Octopus Skimmer Mods - Page 10

JCTewks · 03/27/2007, 02:37 PM

Joshua1023: the OTP3000 is on the nw 200 skimmers. the NW 150 has the OTP2000. I have the OTP1000 on mwy DNW 110 and have modded it to pull 20 SCFH. Rich Conley modded an OTP3000 to pull 60SCFH. there is a lot of room for mods on these pumps.

E-A-G-L-E-S · 03/27/2007, 02:39 PM

60scfh on an Octo-3000?!? That's the pump that is being used on the skimmer i'm getting built patterned after the PCI 3000RC skimmer.
Do you know how he did this?

JCTewks · 03/27/2007, 02:48 PM

I believe that he anlarged the inlet and outlet to 1", milled out the inside of the volute to make it larger diameter, and mesh/GG modded it. you would need to ask him to be sure. I know it was too much air for the NW 200 body and he dialed it back to about 40SCFH. there is info somewhere in this thread about it, prob late last year.

Joshua1023 · 03/27/2007, 02:56 PM

Any special tricks to getting the 1000lph pump to pull 20scfh. I've read this whole thread but I can't recall that one. Or, at least a page number would be helpful. I've got the OTP2000 pulling 20 now. I thought that was pretty good. If a pump half the size can pull that much I know I should be able to do better.

JCTewks · 03/27/2007, 03:11 PM

I just kept on tinkering....ported and smoothed the volute, removed material from the volute cover(about 1/16") to make the volute bigger around and deeper. I kept trting different combo's of mesh and GG. I enlarged all of the plumbing in the body of the skimmer. Used the elbow venturi that came with the skimmer, ported it out and used 1/4" ID fitting to make a new venturi. With all of that i get about 20SCFH, and had to make an 18" neck extension to handle the air.

newreef8584 · 03/27/2007, 04:51 PM

Just wondering if anyone else here is using a RS NW-200. It is the 2 pump model non Recirc. I am at work and so unable to measure my own, but I need to know what size of gate valve to order from Savko. I am too impatient to wait until I get home.

hounddog01 · 03/27/2007, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by JCTewks
Joshua1023: the OTP3000 is on the nw 200 skimmers. the NW 150 has the OTP2000. I have the OTP1000 on mwy DNW 110 and have modded it to pull 20 SCFH. Rich Conley modded an OTP3000 to pull 60SCFH. there is a lot of room for mods on these pumps.

That is too much air for this skimmer. It is not tall enough.

Joshua1023 · 03/27/2007, 05:43 PM

Too much for the DNW 110?

JCTewks · 03/27/2007, 06:19 PM

that pic is my DNW 110. even with the extra 18" neck i have to dial it back to about 17SCFH. Rich said that 60SCFH was too much for the NW 200...i think he has it dialed back to about 40SCFH. I think the most air a standard DNW 110 could handle would be about 12 SCFH.

Mr Bojangles · 03/27/2007, 06:43 PM

so what is the most air that a NW-200 can handle?

JCTewks · 03/27/2007, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by JCTewks
that pic is my DNW 110. even with the extra 18" neck i have to dial it back to about 17SCFH. Rich said that 60SCFH was too much for the NW 200...i think he has it dialed back to about 40SCFH. I think the most air a standard DNW 110 could handle would be about 12 SCFH.

kroe · 03/27/2007, 11:33 PM

Enkemat - 2 layers or 3?

I ran two layers with one NW removed and the enkemat zip tied to the remaining NW for a week or so. The skimmer pegged my air meter (25 scfh+), and ran at abou 58 watts.

I decided I wanted to try replacing the NW with a piece of acrylic. Again I used two layers of enkemat. Air flow dropped to 15 scfh and wattage rose to 67. I blamed it on the acrylic being heavy.

Today I scrapped the acrylic and went back to one NW. This time I removed all the pins but two from each arm. I used three layers of enkemat this time figuring more is better. Air flow was at 17, and wattage at 63. This was a bit of a disapointment.

