Octopus Troubleshoot

ataller · 02/04/2010, 02:02 PM

Hi Hi,

Looking for some advice on setting up an Octopus 200DNW that I purchased second hand. It is the older model, it has an OPT 2000 pump with a needlewheel impeller fed by a maxijet 1200.

My problem is thus... OPT2000 produces bubbles, but no foam. There is lots of air getting mixed into the saltwater, but no foam starts to form at the surface, the bubbles just pop and nothing is drawn out of the water like usually happens with a skimmer. Sort of like a glass of coke, bubbles but no foam. I have the water level set to be about an inch above where the input from the maxijet is.

I have taken the thing apart, I ran some diluted muratic acid through the skimmer. Cleaned everything out. This is the first time I have had a full sized skimmer (my last was a HOB deltec MCE600), and I am afraid I am missing something obvious.

Thank you,

Adam

thetonyage · 02/04/2010, 02:08 PM

try putting it in deeper water, and try adjusting the flow of water through the skimmer. plus skimmers take a while to break in even if its been used and out of use for a while.

ataller · 02/04/2010, 03:10 PM

I will give it some more time. Not only is the skimmer not broken in, but the salt water is new, maybe the needs to age a bit too?

In terms of water depth, the skimmer is fed through a feed pump, and can be used externally. I am not sure how water depth will impact skimmer function. Perhaps you were thinking of the non recirc model ?

Adam

thetonyage · 02/04/2010, 04:08 PM

yea i have an octopus extreme 160, its recommended to run in 8-10 inches of water, i had it in about 6 inches of water and it was doing alright but when i added more water (to about 9 inches) to my sump it started pulling some nasty stuff out quicker. i dont really know how the water level affects the operation but it seemed to have helped with mine atleast.

Rybren · 02/04/2010, 04:40 PM

Yours is a recirc, right?

With the recirc, it doesn't matter much how deep the unit is sitting, as long as the water level is below the T for the outlet/riser tube. (it can even sit out of the sump)

Twist the riser tube to adjust the water level in the skimmer. On my 110 recirc, the water level is at the top of the flange where the cup attaches to the body. This will allow a nice foam to build up and will produce a medium wetness skimmate. Play with the water level until you get something that you're happy with. Adjust the riser with very small turns, give it time to react, then readjust.

HTH

Rybren · 02/04/2010, 05:07 PM

Hey Adam,

I just noticed that you're in Ottawa. If you want to stop by to see how mine is set up, let me know.

I'm in Orleans.

ataller · 02/06/2010, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rybren

Hey Adam,

I just noticed that you're in Ottawa. If you want to stop by to see how mine is set up, let me know.

I'm in Orleans.

Thanks for the offer, I am pretty sure I have mine set up exactly the same as yours. Water level is right where you have yours.

My problem is still that no foam accumulates at all. It has been a couple days now and nothing. The bubbles just pop at the surface, no foam forms.

Any octopus gurus out there have any idea?

Lightsluvr · 02/06/2010, 08:43 AM

Whoa! Hold on - you don't have the skimmer sitting in your sump, do you? The Octopus 200DNW is a recirculating skimmer, designed to operate outside the sump.

Good grief.

First question, what pump are you using to feed the skimmer? It should have a rating of at least 1.5 times the total water volume of your tank. If you're not feeding the skimmer sufficiently, the water won't get high enough in the column.

Second question - if you have adequate feed, try removing the air tube from the silencer and blow a good puff of air into the latex air tubing. See if that breaks anything loose in the venturi. It also helps to occasionally hold the end of the air tube in some RO/DI to clean out the OPTO pump.

A picture of your set up might help folks who are really familiar with your skimmer offer suggestions. Might also prevent some of the poor advice you are getting...

LL

insane · 02/06/2010, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ataller

I will give it some more time. Not only is the skimmer not broken in, but the salt water is new, maybe the needs to age a bit too?

If this is running on a new tank with all new water and no bio load/wastes in the water, there will be nothing in the water column to skim out.

Even with a bio load it will take a few days for any skimmer to become seasoned.

How old is the tank, what is in it (livestock, rock, sand), what other equipment is on it?

ataller · 02/06/2010, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lightsluvr

Whoa! Hold on - you don't have the skimmer sitting in your sump, do you? The Octopus 200DNW is a recirculating skimmer, designed to operate outside the sump.

Good grief.

First question, what pump are you using to feed the skimmer? It should have a rating of at least 1.5 times the total water volume of your tank. If you're not feeding the skimmer sufficiently, the water won't get high enough in the column.

Second question - if you have adequate feed, try removing the air tube from the silencer and blow a good puff of air into the latex air tubing. See if that breaks anything loose in the venturi. It also helps to occasionally hold the end of the air tube in some RO/DI to clean out the OPTO pump.

A picture of your set up might help folks who are really familiar with your skimmer offer suggestions. Might also prevent some of the poor advice you are getting...

LL

Yes recirc, skimmer can be run externally. I happen to have my sitting in the sump due to space reasons. It is fed with a maxijet 1200, it seem to push enough water as I can have water come all the way up and out of the collection cup if I turn the riser sufficiently.

Silencer removed, and the pump was taken apart and cleaned. I will blow into the venturi, when I took the pump apart I wasn't really able to see well into the venturi section to clean it out, maybe there is something in there.

I will take some pictures, when I get home.

ataller · 02/06/2010, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by insane

If this is running on a new tank with all new water and no bio load/wastes in the water, there will be nothing in the water column to skim out.

Even with a bio load it will take a few days for any skimmer to become seasoned.

How old is the tank, what is in it (livestock, rock, sand), what other equipment is on it?

