Expert Advice Needed: ASM G3 Recirc Mod

[Domboski]

I read the recirc mod directions for the ASM skimmers and it seems easy enough. I have one question about feeding the skimmer after the mod though:

Can I use my Overflow box to feed the skimmer directly if it runs about 500 gph? The asmskimmer.com used a rio 800 which is so small (I happen to have one though go figure :smash.

Thoughts?

 

[kimoyo]

Yeah but you can just tee off the drain with water going into the sump and the skimmer. You put a gate valve on the skimmer inlet to adjust how much water goes in it. But you have to worry about air bubbles going into the skimmer, it disrupts the skimmer a little.

 

[o0jmadr0x0o]

sorry to hijack but can a needlewheel pump be used to feed the skimmer making it a little more efficient?

 

[Domboski]

Yeah but you can just tee off the drain with water going into the sump and the skimmer. You put a gate valve on the skimmer inlet to adjust how much water goes in it. But you have to worry about air bubbles going into the skimmer, it disrupts the skimmer a little.

Thanks Paul. It is sounding like the mod maybe beyond my capabilities....

 

[Domboski]

sorry to hijack but can a needlewheel pump be used to feed the skimmer making it a little more efficient?

Isn't the Sedra a needlewheel pump? That is what is used with the ASM.

 

[fritz]

The mod isn't really that hard to do at all. You can feed the skimmer with a pump or the better option is to gravity feed it from your drain.

 

[Domboski]

Thanks fritz. I see how you do it clearly. What did you use to connect the return to the skimmer in terms of a gasket?

How did you know when the proper flow to the skimmer was adjusted correctly?

 

[fritz]

This particular skimmer has a built in 1/2" union. When I did this with my ASM G2 I used just a nylon 1/2" hose barb to MPT fitting. Let me find a pic

 

[kimoyo]

sorry to hijack but can a needlewheel pump be used to feed the skimmer making it a little more efficient?

You can do this but then it isn't recirculating anymore or its semi-recirculating. Bubble King does this with some of their skimmers. You might need a stronger pump though so it might turn out to be less efficient.

Fritz - Nice pic, bring me back to my ap600 days. The only difference I would do is to put a gate valve on there instead of a ball valve. I wasn't very good with tuning ball valves.

 

[vanceny]

Fritz,

How effective is the air drain? From what I've heard direct feeding from the drain can be a pain in controlling the flow through the skimmer. The skimmer needs to be fed about 1 1/2 times the total water volume. I have the same skimmer and was considering doing the same. As for a gasket, you can use a uniseal.

 

[fritz]

Fritz - Nice pic, bring me back to my ap600 days. The only difference I would do is to put a gate valve on there instead of a ball valve. I wasn't very good with tuning ball valves.

I thought about it at first and if I had to do it over I probably would go with a gate. In use I never needed to adjust it really and it was small enough that with two hands I was able to get a precise adjustment (after 1 minute or so of back and forth attempts). For an extra $20 I could have saved myself some time I guess.

 

[fritz]

How did you know when the proper flow to the skimmer was adjusted correctly?

When gravity feeding you shut off all air to the skimmer. Make sure that no air whatsoever is able to enter the pump. The only thing that should be going on is that the recirculating pump is moving water around and the drain to your tank is bringing water in. You want the water level to be right at the top of the body of the skimmer (the LARGE straight tube part). As Kimoyo mentioned, you want as few bubbles as possible to be entering the skimmer from the drain. Then slowly allow the air in. Same rules with air as nonrecirc. You want the bubbles breaking halfway up the riser tube.