Has anyone tried the exact same impeller configuration with two and three layers of enkemat and has air flow numbers? I am trying to figure out if the three layers is to blame or if something is dragging on the housing. Please don't tell me whether two or three is better unless you have air flow numbers... gut feelings are deceiving.

danskim · 03/27/2007, 11:36 PM

Should I put an airvalve on the air intake to increase output?

impur · 03/28/2007, 10:05 AM

I did, it works slightly better. I can get much drier foam now with the airvalve.

My collection cup is full to the top in a week since adding it.

Joshua1023 · 03/28/2007, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by JCTewks
I just kept on tinkering....ported and smoothed the volute, removed material from the volute cover(about 1/16") to make the volute bigger around and deeper. I kept trting different combo's of mesh and GG. I enlarged all of the plumbing in the body of the skimmer. Used the elbow venturi that came with the skimmer, ported it out and used 1/4" ID fitting to make a new venturi. With all of that i get about 20SCFH, and had to make an 18" neck extension to handle the air.

Just a coulple of questions as this is something I think I could do. It also makes sense to get more air from a larger volute as per Pimp my Pump from Hahnmeister.

Did you get any sense that your volute cover could possibly be hollow inside? Mine is almost 3/8" thick. If its not hollow there is alot of room to play with.

Did you do anything to increase the inside diameter of your volute? If so, what exactly?

What did you use to grind down the volute cover? How well did that tool work for you?

danskim · 03/28/2007, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by impur
I did, it works slightly better. I can get much drier foam now with the airvalve.

My collection cup is full to the top in a week since adding it.

Ok cool. How much is it restricted? Just a little bit I'm guessing?

hounddog01 · 03/28/2007, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Joshua1023
Too much for the DNW 110?

20 is proably the max for a 110. I would say 60 is way too much for the 200.

hounddog01 · 03/28/2007, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mr Bojangles
so what is the most air that a NW-200 can handle?

Mine is kicking it at about 20-25. I do not think I would want anymore.

hounddog01 · 03/28/2007, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by kroe
Enkemat - 2 layers or 3?

I ran two layers with one NW removed and the enkemat zip tied to the remaining NW for a week or so. The skimmer pegged my air meter (25 scfh+), and ran at abou 58 watts.

I decided I wanted to try replacing the NW with a piece of acrylic. Again I used two layers of enkemat. Air flow dropped to 15 scfh and wattage rose to 67. I blamed it on the acrylic being heavy.

Today I scrapped the acrylic and went back to one NW. This time I removed all the pins but two from each arm. I used three layers of enkemat this time figuring more is better. Air flow was at 17, and wattage at 63. This was a bit of a disapointment.

Has anyone tried the exact same impeller configuration with two and three layers of enkemat and has air flow numbers? I am trying to figure out if the three layers is to blame or if something is dragging on the housing. Please don't tell me whether two or three is better unless you have air flow numbers... gut feelings are deceiving.

Very good question. I have 3 and peg my 20 SCFH meter. I do have another impeller.

Do you suggest to cut the first layer of pins off or leave them on. Exactaly how did you do the first one that you pulled the most air. I may do that to the other impeller and see what happens.

Mr Bojangles · 03/28/2007, 04:15 PM

well how come I am getting 26 on my air meter and just have 2 layers and no cut pins, plus the RO line, I have been cranking mine back to 20 cfm to get some better skimate

Joshua1023 · 03/28/2007, 04:45 PM

I think that there is something to how tightly you tie your mesh down to the impeller. I used three layers on the Octopus2000 pump, tied w/ fishline very tightly and compressed. I got an improvement, but not what I had hoped for. I then added one more layer, making a total of 4 layers. The last layer I tied on loosely, fairly close to the center of the impeller. This left the edges kind of fluffed up. I immediately saw another 2 scfh.

hounddog01 · 03/28/2007, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mr Bojangles
well how come I am getting 26 on my air meter and just have 2 layers and no cut pins, plus the RO line, I have been cranking mine back to 20 cfm to get some better skimate

I will try this. Maybe this is a better way. I can do this one without any damage to the impeller.

hounddog01 · 03/28/2007, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Joshua1023
I think that there is something to how tightly you tie your mesh down to the impeller. I used three layers on the Octopus2000 pump, tied w/ fishline very tightly and compressed. I got an improvement, but not what I had hoped for. I then added one more layer, making a total of 4 layers. The last layer I tied on loosely, fairly close to the center of the impeller. This left the edges kind of fluffed up. I immediately saw another 2 scfh.

