Reef Octo LX1000s HOB Arrival + Unboxing + Performance

[crank2211]

Originally Posted by mr9iron

Any updates on the skimmer Crank? What is the measurement from left to right on the part of the skimmer that actually sits in the water. I have minimal space in between my baffles and am curious if this will fit. I really don't want to take the baffles out but I guess I can if needed.

Wow, sorry for the extremely late reply.. The in-tank skimmer dimensions are 11.25" x 2.56" x 6.875" (LxWxH). Not sure how high your sump is but you will need to make sure it has 10.5" to hang down the back of the rim and roughly 6" of clearance behind the tank. Once this thing settled in, it started making some nice skimmate. I'm still not 100% satisfied with the action I'm seeing in the riser tube. Lots of air and larger bubbles.. Not too frothy like I would like to see but it does seem to be doing it's job none the less. I have a feeling that this might be due the sharp edge where the bowled out bottom portion of the cup meets the riser tube. I'm going to probably end up sanding that down a bit and try to smooth out the transition. Little worried about that though as there's no turning back afterward and I don't want to make it worse. hmmm...

[crank2211]

Originally Posted by jason2459

Just checked my riser tube on shut down and there is a little air up in there as well. Just never thought about it or noticed it. I guess the bigger diameter tubing allows it to not loose the siphon. On start up it just sucks that air right out and no need to plug up the air intake.

Thanks for the update Jason. I still have to hold the silencer for a second to get it going again as it just allows too much air in the tube when shut down. Still trying to work out an elegant solution for this. Or actually I should say I'm just trying to figure one out now as I've just been dealing with it and haven't put too much thought into it before.

[mr9iron]

Originally Posted by crank2211

Wow, sorry for the extremely late reply.. The in-tank skimmer dimensions are 11.25" x 2.56" x 6.875" (LxWxH). Not sure how high your sump is but you will need to make sure it has 10.5" to hang down the back of the rim and roughly 6" of clearance behind the tank. Once this thing settled in, it started making some nice skimmate. I'm still not 100% satisfied with the action I'm seeing in the riser tube. Lots of air and larger bubbles.. Not too frothy like I would like to see but it does seem to be doing it's job none the less. I have a feeling that this might be due the sharp edge where the bowled out bottom portion of the cup meets the riser tube. I'm going to probably end up sanding that down a bit and try to smooth out the transition. Little worried about that though as there's no turning back afterward and I don't want to make it worse. hmmm...

Crank, thanks for the update. I really wanted to by the SRO because it looks like a great skimmer. Unfortunately, it would not fit on the back of my nanocube so I went with the Warner Marine H1. So far I like the skimmer and it puts out tons of microbubble but since this is a brand new tank with dead rock it has nothing to skim. I threw a piece of shrimp in the tank to help get the cycle going for now.

[jason2459]

Originally Posted by mr9iron

Crank, thanks for the update. I really wanted to by the SRO because it looks like a great skimmer. Unfortunately, it would not fit on the back of my nanocube so I went with the Warner Marine H1. So far I like the skimmer and it puts out tons of microbubble but since this is a brand new tank with dead rock it has nothing to skim. I threw a piece of shrimp in the tank to help get the cycle going for now.

Those H series HOB units look really good and seem to get some great reviews too. There are some great HOB skimmers out there now. I'm in love with the bubble blaster pumps now.

Those micro bubbles are also common for just about any skimmer to put out until they "break in". Get the factory oils and crap off the insides and get some nasty going and that usually solves the microbubbles eventually. Though not all the time.

[mr9iron]

I wonder what a bubble blaster would do on my MNH1?

[jason2459]

Originally Posted by mr9iron

I wonder what a bubble blaster would do on my MNH1?

Probably create a foam canon.

From what I can tell and from what I've read Warner Marine really puts in a lot of effort in balancing out their designs from the pump, body, to the neck and back out. If I had a bigger system with a sump I'd love to try out the WM K2 or any of the super reef octopus xp cone series.

[mr9iron]

Originally Posted by jason2459

Probably create a foam canon.

From what I can tell and from what I've read Warner Marine really puts in a lot of effort in balancing out their designs from the pump, body, to the neck and back out. If I had a bigger system with a sump I'd love to try out the WM K2 or any of the super reef octopus xp cone series.

x2

[Onyx97]

I think I'm going to get this skimmer for my 55...

[crank2211]

Originally Posted by Onyx97

I think I'm going to get this skimmer for my 55...

I think you'll enjoy it.. Here's how it's been performing lately:

[mr9iron]

Very nice! I wish this would have fit on my Nanocube.

