Need some help with a skimmer

I have the following skimmer

Super Reef Octopus 1000 Internal Protein Skimmer



What i need to know is the union size that connects the pump to the skimmer.

The problem i am having is that in order for my skimmer to work properly it needs to sit a few inches off the bottom of the sump but when i do this the pump also sits a few inches off the bottom as well because they are connected.The pump is within 1/2 of being out of the water.I can't just add more water because then this throws the skimmer off again.

I need to know the union size so i can hopefully use a few 90 degree elbows and replumb it so the pump sits on the bottom of the sump and the skimmer is up a few inches above it to the side.

I put some pictures so hopefully they help.

I need the skimmer to stay on top of the eggcrate and the pump to sit on the bottom of the sump.






Any suggestions or ideas?

The eggcrate is 2 inches tall by the way.

 

I will bump it for you.

 

I would get one that matches the output from the pump. Measure the outside diameter of the pump output to get the right size.

 

Found out through the manufacture that its a 3/4 union.

Issue now is that the difference between the pump sitting on the bottom and the skimmer sitting on the eggcrate is only 2 inches but if i just use two 90 degree elbows it will equal more then 2 inches in height which will throw everything off and i will have to add more water to the sump to make up the difference that way the skimmer is still in the same depth of water,but i can not add to much more water because if the power goes out then the sump will overflow.

 

Is the skimmer pump running that shallow really causing some type of problem that you need to lower the pump and not the skimmer body. I believe that running 90deg elbows off the skimmer pump outlet may cause a whole other set of skimmer performance issues. As long as the pump is fully under water and not causing any other problems I would set the skimmer where its at and just leave it alone.

 

It's not causing any problem right now other then my paranoia basically.

I'm worried that something might go wrong or the drain line get clogged and then the sump runs dry and burns the pump up.

I will take a look at the hardware store and see if there's anything i can do with some elbow configurations but if needed i can just leave it how it is. Just have to add top off water more now because of it.

Just thought someone might have run into a similar problem.

 

Your best bet would be to figure out something where the skimmer section of your sump is not the area the is affected by the water evaporation and always has a constant water height. This way you will get more consistant skimmer operation and you do not have the fear of your skimmer section running dry if you do not get to the top off in time and gives you a bit of piece of mind.
What does the skimmer manufacture recommend as far as water depth goes. If you just drop the pump and not the skimmer body it may have the same effect on pump operation due to the extra distance the pump will have to push the water as well as the added resistance from the 90 deg bends. I am by no means a skimmer expert but this is just my take on possible outcomes of your plans. I could be all together wrong.

 

If it were me, I'd just lower the rack the skimmer is on, take a row or two out of the eggcrate. You'll likely need to adjust it to have more air and less water (since it will be sitting deeper), but that shouldn't be an issue. Remember the manufacturer recommends that height, it doesn't mean you have to put it at that height. Id do that first before any crazy re-plumbing of the unit. If you don't like it, you can always raise it back up and re-plumb then.

 

The gate valve on the skimmer is fully open right now with the way its running and its producing a wet skim. If i make the egg crate platform shorter then the skimmer just over foams like crazy and fills the cup within minutes. It's ideal running position is where i have it now or raised even more but if i raise it higher to make it skim dryer then the pump sticks out of the water slightly.

That is why i was asking about the plumbing that way i could raise the skimmer even more but keep the pump fully sumerged so i can get a dryer foam then what i currently have.

 

I'm not really sure what your problem is. First... what is the range the skimmer needs to sit in and what depth are you running it at? Seems you are running it much too shallow.

Next, there is no way you will get consistent performance with a inconsistent water level. Skimmer performance is very sensitive to water level. So how is your sump made to where the simmer section looses evaporation.... your return pump is in the same section?