The danger of a skimmer cup drainline

[AmherstReef]

When I moved my sump into the basement I thought what a great idea, hook a drain line to the skimmer cup so I never have to empty it.

This morning I went into the basement and found my skimmer going nuts and had pumped out a good 5 gallons which dropped the return section level really low, luckily I caught it in time before the pump went dry or the heaters were exposed.

So a good idea can sometimes backfire, but of course now I realize the need for a low level float switch.

Lesson learned.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

run your skimmer level LOW!

This is important: heaters should be placed at lowest level (bottom of sump) and protected by baffle(s) so it's IMPOSSIBLE for them to get exposed

 

[RoscoPColtrane]

Install a float valve shut off on the overflow container. When it hits a certain level have it kill the power to the skimmer.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

shutting down a skimmer is to be avoided

shutting down a skimmer is to be avoided

all the water in a powered down skimmer will stagnate.

When the skimmer gets turned back on the toxic water can harm everything in the display.

IME the worst problem with reef aquariums in the event of a power outage.

I used to use a low level float switch in my sump. This is a good solution for several conditions but I got rid of mine because you can design systems so you don't need one.

 

[AmherstReef]

My skimmer is in my sump, one power cuts out the skimmer body drains, only water remaining would be in the collection cup.

Also I always run it low and keep my heaters on the bottom of my return section.

 

[neoh]

all the water in a powered down skimmer will stagnate.

When the skimmer gets turned back on the toxic water can harm everything in the display.

IME the worst problem with reef aquariums in the event of a power outage.

I used to use a low level float switch in my sump. This is a good solution for several conditions but I got rid of mine because you can design systems so you don't need one.

An option to counter act this, is have your controller turn the skimmer on 5 or 10 minutes after the power gets turned back on. That way the water can level out, and when the skimmer turns back on it doesn't overflow.

 

[TheGodParticle]

Rosco hit the nail on the head. It's a 5 dollar fix. Install a float valve on the drain bucket. Once the water level hits that valve, boom. It shuts it off. No more draining your tank. You'd be crazy to run your skimmer without one...

 

[AmherstReef]

Well first off the drain line goes directly into the basement sump so there is no way to put any float switch in there.

Also this did not happen after any type of water change or start up. This was a random skimmer freak out and overflow , no idea what caused it

 

[Randy15]

Check for salt backup in the air inlet

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

I used to use a low level float switch in my sump.

I think this is gonna have to be your fix here

 

[NirvanaFan]

I take it you don't have an ATO? It was probably a good thing in this case.

I've heard of people's skimmer's going nuts and pumping out gallons of water down the drain. Their ATO kicks on and keeps pumping in fresh water, lowering their salinity.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

I take it you don't have an ATO? It was probably a good thing in this case.

I've heard of people's skimmer's going nuts and pumping out gallons of water down the drain. Their ATO kicks on and keeps pumping in fresh water, lowering their salinity.

ditto that!

That's why I prefer ATO's based on evap- not water level.

This could have been a real disaster here. Better make amends.

 

[AmherstReef]

I do have an ATO with a float switch , however its hooked up to my Reef Angel controller which has a timeout feature. I have the ATO set to never run more than four minutes. So I dont have to worry about the float switch sticking, especially with running Kalk

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

I have the ATO set to never run more than four minutes.

this might have saved you!