Octopus Skimmer Mods

[ChemE]

Originally posted by Robert Patterso
has anybody noticed an increase in temperature after installing their otp 200 nw? Since mine was installed my tank temp. has gone up 3 deg. From 79 during the day to 82. It has never run over 79. Not to happy about it. I think the skimmer is great, would like to figure out what to do about it though. A chiller is not really in cards, would be a last alternative.

Same here, tank temp went up around 2 degrees with a total system volume of 80 gallons.

[ChemE]

Originally posted by dandy7200
rmb-52????

That's the one. Unless you're willing to spend the extra $30 and spring for the RCM101 which would produce even more accurate readings. People using the 2" meters on this thread and especially on others have complained about the ball in the meter bouncing around a lot. The 5" and 10" scale meters will still bounce but rather than bouncing between 12 and 20 they bounce between 16.4 and 16.8. If you're trying to measure very small improvements in airflow (which is exactly what we are doing) you need a measuring tool capable of reading to that fine a scale.

[ChemE]

Originally posted by dandy7200
voila

Thanks for the link. Their website is just about the worst I've ever seen and the search tool can't find anything. I seriously spent 45 minutes looking around that sad site and still couldn't find those.

[Ereefic]

I called Coralvue and they gave me a price of $15 for just the plastic needlewheel and $25 for a whole impeller assembly. This was for the OTP-3000 pump, not sure if price changes for other models.

[BLockamon]

As long as the water flow is dropping, the pump mods should be lowering the wattage draw. It talkes fewer amps to push air than water. For a "normal" centrifugal pump, the lowest amperage draw is with the output completely closed (highest pressure, lowest flow) and then increases as you open the output. Of course, with no flow the motor won't have any cooling and will overheat.

The only concern would really be whether there is enough water still flowing through the pump to cool it (probably more of an issue for external skimmers though).

[Roland Jacques]

MAN STAND AWAY FROM THE PUMP.

my pump tested way off. the watts are thew the roof!!!!!!!!!!!!

harbor Freight did not have the "Kill-A-Watts meter" in the store. so i bought a Cheap $12 ampmeter. not the right scale to be very helpfull. but this is what i got

gen-x 4100 NW NO air .3 amps = watts?
gen-x 4100 NW air on GG Impeller air .2 amps = watts?
60 watts light bulb in fixture.4 amp = watts?
OTP 2000 no venturi or air GG impeller .4 amps
OTP 2000 no venturi or air stock impeller .7 amps

my personal OTP 3000 pulling air and GG impeller or stock impeller on skimmer 1.6 AMPS
without air 2.1 AMPS
without impeller at all 2.9 amps

Iwaki 70RTL japan 2.3 amps

[clkwrk]

Holly COW!!!!!!!

[danskim]

Watts is usually amperage x voltage.

[danskim]

The 60watt bulb is pulling 0.4 amps x 120v equals almost 60watts, but it is using a little less.
So in your case, 1.9 amps x 120v = 228.0 watts.

[Roland Jacques]

Originally posted by danskim
Watts is usually amperage x voltage.

thats what i thought. it like its just a big resistor.

[Roland Jacques]

i think it would be 1.6 x 115 volts = 184 watts

the gen-X would be around 23 watts

[clkwrk]

Sounds like we keep the body of the skimmer ditch the pump .

Pump reminds me of my ampmaster 3000 which it also added 3+ degress to my old tank

[RichConley]

Roland, theres got to be something wrong there. Theres no way the pump is pulling that much. 200+w in my sump would cook my tank, and I've seen a maybe 1 degree increase.

[Roland Jacques]

yeah, i called the octopus manufacture and left a message. i think they will replace it.

[Robert Patterso]

Originally posted by clkwrk
Sounds like we keep the body of the skimmer ditch the pump .

Pump reminds me of my ampmaster 3000 which it also added 3+ degress to my old tank

It added almost 3 deg. to my tank in a matter of hours. What other options are there. I bought a skimmer, didn't want a skimmer/heater combo!! Are there other pumps that can be substituted in it's place without a major overhaul or plumbing?

[RichConley]

Roland, you've got multiple impellars right? More than one 3000?

COuld you put your modified impellar on a scale, and a stock one? Just curious if theres a big weight difference here.

[Deuce67]

Wow! Thats a lot of draw on the OTP 3000. Even the 2000 is a bit more than rated. Not sure if I would trust a $12 clamp on amp meter though. Did you clamp it around the cord of the pumps? Generally it should be just around the hot wire.

[Roland Jacques]

Rich Thats what i thought also. i doubled checked it, then tested all those other things, then tested it again. im only talking about my pump. i hoping this is somewhat isolated. i would check your pump just to see. i thought my cheap meter was broken when i first tested it.

my system, this one is on, has a ton of suface area so i see 1.5 -2 degree temp increase. it brings my system up to 78 so im good with that part.

[Robert Patterso]

Can say the ehiem 1260nw be adapted to it. have the overflow feed the pump directly? Just a thought, I no skimmer expert no way shape or form. Of course then you have a pump that cost more that the whole skimmer.

[Roland Jacques]

Deuce67
im with you on the trust, that why i tested all those other things.

i clamped around the single black wire. thats the right way correct? it should the black or the white wire on AC right?

[Deuce67]

You should just clamp around the hot wire only which is generally black.

[Roland Jacques]

Deuce67
your a Electrical Service dude. test your 2000 tell us what you get. yours is older one right?

[RichConley]

roland, did you open up the cord to do this? or just the one cable?

[Ereefic]

Roland, how do you get the needlewheels off of the impeller assembly?

[Deuce67]

If I get some time tonight, Ill test my 2000. I can only test it with my Sedra impellar though since the original shaft of the original impellar broke.