Octopus NW-200 Needle-Wheel is it good enough for 225 gallon RT

[J4Life]

I am looking at getting a new skimmer for my 75 gallon but want to be able to use it on a 225 gallon in the near future. Is this skimmer good enough:

http://www.aquacave.com/detail.aspx?ID=496

Octopus NW-200 Needle-Wheel Protein Skimmer*

PS-CV-OCT-NW-200

Popular design that works by a special wheel inside the skimmer pump which chops the air and water into fine micro bubbles.
Special needlewheel produces more micro bubbles which highly increases the skimming ability compared to our competitor’s models.
Simple to use! Plug it in and set the water level using the telescoping riser tube.

Octopus NW-200 Specifications:
- For In-Sump use only
- Recommended for tanks up to 320 gallons.

Dimensions:
- Overall Height: 24"
- Cup Removal Clearance: 0.75"
- Reactor Diameter: 8"
- Needle Wheel Pump included (approx. 790 gph)

It says it is rated for a tank as large as 320 gallons. I have done some searching an most seem very happy with this skimmer. Any additional input would be much appreciated.

Also I have a very strict budget and have no intention of purchasing the overpriced Deltec's, etc. Please do not recommend those skimmers. I am looking for experience with the Octopus line preferably.

Thanks,
Bill

[RichConley]

I think the body could handle a tank that size fine. I'm not sure the pump draws enough air to handle that much.


Maybe upgrade the pump when you go to the 225, or put another one on there?

[J4Life]

What pump would you suggest? My initial research showed me that the pumps on the Octopus skimmers are the same as OR's. Is that still true and if so I recall reading that they make some very good pumps and are really quiet as well.

Thanks,
Bill

[J4Life]

How about this one:

Ocean Runner 3500 Water
Pump by AquaMedic
WP-AM70002


The Ocean Runner pumps are powerful universal pumps to be used as circulation or current pumps, both in saltwater and freshwater aquaria. The Ocean Runners are supplied with a rugged pump housing, an energy saving motor, a polished ceramic shaft and ceramic bearings. All these qualities ensure a quiet and maintenance free performance for many years.

Specifications:

- Flow Rate: 900 GPH
- Power Consumption: 65 Watts
- Max. head 10.7 ft.

[J4Life]

Any other Octopus NW-200 users out there that wish to comment?

Thanks,
Bill

[jimsta]

I don't have the octopus but I think that that Ocean Runner 3500 is the wrong pump. The needlewheel version of that is the 3700. The 3500 is just another recirculation/flow pump. 3700 comes equipt with the needlewheel. They run between 90-100 bucks.

[RichConley]

The OR3700 change is a waste of time. If you're gonna upgrade the pump, use an Eheim from finsreef, ruins about $300.


As of now, I dont know anyone whos tried to run a NW200 on a tank that big. It may work. Its just that this is a relatively new product, and no one has tried. Most of the guys with tanks that big just buy the Recirc.

[J4Life]

Originally posted by RichConley
The OR3700 change is a waste of time. If you're gonna upgrade the pump, use an Eheim from finsreef, ruins about $300.


As of now, I dont know anyone whos tried to run a NW200 on a tank that big. It may work. Its just that this is a relatively new product, and no one has tried. Most of the guys with tanks that big just buy the Recirc.

What is the advantage to the recirculating versions? They aren't rated as high as the NW-200. Also $300 seems awfuly high priced for a pump especially when it will be under constant running.

The consensus on the pumps that come with the Octopus skimmers is that they are very sufficient and quiet and made by OR.

Has that changed?

Thanks,
Bill

[J4Life]

One other thought I had was that I could always mod the NW-200 to a down draft model for a lot less than the additional $189.00 that they're charging for it.

The other thing is this should be more than sufficient on my 75 gallon tank for now. Wouldn't you think?

Thanks again,
Bill

[tm613]

I am running thw NW-200 on a 180 FOWLR so far so good I am thinking of maybe adding another pump in the near future

An OR3700 is basically the same pump that comes with it now..Don't bother changing it

[J4Life]

How does the skimmate look and what pump are you considering replacing the one that came with it?

