melev

Nice post, Marc... very clean setup. How deep is the water in each of your sections?

The skimmer section is 8" deep and the return 7" deep.

On DFW sites and such, you give a layout of the sump with arrows. can you do that some time and give some dimensions and depths? i really like your current sump and may use its design (if thats ok?) but it would need tweaking for my situation.
Thanks!!

(isnt your ER SKimmer a 12-2? 12-1 is 24" tall, 12-2 is 30" tall, 12-3 is 36" with 3 pumps. or is considered a 12-3 now with the upgraded Ehiem pumps?)
Do you like your skimmer, or do you plan on changing/upgrading/trying something different later? (does it still overflow like it did? and do you attest that to the pellets?)

Thanks Marc...I am at least one of the members that asked for more... and I still want more! How much flow do you estimate to the reactors? Are they daisy chained together or does each one receive its input from the manifold? The sump pictured here also has another side containing macro algae and a sand bed yes? What is the overall flow pattern in the entire fuge? How does the, I assume, lower flow volume through the fuge rejoin the remaining sump chambers?
Sorry so how, what, why, etc... but inquiring minds NEED to know!
Thanks in advance,
Jim

Marc
does your skimmer still overflow, and do you attest it to the bio pellets?
also, is the swabbie still holding up to your expectations?

dahenley - I have the skimmer box in the garage still, so I'll check the label for the model number. 12-2 it is, sorry for that. It still does the job, so there is no need at this time to change it out. Two ER-style Eheim pumps and the Swabbie upgrade adds up to $600 that I've sunk into it in the past couple of years. Might as well use it.

I'll get a new picture of this sump (or a replica) to give some flow patterns.

Jim - The Nextreef SMR XL's flow through the Biospheres is around 500gph. The other reactor is probably running at 250gph. They are not daisy-chained. The Calcium Reactor is probably receiving 50gph or so, since the effluent is a quiet trickle. Some flow is pushed into the frag tank, maybe 300gph.

The tank has 5 drains. Four go to the skimmer section, and one to the refugium zone. The refugium has a 4" DSB and is 58" long. The water level is 12" tall, and is lit with a UniqueLED daylight-LED fixture. The skimmer section and the refugium zone drain into the return section where the reactors are. Black foam sheets act as a shade barrier to limit algae growth in the cylindrical gear and sump.

dahenley - When dialed in correct, the skimmer doesn't overflow.
Yes, I'm loving the simplicity and realiability of the biopellets.
The Skimmer Swabbie is still working as it should.

Thanks Marc... a bunch for adding the detail. Just so I understand the geometry... is there a bubble trap from the fuge section to the return section then?

No, the water drains through a section of black egg crate that is 12 to 16" long, and the flow pours through very slowly and quietly. No bubbles form, so there's no need for a trap.