Octopus Skimmer Mods

[JCTewks]

David...have you done any more mods to the pump itself? I really think that is your key to getting 1200LPH....more room in the volute. You could prob get more with a larger output, but then you are doing more mods to the skimmer body.

Also, anyone looking to get a dwyer...I would recommend at least an RMB series meter (sorry to step on your recomendation david ) the RMA's small size can really restrict the airflow and lower your readings a few LPH or more. Ideally the RMC would be your best bet, but they are pricey.

[demo]

Hello,

Have octopus since fixed the venturi on the recirc skimmers? i just got my 110 and when i looked there was no washer covering the air intake at all.

Is there still an advantage to make the hole bigger?
Also do you guys use the air intake silencer supplied or does this result in a performance decrease?

i have just ordered some enkamat and i'm awaiting it's arrival.

Cheers,
Demo

[JCTewks]

Originally posted by demo
Hello,

Have octopus since fixed the venturi on the recirc skimmers? i just got my 110 and when i looked there was no washer covering the air intake at all.

Is there still an advantage to make the hole bigger?
Also do you guys use the air intake silencer supplied or does this result in a performance decrease?

i have just ordered some enkamat and i'm awaiting it's arrival.

Cheers,
Demo

There should be some rubber washers provided somewhere in the package. you cannot run the skimmer external without that washer as that is what is making the seal. You should still make the stock hole slightly larger...don't go so big as to remove the nipple...or at least run a 1/8" bit in both holes to make sure there are no obstructions. Run the bit slowly so it won't melt the plastic.

I never ran the stock silencer...just put the airline in a large container like a soda bpttle if the noise bothers you. Honestly, without any mods the air noise prob won't bug you at all.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask

[demo]

Thanks JCTewks but i think i worded that question wrong.

I meant to say that octopus are using new washers that do not obstruct the air intake hole.

Now that they have new washers (more like o rings) do i still need to make the bigger to improve performance?

[JCTewks]

I think you are confuing 2 seperate mods as one.

there was the one where you just removed a little bit of the o ring so that it was not covering the hole.

there is also one where you take a 1/8" drill bit and reem the air intake holes just a little bit to allow for more air flow.

Me, I drilled straight through it and put in a slip coupling that now is the air inlet.

Hook the skimmer up and let it break in for a couple weeks before you start modding it.

What size system are you using this on?

[demo]

Thanks for your reply again JCTewks

the skimmer has been in use for 1 month roughly so it has definatly broken in.

Just pulled it apart and drilled the nipple in the elbow out to 1/8 size and slightly reamed it, didn't make a much of a difference to the bubbles though the air intake is a little bit noiser now.

It was alot easier to blow through it once drilled.

My System is:

1. Gross water volume of your complete system (incl. sump etc.)
183 Liters
2. Net water volume (incl. sump etc.)
138.6 actually more now that i have gone BB!!
3. Are you using a CaCO2 reactor or other technique
RO/DI Kalkwasser + Calcium Chloride
4. Are you using a PO4 reactor (how long, how long ago, etc.)
No only Rowaphos in a filter sock
5. Are you using Ozone
NO
6. Are you using UV
NO
7. What skimmer are you using (type, rated water volume)
Reef Octopus 110 recirc skimmer. Rated 500-700liters
8. What are your actual PO4 and NO3 levels
P04: 0ppm N03: 0ppm
9. What are your actual Ca, Alk and Mg levels
Calcium: 440ppm Kh: 9dkh Mg:???
10. What filtration method do you use (refugium, DSB, Miracle Mud, etc.)
ZEOVIT
11. Type of light (Watt, color temp, how old, etc.)
2 x 150 watt 20k metal halide with new bulbs + 4 x 39watt t5 fluro.
12. What corals do you keep
95% sps with one or two lps.
13. How long has the tank been running
1.5 Years.
14. Live rock (how much, how old, etc.)
70Kg 1.5 years old.
15. Any present problems
A bit of green hair algae
16. Problem description (tissue loss tips, tissue loss base, diatom bloom, algae, etc.)
Hair algae on some rock.
17. What test kit do you use (how old, recently switched, etc.)
Aquarium Pharmaceuticals 2 months old.
18. Other water parameters and water stability (salinity, temp, etc.)
Temp: 25c stable, salinity perfect.
19. Which salt brand do you use
I only use NSW

[JCTewks]

are you getting decent skimate out of it? it should perform fairly well on a system that size. I would think that if you wwanted to do anything to it, a mesh mod would help get some more air in and smaller bubbles. When you get your mesh in let me know and I'll walk you through doing the mod if you need some help.

[reeftank21]

ok... well here goes another one. I have a recirc 200 with a 3000 pump. I find that I need to keep the water level very high in the column or even the neck. Where does everyone normally keep the water level?

I just did a couple of mods but am a little confused. I reamed out the 90 on the output of the pump with a 5/8" spade bit.
On my skimmer the air line is already at least 1/8". I took a slightly larger bit and ran through the barb and other end. 9/64"

I'll need to get a different washer for the air inlet. I trimmed the washer that covers the air inlet but will get an o-ring tomorrow.
I belive that it is ok now but an oring should do better.

What is the volute and what do I need to do with it?

What need to be done with the venturi? Some say to ream it out but wouldn't that ruin the venturi?

