return pump and skimmer pump

[moxa]

Hi reefer,

I am new to marine hobby.

Would like to know do I need 2 pump for skimmer and return pump in my sump?

Can I get just one pump that have both function?

Any pump to recommend with low consumption?

Intend to use a Weipro 2012 skimmer in a 2 ft sump. Main Tank will be 3ft

Many thanks

Moxa

[jesperlam]

I personally uses 2 pumps. 1 as return and 1 for skimmer. I feel that if ur pump is strong enough for both ur skimmer and ur return, then 1 should be fine. If not the return rate will definatly be cut down.

Just my 2 cents

[blueheaven]

as for me, i will be using an MD40 tee off to chiller and FR

[moxa]

Many thanks for the reply.

would certainly take into planning when setting up the sump.

is just a normal sump. Yet to see the actual size.

one more question I used to sae photo of certain reefer sump where the skimmer is place either in the center or the last compartment of the sump.

Is there a special reason to it???

Regards,

Moxa

[jesperlam]

actually not much difference as to which compartment to place it. As long as it skims out the waste in ur water, its good enough.

[blueheaven]

if its just a sump then there's no difference but if you have a refugium, its better to place the skimmer before the refugium as it skims out the pods or the pump shreddes them. Info taken from www.melevsreef.com

[chrislwp]

Hi reefer,

I am new to marine hobby.

Would like to know do I need 2 pump for skimmer and return pump in my sump?

Can I get just one pump that have both function?

Any pump to recommend with low consumption?

Intend to use a Weipro 2012 skimmer in a 2 ft sump. Main Tank will be 3ft

Many thanks

Moxa

I personally do not recommend 1 pump sharing for return and skimmer.

As sometimes, you will need to switch off the pump for maintenance, change water and feeding. When sharing, switching it off will stop skimmer too.

There's a need for the skimmer to continue foaming so that the skimmate is being hold long enough and push up. By stopping the skimmer, the process restarted and will take again sometime to foam. Unless you skimmer is very efficient, which I don't think Weipro is.

Just 2 cents.

[blueheaven]

good point there

[jesperlam]

I personally do not recommend 1 pump sharing for return and skimmer.

As sometimes, you will need to switch off the pump for maintenance, change water and feeding. When sharing, switching it off will stop skimmer too.

There's a need for the skimmer to continue foaming so that the skimmate is being hold long enough and push up. By stopping the skimmer, the process restarted and will take again sometime to foam. Unless you skimmer is very efficient, which I don't think Weipro is.

Just 2 cents.

Wow...lucky i saw ur this post...will do that in my first water change next week. haha just got my new tank up and running last week. Thanks bro.

[visor]

as for me, i will be using an MD40 tee off to chiller and FR

hi blueheaven,

i am thinking of doing the same, need some advise from you -

1. how the return flow rate like? good?

2. where does your chiller output go to? back to the sump? or is your chiller placed in-line with your return? i.e. sump->chiller->main tank???

[blueheaven]

hi visor,

i have not done it on my tank yet (its not even here yet) but i have done exactly the same for my friends tank.

Actually IMO it depends on the type of chiller you have as different chillers need different flowrates.

For my friends setup, i tee off the return to a 1/2 HP chiller and FR and the chiller output goes back into the sump so chilling happens only in the sump. And just some extra info, I did an external thermostat connecting into the main tank to be accurate.

Now to your question, the final return flowrate is quite moderate at about 1000lph but i advise that it is not sensible to have the return generate currents in your tank unless it is small. So for big tanks its better to use other means of generating currents. Or you can put the return to good use like using a SCWD to alternate the water to blow at different areas of LR to keep the detritus from accumulating.

In the end its all in your personal preference and I hope this is of some help to you

[moxa]

Hi reefer,

Thank you so much for the advice.

Now at least i got some idea how should it done. Still have to consider is the sump big enough to put to pump else will just have to get those have 2 outlet pump. Ehiem pump came to my thinking

but seems that is about 30+ over watts of consumption for 12XX series

Many thanks again.

Moxa

[blueheaven]

u can always use an external pump.....