Help with Reef Devil Skimmer Plumbing!

[agent6473]

Here's my setup:

mag 7 in sump that pumps up about 2.5' to a reef devil skimmer sitting on a table next to the tank.
the skimmer has a gate valve on the drain and then goes into a 1" spaflex flexi-pvc tube down around 2' to the sump. The bottom of this flexipvc tube is about 3" below water level in the sump.

Here's my problem:
When I plug in the pump the skimmer fills with water and then it flushes down and then works correctly. However, when I close in the gate valve a bit to get the water level correct for skimming operation when the pump restarts the drain will not drain the skimmer fast enough and it will start to flood.

What is wrong with my drain????

HELP!

Chris

 

[agent6473]

Is it a result of using the hosebarb which would restrict diameter to go to the 1" spaflex? Should I switch to normal 1" PVC pipe with a couple elbows? Will that solve the drain speed problem?

Right now it works, but if the pump were to restart, I'd have a flood...

 

[MikeG]

The first thing I would try is to take the drain out of the water and see if it still floods when restarted. Some skimmers are not suppose to have the return submersed, maybe this is one?

 

[RichConley]

I agree, it may be the sort of situation where the air in the pipes cant get out fast enough when starting up. Try pulling the drain out of the water and see if it helps.

Are you using Vinyl Tubing chris? Spaflex shouldnt need any hose barbs, its just semi flexible PVC. The hose barb may not be helping, but I dont think thats the issue. You're only looking at 400+ gph with the mag7 after the injector/etc, so I dont think its that the pipes can't keep up. Sounds like vapor lock to me....kinda like when you restart a return and the durso goes a little high before it catches up.

 

[agent6473]

I was thinking about that also. I'll try using an elbow at the end of the spaflex to create a vent.

Let you know how it goes later.

 

[agent6473]

problem solved.

thanks guys

 

[MikeG]

Glad it was an easy fix for ya