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Thread: Witts end with skimmer
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21-05-2020, 08:37 PM #1
Witts end with skimmer
I have bought an over the wall skimmer and I have plumbed it several different ways now still won't pull. I did get it to pull a couple times and thought I had cracked it but the pipe work was not how I wanted it so moved it around initially it still worked but nothing now I just cannot get to pull. I have a 10,000 litres variable pump pulling through 3500mm of 50mm pipe what am I doing wrong. It nearly went over next doors earlier please help.
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21-05-2020, 09:00 PM #2
I fitted an in wall skimmer three weeks ago using 2 inch pipe gravity fed and have the same issue.
That is getting scrapped and swapped with 4 inch at the weekend which I hope fixes the issue, if it doesn’t then it stays like it!!!
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21-05-2020, 09:31 PM #3
If it won’t go by gravity have you considered a small pump to encourage flow?
Cheers
GazHobby and business gone but when you’re hooked you’re hooked.
Always happy to help!!
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21-05-2020, 10:01 PM #4
Hi Gaz I have a dry pump just for the skimmer I don't want to have a pump in the pond if that's what you meant.
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22-05-2020, 02:30 PM #5
Hi Rapleyr I hope you get it sorted it is a pain. I can't understand why it won't flow. Mines pulling water from dry mountedpump into my drum filtration. It must be the way I have run the pipe I may have another go tomorrow.
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22-05-2020, 03:46 PM #6
Have to ask, is your pump plumbing round the right way?
It’s been done before. Someone defiantly had their pump round the wrong way in the past.
If it’s all ok I’m guessing the pipework rises out from the water, up and over the coping and down to pump?
If so, then your pump will be trying to suck air not water and you may not be achieved the “syphon” effect??
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22-05-2020, 03:46 PM #7
It sounds like people don't fully understand how a gravity system works
I fitted an in wall skimmer recently and never had any water flow issues that I couldn't sort out.
I just used a 32mm flexi pipe out of the bottom of the skimmer which feeds a 3500 lph pump. From the pump I fed a pressurised filter and that fed a tornado 2 protein skimmer.
OK so it's a strange set up but I just wanted to use what I had going spare.
The pump is being gravity fed which then allows it to pump through the next 2 filters and back into the pond.
If I had a gravity fed filter I would have just put that between the skimmer and the pump but the maximum water level in gravity fed filter has to be the same as the maximum water level in the skimmer and pond. Then the pump would just pump the water back into the pond or through any other filters and then back into the pond.
I only had a flow issue when I first started the pump and the water level was too low in the pond as I was in the process of refilling the pond after fitting the skimmer and the pump ran dry and cut out. That was just a case of me being a bit impatient and not waiting long enough for the water to fill the skimmer and added filters up enough and the water level dropped too low on the entry of the skimmer as the pump was running. Once I had finished refilling the pond the skimmer system worked perfectly.
I'm no expert with gravity systems but know you have to keep your levels the same and not try to run pipework up above the water level in the pond and filters unless you have a pump pushing it up there.
A common mistake is using the term 'pull water'. Technically you can only push water as it is not a solid object it is a fluid. Once you can understand that you should start to realise that if you gravity fed a pump and the pipework goes up above the surface of the water too much unless you can get it to siphon the water supply to the pump will ne interrupted every time the pump stops and you will need to somehow push the water to the pump again.
Does that make sense now?
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22-05-2020, 03:48 PM #8
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freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
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22-05-2020, 05:33 PM #94600 Gallon Concrete Block and Fiberglass
2100 mm x 710 mm Infinity Window 32mm thick glass
2 x Aerated Bottom Drains and Skimmer
Filtreau HiFlow 30 Drum Filter
Bio Chamber - 140 litres K1
Bakki Shower - 30 KG Sakura Far Infrared Media
2 x 18,000 lh pumps
Heated from house boiler through a heat exchanger
Idealseal MS290
My Pond Build
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22-05-2020, 05:35 PM #10
You know what I mean ya muppet
If it’s got to do this then it’s gonna struggle unless I’ve got it wrong how they work
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22-05-2020, 05:35 PM #11
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22-05-2020, 05:37 PM #12
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freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
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22-05-2020, 05:43 PM #13
Bigcarpchaser that's exactly what it's got to do the supplier gave me a T piece and said that was to prime the system I did get it working but since then nothing
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freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
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22-05-2020, 05:53 PM #14
Once you have primed the pump the water will then siphon from the skimmer to the pump but as soon as you stop the pump the water will siphon back down through the skimmer and need to be reprimed again specially if you have the pump mounted higher up than the bottom of the skimmer.
If you have a gravity fed filter between the skimmer and the pump you will have the same problem I would think and you would have to keep priming the pump every time it stops.
If you can give us some more information about how you have it set up someone may have a solution for you?
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22-05-2020, 06:41 PM #15Hobby and business gone but when you’re hooked you’re hooked.
Always happy to help!!
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Frimley Koi keeper, freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
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22-05-2020, 07:00 PM #16
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freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
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22-05-2020, 08:14 PM #17
Ok so attached photos one is how I had the first set up with the black line the second is how I have it now.
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22-05-2020, 08:50 PM #18
I’ll admit, I know nothing about over the wall skimmers, but pumps in ponds are not designed to pull water, only to push it, would it not work better having the pump in the pond?
*♂️
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Frimley Koi keeper, freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
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22-05-2020, 09:20 PM #19
Water will always be level so your top loop will never be full unless you block both ends of the pipework up.
You might need some help but I’d get someone to put their hand over the end of the pipe at skimmer end, then outlet end.
Fill up the “loop” and block up filling hole.
Turn on pump
Wait a few seconds
People with hands on ends of pipes let go and hopefully you’ll get the whoosh.
Can’t see it working otherwise.
Got some kids at home to use?
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24-05-2020, 05:46 AM #20
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Frimley Koi keeper Thanked / Liked this Post
Running heater at low temp?
Covering the pond with polycarb should be enough to stop water temps dipping below 6C for the most...