WOOT lol Odyssea NEEDLE WHEEL skimmer!

[preimo]

Pics are in gallery.

[b16drag]

Thanks for the pics preimo!

Anyone tried throwing a sedra pump or something on these PS160's?

[luke33]

I put a genx2400on it and it was just to much flow.

[b16drag]

Hm... I'm just procrastinating on getting a new skimmer because of my increased bioload on the 90g. I'm looking at the Octopus NW's... but then again I just want to mod the hell out of the PS160 first! hah!

[luke33]

Even modded the ps160 won't be enough for a 90g imo. Its just to small diameter wise. If it were a recirc it would be ok, but that isn't going to happen. You'll be better off with an octo 200 for that size tank.

[b16drag]

Its actually doing ok but since I've gotten more fishes and feeding it several times a day, its not keeping up anymore. I dont think the diameter is all that much smaler than the Octopus NW150. I dunno, I just think the pump may be the problem, and I'm sure if the outlet is was made a lil bit bigger it would probably work okay...

Anyways, I have an old Berlin XL skimmer that I may just cut and try something crazy...

[Ocean In A Box]

chevegan (or anyone with one of these UV's) -
Way, way, way, way back on page 1 or 2 of this thread there was a short discussion on the ODYSSEA uv unit. Just trying to find anyone who has used one, pros/cons, experience, etc.

Thanks, Matt

[jefferzbooboo]

I have the UV sterilizer. I bought it because I had green water that I couldn't get rid of, tried almost everything under the sun to get rid of it, including 50% water changes every day for 2 weeks. Bought the sterilizer, hooked er up, and within 12 hours my tank was clear. Make sure tho you get the right flow tho for it, slower the better, mine runs inline with my phos-ban reactor and I just plug it in when I think I need to use it.

[Ocean In A Box]

jerrerzbooboo -
Thanks. What is recommended, or from you own personal experience, the flow rate gph to use?

[vt4lifecuf]

i got the jebo 182 series with via aqua 1300 at 380gph is that enough flow for the skimmer?

[jefferzbooboo]

I use a Maxi Jet 400 with a ball valve inline and turned it down a tiny bit. Theres no instructions with the sterilizer, so I don't know the recomended flow. I just turn the valve till the carbon in my Phos ban tumbles.
I've replaced the bulb once and it was the same as a TetraTec sterilizer.

I have the PS75 and the odyssea pump quit on me. I rigged up a spare Maxi Jet 1200 I had laying around and IMO it works better than the stock odyssea pump did.

[vt4lifecuf]

i am planning to buy the odyssea ps160 and have some questions

I have 90Gal tank is the ps160 is good enough? ps160 for 160gal?
What kind pump i can replace the stock wp500?
Do i have to pull the plastic tube inside out? for better skimmate

Anymore suggestion for more mods?

Thanks

[pbukow]

Definately pull the inner tube out of inside of the skimmer, this gives you a lot more reaction room for bubbles to grab onto as many proteins as it can.

Some people used the Gen-X 2400 as a replacement, but others have had great results with the standard pump.

I would think everyone here would agree that for a 90gallon tank, the PS-160 would be under rated. Most of us agree that a 75gallon is about the max it could handle, fully modded btw. If the 90 was a Fish Only tank, you could probably get away with it though, don't quote me on that though

Putting ekanamet 4 on the impeller helps a lot, thats called a mesh mod. Very simple to do, and you can buy more than enough off ebay for under $8, shipping included.

One final mod you could do is to put a pvc elbow on the nob where the water enters the skimmer's body, this gives even more reaction time for the bubbles to mix with the water.

Btw, all of these mods can be found on this thread, you would just have to hunt them down or hope someone has a link. Good Luck

[miatawnt2b]

what pbukow said.

I have a ps160 on a 90 reef, and I've had difficulty getting it to efficiently skim. I have pulled the inner tube, done the elbow mod, a mesh mod and modify the venturi, and it will pull crud (especially now since I have been adding vodka) but it's not as spectacular as I would have liked.

