Octopus Extreme External

pcragg · 01/10/2008, 03:42 PM

I just received and hooked up a new Octopus Extreme External EXT-PS200. I purchased it from PA

I was sick of the Remora Pros and wanted to overkill the skimming.

It didn't come with directions, just a picture of an assembled unit. It wasn't difficult to assemble though, pretty self explanatory.

It came with a Octopus 3000 needle wheel pump.

It is interesting that the external version is recirculating, while the sump version is not. The water feed and recirculator goes directly to the pump input. So the amount of water that is recirculated is inversely proportional to the amount of water being fed to the pump input.

The only mod I performed is I notched out the rubber washer at the pump input, because it was blocking part of the air input.

Its been running 24 hours and its starting to foam over the top.

No micro bubbles can be seen getting back into the tank.

It appears to be a very well designed and made unit. But time will tell.

peter1215 · 01/10/2008, 04:09 PM

any pics?? please keep us updated., I almost ordered this skimmer last week but still debating whether to get a Euro Reef or an MTI HSA-250.

mg426 · 01/10/2008, 05:45 PM

Tagging along.

flipteg · 01/10/2008, 07:08 PM

i have the 120 version... make sure you provide the feed pump with constant water level... i found the skimmer to be quite sensitive to changes in the water level due to evaporation...

also, do not completely submerge the output in the water... give the air a way to escape... when power goes out and comes back on, water gets trapped inside the tube between the T connector and the output if the output is completely under water... this causes the skimmer to over flow when the power goes back on... at first i couldn't figure out the problem and everytime i cut the power off and on, i have to fully open the wedge pipe restrictor and then have to reset it again...

pcragg · 01/17/2008, 04:23 PM

Here are some pictures after breaking skimmer in for a week:

Full view of Skimmer

The reaction chamber. The water/bubbles are pumped in on the side below the diffuser. The water/bubbles spin clockwise, allowing a long contact time. Then the water/bubbles come up through the diffuser and the foam rises to the top. Water/bubbles get recirculated from a pipe just above the diffuser. Clear water comes down the outside chamber and exits the skimmer.

Nasty foam beginning to come out of the top.

I'm using a Maxi-jet 5 to feed the skimmer. The water feed is a 1" ID hose barb. I found that the feed pump puts too much water into the skimmer so I had to restrict the flow. I inserted a 5/8" hose between the feed pump and the skimmer and put a hose clamp restrictor on the hose (using electrician's tape so it doesn't cut into the hose. With the restrictor in place, no bubbles exit the skimmer.

So far I really like this skimmer. I like the long contact time while spinning below the diffuser, and its really starting to pull out some gunk.

trmiv · 01/18/2008, 09:12 AM

How loud is the pump?

pcragg · 01/18/2008, 09:23 AM

Not loud at all.

I took off the (included) air silencer because it inhibited air flow. It didn't seem to change the noise level.

This is replacing 2 Remora pro skimmers. I can't tell the difference in noise coming from my equipment closet.

kdblove_99 · 01/18/2008, 10:51 AM

What is the diffrence in the external units from before?

I know for the in sump PA's are pretty much the same as before while marinesolutions has the sicce pump

pcragg · 01/18/2008, 01:53 PM

If you are talking about the difference with the DNW-200, this one has an internal baffle plate which allows a long contact time while spinning below the baffle. Also, the outer chamber does a great job of keeping micro-bubbles from reaching the tank.

I don't believe the DNW-200 has an internal baffle or an outer chamber. But they both recirculate.

01/10/2008, 03:42 PM	#1
pcragg Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Washington D.C. Posts: 60	Octopus Extreme External I just received and hooked up a new Octopus Extreme External EXT-PS200. I purchased it from PA I was sick of the Remora Pros and wanted to overkill the skimming. It didn't come with directions, just a picture of an assembled unit. It wasn't difficult to assemble though, pretty self explanatory. It came with a Octopus 3000 needle wheel pump. It is interesting that the external version is recirculating, while the sump version is not. The water feed and recirculator goes directly to the pump input. So the amount of water that is recirculated is inversely proportional to the amount of water being fed to the pump input. The only mod I performed is I notched out the rubber washer at the pump input, because it was blocking part of the air input. Its been running 24 hours and its starting to foam over the top. No micro bubbles can be seen getting back into the tank. It appears to be a very well designed and made unit. But time will tell. __________________ 140 Oceanic Reef 2 400W 20k Plusrite 2 110W Actinic VHO 250 Pounds LR Octopus EXT-PS200 No sump Current Tank Info: 140 Oceanic Reef