I want to do the mesh but need to buy some. That mod scares me a bit because I'm afraid I will break the pump.

thanks

[JCTewks]

The Mesh mod is 100X's easier than messing with the volute. Drilling through the Venturi is a pretty easy mod, with a low risk of screwing anything up.

here is the venturi mod on my OTP1000 pump.




You have to ream the inside out just to where the old venturi hole is gone...go much farther and you'll be through the side of the pipe. Then get a 1/4"ID barb X barb fitting and smooth all the ridges off of one end. Drill a hole where the currint nipple is that matches the size of the adapter you just removed the ridges from. Cut a steep angle on the sanded end and insert ot into the hole, making sure that the center part of the barb adapter goes all the way to the PVC. test fit and trim as necessary. then use some super glue gel to glue the fitting in...make sure the open side is facing the pump. Let it dry and fire it up.

As for the mesh mod. Just pop one (if you have a 2NW impeller), or two (if the impeller has 3 NW's) of the NW's off using a knife. Just insert the blade inbetween the NW's and give it a little twist, go around doing this until the NW comes off...doesn't take a lot of work. Then cut 3 pieces of mesh that are slightly larger than the NW. Trim out the enter of the mesh so it fits on the impeller. Put the mesh on and attach it using 10#test fishing line and a needle. Trim the excess off even with the existing NW. Put the impeller back in and make sure that none of the mesh is rubbing ( I plug mine in out of the water and you can hear if anything is rubbing) Then put the pump back on, lower your water level all the way and wait! It will take up to 24 hrs for all of the oils to rinse off the mesh and really start skimming well.


And here is a picture of the Volute just so you can see it. this is a close up, but you can get the idea, it's where the NW part of the impeller is.


And this is the volute cover. (mine is modified a little)



Hope all of this helps, and feel free to ask questions if you get confused. We are all here to help each other out!

[demo]

No not really getting decent skimate, my impellor only has 2 rows of needles and as reeftank21 said i have to run the water level heaps high sometimes up in the neck.

My skimate is dark coloured but i can very little (like 2 Liters per week) then if i tune so i get more skimmate it comes out as clear water.

Anyhelp would be appreciated, btw the skimmer is feed from the return from overflow around 2000lph minus the head pressure.

[JCTewks]

demo...you should only be running 200-300 lph through the skimmer with that size tank. that could be a large part of the problem...the water just isn't in the skimmer long enough to do be cleaned. Also i can't even imagine the amount of turbulence with that much flow. cut your flow down to 350lph MAX theough the skimmer and that will help out a lot.

[demo]

ok will give it a shot tonight, maybe it easier to just use a pump instead of the return as it's very hard to get that much of a slow water flow.

[JCTewks]

just tee off of your main overflow line with a 1/2" tee and use a valve to control flow to the skimmer. if you do this you'll want your main overflow line submerged in the sump to give a little back pressure.

just out of curiosity, why are you running so much flow through your sump?

[demo]

Ok well i adjusted it so that with the air turned off the water level is in main chamber just below the transition into the riser tube.

I installed a T piece and a valve so that 90% of my return goes into the sump and only 10% goes through the skimmer now i guess i just have to sit back and sit what happens over the weekend?

[JCTewks]

sounds good....that should help a bunch. do you notice less turbulence in the skimmer now?

[demo]

Yes but a lot of turbulence is still created via the needlewheel.

I still think a pump is a worthwhile invest to ensure i get a constant flow into the skimmer.

Anything else i should do mate? btw thanks for your help much appreciated.

[impur]

Great advice Jeff! And great writeup on the venturi.



Miles

[sdietz2469]

I am in need of an elbow for my PS-1000... i bought it and the one i got was cracked, and the fish store i bought it from went out of business, and i sold my other skimmer, so i am running with none on me tank........ i need the piece that goes from the pump to the skimmer body, it is a unoin on the side that goes to the pump, and a slip on the other side(BODY), ANY BODY have one or know where i can get this replaced... Help i have absolutely no skimmerand am in deperate need of one.......thanks
shane

[impur]

Check out this thread, a guy redid the output on his skimmer

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1165689

[Noise]

Does a needlepoint grid work as well as Enkamat? I have had a hard time finding Enkamat, but a needlepoint grid was easy.

[demo]

needlepoint grid? you mean flyscreen mesh?

BTW search ebay for enkamat a guy sells it on there in the US.

[Noise]

Flyscreen mesh, needlepoint mesh, grid crosshatch frame whatever. Found it at a arts/crafts/fabric store.

But yeah that is what I am talking about. I found a pack of round ones. Only $1. How well does this work?

I will look on ebay for that guy. Or perhaps take the hit and buy 100yds for myself and sell it off.

[JCTewks]

The Needlepointers grid soesn't work as well as the mesh...it's just too heavy and not enough open area. I did however, use that as a bottom piece for an impeler i made out of a stock paddlewheel impeller. I cut all of the paddles off and glued the grid onthe impeller, then used that as a platform to attach the mesh.

[sdietz2469]

just short of ripping my whole skimmer and pump apart any other ideas for this piece?

[JCTewks]

what piece is it exactly? If it is just the venturi on a non recirc skimmer, you can make that no problem...heck, just put a piece of airline in the input and that will get you going again until you get a venturi made.