Octopus DD 150 skimmer!

aqua_carmen · 01/25/2007, 08:09 PM

I do not understand the concept of a Down draft... It says that the flow goes through a bio ball and provides small micro bubbles, wouldn't that be the same concept as a Needle Wheel?

Also how does the DD 150 hook up...Does the pump alone go inside the sump or the whole skimmer unit?

I have no room in the sump for the unit I have just enough for the pump, is there a plumbing method that can be used to modify or can it be hooked up like that out of the box?

aqua_carmen · 01/25/2007, 08:57 PM

or would anyone suggest an ETSS Reef Devil Protein Skimmer for $80 more?

BrokeColoReefer · 01/25/2007, 09:01 PM

downdraft is like this, you take a tube, you fill it with bio balls, you take a high head pump and blast the living heck out of the tube with the balls in it, and it makes small bubbles that go into the reaction chamber.

aqua_carmen · 01/25/2007, 11:06 PM

Just restating the question I really want to know how does the DD 150 hook up...Does the pump alone go inside the sump or the whole skimmer unit? Same with the E.T.S.S.

aqua_carmen · 01/26/2007, 09:59 AM

Wheres all the Skimmer experts? lol

RichConley · 01/26/2007, 10:07 AM

A downdraft essentially is a column filled with bioballs. Water is sprayed down onto the bioballs, and sucks in air in the process. Its essentially a more efficient version of spray injection(remora/etc).

A Needlewheel is a pump that sucks in air and chops it up. Totally different.

Brokecoloreefer, my experience is that downdrafts really dont need as high pressure pumps as people think. Certainly not the pressure becketts need.

BrokeColoReefer · 01/26/2007, 10:18 AM

good to know!
My buddy runs a downdraft with a 4md pump. it skims like nuts! i was always under the impression that they had similar requirements as becketts. Always learnin' around this place.

aqua_carmen · 01/26/2007, 10:26 AM

Just restating the question I really want to know how does the DD 150 hook up...Does the pump alone go inside the sump or the whole skimmer unit? Same with the E.T.S.S.

daytonreefRob · 01/27/2007, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by aqua_carmen
Just restating the question I really want to know how does the DD 150 hook up...Does the pump alone go inside the sump or the whole skimmer unit? Same with the E.T.S.S.

I answered this question in the other thread you started.

The ETSS Reef Devil is relatively small, you could probably sit this skimmer in your sump. If you can not fit it in the sump, you will have to either palce the RD on a pedastool or drill a hole in the side of your sump to allow it to drain back into your sump. This will depend on how large your sump is, how much space you have in under your tank, and whether or not you can drill your sump.

01/25/2007, 08:09 PM	#1
aqua_carmen Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Windsor, ON Canada Posts: 206	Octopus DD 150 skimmer! I do not understand the concept of a Down draft... It says that the flow goes through a bio ball and provides small micro bubbles, wouldn't that be the same concept as a Needle Wheel? Also how does the DD 150 hook up...Does the pump alone go inside the sump or the whole skimmer unit? I have no room in the sump for the unit I have just enough for the pump, is there a plumbing method that can be used to modify or can it be hooked up like that out of the box?

01/25/2007, 09:01 PM	#3
BrokeColoReefer Hermit Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mountains of Boulder County. Posts: 2,289	downdraft is like this, you take a tube, you fill it with bio balls, you take a high head pump and blast the living heck out of the tube with the balls in it, and it makes small bubbles that go into the reaction chamber. __________________ Stay fishy my friends. Current Tank Info: 300 gallon built in plumbed to the basement. 30 gallon surge for flow, GEO protein skimmer, litermeter 3's for continuous water change (1 gallon per day), calc reactors, kalk reactors, 600w MHx2, 6" DSB, 1000 lbs of live rock (300 display, 700 sump)

01/26/2007, 10:07 AM	#6
RichConley Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bostonian in Chicago going to DC Posts: 9,908	A downdraft essentially is a column filled with bioballs. Water is sprayed down onto the bioballs, and sucks in air in the process. Its essentially a more efficient version of spray injection(remora/etc). A Needlewheel is a pump that sucks in air and chops it up. Totally different. Brokecoloreefer, my experience is that downdrafts really dont need as high pressure pumps as people think. Certainly not the pressure becketts need. __________________ NO TANKS!!!

01/26/2007, 10:18 AM	#7
BrokeColoReefer Hermit Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mountains of Boulder County. Posts: 2,289	good to know! My buddy runs a downdraft with a 4md pump. it skims like nuts! i was always under the impression that they had similar requirements as becketts. Always learnin' around this place. __________________ Stay fishy my friends. Current Tank Info: 300 gallon built in plumbed to the basement. 30 gallon surge for flow, GEO protein skimmer, litermeter 3's for continuous water change (1 gallon per day), calc reactors, kalk reactors, 600w MHx2, 6" DSB, 1000 lbs of live rock (300 display, 700 sump)

01/25/2007, 08:57 PM	#2
aqua_carmen Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Windsor, ON Canada Posts: 206	or would anyone suggest an ETSS Reef Devil Protein Skimmer for $80 more?

01/25/2007, 11:06 PM	#4
aqua_carmen Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Windsor, ON Canada Posts: 206	Just restating the question I really want to know how does the DD 150 hook up...Does the pump alone go inside the sump or the whole skimmer unit? Same with the E.T.S.S.

01/26/2007, 09:59 AM	#5
aqua_carmen Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Windsor, ON Canada Posts: 206	Wheres all the Skimmer experts? lol

01/26/2007, 10:26 AM	#8
aqua_carmen Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Windsor, ON Canada Posts: 206	Just restating the question I really want to know how does the DD 150 hook up...Does the pump alone go inside the sump or the whole skimmer unit? Same with the E.T.S.S.