3C & 5C

Plumbing skimmer inside of sump:

Your skimmer can be placed in up to 10 inches of water.

Use 3/4" vinyl tubing to connect the pump of your choice to the inlet of the protein skimmer.

Clamp the vinyl tubing to the barbed fitting with a clamp. (Choose a clamp that doesn't easily erode in the presence of salt water.)

Identify the 1" horizontal outlet, add a 90 degree elbow fitting and 1" pipe to bring the water back down to the sump without a splash.

The top portion of that Tee fitting acts as a vent, and should not be closed off. 

Prior to turning on the pump, be sure to open the gate valve all the way by turning counter clockwise until it stops. 

Once the pump is on, identify the water level.  Raise the water level (not the foam) by turning the gate valve clockwise until it's 1" below the top of the body chamber. 

Adjust it over the next few days to acquire the consistency of your preference.

It could take hours if your tank is established, or two weeks if your tank is new, or had a poorly functioning skimmer prior.

Plumbing skimmer outside of sump:

Follow the above directions, but be sure that the hard plumbed PVC pipe that returns the water to the tank is glued into place with clear PVC glue.

Allow the glue to dry for 24 hours before running water through it.

The outlet cannot be plumbed at an upward angle, as it would cause water in the chamber and vent to rise up and SPILL ONTO YOUR FLOOR.

It is necessary to keep the outlet level with the plumbing that returns to the tank. 

If necessary, create a platform for the skimmer to set it up higher than the edge of your sump.

Otherwise, use a bulk head to return the water to the sump.

Collection Cup Options:

Decide if you prefer to collect the debris in the collection cup, or if you prefer to attach a waste collector.

If you decide to collect waste in the cup, be sure to interchange the 1/4" barbed fittings on the cup.

If they do not fit flush to the acrylic, it's o.k.  Just be sure they are in well enough to avoid a leak.

The fitting on top will act as a plug and open a vent.

A vent is necessary, to avoid impeding on the skimming action.

If you chose to use a waste collector, then you can either leave the cap plug in place, and attach 1/2" I.D. vinyl tubing to the end of the drain fitting.

Fish it down to the waste collector, and keep the drain tip short enough that it remains above the water level of the waste that is collecting.

Otherwise, the water acts as a plug and prevents skimming.

An alternative to this is to use the drain fitting - AND - remove the cap plug, to ensure there is no blockage that would prevent skimming.

Break in will take anywhere from 0 to 72 hours, depending on the conditions of the water and the size of the pump you've chosen.

If the water you purchased is perfectly clean, there may not be much action to begin with.

Important Disclosure:

We are not liable for consequential damages of Manufacturing or Installation. 

The 1 year warranty is limited to manufacture defects.

We will repair or replace your skimmer for up to one year after the date of purchase for defects identifiable as manufacture defects.

Examples of consequential damage include, but are not limited to:

A water leak that damages carpet, wood floors, wood cabinets, electrical items or other.

If water leaks out of your tank and the fish are subject to stressful conditions, we would not replace the items within your tank.

So it's very important to verify all of your connections, and be sure you understand the installation instructions, and that you monitor your skimmer to avoid the possibility that could arise from this, or any skimmer on the market.