Too Big?
- Thread starter Pamela
- Start date
Jeremy Blaze
Former Reef Addict
Probably not. What type of skimmer is it? Downdraft, sounter current, airstone, venturi etc....
That will have a lot to do with pump sizing.
It sounds like it is about the right size for the large system you have.
That will have a lot to do with pump sizing.
It sounds like it is about the right size for the large system you have.
Larry Waughon
Active member
Any pictures of that 540 gal tank.
With skimmers taller is better. Skimmer efficiency is very highly dependant on contact time so having a longer travel path for the bubbles provides that time.
Pamela
New member
Jeremy, not trying to dodge the question, just trying to stall while I find out. I guess you have figured out that mechanics is not my strong point. If all else fails I can get my sweetie to post a pic for me when he gets home and perhaps that will help. My friend that got it for me was a manger at the store but this was quite a few years ago and has been sitting in a back room for years. To me it looks like it was specificly built for the store and I remember there being several of them as the store was huge as well as the tanks. I will get you the info asap
pioneer, the tank is being built at the moment and is due to arrive in about 3 wks. It will be coming from Georgia and we can't wait till it gets here!!!
pioneer, the tank is being built at the moment and is due to arrive in about 3 wks. It will be coming from Georgia and we can't wait till it gets here!!!
Jeremy Blaze
Former Reef Addict
Get that pic up, and we should be able to tell a lot from it then.
graveyardworm
Premium Member
Here's my 6' lifereef skimmer, when I bought it I was afraid it might be too much for my 300 gal+ system. No way man this thing kicks butt I'm very glad I didnt go with smaller one. Up until one week ago I was getting a full skimmer cup every week, I just added a suncoral that I feed every night now I get two full skimmer cups every week, thats 2 quarts or more of the smelliest brown sludge you can imagine. You wont be disappointed with the taller skimmer.
graveyardworm
Premium Member
That does look somewhat similar, but I dont think its a lifereef, if it was it would have lifereef printed on it somewhere. Mine is running a 1200 GPH Little Giant pump. I think I would run something in that GPH range. It looks like a venturi style skimmer, but with that pic I cant say for sure. Assuming the valve on he left is on the return side for flow control, I would recommend replacing it with a gate style valve for finer tuning.
:lol:
It does look like you might need to shorten that lift tube if you plan to place it under your hutch. Also, at 5'3" cleaning the collection cup might induce you to lower it.
I think that is one of those Albert Thiel home built downdrafts using a Beckett wheel but without seeing the innards it is hard to say. To make your day however it should work very well. Just hide it behind the curtains.
WK now ponders how Pam will fit a 540 gallon with 240 gallon sump in that cabinet
It does look like you might need to shorten that lift tube if you plan to place it under your hutch. Also, at 5'3" cleaning the collection cup might induce you to lower it.
I think that is one of those Albert Thiel home built downdrafts using a Beckett wheel but without seeing the innards it is hard to say. To make your day however it should work very well. Just hide it behind the curtains.
WK now ponders how Pam will fit a 540 gallon with 240 gallon sump in that cabinet
Pamela
New member
Sorry waterkeeper, I should have explained. Its sitting in the kitchen for the picture as it was the only room that was clean at the time The tank is going in our garden room in the wall with the system behind it in a back room. The room had a indoor pool in it at one time but had been filled in when I bought it but the drains are still in the floor The plans are to build a bar in front of it so it will sit up fairly high. As far as being able to reach it, well thats what I keep sweetheart around for!!! Just kidding, he's welding a metal stand for it now it's just that he's new to tanks and is trying to figure out how to put the system togather as he goes. I know we'll need a chiller but how big and which one? Also a friend has recommended a pump called a nemo. Have you heard anything about them by any chance? We can sure use any ideas and suggestions to help get it running right. For starters he was wanting to know just how a skimmer operates to better his chances of figuring out how to put it togather. I told him to just make millions of tiny bubbles float up the tube, he said he'd be better off without my help It must be the guy thing so perhaps ya'll can help him out Thanks
The tank is going in our garden room in the wall with the system behind it in a back room. The room had a indoor pool in it at one time but had been filled in when I bought it but the drains are still in the floor The plans are to build a bar in front of it so it will sit up fairly high. As far as being able to reach it, well thats what I keep sweetheart around for!!! Just kidding, he's welding a metal stand for it now it's just that he's new to tanks and is trying to figure out how to put the system togather as he goes. I know we'll need a chiller but how big and which one? Also a friend has recommended a pump called a nemo. Have you heard anything about them by any chance? We can sure use any ideas and suggestions to help get it running right. For starters he was wanting to know just how a skimmer operates to better his chances of figuring out how to put it togather. I told him to just make millions of tiny bubbles float up the tube, he said he'd be better off without my help It must be the guy thing so perhaps ya'll can help him out Thanks
Hi Pam,
The need for a chiller is always somewhat elusive. If you have good AC then it may not be needed. Of course, if you party too hardy in that pool in the garden room then all bets are off.
