Octopus Skimmer Mods - Page 6

BLockamon · 03/04/2007, 02:34 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by lynxdevlopment
I can't get my octo 400 to stop leaking from around one of the pump intakes, the black part of the pump that comes off if I turn it a 1/4 turn and the impeller is inside of. Also of course it's full of twenty or so gal's of water any suggestions how to fix it with out taking apart.

As the previous poster said, silicone grease might work. It didn't work for me; the leak was too large. I eventually put a bead of silicone sealant around the volute. Rather annoying because 1) I have to let it cure overnight before putting the pump back on and 2) I have to use pliers to get the volute back off.

Roland Jacques · 03/04/2007, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by JCTewks
Malifilous, I actually bored out that entire piece where the existing venturi hole comes in. it comes stock at about 3/8" ID and I bored it out as large as I could, about 13/16 or so. I'v thought about adding a second airlineto the other side of the venturi, but, like i've said....I can't handle any more air. Is your foam just pouring into the collection cup uncontrollably??? if not yet....watch out....you'll be needing a neck extension like mine.

Here is mine before I had the air meter at what i would guess to be 17-18 SCFH

Jeff

jeff is that a 150 or 110? where did you find the metric union?

Malifluous · 03/04/2007, 04:29 PM

Its a 110

Malifluous · 03/04/2007, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mr Bojangles
well I just took a idea from my other modded skimmer and used it on the octo, I drilled the stock on out and put a notch in it so the ro tubing can go straight down, cut it on a angle, a zip tie to keep it upright and wallah! This is seeming to pull more than just the regular drill out and shove a tube in. I get my air meeter any day now and I will let you know what I am getting.

I also tried this with the same type of semi rigid tube cut at an angle. I got the same results with no tube inserted . I made the venturi the same diameter of the hose you are using and it pullled the same. Let us know when u get the flow meter

KH971 · 03/04/2007, 08:44 PM

Yeah where did he get the metric union????

ebayes11 · 03/04/2007, 09:54 PM

On a recirculating model (DNW-200) using a feed pump rather than direct feed, would you mesh mod both pump's impellers?

timrandlerv10 · 03/04/2007, 09:55 PM

mesh mod help: i have the otp 1000, which has to laters of rods with needles on them. i broke the first row's needles off and put three layers of mesh on. too much.

put two layers of mesh on. still too much.

broke those rods off, got smaller zip ties, put two layers of mesh on.

the pump spins, but stops randomly. you know, randomly, like when i put it in water.

help?

timrandlerv10 · 03/04/2007, 10:08 PM

can you cut off both layers of needles?

how does this pump move water? it doesnt seem like needlewheels would actually move water anyway!

i've put it together and taken it apart about a dozen times now, and i cant see where it even rubs against anything...

HELP!!!

JCTewks · 03/04/2007, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Roland Jacques
jeff is that a 150 or 110? where did you find the metric union?

Roland,

that is indeed a 110....it turns out that a standard SCH 80 2"union will thread right onto the male metric union on the body. Unfortunately it did not work the other way so I had to take the union off of the collection cup and glue a standard union on. that 2"union with just little bit of grinding fit perfectly. I did remove all of that flange inside the new unions so that there weren't as many places for the foam to break on.

maybe soneone should try some american unions on some of the other models and see if they'll fit as well. I was relieved when I found out i didn't have to go cutting up the body of the skimmer.

BTW 2 1/2" Acrylic( out of my old Seaclone) fits in those unios with a little work on the union. it wasn't too big of a job, took like 30 minutes.

I would love to see Rich Conley put a 24"neck extension on his and really let that pump that will pull 60SCFH go to town

JCTewks · 03/04/2007, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by timrandlerv10
can you cut off both layers of needles?

how does this pump move water? it doesnt seem like needlewheels would actually move water anyway!

i've put it together and taken it apart about a dozen times now, and i cant see where it even rubs against anything...

HELP!!!

You don't have to cut anything off....take a knife like an exacto and just pry the NW's off. once you get the glue off of the outside they really just pull right off. make sure that you are getting the shaft into the rubber thingy when youare putting the cover back on. I actually tak that little rubber thing and put it on the shaft before I put the cover on. If you are yrying to run it with the shaft crooked it might be the problem.

Jeff

fighton03 · 03/04/2007, 11:46 PM

I have the 200 recirc. The airline hooked up to the venturi is 5/16". Would I need to bore out the intake bigger than that??? Right now I have milky bubbles all the way down the body to about 2 1/2 inches from the bottom of the 19" body. I don't have an air meter, but can I expect more out of this setup? I have two layers of mesh on the stock impeller and I bored out the inside of venturi after the 90 degree turn. Trying to decide if I should bore out the entire venturi.

timrandlerv10 · 03/04/2007, 11:47 PM

i pulled the 'rubber thingy' out of the cover, and put in on to make sure it was fitting properly. I also have it down to two layers of mesh, and the pump still fails to run (it actually stops) when i put it in water.

any other ideas?

