Octopus Skimmer Mods - Page 35

JRod · 01/25/2007, 12:31 PM

Question.

If you were to mod out your Octopus, what do you feel is the order of mods in importance from top to bottom.

From what I read, seems gutter guard is up top, followed by the elbow mod, then gate valve?

Another thing is although the idea for a mod forum is great, but this should only be for pics and detail of mods. The discussion should be over under the other topic. Just a pain going through pages and pages to find stuff. 2 cents.

RichConley · 01/25/2007, 01:04 PM

One note, adding a gate valve to a non recirc skimmer, IMO, is a waste of time, and can actually reduce performance. The problem with a gate valve is it modulates height with pressure, and if your airline gets a little clogged, the level in your skimmer will rise significantly, and you'll have a flood. with a standpipe, the skimmer just gets loud because more water is coming out

1.)Meshmod
2.)Elbow
3.)Larger Airline/Venturi mod
4.)Recirc.

klasiksb · 01/25/2007, 03:40 PM

Ok, I got my mesh today. I added 2 layers of the mesh to the factory NW (did not remove one paddle). My max air intake is 20. Does this sound right?

Also, when I did the gate valve mod, I did not cut the output pipe, I just added the gate valve on top of it. If I open the gate valve all the way, my water level goes no lower than the union on the neck. Should I cut the exhaust pipe and lower the gate valve?

CarlC · 01/25/2007, 03:57 PM

Charlie a 1.5" coupler from Lowes or HD will work.

Carl

BigJPDC · 01/25/2007, 04:27 PM

Rich I can't imagine going back to the standpipe and crappy foam circles. No way. I have almost no microbubbles after making the switch, it's quiet and just too easy to adjust exactly where the foam head is with the gate mod.
I would make this mod #1, for usablility and decrease in noise and bubbles, then go from there with performance tweaks.

jp

SeaView · 01/25/2007, 04:29 PM

Quote:

I added 2 layers of the mesh to the factory NW (did not remove one paddle).

klasiksb,

Just curious how you did it. Just tied to the top of the upper paddle?

Thanks.

klasiksb · 01/25/2007, 04:40 PM

I put them on the front of the impeller and zip tied them down.

I don't want to cut up my NW until I know this is going to be an increase in performance. So far, i'm getting about 25% more air (from 15-20) but not seeing much difference.

impur · 01/25/2007, 04:46 PM

Is your skimmer new and broken in? I just got mine tuesday and have been running it stock since. I have yet to get any skimmate. I want to see how it performs for a week stock, then i will add the mesh and so on to see how much more it actually pulls for myself.

klasiksb · 01/25/2007, 04:52 PM

No, mine has been running for months and working great.

rjboyer · 01/25/2007, 04:55 PM

can someone post some pics of tying fishing line to hold mesh on the needle wheel

impur · 01/25/2007, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by klasiksb
No, mine has been running for months and working great.

Ok. I'm glad to hear you put the 2 layers on without removing one of the needlewheels and still saw improvement. I would like to avoid removing the needlewheels as well.

klasiksb · 01/25/2007, 08:40 PM

I may put the 3rd piece on there tomorrow and see what that does.

klasiksb · 01/26/2007, 10:25 AM

Ok, I put the 3rd layer on, still without removing one of the needle wheels and i'm still only getting 20 SCFH of air. The ball is bouncing a little more and it sounds like it is sucking more air.

I have to remove the dial from my flowmeter, otherwise it maxes out at about 15.

Is removing the one needle wheel going to give me a significant increase? Am I limiting somewhere else?

impur · 01/26/2007, 10:38 AM

Have you increased the hole size on the venturi yet? I wonder if 2 layers and a larger venturi air hole would show much improvement while not removing the needlewheel.

klasiksb · 01/26/2007, 10:48 AM

I am using the longer black venturi. I drilled out the hole so i could snuggly fit RO tubing in it.

RichConley · 01/26/2007, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BigJPDC
Rich I can't imagine going back to the standpipe and crappy foam circles. No way. I have almost no microbubbles after making the switch, it's quiet and just too easy to adjust exactly where the foam head is with the gate mod.
I would make this mod #1, for usablility and decrease in noise and bubbles, then go from there with performance tweaks.

jp

I have the standpipe. I have no noise, no bubbles, and while the adjustability isnt as good, the height is MUCH more stable than with a gate valve. Again, with a gate valve, any time barometric pressure changes, or your air intake changes, the water level in the skimmer changes. With a standpipe, that is not the case.

klasiksb · 01/26/2007, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by klasiksb
Ok, I put the 3rd layer on, still without removing one of the needle wheels and i'm still only getting 20 SCFH of air. The ball is bouncing a little more and it sounds like it is sucking more air.

