MRC Club

[rock455]

Pictures of how I did it

Pictures of how I did it

OK == Here they are:
T fitting

90

Union to the Pump

Bulkhead to the sump

Full Shot

Production shot from the collection cup

I hope this helps --- sorry for the multitude of pictures -- I just wanted to make sure that people could see what I did == please let me know if you have any questions.

 

[sellout007]

I didnt think you could run your MRC in the sump like that? Can the return gatevalve of the skimmer be submerged? I thought that screwed up the performance of the skimmer?

 

[steve68]

sellout it only screws up the performance if the water in ur sump does not stay at the same level.

 

[rock455]

sellout007 -- check out the full shot and you will see that I have a level controller to make sure that the water level doesn't drop more than 1/2 and inch. The sensors are just to the left of the center brace of the stand in the sump. This slight variation doesn't seem to disturb the performance of the skimmer. -- I would prefer to have the skimmer out of the sump but in my current house I don't have room to do what I would like to do so it is in the sump.

 

[sellout007]

***!!! If I knew that I would have had that think in my friggin sump this entire time!!!

So if I put the skimmer in the sump secitonw here my water drains into it will be fine? That water lvl never changes, only the water lvl where my return pump is changes. Right?


UGH!~

 

[rock455]

yup == you got it

 

[sellout007]

I bought a 240g tank last week and this skimmer will fit in sump under my stand so I am going to give it a try again.

So before I go ahead and do this...

1550 gph from a pressure rated pump isnt to much flow for one becket on an MR2? I am attatching a gatevalve on it so if it is I can turn it down. I am going to run one beckett instead of two.


I wanted to add that mod that fixes the back pressure by adding a bulkhead on the top of the lid of the skimmer, but since I am using it under my sump I cant do that anymore. Is there any other way to do this type of a mod? I definetly noticed that the skimmer works better with the lid off.

Any other tips?

 

[RGibson]

How much space will you have from the lid to the top of the sump.?

 

[sellout007]

Im confused...

You mean from the Lid (top of the skimmer) to the top of the sump? What do you need to know that for? *lol*

 

[sellout007]

So this will work?

 

[Creetin]

I would put a union ball valve on the output of the pump to the skimmer, That wayif it is too much (Could be) you can adjust it down.
I wouls also hook the gatevalve directly to the mixing box, and get rid of the 90.
IMO

 

[sellout007]

I am using a gate valve on the output of the pump instead of a ball valve. It gives much better control. The way I was going to run the skimmer in the sump wouldnt allow me to use the gatevalve right off the box. After I had assembled it (just a dry fit right now luckily) I realized I can fit the skimmer the way it is in the pictures. I will change it before everything is final.

 

[RGibson]

skimmer change
i have put a new 8 in dia riser 15 in high and a new box 5 3/4 in high 10 in deep 10 in wide.the old riser was 6 in dia.The beckett feeds on one side of the box with the drain next to it.I save the old collection cup from the old skimmer because it is 12 in in dia and set up for out side air. The skimmer has more out put then before and less bobbles coming out the return from the skimmer.only one beckett is used on the skimmer and same pump iwaki MD55RLT .One other thing the skimmer makes less noise. Thanks Andy for making the parts.

 

[Beenalongtime79]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7672004#post7672004 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RGibson
skimmer change
i have put a new 8 in dia riser 15 in high and a new box 5 3/4 in high 10 in deep 10 in wide.the old riser was 6 in dia.The beckett feeds on one side of the box with the drain next to it.I save the old collection cup from the old skimmer because it is 12 in in dia and set up for out side air. The skimmer has more out put then before and less bobbles coming out the return from the skimmer.only one beckett is used on the skimmer and same pump iwaki MD55RLT .One other thing the skimmer makes less noise. Thanks Andy for making the parts.

Less turbulence, more dwell time equals better performance!!!
I'm glad you are happy with the results.

Peace,
John H.

 

[RGibson]

John my goal is to get more from one beckett and the same MD55RLT pump ,the skimmer can take care of a 300 gal reef tank and with a 12 in dia riser 350 to 400 gal tank. Ralph

 

[Beenalongtime79]

Sounds like a worthy goal to me.

 

[sellout007]

I have another question.

A few pages back someone told me that running 1500gph through the one beckett on my MR2 isnt the best idea.

What is the ideal flow rate through each beckett?

I am thinking about splitting the water flow through my skimmer and one of the returns on my tank. The pump runs about 1700 gph at 0ft head. So Im assuming that would be more then enough?

 

[Beenalongtime79]

When someone states that you shouldn't flow so much through a skimmer, there has to be many considerations. What type of pump is it? Is it a pressure rated pump or flow pump?

Always remember that you aren't really flowing 1500 gph through your skimmer as the beckett drastically drops that flow rate down. I think if your pump flows 1700 gph at 0 ft. head and it something like a Iwaki 70rlt, then I'd say that even then, you would be able to run it, although you might want to drop that flow down a little bit and divert some of that flow elsewhere.

If that 1700gph is something like a flow pump, like a mag 12 or even a mag 24 (of course it's not because those flow different numbers, but I'm just using them as examples), I would not divert flow anywhere.

It all depends on what type of pump you are using my friend.

Peace,
John H.

 

[RGibson]

John years ago when we own a race car the motor was detail to get more power from it. I was thinking that if a pump was done the same way you would get the same flow but it would lower the ele cost,what do you think about it.

 

[Beenalongtime79]

Rgibson,

I think going DC power would lower your energy costs, but those pumps are expensive from what I've heard.

I think that at this point, whatever wattage you are saving would be minimal in the short run and moderate in the long run, however if you are on a mission, go for it and let the rest of us know. Hehe

Peace,
John H.