Octopus NW-150

mikenam · 06/08/2008, 04:34 PM

I just bought an octopus nw150 and wondering how you get this thing working. Gave it a vinegar bath. I pluged it in and water rises about 1/4 up the main chamber and then does nothing. Doesn't seem like the pump can get the water to near the collection cup. I see some octopus w/ two pumps am i missing somthing. The site has no manual and the lfs i bought it from sold the unit itself no box or manual.

Thanks

cowdawg · 06/08/2008, 06:16 PM

Is it a re-circulating skimmer? If not then it only needs one pump.

mikenam · 06/08/2008, 06:21 PM

no i dont think its a recirculating skimmer it says pump skimmer.

cowdawg · 06/08/2008, 06:44 PM

Seems like the pump isnt doing its thing then, huh. When you tested it did you use salt water? Skimmers dont work right in fresh. Has it been modified in any way you can tell?

mikenam · 06/08/2008, 06:48 PM

don't think it has been modded its In my sump right now.

cowdawg · 06/08/2008, 06:57 PM

Dang

mikenam · 06/08/2008, 07:14 PM

is the pump bad?
it pumps but not much

luke33 · 06/08/2008, 07:21 PM

Could you take a pic? of it running. The pump may not be pulling air, you may have your standpipe very low....etc.

mikenam · 06/08/2008, 07:34 PM

here you go.

thanks

Musho3210 · 06/08/2008, 07:48 PM

why is the water so dirty?

luke33 · 06/08/2008, 07:54 PM

Yea, that was my first thought. It doesn't look like the pump is working at all. I'd pull the pump, pull off the volute cover and see if the impeller is connected correctly, meaning the shaft and all is on there right. Then make sure the venturi line isn't clogged. if those two things don't work, then contact the dealer who sold it to you.

mikenam · 06/08/2008, 08:06 PM

i dunno ever since i put cheato in my sump water turned green. Sump water is green while the main tank is cloudy white. Im thinknig its bacteria bloom. Its been like that for 2 days now. did a 25% water change and got cloudy again.

mikenam · 06/08/2008, 08:29 PM

when i open it i see the propellers turn it on it pumps but just not a lot of water. im going to the store to switch it out tomorrow. thx peeps

mikenam · 06/09/2008, 04:56 PM

ok went to the lfs and worker looked at it. put it in a rock curing tank and it didn't work. Water didn't travel up. He took out the front of the pump to see if the propellers where spinning and they were. put the front back on and couldn't figure out why it wasn't working. He blew into the white flexible tubing and then all of a sudden it started working. I took it home it started the skimmer up and it wouldn't work until i blew into the tube. So to get this NW150 to work you got to blow into the flexible tubing. I don't see how any new person could know that. Not even the worker knew about this. I wish the company would include a manual post or post it on their website. its working and now i have a skimmer so i am happy.

fishnut321 · 06/09/2008, 05:00 PM

the pump was probably cavitating... had a big air bubble in the pump that would not allow for the pump to function

joesfiddy · 06/09/2008, 05:54 PM

i have the same skimmer had no problems with it .

Musho3210 · 06/09/2008, 06:33 PM

do you really thing blowing into the air tube is nessicary and that its the company fault for not saying that?

Something was jammed in it probably.

silverwolf72 · 06/09/2008, 06:43 PM

I've never had to blow in mine, even slightly modded. Something doesn't sound right. Sounds like there's something binding the impeller.

crossi92 · 06/09/2008, 08:19 PM

Having to blow into it to get it to work is not normal, I have the same skimmer, plugged it in and it started going.

reefergeorge · 06/09/2008, 08:20 PM

Mine started doing that. So I switched my pump, and hasn't happened since. Something is wrong with the pump. Marine Solutions swapped mine no problems.

ronbis · 09/14/2008, 08:03 PM

FYI I just got a new NW-150 and had to blow into the pump to get it working as well. I heard that Octopus redesigned their pumps so maybe it's related to the new pump? I will talk to the LFS where I got the pump anyway.

NealNano · 09/14/2008, 08:59 PM

I have to blow into the air line on my new style octo NW110. It will stick after I unplug it, it is mesh modded though.

REEFFER MADNESS · 09/15/2008, 02:15 PM

I have the same skimmer, I bought it because the price was resonable for my tank size. It was plug and play no problems at all. Tons of micro bubbles.

ronbis · 09/15/2008, 08:42 PM

I tried taking the impeller out and re-installing it, but every time it needs a blow-start! The LFS has a new one coming though. Weird...

ronbis · 09/18/2008, 10:35 PM

I got the new pump for my NW-150 today. Plugged it in and same thing. Making noise, but no pumping. Blew in the airline and it started up. Am I that unlucky?

06/08/2008, 04:34 PM	#1
mikenam Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 248	Octopus NW-150 I just bought an octopus nw150 and wondering how you get this thing working. Gave it a vinegar bath. I pluged it in and water rises about 1/4 up the main chamber and then does nothing. Doesn't seem like the pump can get the water to near the collection cup. I see some octopus w/ two pumps am i missing somthing. The site has no manual and the lfs i bought it from sold the unit itself no box or manual. Thanks

06/08/2008, 06:16 PM	#2
cowdawg Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: humboldt co. CA Posts: 164	Is it a re-circulating skimmer? If not then it only needs one pump. __________________ 40 BR display, 40 BR sump, 2x 150 HQI + 2x 54 T5, recirc octo 150, 10 gal fuge, 45x turnover through display. still stocking, mainly SPS

06/08/2008, 06:44 PM	#4
cowdawg Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: humboldt co. CA Posts: 164	Seems like the pump isnt doing its thing then, huh. When you tested it did you use salt water? Skimmers dont work right in fresh. Has it been modified in any way you can tell? __________________ 40 BR display, 40 BR sump, 2x 150 HQI + 2x 54 T5, recirc octo 150, 10 gal fuge, 45x turnover through display. still stocking, mainly SPS

06/08/2008, 06:57 PM	#6
cowdawg Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: humboldt co. CA Posts: 164	Dang __________________ 40 BR display, 40 BR sump, 2x 150 HQI + 2x 54 T5, recirc octo 150, 10 gal fuge, 45x turnover through display. still stocking, mainly SPS

06/08/2008, 07:48 PM	#10
Musho3210 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Evanston IL (near chicago) Posts: 1,899	why is the water so dirty? __________________ Ryan

06/08/2008, 06:21 PM	#3
mikenam Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 248	no i dont think its a recirculating skimmer it says pump skimmer.

