Adding Protein skimmer/fuge sump

I am currently putting the finishing touches on the return plumbing of a 20L that I have divided for use as a protein skimmer/refugium.

My question is what kind of flow rate should go through the skimmer section? I am looking at having another overflow box that will supply a total of roughly 500-600 GPH which will be split between the fuge/skimmer sections.

My questions is: is 500GPH enough flow for a ReefOcto NWB200?

I will only be trickling 20 or so gallons/hour through the fuge - the skimmer will get the rest of the flow from the overflow box (about 500 GPH).

The skimmer will be returned into the reactor section of the main sump and the fuge will return just short of the return chamber so that any pods that drain out are sent right into the DT.

It is a 120DT with a 40BR sump - I am adding this additional 20L sump for the fuge/skimmer. The reason is that the limited space under the DT for the 40BR does not make it easy to install let alone service, any size skimmer underneath. Also, given my sump design there was no way to limit flow through one section down to a level acceptable for fuges.

So I opted to add volume all the while making the two new chambers (fuge/skimmer) totally isolated and controlled by ball valves into and out of the 20L.


I will post pics later tonight.

Let me know what you experts think!!!

 

Anyone know about flow/feed rates for skimmers?

 

I just set up a small sump/fuge and I have about 20gph hour running through my fuge, maybe a bit less. It doesn't need much.

 

Looking up info it says 750 gph.... but that sounds like a lot. Most needle wheels will give a air and water flow rate. Sometimes you see the water flow rate as what the pump does if it pumps water. Not sure if that is the case here. You might have to give a call. Like for instance a Sicce PSK-2500 is used on a lot of 200g skimmers and it does about 350gph of water. Do you have the Sicce or that other one OTP3000???

For a skimmer rated at 250g 750 gph water flow rate sounds high... but maybe that is what it does. There is no certain water flow rate per gallon though that I have ever seen. Meaning a certain turn over rate as a way of rating skimmers.

Anyway.... if you supply too little then you will really be recircing some of the water in the skimmer section. To much and you are simply moving more water than you need to and wasting power. Sounds like 750-500 would be a good ball park.