Octopus Skimmer Mods - Page 14

Abengochea · 04/11/2007, 11:18 PM

good to know, I will def be trying that out. I know u had that dense mesh (scrubbing pad) and it worked out great for u. U were able to fit 4 layers without rubbing?

B33FST3W · 04/12/2007, 09:38 AM

Has anyone else noticed that these skimmers work better without the lid on them? Last night I had just fininished cleaning my NW150 and when I started it up, it started pouring water into the collection cup, so I lowered the water level and then realized it was doing this because I didnt have the lid on it.

Also, I currently have the scrubbing pad impellor mod, is it worth it to change that to the enkamat?

ppurcell · 04/12/2007, 09:51 AM

perhaps with the mods the Octo skimmers do not have large enough vent slots to allow the injected air to escape from the cup. Do you have an airflow meter on the input? Can you measure the difference with the lid on vs. off?

impur · 04/12/2007, 09:58 AM

I did notice that my skimmer has more foam with the lid off. I need to get an airflow meter to see if it was more than just my eyes playing tricks on me.

SeaView · 04/12/2007, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by impur
I did notice that my skimmer has more foam with the lid off. I need to get an airflow meter to see if it was more than just my eyes playing tricks on me.

Funny, I thought the same think. Has anyone widened the vent holes? Any problems doing so? Don't want to crack the lid.

B33FST3W · 04/12/2007, 10:15 AM

I dont have an airflow meter but wouldnt lowering the water level mean that there is more air? Also, the skimmate Im geting wtih the lid off is a lot drier. I am going to run it like this for a few day and see what happens.

Kurt03 · 04/12/2007, 10:21 AM

I have an air meter, i will test it out when i get home if i think of it.

JCTewks · 04/12/2007, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Abengochea
good to know, I will def be trying that out. I know u had that dense mesh (scrubbing pad) and it worked out great for u. U were able to fit 4 layers without rubbing?

I am using the enkamat now...got some from mavgi when he was being generous

i got 4 layers of the enkamat on there...like i said, i have them cincheds down pretty tight. also, i removed a little material from the volute cover to get more room....1/16" is about all you can take without going through it. i'm thinking about making a new volute cover that is up where the top of the volute is and see if i can really get this thing cranking

Abengochea · 04/12/2007, 11:50 PM

keep me posted, thanks jeff

jdoenumber2 · 04/13/2007, 09:12 PM

I got my skimmer now in a test tank with old tank water. It skimmes great. It seems to actually over skim. I get way too many micro bubbles coming out of the return. What are my best options to cut back my micro bubbles? Should i do the gate valve mod? If so where do i get the parts to make one? At first the skim looked like someone drank some root beer and then threw up in my skimmer.

thorsky · 04/13/2007, 09:49 PM

Filter socks can be handy for stopping microbubbles, but I'd wait a bit. Whenever I setup a new skimmer or completely clean an existing one I get microsbubbles for a while. Give it at least a few days before you worry too much.

jdoenumber2 · 04/13/2007, 10:02 PM

Its more like micro suds.

medic29 · 04/14/2007, 06:31 AM

filter sock!!!

ppurcell · 04/14/2007, 07:37 AM

johndoe, on the octo skimmers does the water hit a T on the inside of the reaction chamber or does it go straight in? I found on my G4 body that if I put a 1"x1.5"x1x5" T on the inside (or even a 1" 45 degree elbow, that I could keep the bubbles from going all the way down into the lower 1" of the body where the water leaves the reaction chamber.

ppurcell · 04/14/2007, 10:18 AM

sorry, that should have read 1"x1.25"x1.25"

ppurcell · 04/16/2007, 05:08 PM

I just modded my impeller to four layers of enkamat over the standard double needle wheel impeller.

The good news is that my air volume went from about 11-12 lpm up to about 13 lpm (27.5 scfh)

The bad news is my water flow jumped up and as a result my watt usage on the pump is now about 80.

Is anyone getting high air volume and low flow/watts? I seem to recall someone saying that the air/water volume tends to maintain a set ratio.

1badbrd · 04/16/2007, 06:49 PM

have to admit the mesh mod and opening the venturi hole did wonders!

cato · 04/18/2007, 06:33 PM

Anyone ever figure out a way to get the OTP-3000 pump on a DNW-200 to actually pull only 65w as stated (or anywhere even close)? My pulls 90+ consistently.

JCTewks · 04/18/2007, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ppurcell
Mine is drawing about 55-60 watts right now. All I've done sofare is to put two layers of enkamat on the std needlewheel and replaced the venturi/intake with the contraption I described above. I should be able to take some pics and post them later today.