Thanks,
Bill

[RichConley]

Originally posted by J4Life
One other thought I had was that I could always mod the NW-200 to a down draft model for a lot less than the additional $189.00 that they're charging for it.

The other thing is this should be more than sufficient on my 75 gallon tank for now. Wouldn't you think?

Thanks again,
Bill

It'll handle a 75 with absolutely no problems. It will most likely handle the 225 too, but I'm just not sure, I havent tried it.

The recircs are better skimmers, but for the recirc version of the 200, you're looking at $400. The NW200 will outskim the recirc 150 (which is like $280)

[J4Life]

Thanks again. I think this skimmer will do exactly what I need it to do and allow me to purchase some other things. Setting up a 225 gallon tank is not going to be cheap. The good thing is I already have the lighting, skimmer, part of the rock, some sand and live stock to start.

I plan on doing the do-it-yourself rock for the rest of what I need and the sand I have some good ideas on where to get nice pure white sand.

I figure an automatic doser, pump, and plumbing will be another $600-$700. My guess is the tank will cost be about $1000 maybe less if I can find a used 225 that is 60x36x24.

Put I am just in the initial staging phases.

[Ereefic]

Originally posted by tm613
I am running thw NW-200 on a 180 FOWLR so far so good I am thinking of maybe adding another pump in the near future

An OR3700 is basically the same pump that comes with it now..Don't bother changing it

Are you talking adding a second pump, just like the first is setup? Or add a second pump as a recirculation pump?

[J4Life]

I understood it to mean that he would replace the existing pump with a new one that has a much larger capacity.

[BLockamon]

For a 225 gallon reef tank, I would really recommend the Recirc 200 as a minimum. I think you will be pushing the in-sump skimmer with that volume of water.

I have an RPS-3000 (same as Recirc 200) on a 220 gal tank, and it's doing fine. The tank has a low bioload, however.

No matter which one you pick, you will have to watch the stocking levels. When the replacement octopus needlewheel pumps become available (on backorder from Custom Aquatic at the moment), I'm going to order the Octopus-2000 NW pump to feed my skimmer. I'm curious to see what (if anything) that will do.

[D-Rod]

Octopusskimmer.com for a pump

[tm613]

I meant add another pump just like the first (OTP3000or OR3700 ) just drill one hole and add a Uniseal to make it similar is style to an H&S 200-2x1260 the air would have to be dialed back a bit on the pumps I think

Thsi is much cheaper than swapping in an Eheim 1260 (although it does draw twice as much power and take up more space)

[Ereefic]

Originally posted by tm613
I meant add another pump just like the first (OTP3000or OR3700 ) just drill one hole and add a Uniseal to make it similar is style to an H&S 200-2x1260 the air would have to be dialed back a bit on the pumps I think

Thsi is much cheaper than swapping in an Eheim 1260 (although it does draw twice as much power and take up more space)

The neck on the H & S appears to be bigger than the neck on the NW-200. Do you think 2 pumps would be too much for the NW-200 (turbulence wise)?

[tm613]

good point...do you know the exact size of the H&S neck?

It may be too much. however..I think you can compensate by lowering the standpipe and dialing back the airflow

[labragg1]

Ok--I guess I'll jump in here. I am running a NW-200 on a 225gal tank. In fact, my tank is 60x36x24 just like the one you mentioned.
I have a fairly low to medium bio-load right now and I'll have to admit that this skimmer has really surprised me. It pulls out a ton of skimmate, needs little to no adjustment, and produces a large amount of foam. The skimmate is also about the fowlest smelling stuff I've ever had, and my water is crystal clear.
Being a newer tank, I was expecting the typical algae bloom, but to my surprise I have had almost no algae growth--which I really believe is due to the skimmer doing it's job.

The skimmer pump is extremely quiet, and i love that i dont' always have to adjust the skimmer. It simply just works!

