setting skimmer height

[JMorris271]

A good while back I was and now still am trying to understand how I need to do this. Please clarify this for me.
I am trying to fix the level of my skimmer. The in sump operating water level needs to be 8 inches up from the bottom of the skimmer.The confusing thing to me is in order to reach that level,I need to raise the skimmer on a stand 7" high so that the water will pass over the chambers baffle. If the water level is that high, there is not enough room for power outage drainage.How do I set this up?


Also

Almost 3/4 of the way down that baffle is a slot. What is that about? An extra passage for the water to drain to the fuge compartment.

 

[thegrun]

I'm a little confused. You should set the elevation of the skimmer 8" below the top of the baffle that separates the skimmer section from the next section over (presumably your refugium). I would also plug the slot with a piece of acrylic to prevent water from draining from the skimmer section into the refugium section.

 

[JMorris271]

I'm a little confused. You should set the elevation of the skimmer 8" below the top of the baffle that separates the skimmer section from the next section over (presumably your refugium). I would also plug the slot with a piece of acrylic to prevent water from draining from the skimmer section into the refugium section.

When you say elevation of the skimmer, what is that referring to? Where the cone begins?

I wonder why that slot is there in the first place.

 

[nuxx]

We basically raise the skimmer with PVC and eggcrate.

Had to raise it around 7" in our display and 4" in our frag tank.

 

[Sk8r]

Thank you, Nuxx. Good illo. We've used all sorts of things, even a spare measuring cup.

 

[thegrun]

The elevation of the skimmer (manufacturer's recommendation) is from the water surface down to the platform that the skimmer sits on.

 

[ericarenee]

The best way to explain this i think
With the sump running water thru it.. Put your tap measure inside the water. Put the 8 inch mark at the water level. Then at the bottom of tape put a mark on the sump . That will be the bottom of the skimmer. . Then you can measure from the inside bottom of the sump up to that mark and that is how high your skimmer stand will need to be built.

If the water level in your sump is not the 8 inch (what skimmer requires) then you will have to raise the water level in your sump to 8 inches.. Its best to have the skimmer in a chamber where the water level does not rise or fall if possible. If not you will need a ato or be sure the water stays the same consistently in that chamber

 

[JMorris271]

'
One more question please. The top of baffle is 1/2 inch from the bottom of the tank rim.So how does that allow room for water to move over that baffle? The skimmer chambers water level slap up to the top so it seems. I am wrong about that as well obviously. Ihave never seen another setup so please bear with me on this.

 

[ericarenee]

'
One more question please. The top of baffle is 1/2 inch from the bottom of the tank rim.So how does that allow room for water to move over that baffle? The skimmer chambers water level slap up to the top so it seems. I am wrong about that as well obviously. Ihave never seen another setup so please bear with me on this.

Can you post some good images of your whole sump.. I am not really understand....
here is a image of mine but its not set up like most sumps ..
View attachment 322815

 

[thegrun]

1/2"is cutting it close, but you usually only have about 3/16" to 1/4" of water running over the baffle depending of course on the width of the baffle and the water flow volume. Personally I would cut down the baffle to at least 1" below the top of the tank. The short distance is probably the reason for the slot; to allow some of the flow to pass through the slot and reduce the flow over the top.

 

[JMorris271]

1/2"is cutting it close, but you usually only have about 3/16" to 1/4" of water running over the baffle depending of course on the width of the baffle and the water flow volume. Personally I would cut down the baffle to at least 1" below the top of the tank. The short distance is probably the reason for the slot; to allow some of the flow to pass through the slot and reduce the flow over the top.

That is my thought about that cutout slot at the bottom too. It's about 3" x.33 inches.
As can be seen in the pix on post 3, the top of the baffle is FLUSH with the perimeter walls. I know I said .5 inch but it is not that. It is flush across the top with the exception of a cutout section that's about 1x2.5 inches in the middle.
So all of the flow needs to pass through the cutout square in the top middle of the baffle. This is an Eshopps R300 so I know they know what they are doing but man, I am stumped as to how this sump works as designed.

 

[A sea K]

That is my thought about that cutout slot at the bottom too. It's about 3" x.33 inches.
As can be seen in the pix on post 3, the top of the baffle is FLUSH with the perimeter walls. I know I said .5 inch but it is not that. It is flush across the top with the exception of a cutout section that's about 1x2.5 inches in the middle.
So all of the flow needs to pass through the cutout square in the top middle of the baffle. This is an Eshopps R300 so I know they know what they are doing but man, I am stumped as to how this sump works as designed.

Yes, all of the flow directed to the skimmer section is designed to run through the 3x.33 slot, keep in mind that a portion of the incoming flow is directed to the fuge.
With this in mind, measure the distance from the bottom of the sump to the bottom of the 3x.33 slot, subtract 8 from that distance and this is how tall your stand needs to be provided the manufacture calls for a 8" skimmer depth.
Go to the Eshopps sight, they have picture illustrating the way they designed the flow through the sump, might help clear things up a bit.

 

[JMorris271]

With this in mind, measure the distance from the bottom of the sump to the bottom of the 3x.33 slot, subtract 8 from that distance and this is how tall your stand needs to be provided the manufacture calls for a 8" skimmer depth.

The slot is 2 inches from the bottom of the sump so subtracting 8 will give me a -6. :uhoh2:

The real problem is if the water is high enough to pass over the top of the baffle through that gap.. I could have a flood when the system is turned off.
I hope it is as you say and all of the sumps water passes through that slot near the bottom into the fuge.
This the older 300 that Eshopps has discontinued and I Can now see why.
An option may be to split the skimmer discharge and send half of that directly to the return chamber. NO that wont work either in the power off mode.
I may need to cut that baffle down like TheGrun suggested.
I will need to see.

 

[JMorris271]

Does this matter

Does this matter

Can you please tell me if it matters if the external water level is set high enough to clear the first return baffle as shown in this photo
I now understand the skimmer needs to be set at 8 inches below to water level. I am now trying to understand where I need that top water level to be. It seems to me based on the replies to my question that I may set this level anywhere I choose as long as it's 8 inches from the top level


Thanks