Here you go chirocato

this is on the page befor this...#13

kroe · 04/18/2007, 08:17 PM

cato: mesh mod it and do the venturi mod, mine pulls 52 watts with those done. If you need mesh let me know, I have some extra.

poopsko24 · 04/18/2007, 08:41 PM

ppurcell : would that fitting for the venturi that jdoenumber2 got work ? Also, what size JG fitting and tubing are we using here ? Size of tap too.? thanx

poopsko24 · 04/18/2007, 08:41 PM

ppurcell : would that fitting for the venturi that jdoenumber2 got work ? Also, what size JG fitting and tubing are we using here ? Size of tap too.? thanx

poopsko24 · 04/18/2007, 08:43 PM

looking to get some mesh......anyone ?

Kurt03 · 04/18/2007, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by impur
I did notice that my skimmer has more foam with the lid off. I need to get an airflow meter to see if it was more than just my eyes playing tricks on me.

I hooked my air meter up and tested my meshed nw200 with the lid on and off and didnt see and change in air draw. Is it maybe just cause the lid makes the skim spread out and change direction?

ppurcell · 04/19/2007, 06:31 AM

poopsko24, I think jdoenumber2 venturi mod should work just as well or better than the one I made. I am pretty sure the objective here is to be able to feed as much air to the venturi as the pump can draw without cavitating.

There are posts back from richconley that indicate that it is possible for the skimmer to draw too much air and that he uses a valve to reduce airflow to what the skimmer neck can handle. I haven't got my OTP3000 to get close to that particular problem yet. I seem to be stuck at about 12-13 lpm. My last mod was to increase the Enkamat from 2 to 4 layers. This raised my airflow to about 13, but also increased the number of watts and water flow the pump was using/pumping. The watts are now between 79-83 up from about 60 before the mod and the water volume is much higher now. I intend to try and pry one rows of the needle wheels off this weekend and try it again with 4 or 5 layers to see if that makes if better.

I used a 1/4" threaded Watts (JG) fitting and a threadtap which I purchased on-line from MSC Direct, but I think you can get it from many of the local hardware stores too. You can use 1/4" RO tubing to connect it which looks like it has a slightly larger ID than the tubing that comes with the pump.

Part Number: 04350039
Description:1/4 X 18 CARBON NPT PIPE TAP
Price: $5.01

For what it is worth, I was on the EuroReef website last night and they have 15 lpm posted as the air intake on an SPX (Sedra9000) pump. We should be able to get into that range with the OTP-3000.

04/11/2007, 11:18 PM	#326
Abengochea Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 670	good to know, I will def be trying that out. I know u had that dense mesh (scrubbing pad) and it worked out great for u. U were able to fit 4 layers without rubbing? __________________ Armando Current Tank Info: 29 Biocube

04/12/2007, 09:58 AM	#329
impur Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Eugene, OR Posts: 4,262	I did notice that my skimmer has more foam with the lid off. I need to get an airflow meter to see if it was more than just my eyes playing tricks on me. __________________ Great spirits often encounter violent opposition from mediocre minds. Current Tank Info: 75gal, 20gal sump, 6-54w T5 TEK

04/12/2007, 11:50 PM	#334
Abengochea Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 670	keep me posted, thanks jeff __________________ Armando Current Tank Info: 29 Biocube

04/14/2007, 06:31 AM	#338
medic29 Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Pesotum, IL Posts: 2,478	filter sock!!! __________________ Rick Current Tank Info: 20 gal display w/10 gal sump.

04/18/2007, 06:33 PM	#343
cato New England Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: CT Posts: 5,450	Anyone ever figure out a way to get the OTP-3000 pump on a DNW-200 to actually pull only 65w as stated (or anywhere even close)? My pulls 90+ consistently. __________________ -Cato I swear it's an illness... Current Tank Info: On Hiatus

04/12/2007, 09:38 AM	#327
B33FST3W Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Atlanta GA Posts: 173	Has anyone else noticed that these skimmers work better without the lid on them? Last night I had just fininished cleaning my NW150 and when I started it up, it started pouring water into the collection cup, so I lowered the water level and then realized it was doing this because I didnt have the lid on it. Also, I currently have the scrubbing pad impellor mod, is it worth it to change that to the enkamat?

04/12/2007, 09:51 AM	#328
ppurcell Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Naperville, IL Posts: 2,911	perhaps with the mods the Octo skimmers do not have large enough vent slots to allow the injected air to escape from the cup. Do you have an airflow meter on the input? Can you measure the difference with the lid on vs. off?

04/12/2007, 10:15 AM	#331
B33FST3W Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Atlanta GA Posts: 173	I dont have an airflow meter but wouldnt lowering the water level mean that there is more air? Also, the skimmate Im geting wtih the lid off is a lot drier. I am going to run it like this for a few day and see what happens.

