Pump question - But not your average pump question

C

chrisrush

Premium Member
[So I got a great deal on a 120 gallon tank and a dual injector MR2 skimmer. The only problem is that everything is in Houston, but that's another discussion for another day.

Here is my question. The MR2 is a pressure rated beckett skimmer, requiring a pressure rated pump to operate at its best performance. The tank has 2 overflows w/ 1" drains so I figure the flow through the sump would be around 1200gph. Andy at My Reef recommends a Gen-X PCX-55 pressure rated pump to run both the injectors. What I was thinking was getting a larger pressure rated pump, splitting the return to feed the dual beckett injectors and the 2 returns to the tank. I am planning on running a sequence dart on a Calfo mainfold on a closed loop. Another option would be to run the Calfo and the skimmer off the large pressure rated pump and get a mag 12 for the return.

Anyone have any suggestions about this? I have already thought about the problem that if the main pump were to go out, then I wouldn't have anything to pump the water back up to the main tank.

I would like to try and minimize the amout of pumps running on this tank.

Thanks in advance,
Chris]
 
[Alright, I just thought of something. I don't think that this will work unless I have some serious flow through the sump.

Second idea, run a large pressure rated pump with the returns for the closed loop and the skimmer.

Any takers?

Chris]
 
[Your 1st idea. it will work if you use valves to get the amount of flow right. However, as you mentioned it would require you to be pushing the full flow needed for both becketts (~220GPH) through the sump. I see possible problems with microbubbles and noise if you do this.

Your 2nd idea. It wasn't real clear but I think I have an idea what you are thinking. A closed loop takes water from the display and pumps it right back in. If you split it off to a skimmer which drains into your sump it is no longer a CL. Also now your sump return pump has to keep up with not only the overflow but the additional water being pumped into it by the skimmer. When your return pump dies or stops for some reason you WILL overflow your sump and drain your tank down to the CL intake.]
 
[I don't think your pump would have the abliity to create the necessary back pressure with it opened up to a couple of returns (or the manifold).]
 
[Thanks Marc and John.

I didn't catch the drainage problem on the second question that I had. I know that it wouldn't be a CL since the loop would be broken when the water dumps into the sump.

Looks like I may have to go w/ 3 pumps like I originally planned. One for the skimmer, one for the CL and one for the return pump. Thanks for the suggestions.

Chris]
 
[Chris, I have a MR-2 skimmer on a 215 with a 50 gal, sump/refugium. It only has one injector on it running with a mag 16 pump and it easily handles my tank. IMO you are putting a lot more skimmer on than you need, which takes a huge pump to run, which adds more heat.]
 
[Rick,
Thanks for the input. I'm debating on whether to run both the injectors, more than likely, I'll run one and cap one for the time being.

Andy at MRC said that the PCX-55 is the best pressure rated pump to go with, and since it's nearly the same price as the Mag 18 (~$120 at PA), I figured I'd give it a shot.

Chris]
 
[Also, I got this skimmer for the ability to upgrade at a later day, by either running the second injector or adding a 12" riser tube.

Chris]
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top