 

[BadOleRoss]

I am concerned about the 1200gph pump pumping water through the UV. Flow through UVs is generally slow. And I, like uztaryn, am not clear on the real problem.