01/10/2008, 05:45 PM	#3
mg426 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: maryland Posts: 6,923	Tagging along. __________________ I found a way to make a small fortune running a reef tank. Start with a large fortune. Unofficial President of the SEACLONE haters club Current Tank Info: 125 mixed reef 110 lbs LR, 1x250watt XM 20K MH 2x175watt XM 20K MH on Magetics 2X96 watt actinic PC, 220 watt VHO actinic, 30 gallon refugium, closed loop system powered by Sequence Dart MSX 200 skimmer 38 gallon sump, Oceansmotions squirt

01/17/2008, 04:23 PM	#5
pcragg Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Washington D.C. Posts: 60	Update (with Pics) Here are some pictures after breaking skimmer in for a week: Full view of Skimmer The reaction chamber. The water/bubbles are pumped in on the side below the diffuser. The water/bubbles spin clockwise, allowing a long contact time. Then the water/bubbles come up through the diffuser and the foam rises to the top. Water/bubbles get recirculated from a pipe just above the diffuser. Clear water comes down the outside chamber and exits the skimmer. Nasty foam beginning to come out of the top. I'm using a Maxi-jet 5 to feed the skimmer. The water feed is a 1" ID hose barb. I found that the feed pump puts too much water into the skimmer so I had to restrict the flow. I inserted a 5/8" hose between the feed pump and the skimmer and put a hose clamp restrictor on the hose (using electrician's tape so it doesn't cut into the hose. With the restrictor in place, no bubbles exit the skimmer. So far I really like this skimmer. I like the long contact time while spinning below the diffuser, and its really starting to pull out some gunk. __________________ 140 Oceanic Reef 2 400W 20k Plusrite 2 110W Actinic VHO 250 Pounds LR Octopus EXT-PS200 No sump Current Tank Info: 140 Oceanic Reef

01/18/2008, 09:12 AM	#6
trmiv Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 3,082	How loud is the pump? __________________ Current tank: Red Sea Reefer 350 Deluxe, Avast Marine Pegleg 180 skimmer, Gyre 150, Eheim 1262 return

01/18/2008, 09:23 AM	#7
pcragg Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Washington D.C. Posts: 60	Not loud at all. I took off the (included) air silencer because it inhibited air flow. It didn't seem to change the noise level. This is replacing 2 Remora pro skimmers. I can't tell the difference in noise coming from my equipment closet. __________________ 140 Oceanic Reef 2 400W 20k Plusrite 2 110W Actinic VHO 250 Pounds LR Octopus EXT-PS200 No sump Current Tank Info: 140 Oceanic Reef

01/10/2008, 04:09 PM	#2
peter1215 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 20	any pics?? please keep us updated., I almost ordered this skimmer last week but still debating whether to get a Euro Reef or an MTI HSA-250.

01/10/2008, 07:08 PM	#4
flipteg Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 910	i have the 120 version... make sure you provide the feed pump with constant water level... i found the skimmer to be quite sensitive to changes in the water level due to evaporation... also, do not completely submerge the output in the water... give the air a way to escape... when power goes out and comes back on, water gets trapped inside the tube between the T connector and the output if the output is completely under water... this causes the skimmer to over flow when the power goes back on... at first i couldn't figure out the problem and everytime i cut the power off and on, i have to fully open the wedge pipe restrictor and then have to reset it again...

01/18/2008, 10:51 AM	#8
kdblove_99 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Frederick,CO Posts: 8,683	What is the diffrence in the external units from before? I know for the in sump PA's are pretty much the same as before while marinesolutions has the sicce pump

01/18/2008, 01:53 PM	#9
pcragg Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Washington D.C. Posts: 60	If you are talking about the difference with the DNW-200, this one has an internal baffle plate which allows a long contact time while spinning below the baffle. Also, the outer chamber does a great job of keeping micro-bubbles from reaching the tank. I don't believe the DNW-200 has an internal baffle or an outer chamber. But they both recirculate. __________________ 140 Oceanic Reef 2 400W 20k Plusrite 2 110W Actinic VHO 250 Pounds LR Octopus EXT-PS200 No sump Current Tank Info: 140 Oceanic Reef