I have to remove the dial from my flowmeter, otherwise it maxes out at about 15.

Is removing the one needle wheel going to give me a significant increase? Am I limiting somewhere else?

Rich? Roland? Got any idea here?

nsr250nyc · 01/26/2007, 01:09 PM

so did anyone ever fit another pump on these skimmers? 90watts seems alot for one pump.

klasiksb · 01/26/2007, 01:18 PM

Ok, I pulled all 3 of the mesh off, put one back on with both needle wheels. Still 20 for the air. I don't understand how pulling off one of the needlewheels will make that big of a difference. Something else has got to be going on.

With just the pump in a 5 gal. bucket with 9" of water, it's the same results.

klasiksb · 01/26/2007, 07:42 PM

I'm back to the normal impeller only. I didn't get the same mileage as everyone else reports.

danskim · 01/26/2007, 07:56 PM

Sorry we couldn't really help klasiksb.

coryjac0b · 01/28/2007, 05:23 PM

Would the gen-x 4100 work good on the same skimmers that use the octopus 3000 pump?

Rogger Castells · 01/29/2007, 12:33 AM

has anyone done this to the sedra 5000 pinwheel from a euroreef skimmer, if so Can you show me how you did it? TIA

Rogger

Avast Marine · 01/30/2007, 11:49 PM

My Eheim 1262 is on it's way, can't wait to get some mesh on it and hooked up for some testing. I also got the ER pinwheel for it just incase I go that route.

hahnmeister · 01/31/2007, 12:04 AM

Hmmmm... I just took two of my eheim 1262s offline... perhaps they would be the best for my next needlewheel/meshwheel skimmer. Where can I get a needlewheel or meshwheel for this pump?

01/25/2007, 01:04 PM	#852
RichConley Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bostonian in Chicago going to DC Posts: 9,908	One note, adding a gate valve to a non recirc skimmer, IMO, is a waste of time, and can actually reduce performance. The problem with a gate valve is it modulates height with pressure, and if your airline gets a little clogged, the level in your skimmer will rise significantly, and you'll have a flood. with a standpipe, the skimmer just gets loud because more water is coming out 1.)Meshmod 2.)Elbow 3.)Larger Airline/Venturi mod 4.)Recirc. __________________ NO TANKS!!!

01/25/2007, 03:40 PM	#853
klasiksb Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: wisconsin Posts: 1,281	Ok, I got my mesh today. I added 2 layers of the mesh to the factory NW (did not remove one paddle). My max air intake is 20. Does this sound right? Also, when I did the gate valve mod, I did not cut the output pipe, I just added the gate valve on top of it. If I open the gate valve all the way, my water level goes no lower than the union on the neck. Should I cut the exhaust pipe and lower the gate valve? __________________ Just a girl looking to build a little piece of heaven on earth, without killing it!

01/25/2007, 04:27 PM	#855
BigJPDC Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 959	Rich I can't imagine going back to the standpipe and crappy foam circles. No way. I have almost no microbubbles after making the switch, it's quiet and just too easy to adjust exactly where the foam head is with the gate mod. I would make this mod #1, for usablility and decrease in noise and bubbles, then go from there with performance tweaks. jp __________________ Rock in the tank is money not in my bank. Current Tank Info: 65 RR AGA

01/25/2007, 04:40 PM	#857
klasiksb Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: wisconsin Posts: 1,281	I put them on the front of the impeller and zip tied them down. I don't want to cut up my NW until I know this is going to be an increase in performance. So far, i'm getting about 25% more air (from 15-20) but not seeing much difference. __________________ Just a girl looking to build a little piece of heaven on earth, without killing it!

01/25/2007, 04:46 PM	#858
impur Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Eugene, OR Posts: 4,262	Is your skimmer new and broken in? I just got mine tuesday and have been running it stock since. I have yet to get any skimmate. I want to see how it performs for a week stock, then i will add the mesh and so on to see how much more it actually pulls for myself. __________________ Great spirits often encounter violent opposition from mediocre minds. Current Tank Info: 75gal, 20gal sump, 6-54w T5 TEK

01/25/2007, 12:31 PM	#851
JRod Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Springfield, NJ Posts: 795	Question. If you were to mod out your Octopus, what do you feel is the order of mods in importance from top to bottom. From what I read, seems gutter guard is up top, followed by the elbow mod, then gate valve? Another thing is although the idea for a mod forum is great, but this should only be for pics and detail of mods. The discussion should be over under the other topic. Just a pain going through pages and pages to find stuff. 2 cents.

