What size skimmer pump?

Hello All:

I Have a Octopus Recurlating Skimmer that is making very little skimmate. I believe it is a supply problem I am using the tank overflow to feed the skimmer. I have a t with a valve to control the flow into the sump the other side to skimmer. If I close the valve off the skimmer fills up and lots of bubbles. I have a mag 7 pump I could feed the skimmer with but am afraid that it flows to much and have a 3 chamber 30 gal sump. Where do I feed the skimmer from? The overflow chamber is good but skimmer dumps in to that also. Help just a little confused. I really like the way it is plumbed now but if dont work I change.

 

Why dont you put the skimmer in the sump.

 

using a skimmer fed off of one of the drains is just supplying only some of the water that needs to be skimmed Oh it will all get there some time But the idea is to have all the water mixing in the sump and then water from sump is fed into the skimmer barrel I'd have enough pump from the sump back to the tank that would also feed the skimmer that away. If the level of the water in the skimmer's chamber is at the level it needs to be then the lack of skimmate just means there is nothing to skim.. Skimmers are not supposed to run wide open 24/7 and if you added a refugium then the amount the skimmer pulls out will be greatly reduced from the plants up taking the TDC's or DOC's from the water also.

 

Thanks for the replys. I will plum a mag 7 pump from the sump to skimmer. I have a Refugium so should I put the skimmer on a timer to slow down skimming?