JCTewks · 03/05/2007, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by timrandlerv10
i pulled the 'rubber thingy' out of the cover, and put in on to make sure it was fitting properly. I also have it down to two layers of mesh, and the pump still fails to run (it actually stops) when i put it in water.

any other ideas?

are you running it with or without air feed to it?? with out air it could freeze up. mine will not run if i block the air coming into it, if I blow into the air hose it fires up and runs like a champ. the issue is with all of this stuff we are putting into our pumps makes them heavier and a greater load on the pump. thankfully we are able to pull much more air (which is easier to move) which compensates for the extra weight. try hooking up the venturi and blowing into it.

Jeff

Malifluous · 03/05/2007, 12:45 AM

My pump some times does not start up. I found it is easier to start it up with no water inside. I also discovered that if it is not starting, turning the whole skimmer up side down starts it right. Not very conveniant but it gets it going. Im have trimmed the wheel the best i could. Blowing in the venturi does not work for mine.

Malifluous · 03/05/2007, 12:45 AM

My pump some times does not start up. I found it is easier to start it up with no water inside. I also discovered that if it is not starting, turning the whole skimmer up side down starts it right. Not very conveniant but it gets it going. Im have trimmed the wheel the best i could. Blowing in the venturi does not work for mine.

impur · 03/05/2007, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by fighton03
I have the 200 recirc. The airline hooked up to the venturi is 5/16". Would I need to bore out the intake bigger than that??? Right now I have milky bubbles all the way down the body to about 2 1/2 inches from the bottom of the 19" body. I don't have an air meter, but can I expect more out of this setup? I have two layers of mesh on the stock impeller and I bored out the inside of venturi after the 90 degree turn. Trying to decide if I should bore out the entire venturi.

I definately got more air into the skimmer after boring out the venturi to accomodate flexible airline all the way thru.

hounddog01 · 03/05/2007, 12:27 PM

I do not have the recirc. My pump starts right up. It is a good thing too since I turn it off when feeding.

Malifluous · 03/05/2007, 12:46 PM

Hounddog, Do U have a mesh wheel?

hounddog01 · 03/05/2007, 01:24 PM

Yes I have the mesh mod. Broke off the first layer of pins and added 3 layers of mesh. I also drilled the venturi to fit RO line and drilled the 90 slightly. then notched the RO line so air could go both ways. My meter only goes to 20 and i peg it. I am looking into getting a meter that will read more air.

timrandlerv10 · 03/05/2007, 05:39 PM

well, after removing the entire top layer of pins and needles (lol pins and needles) i was able to zip tie 2 layers of mesh.

i also bored out the venturi (after i snapped off the connector playing with the pump...grr...) to 1/4" and put ro/di 1/4 tubing on it.

the pump now puts out a mere fraction of what it did before...but at least it runs (albeit not enough to skim anything!).

what do i need to explain/show you guys in order to give you an idea of what i did wrong?

how can i go about fixing them? (doh!)

thanks!

tim

Covey · 03/05/2007, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by lynxdevlopment
I can't get my octo 400 to stop leaking from around one of the pump intakes, the black part of the pump that comes off if I turn it a 1/4 turn and the impeller is inside of. Also of course it's full of twenty or so gal's of water any suggestions how to fix it with out taking apart.

1)You could go to the hardware store and try to find a fatter O-ring.

2)What I did. Just wrapped like 5 layer of tefon tape in the groove under the o-ring.

Covey · 03/05/2007, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Malifluous
My pump some times does not start up. I found it is easier to start it up with no water inside. I also discovered that if it is not starting, turning the whole skimmer up side down starts it right. Not very conveniant but it gets it going. Im have trimmed the wheel the best i could. Blowing in the venturi does not work for mine.

Mal and for anyone else having starting problems with the mesh. First off you have to make sure the mesh isn't rubbing. Which it looked like you tried. Second and the thing that most people over look is all magnet drive pumps including these have play built into the impeller. The pump can spin the magnet freely before it hits the stopper built into the inside of pinwheel or paddle wheel.

With out this play the pump is unable to start from a dead stop. This is what is happening alot of times if it won't start. You have to trim the inside of the mesh right around where the plastic nut is. Just make sure your moded impeller still has that stock 1/3 turn of play and you should be good to go.

Covey · 03/05/2007, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Roland Jacques
I reversed drilled the air line hole to accommodate a RO Gusset fitting I got at lowes. (drilling is tricky not to go to deep) then threaded the fitting in firmly. I put some Fastweld on it to but it was not absolutely necessary.

Then just drilled the other hole out slightly larger than before, I can pull over 40 scfh through this venturi. (be careful drilling not to go all the way through!!!)

Sweet Roland! Thanks, I think this is how I will mod my recirc.

D-Rod · 03/05/2007, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by D-Rod
I'm looking for the gate valve MOD for the NW150, anybody have a list of parts with that I need purchase with measurements.

