Help me avoid another pump

[DgenR8]

Hey guys,
I recently got my Geo Ca. reactor, and yesterday, I picked up a chiller. The reactor requires the addition of two pumps. The chiller looks like it'll need one, too.
My original plan with the chiller, since it is a flow through model was to take a split off my overflow (in the living room), and run it to the chiller. This should have worked fine, as there would still be two 1" drains with no restriction on them. The tank would not overflow.
The problem with that plan, is that the inlet to the chiller is at the bottom of the unit, and the outlet is above. I know all too well that water will seek it's own level, but I don't think gravity is going to push water up to the chiller outlet.
My return pump currently feeds my skimmer. One option is to put the chiller in that line, before the skimmer. I don't know why, but I have a feeling that cold water will not skim like warm water, plus I'll have to limit what goes through the chiller according to what works for the skimmer. I can't put the chiller after the skimmer, that's moot.
I know I don't want water from the Ca, reactor going through the chiller, but can I run chilled water through the reactor without problems?

 

[billsreef]

Ca actually dissolves better in cold water

 

[DgenR8]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12744612#post12744612 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by billsreef
Ca actually dissolves better in cold water

So, I could feed the reactor with water from the chiller, but then I'd have to match the chiller flow with what works best for the reactor.
I've been kicking it around, and I decided that I'm going to take my Little Giant MD something off the shelf, plumb it into a manifold, and run the chiller, the Ca reactor, my drip acclimation system and my Phosban reactor off of it. It's not the perfect solution, but I get to eliminate a powerhead.

 

[billsreef]

That's best. Ideally you want to run the water thru the chiller at what's best for the chiller. It'll be more efficient that way, and considering it's a rather power hunger beast that is best.

 

[DgenR8]

3/4 HP, even Tim Taylor would be proud!

 

[billsreef]

:lol:

 

[DgenR8]

Talk about a project.........
That Little Giant pump spent about three years on the garage shelf, and I didn't clean or lubricate it before putting it there. After plumbing it in place, I plugged it in, and it did nothing but hum. Good thing I used unions
Took the pump to the garage, and opened it up. The impeller was nasty, and I was sure that cleaning it had to solve the problem. It didn't.
I said "oh well, I got a Gen-X pump on the shelf, too" Inlet and outlet on the Gen-X are different, so the plumbing would have to be "adapted" to fit it in, but I got all sorts of PVC odds and ends on hand. I was sharp enough to test this one first, before replumbing. The Gen-X spent just as much time on the shelf as the Little Giant, was just as dirty, and didn't work, either. I cleaned it just like the first one, and just like the first, it still didn't work.
I figured a non working pump that fits my plumbing is better than a non working pump that doesn't, so I went back to the LG, removed the pump assy from the motor, spun the motor by hand, and put a 'lil oil in there. I put it all back together and plugged her in. Works like a charm
My tank is now nice and cool, but it took all day.

 

[billsreef]

:lol:

I've got a pump at work I need to tear apart and rebuild. It's the main one I have rigged to transfer water for water changes in my larval rearing baths. Some numb nuts on the weekend left it sitting in a puddle