Maybe it is a simple as there is nothing to skim. However, in the past, when I set up a new tank there has been plenty of debris from the sand and rock to skim out. Maybe not this time. Maybe I am being impatient.

No fish in the tank yet, about 100 lbs of rock and 60 lbs of sand. Some corals in the tank. I did dose some pods and have dosed DTs phyto and some coral food a couple times to try and get some bio load in the tank. Tank has been running about a week now, and still no foam. I did cure the live rock for about 8 weeks.

I was waiting for the skimmer to start working before transferring my fish over. Maybe it is a catch 22, and the skimmer isn't working because there are no fish. My clowns are pretty easy to catch, maybe I will put them in and see if that helps.

Tank is 120G with a 40 sump in the basement, will soon have a fuge/frag plumbed inline as well. Lights are 3x250w phoenix, return is a reeflo wahoo, have 2 vortechs as well. Doesnt seem like any of that stuff should matter.

Rybren · 02/06/2010, 10:47 AM

The Octopus 200DNW is a recirculating skimmer, designed to operate outside the sump.

Actually, the Octo Recircs can be run either in or out of the sump. When I first got mine, I didn't have a sump and used it as a HOB. When I set up my above tank fuge, I built a chamber for the skimmer and that's where it sits. No change in performance.

02/04/2010, 02:02 PM	#1
ataller Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 610	Octopus Troubleshoot Hi Hi, Looking for some advice on setting up an Octopus 200DNW that I purchased second hand. It is the older model, it has an OPT 2000 pump with a needlewheel impeller fed by a maxijet 1200. My problem is thus... OPT2000 produces bubbles, but no foam. There is lots of air getting mixed into the saltwater, but no foam starts to form at the surface, the bubbles just pop and nothing is drawn out of the water like usually happens with a skimmer. Sort of like a glass of coke, bubbles but no foam. I have the water level set to be about an inch above where the input from the maxijet is. I have taken the thing apart, I ran some diluted muratic acid through the skimmer. Cleaned everything out. This is the first time I have had a full sized skimmer (my last was a HOB deltec MCE600), and I am afraid I am missing something obvious. Thank you, Adam

02/04/2010, 04:40 PM	#5
Rybren Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 1,642	Yours is a recirc, right? With the recirc, it doesn't matter much how deep the unit is sitting, as long as the water level is below the T for the outlet/riser tube. (it can even sit out of the sump) Twist the riser tube to adjust the water level in the skimmer. On my 110 recirc, the water level is at the top of the flange where the cup attaches to the body. This will allow a nice foam to build up and will produce a medium wetness skimmate. Play with the water level until you get something that you're happy with. Adjust the riser with very small turns, give it time to react, then readjust. HTH __________________ 120G Mixed Reef, 28G AIO zoa/pipefish tank

02/04/2010, 05:07 PM	#6
Rybren Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 1,642	Hey Adam, I just noticed that you're in Ottawa. If you want to stop by to see how mine is set up, let me know. I'm in Orleans. __________________ 120G Mixed Reef, 28G AIO zoa/pipefish tank

02/06/2010, 08:43 AM	#8
Lightsluvr Tangaroa to 500 gallons Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Edmond, OK Posts: 5,855	Whoa! Hold on - you don't have the skimmer sitting in your sump, do you? The Octopus 200DNW is a recirculating skimmer, designed to operate outside the sump. Good grief. First question, what pump are you using to feed the skimmer? It should have a rating of at least 1.5 times the total water volume of your tank. If you're not feeding the skimmer sufficiently, the water won't get high enough in the column. Second question - if you have adequate feed, try removing the air tube from the silencer and blow a good puff of air into the latex air tubing. See if that breaks anything loose in the venturi. It also helps to occasionally hold the end of the air tube in some RO/DI to clean out the OPTO pump. A picture of your set up might help folks who are really familiar with your skimmer offer suggestions. Might also prevent some of the poor advice you are getting... LL __________________ Click on my username and select "Lightsluvr's Home Page" for a recap of our build thread - AGE Hybrid Tank in a 500G system with dedicated fish room. (Takes a few minutes for photos to load) Leave a note if you stop by... Current Tank Info: 350G AGE Hybrid reef tank. 500G+ total water volume. Three sumps for filtration. Barracuda Gold return and Hammerhead Gold closed loop pumps. DIY T5 light system on rails. MP40W x3 to supplement closed loop. 130G Water management system.

02/06/2010, 10:47 AM	#12
Rybren Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 1,642	The Octopus 200DNW is a recirculating skimmer, designed to operate outside the sump. Actually, the Octo Recircs can be run either in or out of the sump. When I first got mine, I didn't have a sump and used it as a HOB. When I set up my above tank fuge, I built a chamber for the skimmer and that's where it sits. No change in performance. __________________ 120G Mixed Reef, 28G AIO zoa/pipefish tank

02/04/2010, 02:08 PM	#2
thetonyage Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Pacific NW Posts: 156	try putting it in deeper water, and try adjusting the flow of water through the skimmer. plus skimmers take a while to break in even if its been used and out of use for a while.

02/04/2010, 03:10 PM	#3
ataller Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 610	I will give it some more time. Not only is the skimmer not broken in, but the salt water is new, maybe the needs to age a bit too? In terms of water depth, the skimmer is fed through a feed pump, and can be used externally. I am not sure how water depth will impact skimmer function. Perhaps you were thinking of the non recirc model ? Adam

02/04/2010, 04:08 PM	#4
thetonyage Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Pacific NW Posts: 156	yea i have an octopus extreme 160, its recommended to run in 8-10 inches of water, i had it in about 6 inches of water and it was doing alright but when i added more water (to about 9 inches) to my sump it started pulling some nasty stuff out quicker. i dont really know how the water level affects the operation but it seemed to have helped with mine atleast.