Silencer for Octopus Skimmer

sleepydoc · 03/15/2013, 08:32 AM

Background: I have a Coralvue Reef Octopus XS200 protein skimmer. It works well, but the discharge splashed significantly, causing a lot of extra noise and salt creep around my sump.

Coralvue sells an output vent attachment designed to deal with this, but it's about $60, and I'm too cheap to spend $60 for a handful of PVC fittings, even if they are pretty grey schedule 80 fittings.

No problem, I'll just make my own. But wait - the fittings on the skimmer are metric! Arrgh! Nothing readily available in the US will fit!

Solution: I got a rubber coupling to fit the 50mm output, then replaced the metal hose clamps with plastic zip ties. Success! The skimmer needed to be re-tuned, of course, but it is now much quieter and has no splashing.

As a disclaimer, I think I've seen something like this before, so I can't claim the original idea, but couldn't find the thread. Regardless, I thought it might be useful for people so I figured I'd post it again.

jlanger · 03/15/2013, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlanger

The mod I did for the output only cost me the cost of a Sch.80 1 inch Tee and a cap.

I milled the one end of the tee down so it fit snuggly into the output valve.
The skimmer came with the pipe adapter, but I didn't use it.
This was only done to conserve room in the drain chamber of my sump.
The 1 inch pipe extension was added for a cap; which is not in the pic.
The reduced inside diameter doesn't have any effect on the water flow through the skimmer.

wildman926 · 03/15/2013, 08:47 AM

Why not use the metric to british adapter they provide, and a small piece of 1 1/4" pvc and a 90* elbow with a vent hole?

sleepydoc · 03/16/2013, 08:10 PM

They weren't so generous with my model - no adaptor. :/

Jason-
Don't remember your post, so there's at least 2 other posts out there. How did you mill down the pipe to make your connection?

03/15/2013, 08:32 AM	#1
sleepydoc Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 3,907	Silencer for Octopus Skimmer Background: I have a Coralvue Reef Octopus XS200 protein skimmer. It works well, but the discharge splashed significantly, causing a lot of extra noise and salt creep around my sump. Coralvue sells an output vent attachment designed to deal with this, but it's about $60, and I'm too cheap to spend $60 for a handful of PVC fittings, even if they are pretty grey schedule 80 fittings. No problem, I'll just make my own. But wait - the fittings on the skimmer are metric! Arrgh! Nothing readily available in the US will fit! Solution: I got a rubber coupling to fit the 50mm output, then replaced the metal hose clamps with plastic zip ties. Success! The skimmer needed to be re-tuned, of course, but it is now much quieter and has no splashing. As a disclaimer, I think I've seen something like this before, so I can't claim the original idea, but couldn't find the thread. Regardless, I thought it might be useful for people so I figured I'd post it again. __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 120 gallon, coast to coast overflow w/beananimal overflow. Waveline DC 10000 II return pump, 40 gal sump, Octopus XS200 skimmer, T5 lighting

03/15/2013, 08:47 AM	#3
wildman926 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: CTX Posts: 2,904	Why not use the metric to british adapter they provide, and a small piece of 1 1/4" pvc and a 90* elbow with a vent hole? __________________ Beware of recommendations by those who don't actually use their recommendation!! The search function actually works quite well!! Tanks:Planet Aquarium 150g LPS, Planet Aquarium 90g Softie

03/16/2013, 08:10 PM	#4
sleepydoc Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 3,907	They weren't so generous with my model - no adaptor. :/ Jason- Don't remember your post, so there's at least 2 other posts out there. How did you mill down the pipe to make your connection? __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 120 gallon, coast to coast overflow w/beananimal overflow. Waveline DC 10000 II return pump, 40 gal sump, Octopus XS200 skimmer, T5 lighting