melev

For the past two weeks, I was thinking about modifying my Euroreef protein skimmer so it could work in conjunction with my NextReef biopellet reactor. I was considering drilling a hole in the body of the skimmer, inserting a uniseal and then pumping the effluent of the reactor into the reaction chamber of the skimmer. In this way, it would definitely export dead or dying bacteria exiting the reactor. Perhaps that stuff was causing the dinoflagellates in my tank, I really don't know.

So I called Jeff Macare, formerly of Euro-reef and currently owner of Reef Dynamics, his new skimmer company. We played phone tag for days, but finally on Saturday we connected. After describing my plan, he suggested an alternative using a Tee fitting on the intake of the Eheim pump. His solution was much better, and didn't alter the dynamics within the skimmer's body - a concern of mine.

Off to Home Depot I went, Eheim part in hand. I tried a number of fittings to find the right size, and came home with a 1" x 1" x 1" slip Tee fitting. I bought a 1" endcap as well. Using a dremel with a sanding wheel, I thinned out one end to fit over the Eheim's intake so it could slip on. The end cap was glued into the opposite end, and was drilled with a 7/8" paddle bit to accommodate the flexible tubing coming from the NextReef reactor.







With the Tee in place, the effluent would flow out directly into the intake of the Eheim pump, and if there wasn't enough water going in, more could enter via the opening at the top of the Tee.

I installed it last night, and used my hand to feel the flow rates and suction. It seems like this will work perfectly, and was a very easy solution.



You can see a little bit of the flex tubing inside.



Yes, I need to clean out my sump.... should be able to get to that later this week. I was just glad to get this accomplished!