Elevated Pump Above Waterline?

[Modo]

I've been having heat issues with my newly setup 90g. I disconnected the pump that runs my skimmer, submerged Dolphin 1200, and was messing around. I noticed that my tank temp dropped .5 degree in that short time.

So, I didn't run my skimmer all day and came home to a cool 78 degrees vs the normal 85. 8O Nothing else was changed! This thing is like having a nuclear reactor in my sump!

So, really my only option, due to space restrictions is to elevate the pump above the water on a rack or stand. This would make the pump have to PULL the water about 18" and then drive it into the Beckett Skimmer.

Any reason why this wouldn't work? Bad idea? Please give me some feedback and thoughts!

 

[Len]

Wow, 7 degrees!!! That sounds inexorably hot to me (like running a 200 watt heater). I wonder what's happening.

As for elevating the pump, I've done it as high as 12", but it does loss output (at least it did for me). Also, when the power goes out, the pump will not self-prime and you risk burning out the pump motor. There's ways to plumb it with an auxillary powerhead to self-prime the pump after power outtages, but it's not fail safe.

 

[Modo]

Hmmmmm. I'm going to have to think on this one.

 

[reefann]

I would buy a different pump for the skimmer. Another brand with equal gph ratings would work.
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Ferrari 312P

 

[Modo]

Yeah, that will come. But, not really an option right now. I just purchased 110#s of LR, sand, etc... to get everything running. The rock was out of a fellow reefers tank. So, going a few days until I can work something out isn't going to be a big deal.

The skimmer stopped sucking gunk after the first day. It's a pretty big skimmer for a 90g.

 

[Anonymous]

Just remember that every watt of pump equal one watt of heater 24/7. If your pump is about 200W, that is equal to a 200W heater on 24/7. So Len should not be surprised at all.

>...So, really my only option, due to space restrictions is to elevate the pump above the water on a rack or stand. This would make the pump have to PULL the water about 18" and then drive it into the Beckett Skimmer.

Powerhead is really bad when you mount it above water line because it can't suck. If you don't mind come home after a powerfailure to find your burnt-out powerhead and a tank without skimmer for hours, then there is nothing to worry about. See if you can find any space for the pump that's below the water line.... good luck.