Try 2 layers tied looser, I think you just need to make sure it does not rub too much. I need a pump and test bed!!

Mr Bojangles · 03/28/2007, 06:54 PM

mine has 4 zip ties evenly spaced and they are tight and I pooffed up the edges. I also trimmed the mesh the same diameter as the needle wheel

humbugy · 03/28/2007, 07:53 PM

i had to mod the paddle wheel, anybody know the diameter of the needle wheel off hand? (or wanna look

)

03/27/2007, 02:39 PM	#227
E-A-G-L-E-S Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lehigh Valley, PA Posts: 7,038	60scfh on an Octo-3000?!? That's the pump that is being used on the skimmer i'm getting built patterned after the PCI 3000RC skimmer. Do you know how he did this? __________________ Smug Egotistical Contemptuous It's difficult to get a man to understand something that his salary requires him not to.

03/27/2007, 02:56 PM	#229
Joshua1023 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Reading PA Posts: 1,526	Any special tricks to getting the 1000lph pump to pull 20scfh. I've read this whole thread but I can't recall that one. Or, at least a page number would be helpful. I've got the OTP2000 pulling 20 now. I thought that was pretty good. If a pump half the size can pull that much I know I should be able to do better. __________________ Only bad things happen fast. Only bad thing happen fast. Only bad things happen fast. Man,I'm friggen hard-headed!!! Current Tank Info: 90 gl tank,Coralife 14K MH lights,2 Current dual daylight/actinic 40 watt fixtures, tidepool sump,Coralife SS 220 protein skimmer,six inch sand bed w/ plenum, Current Prime Tower 1/3 hp Chiller,RedSea ozonizer w/ orp

03/27/2007, 05:43 PM	#233
Joshua1023 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Reading PA Posts: 1,526	Too much for the DNW 110? __________________ Only bad things happen fast. Only bad thing happen fast. Only bad things happen fast. Man,I'm friggen hard-headed!!! Current Tank Info: 90 gl tank,Coralife 14K MH lights,2 Current dual daylight/actinic 40 watt fixtures, tidepool sump,Coralife SS 220 protein skimmer,six inch sand bed w/ plenum, Current Prime Tower 1/3 hp Chiller,RedSea ozonizer w/ orp

03/27/2007, 11:36 PM	#238
danskim Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Ellicott City, MD Posts: 1,639	Should I put an airvalve on the air intake to increase output? __________________ Dan The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever. -Jacques Cousteau

03/28/2007, 10:05 AM	#239
impur Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Eugene, OR Posts: 4,262	I did, it works slightly better. I can get much drier foam now with the airvalve. My collection cup is full to the top in a week since adding it. __________________ Great spirits often encounter violent opposition from mediocre minds. Current Tank Info: 75gal, 20gal sump, 6-54w T5 TEK

03/27/2007, 02:37 PM	#226
JCTewks Moved On Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Wilmington, Ohio Posts: 3,040	Joshua1023: the OTP3000 is on the nw 200 skimmers. the NW 150 has the OTP2000. I have the OTP1000 on mwy DNW 110 and have modded it to pull 20 SCFH. Rich Conley modded an OTP3000 to pull 60SCFH. there is a lot of room for mods on these pumps.

03/27/2007, 02:48 PM	#228
JCTewks Moved On Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Wilmington, Ohio Posts: 3,040	I believe that he anlarged the inlet and outlet to 1", milled out the inside of the volute to make it larger diameter, and mesh/GG modded it. you would need to ask him to be sure. I know it was too much air for the NW 200 body and he dialed it back to about 40SCFH. there is info somewhere in this thread about it, prob late last year.

