Protein skimmer pump

Joined
Dec 2, 2013
Messages
369
Likes
28
Points
18
Location
Torrance
#1
What is the advantage of upgrading the skimmer pump to a higher flow rate vs upgrading to a new bigger skimmer?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

loc01

New member
Joined
Aug 23, 2007
Messages
91
Likes
2
Points
6
#2
More turn over rate but it depends on how big is the skimmer neck, the skimmer might keep overflow with higher flow pump if a skimmer has a smaller neck. Bigger skimmer usually has a bigger neck and can handle higher flow pump.
 
Joined
Jan 23, 2011
Messages
8,510
Likes
2,447
Points
83
Location
Perris 92571
My Tank Build
#4
I do recommend as Jose says that the pump size is set to match the skimmer body. But I did purchase an over sized pump for my itech200 skimmer when the third Tunze hydrofoamer pump went out. I went with a skimz 5000 dc pump. The Tunze was 3/4” outlet and rated at 1200 lh air draw. The skimz has a 1” outlet and rated from 800-2000l/h air draw.
To get the skimz pump to work with the itech200 I had to drill the inlet holes to 1”. Then after getting the pump to fit, it took me many months of messing around with the skimmer to find the perfect water depth and air draw. I found that the perfect water depth was at 7” deep. The the Tunze the skimmer ran best at about 8” deep. If I put the skimmer with the skimz pump at 8” I would have a volcano at anything higher then 30% power setting. Then after finding 7” water depth being the sweet spot I started messing with air draw at different power levels.
So if I run the pump at 100% power then I have to have the air valve open all the way. If the air valve is closed any little bit then I get way to much water in the skimmer body and the skimmer will volcano. But if I run the skimmer at 30% power and the air valve fully open then the air draw is to high in the skimmer body. This cause the foam head to be very large and I get a lot of junk buildup inside the neck of the skimmer and the skimmate being to dry (if that makes any sense). If I raise the water level in the skimmer then the head doesn’t diols right and it will skim inconstant. But I would by valving down the air draw I get a better head and can’t run more water through the body.
Also I’ve found it’s finding the sweet spot of air and water flow. So if I throttle the air down to much then I get to much water flow through the skimmer with cause massive amount of micro bubbles to exit out the skimmer.
So I say to you it is an art to get the skimmer to run like a charm and if you don’t have to time and patients to mess with adjusting water levels and air draw then it may not be worth it to you.
Fixing my skimmer was worth my time. Sense I’ve had this skimmer body for close to 13 years and the maker is no longer manufacturing them anymore. Also itech skimmers were hand made by one man in his shop
 

Latest posts

Top