Re-plumbing sump: suggestions?

[bennyinca]

Ok, I want to change the flow / plumbing of the return pump.
The tank is a mixed reef, 100g. For circulation, I have a Tunze 6000, and a closed loop with an ampmaster 3000 pump, connected to an OM super squirt.

The return pump is a quiet one 4000 model, which gives about 600 gph at 4ft head pressure. The overflow drains to a 1.5' pipe into the sump (filter socks), at the skimmer compartment. The euroreef cs6-2 works well, and I have the original sedra 3500, but recently upgraded it to the aquabee 2001.

I am thinking to replacing the return pump with the eheim 1250. It will cut flow to below 200 gph at 4ft head pressure. I am thinking that is ok, because flow is provided by other 2 pumps. Then I want to turn the CS6-2 into a recirc skimmer, taking the drain in directly from the tank as input, with the aquabee in recirculating mode.

With that I think I should be able to skim more efficiently? But efficient enough to impact the refugium ?

Any comments / suggestions?
Thanks!

 

[bennyinca]

In short:

Current:

Planned:

 

[NicoleC]

It is really unlikely that you'd remove that many organics, or over the entire spectrum of the DOS sizes, no matter how good the skimmer. I wouldn't worry about it.

I haven't played with re-circ skimmers, but have heard good things about them. Personally, I would not downgrade your return pump -- is there any actual reason to either reduce flow or reduce turnover in your tank? If you need to limit the flow coming into the skimmer, just T off your drain and install a valve so you can precisely control the flow into the skimmer.

 

[bennyinca]

Nicole, thanks for the suggestions. I was thinking of replacing the quiet one pump with the eheim, to lower noise and wattage used. I would lose about 4x water volume flow. I figure I can let the tunze (10x +)and the ampmaster (20x +) handle most of the flow. I can probably tee-off the drain, I was just hoping for less pipes in the sump :lol:

 

[NicoleC]

Hmmm. It might be more productive to eliminate the Seio in the fuge? For that size fuge I wouldn't think you'd need it. I have the same size sump... but I also have about 1250gph hurtling through it!

 

[bennyinca]

Well, I heard chaeto is the easiest thing to keep alive, but I managed to kill 3 batches of it in my fuge...
So I tried several things, and the macro has been happy since I added the extra flow to the fuge.