Retrofitting Octopus TDNW 300 recirc skimmer with new pumps?

[tgunn]

Hey all,
I've got an Octopus TDNW300 recirculating skimmer with 3 OTP2000 pumps.
Its been sitting unused for a few years now, awaiting a new reef setup.
I'd like to determine if there are better pumps I could use instead of the OTP2000? The problems I have with the current pump:
1. Before and after mesh modding, I could never get them to start without blowing air into the venturi.
2. They use around 60w of power each.
3. They leak.
Each pump apparently pushes 520GPH.
I'd ideally like to replace these with 1 or 2 newest pumps.

Any idaes?

Tyler

[tkeracer619]

What size tank is it on?

I have a DDNW250 with two otp3000 pumps and was planning on going the same route. I came to the conclusion that the pumps would cost more then the body was worth given the performance of the skimmer.

Your body has 3/4" bulkheads so any single or dual pump solution will have a restriction unless you put in new bulkheads (or uniseals).

I would look into the SRO or XP line of reef octopus skimmers as well as the Bubble Blaster pumps in case you choose you want to keep the old skimmer.

[tgunn]

Originally Posted by tkeracer619

What size tank is it on?

I have a DDNW250 with two otp3000 pumps and was planning on going the same route. I came to the conclusion that the pumps would cost more then the body was worth given the performance of the skimmer.

Your body has 3/4" bulkheads so any single or dual pump solution will have a restriction unless you put in new bulkheads (or uniseals).

I would look into the SRO or XP line of reef octopus skimmers as well as the Bubble Blaster pumps in case you choose you want to keep the old skimmer.

The skimmer is rated "up to 800g", and I'm planning for approximately a 460g tank.

I was imagining I'd need to cut out the existing bulkheads on the skimmer and replace them. I hate that these things use metric fittings.

I'd somewhat hoped avoiding the purchase of a new skimmer; I had invested a fair bit in this one when my 140g tank was running, but it was ultimately FAR too big for that tank.
Perhaps I need to play around with the pumps and see if I can get them starting reliably without worrying about buying a new skimmer..

Thanks,
Tyler

[tkeracer619]

Those skimmers were horribly over rated.

I don't know what you plan on keeping in your tank but odds are nothing you can do to that skimmer will give you the capacity you are looking for.

Even if you could your talking $600 in pumps. A few more hundred gets you a skimmer designed for the air and water volume.

[tgunn]

Originally Posted by tkeracer619

Those skimmers were horribly over rated.

I don't know what you plan on keeping in your tank but odds are nothing you can do to that skimmer will give you the capacity you are looking for.

Even if you could your talking $600 in pumps. A few more hundred gets you a skimmer designed for the air and water volume.

The skimmer is actually a SWC branded skimmer, but is identical to the octopus one. I think this was made in the same factory as the octopus ones, before SWC started making their own skimmer designs.

I bought it used from a local aquarist who used it on a 300g heavily stocked FOWLR tank. He claimed to get over 5g of skimmate a week, but on my 140g tank I never managed to get more than 1 cup (ie not a skimmer cup, but a measuring cup) of weak skimmate. I have a feeling this was partly due to a low fish load (3 tangs and 4 other small fish in a 140g with 100g sump).

The skimmer tended to overflow VERY easily, and if there was a slight blip in the power the pumps would stop running (before and after mesh modding them).

There's a part of me that wants to re-use it, simply because I have it.

However, there's another LARGE part of me that thinks I should just move to a Deltec, or some other well known reputable brand of skimmer that I know will work. Then this monster could act as a backup skimmer....

Thanks,
Tyler

[tkeracer619]

I know how you feel. I have one sitting in the attic that needs new impellers. I keep thinking I will put some cash into it to get the new pinwheels and then sell it but every time I weigh out the options it continues to collect dust.

I had the same results you had on a well stocked 360. It couldn't keep up. Not the same skimmer but close.

Now I am running a Precision Marine XL1 modded with an askoll. 10x the skimmer.

[tgunn]

Originally Posted by tkeracer619

I know how you feel. I have one sitting in the attic that needs new impellers. I keep thinking I will put some cash into it to get the new pinwheels and then sell it but every time I weigh out the options it continues to collect dust.

I had the same results you had on a well stocked 360. It couldn't keep up. Not the same skimmer but close.

Now I am running a Precision Marine XL1 modded with an askoll. 10x the skimmer.

I have a feeling I just need to get over it and decide to buy a new skimmer. The technology has improved so much in the past couple of years. Although it'll hurt to drop a grand or so on a new skimmer, I'm sure it'll serve me much better in the long run than trying to cobble this one into decent operation.

Thanks,
Tyler