plumbing q-ton??

[jadeguppy]

I'm looking to re-do the underside of my 125g 6" tank. My current set-up does not allow for a fuge and I want one. I recently aquired a reef flo barracuda that I believe runs at 4,600 or 4,800 gph. The tank has two overflows with down flows of 1" and returns of 3/4". from what I understand it should be able to handle a return flow of 2000gph. I am considering have the returns flow into a large fuge with part flowing into the return section of the fuge so I can slow down the actual fuge flow. This will then be plumbed to the external barracuda. The barracuda will then flow to an external skimmer that I was told needs the power of a mag 18 to run it properly and to the tank return. The return to the tank will have a check valve. I am considering having it fork so half the flow goes to the drilled returns and half the flow goes to lock-line over the back of the tank. If I do that, I will probably put scwd's on both to help with random flow in the tank. I'd love to be able to remove a power head or two. The skimmer will empty into the return section of the fuge or possibly a seperate bubble trap area. Phosban and carbon reactors will be run by plumbing them into the return line from the main pump. I know some of the pods will get killed in the skimmer this way and some water will get skimmed twice. I still hope it will be more effecient and productive than my current system.

Do you think this will work well? Constructive comments are welcome.

 

[jadeguppy]

I'm being advised by a local that the pump will not be able to run the skimmer. I don't know what type of skimmer it is. It has an air inlet on the section that a pump attaches to and the inside has curved ledges to spin the water. Does anyone see this as a problem? I was told the skimmer needs something like a mag 18, which is 1800gph.