power delay with my skimmer...

**justin2895** · 05-12-2007, 01:39 AM

I dont know about the rest of you but when I shut my tank down for maintanace or to simulate a power outage when I first set my tank up my sump fills with water.

when power is re-applied my skimmer over flows the colection cup because my sump level is high, obvisly when the level returns to normal every thing works fine. I usually unplug my skimmer and let the water level return to normal before I turn it back on.

This works fine when I have control, but what will I do when the power goes out for real, even just for a min or two when im not home.

I guess what my question is... Is there some sort of power delay switch or somthing that has to be turned back on manualy incase of an outage?

Thank you

Justin

**Phurst** · 05-13-2007, 11:06 PM

A quick google search didn't turn up anything, but I bet such a thing does exist. Might check at a home improvement store or a Radio Shack type place.

I'm sure someone handy with wiring and such could fab somthing as well. Probably just a relay wired in somewhere.

**justin2895** · 05-13-2007, 11:52 PM

what does everyone elses skimmer do in a power outage?

**gwen_o_lyn** · 05-14-2007, 09:37 PM

What is happening is that the water continues to drain into your sump until the siphon breaks. You can drill small holes into the ball socket tube to cause the siphon to break faster.

Can you bring the ball socket tube closer to the surface which would case a quicker siphon break??

**justin2895** · 05-15-2007, 04:32 AM

my drain and return are set. I cant raise them any higher. When power is restored the sump does not drain fast enough to not over flow my skimmer. Not that I think it would be that big of a deal, the crap my skimmer pulls out is already in the water. Im just worried about the concentration being dumped back into the tank and what that would do.

**saxman** · 05-15-2007, 09:21 PM

just set up a float switch to turn on when the level is low (normal sump level), and when the sump fills up, it shuts off. you plug your skimmer into the outlet for the switch.

**justin2895** · 05-16-2007, 04:28 AM

that sounds like a good idea can you suggest one that will work?

**saxman** · 05-16-2007, 04:44 PM

yeah, i can, but i need to get home and see which one it is (unless Renee wakes up and sees this). knowing her, she'll take a pic of it!

**Phurst** · 05-16-2007, 06:49 PM

Whichever one Rob has in his top-off video, or maybe sump video, ah, whatever, one of those videos, is probably what you want. It's just a float valve wired into an outlet you would plug the skimmer pump into.

**saxman** · 05-17-2007, 11:41 PM

the name on ours is Tsunami AT1. they aren't wired to the outlet, but are connected using airline. they sense pressure change.

**PSH** · 05-18-2007, 07:46 AM

Greg I use the Tsunami also, but I don't like losing 2 gallons of water before it kicks on. Is that how yours is too?

**saxman** · 05-18-2007, 12:14 PM

ours seems to work OK...we set the level, and there it stays.

are you saying your level goes down by 2 gals before it starts? never noticed that big of a swing...

for Justin's purposes, that's not really an issue tho...he just needs to set it so his skimmer shuts off. there are mechanical-types that do the same thing.

Renee had the Tsunamis when she moved in, so those are what we use.