I went to install my "new" skimmer today, and it seems... it won't fit.
My sump is basically two compartments, one large and one small. To help the visual, the overflow is on the left in the large area, and return on the right in the small area.
Here are the facts:
1. The large compartment houses the pipe from the overflow, (into a box w/ rubble so it doesn't blow the sand up), a sand bed, chaeto, rubble, heater and pods.
2. The small compartment houses the return pump, and before, the skimmer.
3. The skimmer will not fit into the small compartment, that much is certain. The footprint is fine but with the fittings for the recirc pump it becomes a no-go. Even if I reconfigured the fittings (MAY create enough room), that would put the return in the 'fuge... with sand.
4. The sump will not come out of the stand for modification.
5. The old skimmer is not really adequate for this size, and another skimmer is financially out of the question.
The only option I see is to remove everything, and move the fuge stuff over to the small compartment, and house the skimmer and return pump in the large compartment.
However, I'm concerned about disturbing the sand. It has only been there since March, but I'm sure there's plenty of nasty there by now.
Should I totally remove the 'fuge sand and put the chaeto in a BB compartment? Should I move the sand, and run the skimmer for a period of time without restoring flow to the DT to get rid of what I stir up? Would that even help the nitrate spike I'd be creating?
My sump is basically two compartments, one large and one small. To help the visual, the overflow is on the left in the large area, and return on the right in the small area.
Here are the facts:
1. The large compartment houses the pipe from the overflow, (into a box w/ rubble so it doesn't blow the sand up), a sand bed, chaeto, rubble, heater and pods.
2. The small compartment houses the return pump, and before, the skimmer.
3. The skimmer will not fit into the small compartment, that much is certain. The footprint is fine but with the fittings for the recirc pump it becomes a no-go. Even if I reconfigured the fittings (MAY create enough room), that would put the return in the 'fuge... with sand.
4. The sump will not come out of the stand for modification.
5. The old skimmer is not really adequate for this size, and another skimmer is financially out of the question.
The only option I see is to remove everything, and move the fuge stuff over to the small compartment, and house the skimmer and return pump in the large compartment.
However, I'm concerned about disturbing the sand. It has only been there since March, but I'm sure there's plenty of nasty there by now.
Should I totally remove the 'fuge sand and put the chaeto in a BB compartment? Should I move the sand, and run the skimmer for a period of time without restoring flow to the DT to get rid of what I stir up? Would that even help the nitrate spike I'd be creating?