[Aqua_POP]

I just installed the big red beast on my 75G. It is a new set-up, nothing but sand, water, and some old dead rocks for base material. I fired it up to check out it's operation and I didn't expect any skimmate. It does foam and it fills the collection cup with water since I can't get the collection cup to stay up. I'm afraid to torque down the nylon hold down screw in fear of stripping it out.

I'm picking up live rock today. Any advice on this foam cannon would be helpful?

[crank2211]

Hmm, do you have the large clear rubber band wrapped around the collection cup? You're supposed to be able to slide it up and down on the cup to adjust the position of the cup in the skimmer for more wet/dry performance.

I accidentally broke mine and had to use the band from my Remora skimmer cup instead. It's smaller but does work. You can see what I'm talking about in the last picture I posted.

[Aqua_POP]

Yes, I have the clear band. It is in no way tight enough to hold the empty cup in position. I figured it was a marker to be able to place the cup back in the same spot. I placed 50 pounds of Totoka live rock in this afternoon and left for baseball practice. When I got home 2 hours later there was foam spewing out of the 4 small holes of the collection cup lid. I should have taken a pic of it but wanted to clean it up before the wife saw it.

[todd141]

Hi. I just got my lx1000 and for the life of me, i cannot figure out how to put the clear plastic cover on.

Could someone post a pic on how it is supposed to be installed?

Also, how do you have yours hanging on the tank? Is it flush to the tank on the front (scooted all the way back.)

thanks for any help.

Todd.

[crank2211]

Not really sure what clear plastic cover you're referring to but I think it's the small plastic gate piece that slides up and down on the front of the skimmer. If so, you simply hold it on the inside of the in take chamber and use they nylon screw provided to tighten it down and squeeze it between the clear slotted acrylic face. You'll notice the center cutout notch is a bit taller than the rest of them allowing the nylon screw to slide up and down.

I've got the skimmer pulled all the way back on the tank, taking up the least amount of space in the water as possible.

[todd141]

thanks Crank.

The plastic cover i was talking about is the large one that covers water return area. It has a cutout so it will go around the water supply tube. I think i have it figured out, but when it's in place, it's right up against the collection cup thumb screw so i have to take the plastic piece off so I can easily unscrew and take out the collection cup.

Also, I still have the collection cup up pretty high as the skimmer breaks in. I'm getting some tea colored skimmate - but at night the bubbles don't even reach the bottom of the collection cup - do you notice that?

[crank2211]

Okay I know which plastic piece you're talking about now. I ended up not using at all as when it was in place I noticed what you're talking about. In addition, I was getting unwanted vibrations out of it when it was in place, so for me I just don't use it.

I don't notice any significant difference at night with the bubbles for no reason. I do know what you mean though when you say the bubbles die down a lot. For me this happens when I feed, dose MB7 or carbon or put my hand in the tank for whatever reason. In my experience this is pretty standard across most skimmers. It will kick back up performance wise in about an hour for me.

[todd141]

I may skip using that plastic piece also.

thanks again.

[MVlk]

Subscribing. Ordered mine yesterday. Thx for the great info all.

[todd141]

Something I've done is pull the blue sponge out of it's little "box" in the lower level, and place it in the top "tier" right where the water falls down into the lower area. Virtually stopped the trickling water sound, is easier to pull out and clean, and the large plastic cover rests on the top of the sponge making it easier to remove.

[BobyYoo]

i 'm starting a 75g

what do you suggest, buying this new at $300

or buy a remora pro 350mag pump used about 1 year for $150

[jason2459]

Originally Posted by todd141

Something I've done is pull the blue sponge out of it's little "box" in the lower level, and place it in the top "tier" right where the water falls down into the lower area. Virtually stopped the trickling water sound, is easier to pull out and clean, and the large plastic cover rests on the top of the sponge making it easier to remove.

That's actually what I ended up doing on my lx-2000s and removed all microbubbles going into the tank as well.

[todd141]

Originally Posted by BobyYoo

i 'm starting a 75g

what do you suggest, buying this new at $300

or buy a remora pro 350mag pump used about 1 year for $150

I don't like the pump in the tank the Remora's have (however these are bright orange....haha) I've also heard Remora's can be loud. My LX is a very low hum - can't even hear it when the lights are on with their fans, and the fans are quiet.

This will outperform a Remora - from what I have read.

[MVlk]

My LX1000S is on the truck for delivery today!

[ari5736]

Any updates on this skimmer. Can anyone tell me how many inches of height clearance this skimmer needs from the lip of the tank up to a canopy that sits flush parrellel with the edge of the tank.