WOOT lol Odyssea NEEDLE WHEEL skimmer!

[luke33]

The mods I made on the ps160 took it from pulling 5 scfh to 15, and it was much much more skimmate. It basically turned it into an octo 150 nw for 60 bux.

[clevername]

Originally posted by miatawnt2b
well this is getting slightly frustrating. I've had the riser tube filled halfway up with tiny, fizzy bubbles for 1 week. I have not skimmed one ounce of skimmate. I would think I should see something by now.

Thoughts?
-J

what kind of mods do you have. I know my PS160 did the exact same thing if i do major water changes and when i first got it.

I would leave it set halfway up for another week.

Also, so you notice any black gunk on the walls of the riser?

[cerolost]

I have mine setup as a hob and the sides of the riser tube are covered in gunk. Still right now all I get is wet skim.

[EvilE]

Originally posted by clevername2000
the dial has nothing to do with bubble/riser tube. Its all relative. I have a stronger pump and an elbow on the inside... if mine is set completely open the water level will be well below the riser tube. If i put the stock pump on, the water level will be way lower.

Its all relative to the mods, pump, HOB, water level in sump....ect

You asked the question NOT because you really care about what position the dial is in. You asked it because you wanted to know how far up the bubbles are in the riser tube.

Better/straight forward question would be. "How far does everyone have there bubbles up in the riser tube (adding what model skimmer your asking about)"

so, are you saying the gate valve should be left all the way open?? That can't be......

[miatawnt2b]

I have a completely stock 160 running both the inline venturi and the NW venturi at the same time. I figured i would leave it as-is for a bit to see what it does. There is no black gunk on the riser at all.

-J

[cerolost]

Interesting about the ps160 is when you run it hob you have to have it setup both ways don't you? Otherwise it leaks from that little spout near the intake.

[rckrzy1]

here is what my ps75 pulls out every 48 hours.

[EvilE]

Originally posted by rckrzy1
here is what my ps75 pulls out every 48 hours.

is it modded??

[rckrzy1]

90 degree elbow down on the input tube. That's it, until my new ex250 pump arrives when I try the new blue NW impeller.

BTW this is on a 75G mixed reef tank.

[EvilE]

Originally posted by rckrzy1
90 degree elbow down on the input tube. That's it, until my new ex250 pump arrives when I try the new blue NW impeller.

BTW this is on a 75G mixed reef tank.

Would you be able to possibly post a pic of that for me??

[rckrzy1]

Originally posted by EvilE
Would you be able to possibly post a pic of that for me??

When I get home.

I just unscrewed and removed the input black piece that the pump attach's to , pulled it out the top, got a 90 3/4 pvc elbow that has threads on one end. Hand screwed it on and used a few drops of weldon to hold it in place as it's just a friction fit with the threads, I suppose you could use and reef safe glue. Then reinsert with 90 heading down, OH BTW I also used a dremmel to remove a groove inside the elbow, sorta ported it if you know car lingo. This forces the water/air mixture to the bottom where I think we get more contact time. I have seen no more or less air bubble out either, but mines in a sump so who cares.

[GS-Rock]

i should have a package from aquatraders here soon, i got a 1350 gph pump coming for my friend and some pc for me, ohh i also picked up the ps160 for my 75g, hopefully it will pull more then my redsea prizum w/o being modded, i just got my sump about 3 weeks ago so i am going to try in sump set up on it, i think i will try to mod my prizum or sell it, i am not sure yet, i also get a sea clone that i never set up so i dont know

[clevername]

Originally posted by EvilE
so, are you saying the gate valve should be left all the way open?? That can't be......

im saying that for every setup the valve will be open different and still get the same results.

Someone with a strong pump has the valve open all the way but the riser tube could be filled halfway.

Someone else could have a smaller pump un modded and have the valve almost closed and still have the bubbles halfway up.

The valve is really has nothing to do with how well your skimmer skimms.

Three parts that really effect skimming is, turbulence (strong pump), contact time (height and width of skimmer), and air intake (meshmod and ventuiri inlet)

[luke33]

I had my ps160 open about half way up when i used it. When i modded it to pull 15scfh i had to raise the water a bit because it was pulling more air and less water. I think stock these guys pull around 3-5scfh. Not to much. After the mods i did it was over 3x as much air.

[clevername]

Alright guys, who here has the PS160 and who here has the 75.

I ask because we need to start making a poll to see how everyone likes it. Personally i have mixed reviews of the 160. From pictures of the 75 im a little jealous. So far im not getting much skimmate about 1/4 of that per WEEK!

DO any of you guys know how much a deep sand bed and a large regugium helps reduce skimmate?

[luke33]

I had a ps160 and would get half a cup a day of dark green skimmate in my 125. I have a dsb and a 40g fuge. If you have it in your 55 you should be getting atleast a cup or two a week.

I haven't seen any negative reviews of it, sure its not the highest quality skimmer in the world build wise, but for the price and easily modded for free, its a heck of a deal. But its not a good hot skimmer, thats teh only thing i know thats a negative.

[EvilE]

I have the PS75

[rckrzy1]

Originally posted by EvilE
Would you be able to possibly post a pic of that for me??

[pbukow]

I have the PS 160, huge change from my previous seaclone 100 right? The only thing i don't like about it is that it needs to be tweaked when the water level in my sump changes as it evaporates. I don't usually tweak it too often, I just top off my sump and the skimmate level resumes

[clevername]

Luke33 im gald to see someone is impressed with this. I guess i shouldnt be to concerned. I have a DSB in the display tank and a DSB in the Fuge along with a ton of cheato. I guess at this point the skimmer is really secondary filtration...... no?

Check my Sig for details

[luke33]

Clever, you may just have a very low bioload. From your sig it looks that way. And nitrates shouldn't be a huge issue for a few softies. If they are 20ppm or less you should be very fine.

[miatawnt2b]

Originally posted by pbukow
I have the PS 160, huge change from my previous seaclone 100 right? The only thing i don't like about it is that it needs to be tweaked when the water level in my sump changes as it evaporates. I don't usually tweak it too often, I just top off my sump and the skimmate level resumes

This happens with any skimmer. The key is to put the pump in a section of the sump where the water level doesn't change. That is why I have to run the HOB attachment for my 160 even though the skimmer is in sump. My stable water level section is only big enough for the pump. So the pump stays in there, and I run the HOB attachment up and over the baffle.

OK, I want to do the elbow mod on the 160... what size do I need? threaded/un-threaded

-J

[pbukow]

You want the elbow threaded, it makes a better seal. I don't remember what the ID of the elbow was though I want to say 3/4in but not 100%

[rckrzy1]

Originally posted by pbukow
You want the elbow threaded, it makes a better seal. I don't remember what the ID of the elbow was though I want to say 3/4in but not 100%

I know the ps75 is 3/4" (street elbow) I think they call it.

[EvilE]

I somehow am finding it hard to see the elbow mod from that pic.....