Skimmer from drain line

[nolan71416]

So I have a skimmer with no pump but I was able to connect the drain into the skimmer and added a air stone in the bottom of the skimmer. I had to add extra pipe to the overflow for the skimmer bc it was pushing so much water. Do you think this will actually work long term. Asking bc I'd like to spend money on new Lights and coral/fish plus the food and medicine needed for a nice reef tank. I'm definitely going to need a calcium reactor, bio pellet reactor and something else I can't think of right now. I'm actually going to buy the acrylic sheets 1 at a time for a 8x2-2.5x2-2.5 tank by next year. So I'd like to get the cal, bio and everything besides the skimmer during that time but they will be plenty big enough for the new tank. If this will function properly or at least at 50% or more I'll wait and get a real nice skimmer for the new build. Right now my main concern is overall space for everything. I've consider running pipes underground and into my carport. Wouldn't be a huge project but one I'm not doing if I move soon which we have been looking. Us looking for a house is why I'm wanting a bigger tank, 75 was about as big as I could go without adding supports under the tank and the space is barely 2'. Here's the skimmer running from my drain line. If you see something that might make it work better at all please let me know. If you want a video to see it running from empty to full to maybe help find what I can do better please let me know. Thanks for all halls help for start to current progress in this adventure. It definitely make going this route much easier with friendly folks helping out.

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Also any ideas on the types of equipment/filtration I should have for a 250 gallon DT and probably a 100 up to a max of 150 sump, probably 125 bc that's half the DT. So just types of equipment, not brands, just making sure I have everything listed so I can at least get a good plan together. Basically which reactors and such.


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[camellia]

It would be surprising if the air stone had enough power but if you took these pictures immediately after setting it up, it looks good!


Let it run this week, shoot some pictures in a couple days. Most all Skimmer's need to run several days to "break in" before they start skimming properly.
Results will tell the facts, collection of skim in the collection cup.

A for creative

 

[nolan71416]

Lol thanks. That's after a full day of running. Set it up last night bc I was bored acclimating my new fish. Seemed to work so I was kinda surprised. Had to work with my return pump so it doesn't drain to fast or the whole top fills with water. Where should the water level be in the skimmer. Also it's a decent size air pump and it's going through several layer of a lens cloth you get with a iPhone.


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[camellia]

Your water level in the sump should be low enough so that if the return pump was to fail your sump would not overflow. That is the only mandatory requirement needed for safety purposes.
It appears from the foam coming through the neck that the water level is perfect for the Skimmer.
Have you got any skimmate yet?