Will my skimmer be an electrical hazard above the kessil?

[SereneAquatic]

It's time to finally start up the skimmer. 3 months of getting started with water changes and the fuge for nutrient export has worked well, but the cloudiness in the tank will not recede.

The sump that comes with the Red Sea Reefer 425 only really has one usable compartment, which sucks, but until I feel ambitious enough to pump an external section, I am stuck.

The predicament I am in is that when we bought the tank and equipment, we didn't know we would create a refugium. We planned on just the skimmer, so we bought a big one. (Maybe too big)

Today when I put it in the sump and got it adjusted for height there is literally not enough room above it to remove the lid without removing the whole cup.

The top of the cup is actually ABOVE the kessil grow light, and very close to it.

I don't think this is a good situation. I may be able to move the grow light back a bit, but it's still lower.

My concern is that if the skimmer ever malfunctions and starts throwing water everywhere, I'm going to start an electrical fire. Is this a valid concern?

Pics attached.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[Reef noob_]

I wouldn't be too worried.

The best system for controlling an overflowing skimmer that I've seen is having the skimmate ( or water if it's overflowing) drain into some kind of container that had a float switch in it. If the container fills to the float, power to the skimmer is cut off. This would help make sure the skimmate Is directed away from that light and controllable.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[mcgyvr]

Its a bit hard to tell the distance but in general yes the foam production from a skimmer (what leaks out the holes/when you take the cup off,etc..) will likely eventually collect on/in the Kessil light there and will eventually lead to some problem..
A simple acrylic splash shield could be placed between the 2 to mitigate the problem..

 

[SereneAquatic]

Its a bit hard to tell the distance but in general yes the foam production from a skimmer (what leaks out the holes/when you take the cup off,etc..) will likely eventually collect on/in the Kessil light there and will eventually lead to some problem..
A simple acrylic splash shield could be placed between the 2 to mitigate the problem..

This is a good idea... I will check into that. Thank you!

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[mcgyvr]

This... drill 2 holes.. hang from hooks...voila..
https://www.homedepot.com/p/OPTIX-11-in-x-14-in-x-093-in-Acrylic-Sheet-MC-27/202090111

A "better" solution is something opaque or just spray paint the acrylic (any spray paint is totally safe once dried)..to keep the light from the fuge from growing algae,etc... in the skimmer body.. That is also going to be a problem with the close proximity...

 

[Reef noob_]

Yeah his way is probably more effective.... guess I just like high tech solutions too much for my own good haha.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[SereneAquatic]

This... drill 2 holes.. hang from hooks...voila..
https://www.homedepot.com/p/OPTIX-11-in-x-14-in-x-093-in-Acrylic-Sheet-MC-27/202090111

A "better" solution is something opaque or just spray paint the acrylic (any spray paint is totally safe once dried)..to keep the light from the fuge from growing algae,etc... in the skimmer body.. That is also going to be a problem with the close proximity...

This is why you guys are awesome. I would never have thought of algae growing in the skimmer.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[billdogg]

This is why you guys are awesome. I would never have thought of algae growing in the skimmer.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

You'd be thinking about it in a few weeks when you are cleaning it out!

And I am very much with mcgyvr on this - IMHO, lo-tech is much less likely to fail at the worst possible moment.

As far as your skimmer overflowing - that is why I prefer in-sump skimmers. If it overflows it will just dump back into the sump - perhaps not the ideal solution, but it will never flood your floor with stinky skimmer water!!!

 

[kfisc]

A GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) is always a good addition, assuming you don't already have one or several going, just to be safe in general.

 

[SereneAquatic]

A GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) is always a good addition, assuming you don't already have one or several going, just to be safe in general.

The tank is on a GFCI circuit, for certain!

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[SereneAquatic]

This... drill 2 holes.. hang from hooks...voila..
https://www.homedepot.com/p/OPTIX-11-in-x-14-in-x-093-in-Acrylic-Sheet-MC-27/202090111

A "better" solution is something opaque or just spray paint the acrylic (any spray paint is totally safe once dried)..to keep the light from the fuge from growing algae,etc... in the skimmer body.. That is also going to be a problem with the close proximity...

What about (don't laugh) wrapping the skimmer in tin foil? Just the body, and not all the way around. I would leave enough open on the front side, away from the light, to see into it. If it got nasty I could just take it off and wrap it again? Plus maybe the tin foil would reflect the light a little more from the kessil. I think that would be beneficial compared to something black like spray paint. Eh?

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[homer1475]

Tin foil is aluminum. We tend to try and keep any type of metal out of the reef.

 

[SereneAquatic]

Tin foil is aluminum. We tend to try and keep any type of metal out of the reef.

It wouldn't be in the water. Is that still bad?

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[billdogg]

It wouldn't be in the water. Is that still bad?

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

Water will splash on it, salt creep will, well, creep, etc. I would consider painting the outside of the skimmer body before I would use aluminum foil on it. Mcgyvr's suggestion is probably the easiest to implement and will be plenty effective.