How do you have your recirc skimmer plumbed?

[tonym10]

I just ordered a recirculating skimmer . I will be using it outside my sump. I would like to wye into my overflow line before it enters my sump to feed the skimmer. With a ball valve before the skimmer and another valve on the other end of the wye I should be able to control the gallon/hr going to the skimmer. How many are doing it this way verse feeding the skimmer with a pump? Will my skimmer fluctaute too much by using this wye in my overflow line?

 

[JER-Z]

use a T in the verical position with a ball valve after it prior to entering the skimmer....what doesnt flow through the ball valve and skimmer will flow out of the horizontal portion into the sump...

overflow
l
l- to sump
l
valve
l
skimmer

thats how Deltec USA told me to set mine up anyway

 

[sjm817]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6512674#post6512674 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JER-Z
use a T in the verical position with a ball valve after it prior to entering the skimmer....what doesnt flow through the ball valve and skimmer will flow out of the horizontal portion into the sump...

overflow
l
l- to sump
l
valve
l
skimmer

thats how Deltec USA told me to set mine up anyway

That is how I have mine too.

 

[tonym10]

That makes sence, but where my overflow comes into my tank it comes in horizontal, not vertical. It drops vertical than goes threw a wall into another room where my sump is , it runs horizontal right into sump , the line is only 13" above the floor. I think i will need to feed my skimmer with a pump. I could tee into the line , but I am afraid the feed might not mantain a consistant level in the skimmer.

here is a pic of how my drain line runs into skimmer

 

[JER-Z]

there are alot of threads about plumbing in the deltec USA forum...you may get some ideas in there

 

[Lutefisk]

A pump will do a good job but because the drain line drops vertically before comming into the sump you can do what Jer-Z recommended. You'll just have to divert the overflow line from the sump, upward high enough to enter the Tee arrangement and then back to the sump.

I do not recommend doing the two valve trick. You get it wrong or something gets clogged in the return valve and you'll be looking at a pretty big spill. On gravity feeds you want the return to the sump to be unobstructed.

Paul

 

[tonym10]

Thanks everyone.
Good point about putting valves on the extis, I think I will defiantely avoid doing that.

 

[getwood65]

here is my setup