01/25/2007, 03:57 PM	#854
CarlC Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Leesport, PA Posts: 1,099	Charlie a 1.5" coupler from Lowes or HD will work. Carl

01/25/2007, 04:52 PM	#859
klasiksb Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: wisconsin Posts: 1,281	No, mine has been running for months and working great. __________________ Just a girl looking to build a little piece of heaven on earth, without killing it!

01/25/2007, 04:55 PM	#860
rjboyer Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Long Beach Posts: 42	pics can someone post some pics of tying fishing line to hold mesh on the needle wheel

01/25/2007, 08:40 PM	#862
klasiksb Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: wisconsin Posts: 1,281	I may put the 3rd piece on there tomorrow and see what that does. __________________ Just a girl looking to build a little piece of heaven on earth, without killing it!

01/26/2007, 10:25 AM	#863
klasiksb Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: wisconsin Posts: 1,281	Ok, I put the 3rd layer on, still without removing one of the needle wheels and i'm still only getting 20 SCFH of air. The ball is bouncing a little more and it sounds like it is sucking more air. I have to remove the dial from my flowmeter, otherwise it maxes out at about 15. Is removing the one needle wheel going to give me a significant increase? Am I limiting somewhere else? __________________ Just a girl looking to build a little piece of heaven on earth, without killing it!

01/26/2007, 10:38 AM	#864
impur Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Eugene, OR Posts: 4,262	Have you increased the hole size on the venturi yet? I wonder if 2 layers and a larger venturi air hole would show much improvement while not removing the needlewheel. __________________ Great spirits often encounter violent opposition from mediocre minds. Current Tank Info: 75gal, 20gal sump, 6-54w T5 TEK

01/26/2007, 10:48 AM	#865
klasiksb Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: wisconsin Posts: 1,281	I am using the longer black venturi. I drilled out the hole so i could snuggly fit RO tubing in it. __________________ Just a girl looking to build a little piece of heaven on earth, without killing it!

01/26/2007, 01:09 PM	#868
nsr250nyc Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: New York City Posts: 139	so did anyone ever fit another pump on these skimmers? 90watts seems alot for one pump.

01/26/2007, 01:18 PM	#869
klasiksb Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: wisconsin Posts: 1,281	Ok, I pulled all 3 of the mesh off, put one back on with both needle wheels. Still 20 for the air. I don't understand how pulling off one of the needlewheels will make that big of a difference. Something else has got to be going on. With just the pump in a 5 gal. bucket with 9" of water, it's the same results. __________________ Just a girl looking to build a little piece of heaven on earth, without killing it!

01/26/2007, 07:42 PM	#870
klasiksb Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: wisconsin Posts: 1,281	I'm back to the normal impeller only. I didn't get the same mileage as everyone else reports. __________________ Just a girl looking to build a little piece of heaven on earth, without killing it!

01/26/2007, 07:56 PM	#871
danskim Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Ellicott City, MD Posts: 1,639	Sorry we couldn't really help klasiksb. __________________ Dan The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever. -Jacques Cousteau

01/28/2007, 05:23 PM	#872
coryjac0b Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Metairie, LA Posts: 823	gen-x 4100? Would the gen-x 4100 work good on the same skimmers that use the octopus 3000 pump?

01/29/2007, 12:33 AM	#873
Rogger Castells Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Weston, FL Posts: 7,495	has anyone done this to the sedra 5000 pinwheel from a euroreef skimmer, if so Can you show me how you did it? TIA Rogger

01/30/2007, 11:49 PM	#874
Avast Marine RC Sponsor Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Northern VA Posts: 2,446	My Eheim 1262 is on it's way, can't wait to get some mesh on it and hooked up for some testing. I also got the ER pinwheel for it just incase I go that route. __________________ Dan Don't rush art, you get bad art.

01/31/2007, 12:04 AM	#875
hahnmeister Moved On Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Brew City, WI Posts: 10,156	Hmmmm... I just took two of my eheim 1262s offline... perhaps they would be the best for my next needlewheel/meshwheel skimmer. Where can I get a needlewheel or meshwheel for this pump?