I will admit that I may be curious enough in the furture to try one of the big recirc models just to see how much of a difference it makes, but for now I'm very pleased with what the nw200 is accomplishing on my current setup.

HTH!!!

[Ereefic]

Originally posted by tm613
good point...do you know the exact size of the H&S neck?

It may be too much. however..I think you can compensate by lowering the standpipe and dialing back the airflow

I don't know the neck size on the H & S. By just looking at the pic of it, it looks like 6" maybe?

The NW-200 is my first NW skimmer and it will be going on roughly 180 gal., which will most likely be heavily stocked. Just trying to figure out what my options are if I need to beef this skimmer up a little in the future if needed.

[Roland Jacques]

Originally posted by BLockamon
For a 225 gallon reef tank, I would really recommend the Recirc 200 as a minimum. I think you will be pushing the in-sump skimmer with that volume of water.

I have an RPS-3000 (same as Recirc 200) on a 220 gal tank, and it's doing fine. The tank has a low bioload, however.

No matter which one you pick, you will have to watch the stocking levels. When the replacement octopus needlewheel pumps become available (on backorder from Custom Aquatic at the moment), I'm going to order the Octopus-2000 NW pump to feed my skimmer. I'm curious to see what (if anything) that will do.

good idea, 1 pump reciric and 1 inl-sump. the water flow out of that pump would be right inline with your normal thru-put feed rate. so the trublance shoud be about the same as before (minus the air turbulance).

i do have one NW200 on a 220 reef. with it own dedacated sump. the sump 10 gallons it is maintaining a water level of 10". the 10" water level and drilling out 90 elbow to 5/8" makes it work very well. i just put it on it so time will tell.

alot depends on what your keeping

[tm613]

just looked at the pictures of the H&S , i have never noticed the neck size before,,,may be an issue.

My skimmate is very light green...I am running very dry now as when I run just a bit wetter, the skimmer goes nuts when I put my hand in the tank...hopefully the skimmer will break in some more...I expected darker skimamte but I have a small amount of fish only right now and my water is clear and i have no algae problems and that is really the point, not how much crud it pulls, a skimmer can only skim as much DOC as is there

[J4Life]

Originally posted by labragg1
Ok--I guess I'll jump in here. I am running a NW-200 on a 225gal tank. In fact, my tank is 60x36x24 just like the one you mentioned.
I have a fairly low to medium bio-load right now and I'll have to admit that this skimmer has really surprised me. It pulls out a ton of skimmate, needs little to no adjustment, and produces a large amount of foam. The skimmate is also about the fowlest smelling stuff I've ever had, and my water is crystal clear.
Being a newer tank, I was expecting the typical algae bloom, but to my surprise I have had almost no algae growth--which I really believe is due to the skimmer doing it's job.

The skimmer pump is extremely quiet, and i love that i dont' always have to adjust the skimmer. It simply just works!

I will admit that I may be curious enough in the furture to try one of the big recirc models just to see how much of a difference it makes, but for now I'm very pleased with what the nw200 is accomplishing on my current setup.

HTH!!!

Could you and would you mind posting some pictures in this thread of your skimmer in action. Personally after looking at the recirc models I don't honestly see the point. Basically the flow goes into the skimmer body and then you suck out the water from the skimmer body back through the pump rather than coming directly from the tank. To me it seems this would really put a load of stress on the pump.

My gut tells me that plain NW-200 skimmer is more than sufficient for a tank under 300 gallons other wise I don't think they would have give it a rating of 320 gallons at all. I think it will do just as good under heavy bi-load and if you're like I run carbon along with filter pads which get replaced once a month. That in combo with the skimmer should prove very good results.

I guess like most things it is a matter of opinion and whether or not you as the individual are satisfied with the results. That is why I like to hear others experiences before just rushing out and buying something that cost over $200 clams. I make decent money, but not enought to get what I want when I want it. If I did that my kids would eat.

Thanks again everyone,
Bill