04/12/2007, 10:21 AM	#332
Kurt03 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 3,602	I have an air meter, i will test it out when i get home if i think of it.

04/13/2007, 09:12 PM	#335
jdoenumber2 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Fairport, NY Posts: 2,093	I got my skimmer now in a test tank with old tank water. It skimmes great. It seems to actually over skim. I get way too many micro bubbles coming out of the return. What are my best options to cut back my micro bubbles? Should i do the gate valve mod? If so where do i get the parts to make one? At first the skim looked like someone drank some root beer and then threw up in my skimmer.

04/13/2007, 09:49 PM	#336
thorsky Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 407	Filter socks can be handy for stopping microbubbles, but I'd wait a bit. Whenever I setup a new skimmer or completely clean an existing one I get microsbubbles for a while. Give it at least a few days before you worry too much.

04/13/2007, 10:02 PM	#337
jdoenumber2 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Fairport, NY Posts: 2,093	Its more like micro suds.

04/14/2007, 07:37 AM	#339
ppurcell Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Naperville, IL Posts: 2,911	johndoe, on the octo skimmers does the water hit a T on the inside of the reaction chamber or does it go straight in? I found on my G4 body that if I put a 1"x1.5"x1x5" T on the inside (or even a 1" 45 degree elbow, that I could keep the bubbles from going all the way down into the lower 1" of the body where the water leaves the reaction chamber.

04/14/2007, 10:18 AM	#340
ppurcell Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Naperville, IL Posts: 2,911	sorry, that should have read 1"x1.25"x1.25"

04/16/2007, 05:08 PM	#341
ppurcell Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Naperville, IL Posts: 2,911	I just modded my impeller to four layers of enkamat over the standard double needle wheel impeller. The good news is that my air volume went from about 11-12 lpm up to about 13 lpm (27.5 scfh) The bad news is my water flow jumped up and as a result my watt usage on the pump is now about 80. Is anyone getting high air volume and low flow/watts? I seem to recall someone saying that the air/water volume tends to maintain a set ratio.

04/16/2007, 06:49 PM	#342
1badbrd Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Middletown,Ohio Posts: 281	have to admit the mesh mod and opening the venturi hole did wonders!

04/18/2007, 08:17 PM	#345
kroe Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Wallingford, CT Posts: 1,211	cato: mesh mod it and do the venturi mod, mine pulls 52 watts with those done. If you need mesh let me know, I have some extra.

04/18/2007, 08:41 PM	#346
poopsko24 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: NW Indiana Posts: 792	ppurcell : would that fitting for the venturi that jdoenumber2 got work ? Also, what size JG fitting and tubing are we using here ? Size of tap too.? thanx

04/18/2007, 08:41 PM	#347
poopsko24 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: NW Indiana Posts: 792	ppurcell : would that fitting for the venturi that jdoenumber2 got work ? Also, what size JG fitting and tubing are we using here ? Size of tap too.? thanx

04/18/2007, 08:43 PM	#348
poopsko24 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: NW Indiana Posts: 792	looking to get some mesh......anyone ?

04/19/2007, 06:31 AM	#350
ppurcell Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Naperville, IL Posts: 2,911	poopsko24, I think jdoenumber2 venturi mod should work just as well or better than the one I made. I am pretty sure the objective here is to be able to feed as much air to the venturi as the pump can draw without cavitating. There are posts back from richconley that indicate that it is possible for the skimmer to draw too much air and that he uses a valve to reduce airflow to what the skimmer neck can handle. I haven't got my OTP3000 to get close to that particular problem yet. I seem to be stuck at about 12-13 lpm. My last mod was to increase the Enkamat from 2 to 4 layers. This raised my airflow to about 13, but also increased the number of watts and water flow the pump was using/pumping. The watts are now between 79-83 up from about 60 before the mod and the water volume is much higher now. I intend to try and pry one rows of the needle wheels off this weekend and try it again with 4 or 5 layers to see if that makes if better. I used a 1/4" threaded Watts (JG) fitting and a threadtap which I purchased on-line from MSC Direct, but I think you can get it from many of the local hardware stores too. You can use 1/4" RO tubing to connect it which looks like it has a slightly larger ID than the tubing that comes with the pump. Part Number: 04350039 Description:1/4 X 18 CARBON NPT PIPE TAP Price: $5.01 For what it is worth, I was on the EuroReef website last night and they have 15 lpm posted as the air intake on an SPX (Sedra9000) pump. We should be able to get into that range with the OTP-3000. Last edited by ppurcell; 04/19/2007 at 06:57 AM.