Octopus Extreme 160 problem

Necsones · 09/22/2009, 11:25 PM

Anyone experience this.. My skimmer has been acting crazy last couple of days. The water level inside the body goes up and down by it self. It would be fine all day then id come home to the collection cup over flowing with water, or times where the water level inside the body would just get really low and id hear a gargling sound coming from the water outlet pipe. Also im getting micro and big air bubble coming out of the outlet pipe. Skimmer is about a year and a half old and in 8 1/2" water.

jkeim1974 · 09/23/2009, 03:51 AM

I just had the same problem with mine. It never over flowed the water level just keep going down in the skimmer and I was getting the noise. Talked to That Fish Place and Coralvue and they gave me a new pump for it and its been working fine since. That was about a week ago and skimmer is only two months old.

OneReef · 09/23/2009, 08:16 AM

I don't like mine. Have never gotten it to work properly. Thinking of changing brands. I hate that, as most people swear by these things. Just doesn't seem to work for me. I have tried the output pipe above water line, below water line, tried it at 7", 9" and 10" of sump depth, tried wedge pipe open, closed, in between. I cannot get any kinda decent foam. I even added the ATB PPW and still get nothing. It seems to me the skimmer cup neck is too wide and the small bit of foam is having trouble pushing up in such a big neck. I raise the water level in the skimmer to help it up, then my foam collapses and won't come back. It sucks, been messing with it for 6-8 months. I feel like I am running skimmerless.

Amoore311 · 09/23/2009, 10:00 AM

My MSX 160 has worked for the last year + right out of the box. I mine at 8" with the output pipe right at the water level.

It's running on a 90 Gallon Bacteria Drive System.

Try asking on the MSX Skimmer Club Thread.

fishwonder · 09/28/2009, 03:55 PM

My Ex 160 at 8.5" water and has problem with micro bubles. The B exit pipe is at the water level.

EdSnyder · 11/24/2009, 09:25 PM

Hi, I see that you have an extreme 160. I like that skimmer and I am hoping that it will fit in my sump. I am trying to get the exact demensions and cant seem to come up with them.
My sump is 7.75 in x 9 in. Could I cram that in there. Its almost 12in diagonally. Thanks for any info, Ed

09/22/2009, 11:25 PM	#1
Necsones Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Yonkers, NY Posts: 122	Octopus Extreme 160 problem Anyone experience this.. My skimmer has been acting crazy last couple of days. The water level inside the body goes up and down by it self. It would be fine all day then id come home to the collection cup over flowing with water, or times where the water level inside the body would just get really low and id hear a gargling sound coming from the water outlet pipe. Also im getting micro and big air bubble coming out of the outlet pipe. Skimmer is about a year and a half old and in 8 1/2" water.

09/23/2009, 10:00 AM	#4
Amoore311 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Ulster County, NY Posts: 2,521	My MSX 160 has worked for the last year + right out of the box. I mine at 8" with the output pipe right at the water level. It's running on a 90 Gallon Bacteria Drive System. Try asking on the MSX Skimmer Club Thread. __________________ 30 Gallon FOWLR 2004-2006 90 Gallon LPS Reef 2006-2008 180 Gallon SPS Reef 2008-20012 100 Gallon Custom Rimless Mixed Reef 2012-2014 29 Gallon Biocube Reef! Current Current Tank Info: 29 Gallon Biocube, StevesLED Upgrade, Neptune Apex

09/28/2009, 03:55 PM	#5
fishwonder Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Everett, WA Posts: 92	Micro buble problem My Ex 160 at 8.5" water and has problem with micro bubles. The B exit pipe is at the water level.

09/23/2009, 03:51 AM	#2
jkeim1974 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Harrisburg PA Posts: 148	I just had the same problem with mine. It never over flowed the water level just keep going down in the skimmer and I was getting the noise. Talked to That Fish Place and Coralvue and they gave me a new pump for it and its been working fine since. That was about a week ago and skimmer is only two months old.

09/23/2009, 08:16 AM	#3
OneReef Reef Guru Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: the great South Posts: 3,218	I don't like mine. Have never gotten it to work properly. Thinking of changing brands. I hate that, as most people swear by these things. Just doesn't seem to work for me. I have tried the output pipe above water line, below water line, tried it at 7", 9" and 10" of sump depth, tried wedge pipe open, closed, in between. I cannot get any kinda decent foam. I even added the ATB PPW and still get nothing. It seems to me the skimmer cup neck is too wide and the small bit of foam is having trouble pushing up in such a big neck. I raise the water level in the skimmer to help it up, then my foam collapses and won't come back. It sucks, been messing with it for 6-8 months. I feel like I am running skimmerless.

11/24/2009, 09:25 PM	#6
EdSnyder Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Port Orange, FL Posts: 527	Hi, I see that you have an extreme 160. I like that skimmer and I am hoping that it will fit in my sump. I am trying to get the exact demensions and cant seem to come up with them. My sump is 7.75 in x 9 in. Could I cram that in there. Its almost 12in diagonally. Thanks for any info, Ed