Phosban and skimmer

[ckyuv]

Just got a phosban reactor, now I see I have to add yet another pump to the tank, my question is can I put my skimmer on the return of the reactor so I can just use the same pump or will the reactor affect the skimmers performance?

[Juiceman]

Yeah, it will effect the skimmers performance. And a skimmer uses a Venturi pump which already reduces the flow. You can manifold from your return pump, works very well usually.

[+Capt. Obvious]

+1 on manifolding return, phosban just needs enough flow to keep the media tumbling

[ckyuv]

When you say manifold do you just mean to make a t off the return? I was reading the reactor needs about 20 to 30gph

[victoly]

yep

[subsea]

At 30 GPH it does not sound like a tumbling media reactor. Why would Phosban need to tumble? If your pump capacity is sufficient for skimmer and reactor, then the tee is on the skimmer pump discharge. Do you have a separate pump from the sump to return to tank? If you have only one large pump then you will have three outputs tied in to one pump.

Patrick

[George Monnat Jr]

My skimmer flow needs to be around 900 gph (have a Mag 9.5), and my dual GFO/GAC RX has a flow of around 100 gph. That's just enough to tumble the media for maximum surface area without throwing it up in the water column and either creating dust or clogging the outlet.

[victoly]

GFO needs to tumble because it is most effective when fluidized.

[ckyuv]

So should I run skimmer on its own pump and gfo off the return?

[victoly]

that's what I would do. Unless the skimmer is DIY, most skimmers have a pump that is only large enough to supply air/water to it, and no more.