03/27/2007, 03:11 PM	#230
JCTewks Moved On Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Wilmington, Ohio Posts: 3,040	I just kept on tinkering....ported and smoothed the volute, removed material from the volute cover(about 1/16") to make the volute bigger around and deeper. I kept trting different combo's of mesh and GG. I enlarged all of the plumbing in the body of the skimmer. Used the elbow venturi that came with the skimmer, ported it out and used 1/4" ID fitting to make a new venturi. With all of that i get about 20SCFH, and had to make an 18" neck extension to handle the air.

03/27/2007, 04:51 PM	#231
newreef8584 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Newmarket/Ontario Posts: 133	Just wondering if anyone else here is using a RS NW-200. It is the 2 pump model non Recirc. I am at work and so unable to measure my own, but I need to know what size of gate valve to order from Savko. I am too impatient to wait until I get home.

03/27/2007, 06:19 PM	#234
JCTewks Moved On Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Wilmington, Ohio Posts: 3,040	that pic is my DNW 110. even with the extra 18" neck i have to dial it back to about 17SCFH. Rich said that 60SCFH was too much for the NW 200...i think he has it dialed back to about 40SCFH. I think the most air a standard DNW 110 could handle would be about 12 SCFH.

03/27/2007, 06:43 PM	#235
Mr Bojangles Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Brevard county, Fl Posts: 914	so what is the most air that a NW-200 can handle?

03/27/2007, 11:33 PM	#237
kroe Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Wallingford, CT Posts: 1,211	Enkemat - 2 layers or 3? I ran two layers with one NW removed and the enkemat zip tied to the remaining NW for a week or so. The skimmer pegged my air meter (25 scfh+), and ran at abou 58 watts. I decided I wanted to try replacing the NW with a piece of acrylic. Again I used two layers of enkemat. Air flow dropped to 15 scfh and wattage rose to 67. I blamed it on the acrylic being heavy. Today I scrapped the acrylic and went back to one NW. This time I removed all the pins but two from each arm. I used three layers of enkemat this time figuring more is better. Air flow was at 17, and wattage at 63. This was a bit of a disapointment. Has anyone tried the exact same impeller configuration with two and three layers of enkemat and has air flow numbers? I am trying to figure out if the three layers is to blame or if something is dragging on the housing. Please don't tell me whether two or three is better unless you have air flow numbers... gut feelings are deceiving.

03/28/2007, 04:15 PM	#245
Mr Bojangles Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Brevard county, Fl Posts: 914	well how come I am getting 26 on my air meter and just have 2 layers and no cut pins, plus the RO line, I have been cranking mine back to 20 cfm to get some better skimate

03/28/2007, 04:45 PM	#246
Joshua1023 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Reading PA Posts: 1,526	I think that there is something to how tightly you tie your mesh down to the impeller. I used three layers on the Octopus2000 pump, tied w/ fishline very tightly and compressed. I got an improvement, but not what I had hoped for. I then added one more layer, making a total of 4 layers. The last layer I tied on loosely, fairly close to the center of the impeller. This left the edges kind of fluffed up. I immediately saw another 2 scfh. __________________ Only bad things happen fast. Only bad thing happen fast. Only bad things happen fast. Man,I'm friggen hard-headed!!! Current Tank Info: 90 gl tank,Coralife 14K MH lights,2 Current dual daylight/actinic 40 watt fixtures, tidepool sump,Coralife SS 220 protein skimmer,six inch sand bed w/ plenum, Current Prime Tower 1/3 hp Chiller,RedSea ozonizer w/ orp

03/28/2007, 06:54 PM	#249
Mr Bojangles Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Brevard county, Fl Posts: 914	mine has 4 zip ties evenly spaced and they are tight and I pooffed up the edges. I also trimmed the mesh the same diameter as the needle wheel

03/28/2007, 07:53 PM	#250
humbugy Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: bloomington, il Posts: 464	i had to mod the paddle wheel, anybody know the diameter of the needle wheel off hand? (or wanna look )