Thanks
D-Rod

BUMP

danskim · 03/05/2007, 10:37 PM

I think you can find that information in this thread... but maybe before it split.
Also you can check out marinesolutionsinc.com's site for a picture. Most people just use 1.5" Sch40 PVC parts instead of metric ones by either using a rubber boot or silicone.

03/05/2007, 12:27 PM	#142
hounddog01 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Bloomington, IL Posts: 1,045	I do not have the recirc. My pump starts right up. It is a good thing too since I turn it off when feeding. __________________ Brad "The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing." - Socrates Current Tank Info: 180 gallon Acrylic, 65 gallon custom sump, Octopus Extreme 250, 150 LBS Marco Rock, 2-250 W Phoenix with 4 110 VHO supplement

03/05/2007, 01:24 PM	#144
hounddog01 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Bloomington, IL Posts: 1,045	Yes I have the mesh mod. Broke off the first layer of pins and added 3 layers of mesh. I also drilled the venturi to fit RO line and drilled the 90 slightly. then notched the RO line so air could go both ways. My meter only goes to 20 and i peg it. I am looking into getting a meter that will read more air. __________________ Brad "The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing." - Socrates Current Tank Info: 180 gallon Acrylic, 65 gallon custom sump, Octopus Extreme 250, 150 LBS Marco Rock, 2-250 W Phoenix with 4 110 VHO supplement

03/05/2007, 10:37 PM	#150
danskim Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Ellicott City, MD Posts: 1,639	I think you can find that information in this thread... but maybe before it split. Also you can check out marinesolutionsinc.com's site for a picture. Most people just use 1.5" Sch40 PVC parts instead of metric ones by either using a rubber boot or silicone. __________________ Dan The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever. -Jacques Cousteau

03/04/2007, 04:29 PM	#128
Malifluous Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Hawaii Posts: 417	Its a 110

03/04/2007, 08:44 PM	#130
KH971 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Eatonton,GA. Posts: 824	Yeah where did he get the metric union????

03/04/2007, 09:54 PM	#131
ebayes11 Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 121	On a recirculating model (DNW-200) using a feed pump rather than direct feed, would you mesh mod both pump's impellers?

03/04/2007, 09:55 PM	#132
timrandlerv10 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Huntsville, AL Posts: 1,409	mesh mod help: i have the otp 1000, which has to laters of rods with needles on them. i broke the first row's needles off and put three layers of mesh on. too much. put two layers of mesh on. still too much. broke those rods off, got smaller zip ties, put two layers of mesh on. the pump spins, but stops randomly. you know, randomly, like when i put it in water. help?

03/04/2007, 10:08 PM	#133
timrandlerv10 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Huntsville, AL Posts: 1,409	can you cut off both layers of needles? how does this pump move water? it doesnt seem like needlewheels would actually move water anyway! i've put it together and taken it apart about a dozen times now, and i cant see where it even rubs against anything... HELP!!!

03/04/2007, 11:46 PM	#136
fighton03 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: baytown, tx Posts: 331	I have the 200 recirc. The airline hooked up to the venturi is 5/16". Would I need to bore out the intake bigger than that??? Right now I have milky bubbles all the way down the body to about 2 1/2 inches from the bottom of the 19" body. I don't have an air meter, but can I expect more out of this setup? I have two layers of mesh on the stock impeller and I bored out the inside of venturi after the 90 degree turn. Trying to decide if I should bore out the entire venturi.

03/04/2007, 11:47 PM	#137
timrandlerv10 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Huntsville, AL Posts: 1,409	i pulled the 'rubber thingy' out of the cover, and put in on to make sure it was fitting properly. I also have it down to two layers of mesh, and the pump still fails to run (it actually stops) when i put it in water. any other ideas?

03/05/2007, 12:45 AM	#139
Malifluous Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Hawaii Posts: 417	My pump some times does not start up. I found it is easier to start it up with no water inside. I also discovered that if it is not starting, turning the whole skimmer up side down starts it right. Not very conveniant but it gets it going. Im have trimmed the wheel the best i could. Blowing in the venturi does not work for mine.

03/05/2007, 12:45 AM	#140
Malifluous Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Hawaii Posts: 417	My pump some times does not start up. I found it is easier to start it up with no water inside. I also discovered that if it is not starting, turning the whole skimmer up side down starts it right. Not very conveniant but it gets it going. Im have trimmed the wheel the best i could. Blowing in the venturi does not work for mine.

03/05/2007, 12:46 PM	#143
Malifluous Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Hawaii Posts: 417	Hounddog, Do U have a mesh wheel?

03/05/2007, 05:39 PM	#145
timrandlerv10 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Huntsville, AL Posts: 1,409	well, after removing the entire top layer of pins and needles (lol pins and needles) i was able to zip tie 2 layers of mesh. i also bored out the venturi (after i snapped off the connector playing with the pump...grr...) to 1/4" and put ro/di 1/4 tubing on it. the pump now puts out a mere fraction of what it did before...but at least it runs (albeit not enough to skim anything!). what do i need to explain/show you guys in order to give you an idea of what i did wrong? how can i go about fixing them? (doh!) thanks! tim