06/08/2008, 06:48 PM	#5
mikenam Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 248	don't think it has been modded its In my sump right now.

06/08/2008, 07:14 PM	#7
mikenam Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 248	is the pump bad? it pumps but not much

06/08/2008, 07:21 PM	#8
luke33 Moved On Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 8,375	Could you take a pic? of it running. The pump may not be pulling air, you may have your standpipe very low....etc.

06/08/2008, 07:34 PM	#9
mikenam Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 248	here you go. thanks

06/08/2008, 07:54 PM	#11
luke33 Moved On Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 8,375	Yea, that was my first thought. It doesn't look like the pump is working at all. I'd pull the pump, pull off the volute cover and see if the impeller is connected correctly, meaning the shaft and all is on there right. Then make sure the venturi line isn't clogged. if those two things don't work, then contact the dealer who sold it to you.

06/08/2008, 08:06 PM	#12
mikenam Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 248	i dunno ever since i put cheato in my sump water turned green. Sump water is green while the main tank is cloudy white. Im thinknig its bacteria bloom. Its been like that for 2 days now. did a 25% water change and got cloudy again.

06/08/2008, 08:29 PM	#13
mikenam Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 248	when i open it i see the propellers turn it on it pumps but just not a lot of water. im going to the store to switch it out tomorrow. thx peeps

06/09/2008, 04:56 PM	#14
mikenam Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 248	ok went to the lfs and worker looked at it. put it in a rock curing tank and it didn't work. Water didn't travel up. He took out the front of the pump to see if the propellers where spinning and they were. put the front back on and couldn't figure out why it wasn't working. He blew into the white flexible tubing and then all of a sudden it started working. I took it home it started the skimmer up and it wouldn't work until i blew into the tube. So to get this NW150 to work you got to blow into the flexible tubing. I don't see how any new person could know that. Not even the worker knew about this. I wish the company would include a manual post or post it on their website. its working and now i have a skimmer so i am happy.

06/09/2008, 05:00 PM	#15
fishnut321 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Warrensburg, Mo Posts: 763	the pump was probably cavitating... had a big air bubble in the pump that would not allow for the pump to function

06/09/2008, 05:54 PM	#16
joesfiddy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Morris IL Posts: 518	i have the same skimmer had no problems with it . __________________ 250 dd, 180 reef tank 100 gal sump, 75 reef tank 30 gallon sump, 40 gal frag tank, 12 gal nano Current Tank Info: 100 gal long reef, 75 gal reef, 40 gal frag tank

06/09/2008, 06:33 PM	#17
Musho3210 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Evanston IL (near chicago) Posts: 1,899	do you really thing blowing into the air tube is nessicary and that its the company fault for not saying that? Something was jammed in it probably. __________________ Ryan

06/09/2008, 06:43 PM	#18
silverwolf72 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Lake Forrest CA Posts: 1,732	I've never had to blow in mine, even slightly modded. Something doesn't sound right. Sounds like there's something binding the impeller.

06/09/2008, 08:19 PM	#19
crossi92 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 559	Having to blow into it to get it to work is not normal, I have the same skimmer, plugged it in and it started going.

06/09/2008, 08:20 PM	#20
reefergeorge Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: St Louis MO Posts: 4,222	Mine started doing that. So I switched my pump, and hasn't happened since. Something is wrong with the pump. Marine Solutions swapped mine no problems. __________________ $35-50 for a <1" frag of some stupid named thing that came from a colony you bought for $40-60 wholesale and chopped into 20-40 pieces? No thanks. "JasonH" Current Tank Info: 125 aggressive reef, DIY led lighting, swc cone skimmer, 33 gallon sump, posiden Ps3 return.

09/14/2008, 08:03 PM	#21
ronbis Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Broomfield, Colorado Posts: 222	FYI I just got a new NW-150 and had to blow into the pump to get it working as well. I heard that Octopus redesigned their pumps so maybe it's related to the new pump? I will talk to the LFS where I got the pump anyway.

09/14/2008, 08:59 PM	#22
NealNano Moved On Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Gilbert, Az Posts: 764	I have to blow into the air line on my new style octo NW110. It will stick after I unplug it, it is mesh modded though.

09/15/2008, 02:15 PM	#23
REEFFER MADNESS Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: PACIFICA, CA Posts: 77	I have the same skimmer, I bought it because the price was resonable for my tank size. It was plug and play no problems at all. Tons of micro bubbles.

09/15/2008, 08:42 PM	#24
ronbis Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Broomfield, Colorado Posts: 222	I tried taking the impeller out and re-installing it, but every time it needs a blow-start! The LFS has a new one coming though. Weird...

09/18/2008, 10:35 PM	#25
ronbis Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Broomfield, Colorado Posts: 222	I got the new pump for my NW-150 today. Plugged it in and same thing. Making noise, but no pumping. Blew in the airline and it started up. Am I that unlucky?