stupid Skimmer question

[xaflatoonx]

i am SURE this is a stupid question for you guys - but i just wanted to be sure.

I got the Octopus 150 skimmer

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/reef-octopus-classic-150int-6-internal-protein-skimmer.html

question is - that GREY outlet - which sits on the RED pipe in that picture.

Does that need to be ABOVE water level?
does that need to be outflowing the water in the NEXT compartment of the sump? or is it okay if water comes out into the SAME compartment where the skimmer is?

thank you

 

[tmz]

Above the water line in the sump.

Maybe better in the next compartment depending on how your sump is configured;ok in the same compartment. The water will just be mixed with new water entering the sump and re skimmed in the later application .

 

[JMorris271]

Above the water line in the sump.

Maybe better in the next compartment depending on how your sump is configured;ok in the same compartment. The water will just be mixed with new water entering the sump and re skimmed in the later application .

That means the skimmer would need to be set up 10"higher off the bottom of the sump? HMMM
I believe the in comig drain flow will push all the discharged water from the skimmer into the first compartment on down the next sump chamber with very little to no reskimming.
The turning handle is what needs to be above the water level according to Coralvue

 

[tmz]

No.
It doesn't mean that at all. That would be silly.Read those instructions again.

Here they are:

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Media/PDF/79697-OctopusSkimmerNWB110Instructions.pdf

From the instructions :


Water level in sump should be 6”-10” as long as it is not covering the water outlet pipe.

 

[tmz]

I believe the in comig drain flow will push all the discharged water from the skimmer into the first compartment on down the next sump chamber with very little to no reskimming.

How could you possibly know that without knowing more about the sump; turnover water exchange rates for example?

 

[JMorris271]

I know you know what you are talking about for sure. We all want to learn and you are a big help.
I could be wrong but Gravity flow and TDP is why I think that the incoming water will flow to the least resistance and seek its own level through hole in the chamber baffle to the next chamber that has a lower level.

 

[JMorris271]

No.
It doesn't mean that at all. That would be silly.Read those instructions again.

Here they are:

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Media/PDF/79697-OctopusSkimmerNWB110Instructions.pdf

From the instructions :


Water level in sump should be 6”-10” as long as it is not covering the water outlet pipe.

My answer was based on answers I got to the same question. . Just doing the best I can Bob. Nice tank you have.
I want to admit I did not see she has the classic 150 INT. I thought she had the Classic NWB 150
I have raised my RO skimmer up off of the bottom 2" so I could increase the amount of water in that chamber

How do you propose that the OP move that water from one chamber to the next? Most skimmer chamber baffles I have seen (IMHO) are about as high
as the sump walls.

 

[xaflatoonx]

my first baffle is 9" which is the start of a bubble trap.

So i am thinking of raising the sump enough that the OUTLET pipe is a little over the 9"...

as long as its not FULLY dipped in water - i should be okay - i think.

 

[JMorris271]

It doesn't matter where your pipe comes out as long as the skimmer is within the range the specks call for in my case is 8-10". The skimmer doesn't know that it's sitting on a stand. There could be 15 inches of water in the skimmer chamber but as long as it is raised to within that range, it will be fine
I suggest you look at the link on this site. It's not the exact RO you have but the idea is the same

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQP37LrdXgM

 

[tmz]

my first baffle is 9" which is the start of a bubble trap.

So i am thinking of raising the sump enough that the OUTLET pipe is a little over the 9"...

as long as its not FULLY dipped in water - i should be okay - i think.

The height of the water column inside that skimmer will vary depending on the depth of submersion of the outlet. It won't go higher than the outlet unless the gate valve is used to restrict it.
The higher the water rises in the skimmer ,the shorter the air space for foam production will be . On the other hand a taller water column gives longer dwell time for the bubbles to adsorb organic molecules. It's the difference between what is commonly referred to as skimming wet vs dry.
Submersion of the skimmer outlet affects the depth of the water in the skimmer even when the gate valve is fully open .
Some aeration may be lost if the outlet flow is submerged vs allowing it to fall through the air and ripple the surface. It will likely be quieter though.

If you have brisk return flow in the skimmer compartment I wouldn't worry about discharging it to the next compartment. There is nothing wrong with multiple passes for some of the water ; recirculating skimmers do it all the time.

It's easy to put the skimmer on a platform( some acrylic or plexigalss with ziptied legs of pvc works nicely) to get the height you want in a deeper sump.
If you want to direct the skimmer output, adding a length of pvc to the outlet to direct the skimmed water to any downhill location is easy enough.

 

[JMorris271]

It would be possible to T off that skimmer discharge pipe (if that is the way you choose to go) to divide the water volume into what you desire going to the fuge and the balance to the return chamber if you have a refugium in your set up.