Reeflo/Sequence Skimmer Club

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12478875#post12478875 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Medicine Man
Those of you with the 250 and the upgraded cup, did you also increase the size of the feed pump? I know Mike runs about 1000-1100 gph through his and has great results. I tried it with mine and lost performance instead of gaining it but I still have the original cup. Upgraded cup should be here Wednesday. What have you found?
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I am running about 600 gph with a little giant pump, upgraded cup, regular AO motor which seems to be about right.
 
If the gold and the AO motor spin at the same RPM's, then what makes the Gold a better pump for skimming? The only advantage that makes sense is it runs cooler and "should" last longer. A disadvantage is that it runs at 130w vs 120w.

Cweder said it pulls the same amount of air.
 
I was under the impression that the Gold spun at higher RPMs and that the AO motor was tending to lose performance sooner. I was also under the impression that the Gold uses less wattage... ? I have not checked the written specs however.
 
The Dart GOLD pushes 3800 GPH and draws 132 watts. In addition to this, there is a SUPER Dart GOLD Pump that pushes 4300 GPH and draws 165 watts.

The regular DART pump pushes 3600 GPH and consumes 145 watts.
 
There we go. I guess I misinterpreted the standard impeller numbers for the NW numbers. With the NW it will draw less watts then the standard Dart NW.

I think you have the best idea fishtruck. I'm not going to use the Gold pump til the AO craps out or my bioload increases dramatically. I won't have to worry about a skimmer for years to come. :)
 
I just got my new Dart NW pump in the mail today. When i picked up the box it was extremely heavy. When i opened it, inside i found the Orca pump housing mounted to a Baldor motor!! Its huge!! I'm guessing from what the wattage listed its the Super version?(165 watts)?
 
I upgraded my AO Smith pump with the New Dart Gold pump over the weekend and have noticed a definite increase in performance. I've had to lower the water level by an inch (from being level with the top of the collection cup black flange to level with the bottom of the skimmer neck black flange) and close the air valve by about 15% and it still produces adequate foam to get into the collection cup. I will tweak it over the next few days so the air valve is fully open.
 
I know there was a link posted for this in one of the threads on RC but I can't seem to find it. Anybody know where I could buy a 50mm to 1.5 inch Sch 80 conversion adapter from? I plan on putting a gate valve on the Reeflo 250 to help me control the water level better. Also, what's a good place to buy a Sch 80 1.5" gate valve from?

Thanks,
 
With the new pump and Cup upgrade I tried feeding 1000gph, all I can say is Wow. This thing is a monster. I hope the Next Reeflo would have an option for adding the 2nd pump. I mean 2 pumps, one on each side.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12490589#post12490589 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BreadmanMike
There we go. I guess I misinterpreted the standard impeller numbers for the NW numbers. With the NW it will draw less watts then the standard Dart NW.

I think you have the best idea fishtruck. I'm not going to use the Gold pump til the AO craps out or my bioload increases dramatically. I won't have to worry about a skimmer for years to come. :)
Click to expand...

Right. Plus, it's much more FUN to fix something when you can make it better at the same time, rather than putting on your crappy tired old pump that is sitting in the closet.
 
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Any running the GOLD pump with the stock cup on the 250? Switching to the GOLD pump so wondering how thats working.
 
Is it better to put the gate valve on the intake or exit side of this skimmer to best control the water level...or both? Skimmer is fed off gravity from display in the room above.
 
You only need it between your overflow and the skimmer. You will need to be able to control how much water is feeding into the skimmer. Make sure you Y off your over flow so the remander of the water enters your sump.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12524715#post12524715 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by klasiksb
Any running the GOLD pump with the stock cup on the 250? Switching to the GOLD pump so wondering how thats working.
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+1. I am thinking about the upgrade pump, but don't really have room for a taller cup. I could if I relocate my skimmer but don't really want to. I also don't know if the upgrades are really needed as my system is about 300g total. I love my skimmer stock.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12524819#post12524819 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jpa0741
+1. I am thinking about the upgrade pump, but don't really have room for a taller cup. I could if I relocate my skimmer but don't really want to. I also don't know if the upgrades are really needed as my system is about 300g total. I love my skimmer stock.
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If your skimmer is running great and your happy with its output, I wouldn't change a thing. Sure the upgrade cup will help you even with a small system, but is it really worth relocating the skimmer? I would hold off on any upgrades until you see a change in performance or you majorly increase your bioload or water volume. I would also upgrade the cup before the pump.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12524781#post12524781 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JRaquatics
You only need it between your overflow and the skimmer. You will need to be able to control how much water is feeding into the skimmer. Make sure you Y off your over flow so the remander of the water enters your sump.
Click to expand...

Check out the sweet overflow feed that someone else did earlier in this thread. You need a way to evacuate the air so that air is not entering your skimmer and the "Y" that JR described can do that. Water should contsantly overflow this area into your sump so that you have constant pressure feeding your skimmer, even if the flow from the overflow box goes up and down.

Put your valve after the air escape.

FYI - I could not get my gravity feed to work and went with a pump instead. I just fired it straight into the skimmer and it did not work at all.

The outflow has a build-in flow control with the twist knob at the "T". You can replace this with a gate valve if you like.
 
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