As for "Finding Nemo" I thought Nemo pumps where progressive cavity pumps. Usually OK for pressure applications as they are a type of positive displacement pumps. However, they usually don't provide the flow rates of the more common centrifugal pumps found in the hobby unless quite large. I am often wrong so maybe someone knows more about them for hobby applications.
As for the bubbles make him watch reruns of Lawrence Welk on PBS this weekend.
The need for a chiller is always somewhat elusive. If you have good AC then it may not be needed. Of course, if you party too hardy in that pool in the garden room then all bets are off.
As for "Finding Nemo" I thought Nemo pumps where progressive cavity pumps. Usually OK for pressure applications as they are a type of positive displacement pumps. However, they usually don't provide the flow rates of the more common centrifugal pumps found in the hobby unless quite large. I am often wrong so maybe someone knows more about them for hobby applications.
As for the bubbles make him watch reruns of Lawrence Welk on PBS this weekend.
Pamela
New member
Hi Tom, my work schedule the last few days have been kicking my :eek2: As far as the chiller its a given, ? is how big to do the job and some good ideas on where to look for one. Thanks on the pumps and will look into with that info. Now for sweetheart and the tiny bubbles, he suggested that we would get further along with this project discussing the bubbles in the bathtub rather than with Mr Welk on pbs Need I add it must be that guy thing again
Need I add it must be that guy thing again
I never liked Liberace
that much. :eek1:
I don't care if the climate outside is -10 to 120 in the neighborhood. As long as the room temperature is steady in the 70-80 degree range then it depends on how much lighting and stuff you have on the tank. The only way to determine that is by setting the tank up and waiting a week or two before working on the problem. Better ventilation or adding fans that blow cool air over the tank surface is always cheaper than running a chiller. I wish I could be more definitive but only trial and error will tell.
I don't care if the climate outside is -10 to 120 in the neighborhood. As long as the room temperature is steady in the 70-80 degree range then it depends on how much lighting and stuff you have on the tank. The only way to determine that is by setting the tank up and waiting a week or two before working on the problem. Better ventilation or adding fans that blow cool air over the tank surface is always cheaper than running a chiller. I wish I could be more definitive but only trial and error will tell.
Pamela
New member
Ok Tom, time for me to fess up. Remember that we are putting the tank in a large room added to the house that at one time had a pool in it. The room is built with concrete walls and high ceilings made of metal. It has glass down the north and south walls with several sky lights. We are slowly (doing it ourselves) insulating as we go and putting in more efficient glass doors and windows but of course its still going to be on the warm side. On top of that after reading Anthony Calfo's ' Book of Coral Propagation' we are going to put the tank under natural light and see what happens. We have 4, 400k mhs that we had over the 240 that if it dosen't work out we'll go back to but if it does what I hope it does we figured we'd sell those and put the money towards the chiller. We truly are excited and so want to do everything right this time. All these years with tanks on my own if it wasn't for pure luck on my side I would have surely killed everything by now.
It sounds like the pool party is out however.
Tanks using natural light often do very well. Biggest problem usually centers around excess heat build-up.
Tanks using natural light often do very well. Biggest problem usually centers around excess heat build-up.
