Octopus 160 Question

ramblinreefer · 12/27/2009, 08:45 AM

Is an Octopus Extreme 160 too much for a 46 gallon? The tank is moderately loaded.

ramblinreefer · 12/27/2009, 01:33 PM

Or would the Octopus 110 be a better fit?

flipteg · 12/27/2009, 03:48 PM

we have has such a setup... a 40+ gallons with HEAVY fish load and is clearly obvious that the 160 is a bit much... i'm not talking about over skimming... i don't know if it's the skimmers wide neck design but it seems the skimmer works best with more stuff to skim out... most of what was skimmed collects on the neck and what ever ends up in the collection cup is very watery...

we switched out the 160 for the in-sump 110 from another tank because the 110 is much quieter... the 110 seems to be a better match for that tank... it collects skimmate so much faster that is much darker than the 160... i'll take a picture of both later, since the 160 is in a 30 gallon total volume and is still producing the same quality skimmate...

i don't believe you can over skim but i believe that you can have too big of a skimmer for a tank... most skimmers designed for heavy skimming such as the 160, are not very efficient when there are less organics in the water...

flipteg · 12/27/2009, 04:40 PM

here is a video of the Extreme 160 in the 30 gallon system (it's actually a 20 long main and 20 long sump)... this is about 3 or 4 days worth of skimmate in the cup... i never got a video of the 160 in the 40 gallon tank but it shows pretty much the same thing in this tank...

this is the DNW-110 in the same system before switching the skimmers... this is about 2 days worth of skimmate in the cup... please note that this video was taken during only the 3rd day of break in for the skimmer... i just took the Extreme 160 video and it's been in the system now for atleast 2 weeks now... i will take another video of the DNW-110 in the 40 gallon tank... i didn't take it earlier because the cup has just been cleaned...

ramblinreefer · 12/28/2009, 10:37 AM

Wow, thats great foam production. At what depth do you keep your skimmer in?

flipteg · 12/31/2009, 10:18 AM

i finally got a picture of the in sump 110 in the 40 gallon tank. the water level is about 10" i think. the horizontal outlet pipe is almost completely under water. the depth is a little deep because the sump compartment was initially designed for the Extreme 160. since the skimmer seems to be performing well enough, it was decided not to prop up the skimmer.

Piscez · 12/31/2009, 10:32 AM

I have an older RO NW150 in my heavily stocked 72 gal, it works great and is the quietest skimmer I've had which included a Marinetek and an ASM G2, but I'd suggest going with the 110

12/27/2009, 08:45 AM	#1
ramblinreefer Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Tennessee Posts: 41	Octopus 160 Question Is an Octopus Extreme 160 too much for a 46 gallon? The tank is moderately loaded.

12/27/2009, 01:33 PM	#2
ramblinreefer Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Tennessee Posts: 41	Or would the Octopus 110 be a better fit?

12/27/2009, 03:48 PM	#3
flipteg Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 910	we have has such a setup... a 40+ gallons with HEAVY fish load and is clearly obvious that the 160 is a bit much... i'm not talking about over skimming... i don't know if it's the skimmers wide neck design but it seems the skimmer works best with more stuff to skim out... most of what was skimmed collects on the neck and what ever ends up in the collection cup is very watery... we switched out the 160 for the in-sump 110 from another tank because the 110 is much quieter... the 110 seems to be a better match for that tank... it collects skimmate so much faster that is much darker than the 160... i'll take a picture of both later, since the 160 is in a 30 gallon total volume and is still producing the same quality skimmate... i don't believe you can over skim but i believe that you can have too big of a skimmer for a tank... most skimmers designed for heavy skimming such as the 160, are not very efficient when there are less organics in the water...

12/27/2009, 04:40 PM	#4
flipteg Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 910	here is a video of the Extreme 160 in the 30 gallon system (it's actually a 20 long main and 20 long sump)... this is about 3 or 4 days worth of skimmate in the cup... i never got a video of the 160 in the 40 gallon tank but it shows pretty much the same thing in this tank... this is the DNW-110 in the same system before switching the skimmers... this is about 2 days worth of skimmate in the cup... please note that this video was taken during only the 3rd day of break in for the skimmer... i just took the Extreme 160 video and it's been in the system now for atleast 2 weeks now... i will take another video of the DNW-110 in the 40 gallon tank... i didn't take it earlier because the cup has just been cleaned...

12/28/2009, 10:37 AM	#5
ramblinreefer Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Tennessee Posts: 41	Wow, thats great foam production. At what depth do you keep your skimmer in?

12/31/2009, 10:18 AM	#6
flipteg Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 910	i finally got a picture of the in sump 110 in the 40 gallon tank. the water level is about 10" i think. the horizontal outlet pipe is almost completely under water. the depth is a little deep because the sump compartment was initially designed for the Extreme 160. since the skimmer seems to be performing well enough, it was decided not to prop up the skimmer.

12/31/2009, 10:32 AM	#7
Piscez Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: PoCo, B.C. Canada Posts: 56	I have an older RO NW150 in my heavily stocked 72 gal, it works great and is the quietest skimmer I've had which included a Marinetek and an ASM G2, but I'd suggest going with the 110