I cannot say yet that it is a bad skimmer yet however. It has been put on the back burner for months now. I plan on making a new venturi as per luke33's instructions which I'm sure is going to help. I also need to tweak my meshmod a bit. Sometimes the pump will not restart and I think the meshmod is hanging up in the pump.

Another mod I've thought about is increasing the distance between the top of the neck and the lid. It seems to me that the skum has a hard time getting into the cup. I thought about trimming the neck, but that would really be a difficult task to do correctly and neatly. Yesterday it hit me though... why not just lift the lid higher with a shim between the outer rim of the collection cup and lid. DUH. As soon as the SWMBO releases me from making truffles today, I plan on playing a bit with it.

-J

[razataz]

I want to use a ps75 as a hob skimmer on a 10g refugium.
How for down can the water line be from the tank rim for the skimmer to work still? I read the 160 leaks but not the 75 correct.

[pbukow]

Another question: Does anyone know if there is any physical difference between the gen x needlewheel and the gen x with a standard impeller? I have a gen x 2400 needlewheel and am thinking about using it as a return pump for a future tank? Could i just use the needlewheel or will it lose too much head pressure, has anyone used a needlewheel pump in this method? The pump will also be run through an SCWD wavemaker and i want at least 300gph to run back into the display from the sump. If the needlewheel won't work, does anyone know where to get just the standard impeller for the 2400?

[pbukow]

Originally posted by preimo
Pics are in gallery.

How are the micro bubbleson yours? Do you get a lot into the sump?

[iairj84]

Originally posted by razataz
I want to use a ps75 as a hob skimmer on a 10g refugium.
How for down can the water line be from the tank rim for the skimmer to work still? I read the 160 leaks but not the 75 correct.

Wanting to know this as well if anyone happens to know.

[miatawnt2b]

OK, so increasing the distance between neck and lid had a significant negative impact. I propped the lid up by just under 1/8" and let it go 24 hours. I had almost 0 skimate during that period. Put the lid back down, and bingo. 1 cup in 24 hours.

Time to play with the venturi and needlewheel... Ahhhh, after new years.

-J

[jefferzbooboo]

Arrrg, my 2nd pump on my PS75 skimmer. Anyone got any recomendations on what I should get for a replacement, I'd like to do a needle wheel pump.

[razataz]

Originally posted by iairj84
Wanting to know this as well if anyone happens to know.

Anyone

[jefferzbooboo]

I've been using the PS75 hang on style and as long as the pump is submersed its all good. The down tube is about 4 1/2 inches from the bracket to to where the pump screws on. Not sure if thats what info you wanted. I've never had my PS75 overflow.

[cerolost]

You could probably use a gen x 1500 nw for a new pump

[miatawnt2b]

I'm really having a difficult time with the wp-500 pump restarting with the mesh mod. I have made sure the impeller spins freely, but I am thinking that sometimes on restart the impeller is forced backwards (or forwards) enough so that the zipties holding the mesh are getting caught on some part of the pump housing.

Anyone know about meshmod pump restarting issues and how to solve them?

-J

[iairj84]

Hey guys, got the PS75 for christmas.

I am running a 20 gallon with 10 gallon sump/fuge and have it in the HOB style configuration. I hope to get a 20 gallon long when I can find one used and run it in sump but whatever.

I didn't run vinegar through the skimmer before putting it on and have yet to get any skimmate. It's only been roughly 48 hours so I'm not overly worried or anything yet especially since the whole chamber is pretty much "Milked" out. It's making millions of micro bubbles and I've got it set so the bubble or water line is right where the collection cup center tube starts. I can't really find a "sweet spot" really any higher without it just overflowing the cup. Luckily the way it's set up the cup doesn't overflow it just flows back down into the skimmer cup.

So I guess my question is should I take the skimmer off and run vinegar through it, or just leave it be? I would like to get it skimming by new years as I'm headed to vegas and would like it to be a set it and forget it sort of thing while only needing someone to empty the cup and feed. I know there's a break in time, should I just let it go and hope it does it's thing or should I run vinegar through it?