skimmer not getting foam head after 3 mnths?

Moonstream · 07/17/2008, 01:14 PM

I have an octopus nw skimmer rated for up to 135g on my 100g system, and it isnt getting a foam head. I have more then enough livestock to make something to skim in the tank (1 swallowtail angel, 3 firefish, 2 perculas, 1 YWG, 1 flasher wrasse) but it still wont form a foam head.

how can I get it to start working? I had such better luck with my coralife skimmer, I wish I had just gotten another one of those! someone help!

FB · 07/17/2008, 01:42 PM

Got a pic of the skimmer in action?

nauticac4 · 07/17/2008, 01:58 PM

Is it plugged in? Is the pump actually running? I have a NW 200 and it creates an insane amount of foam and nastyness. Get us a pic

aastretch64 · 07/17/2008, 02:04 PM

"Foam" is created under a heavier bioload. It may be that you do not have enough for the skimmer to really produce the foam. I have a Euro-reef RS100 and I don't really get foam head either. More of larger bubbles popping at the top.

I like nauticac4's qustions...is it plugged in LOL!

Alex

snorvich · 07/17/2008, 02:07 PM

ROTFLMAO Is it plugged in?

Sk8r · 07/17/2008, 02:09 PM

Do you have anything floating around that could clog it or deposit? Have you tried cleaning it?

wildcats · 07/17/2008, 02:12 PM

Have you checked the air inlet on the venturi? Sometimes they get clogged which reduces the air injection.

Do you have foam but no skimmate to speak of, or less air being injected?

Moonstream · 07/17/2008, 05:14 PM

I have tryed cleaning it, unplugged and plugged it back in, made sure nothing was cloggint he impeller, increased flow in hope to get more detritus water borne and into it, moved it around, and still no result.

I am planning to add more fish at the end of the summer, so hopefully that will increase bioload to the point that it can actually produce foam.

could I do a mod to get more bubbles that might help?

nebraskareef · 07/17/2008, 05:48 PM

Pictures would be an immense help.

Is the water level static in your sump?

papajojo · 07/17/2008, 06:10 PM

is ur water line in the skimmer close to the riser? u might need a ball valve to create a little more back pressure to bring the level up but with most octupuses they have a riser on the out flow which can be adjusted to get the appropriate pressure/backpressure on the skimmer

hope this helps

nu2reefva · 07/17/2008, 07:20 PM

are you using SALTWATER

tonyf · 07/17/2008, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by nu2reefva
are you using SALTWATER

Not as silly as it might sound ... had a bloke whinging to me about a skimmer being useless; turns out he was running it in freshwater ROTFLMAO

Doahh · 07/17/2008, 11:41 PM

Skimmers DO work in Freshwater too you know...

boxfishpooalot · 07/18/2008, 03:30 AM

does not surprise me with the octopus brand skimmers.

I had my nw-200 rc for 1 year, all i get is a small foam head, and dark sludge around the neck. Never has it filled with a cup of skimmate.

imo, look into something proven.

jade2122 · 07/18/2008, 09:35 AM

i have an octopus nw200 and that thing pulls gunk out extremely well. i did the meshmod on it but it pulled great before then, the stuff i pull out smells like death, haha, however i do have a very heavy bioload and barebottom

Moonstream · 07/19/2008, 09:27 AM

I was told my quite a few people that the octopus was a good skimmer! grrr!

anyways, what would be a good skimmer to get?

nebraskareef · 07/19/2008, 10:01 AM

The octopus is a good skimmer. It is "proven"...you aren't really providing us with enough information to help you.

GSMguy · 07/19/2008, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Doahh
Skimmers DO work in Freshwater too you know...

no not really skimmers designed for saltwater dont work in FW the necks are too large.

Doahh · 07/19/2008, 11:59 AM

High end Koi ponds still use Skimmers.... I'm just tired of all this skimmers don't work in FW Crap

Moonstream · 07/19/2008, 01:08 PM

okay, answers to questions
yes it is saltwater

ill see what I can do about pics

the water isnt very close to the riser, I am trying to get it higher, and will get it higher as soon as I get home (I am away)

what would a static water level be?

kar93 · 07/19/2008, 02:06 PM

Does the skimmer body have a min water level height? Do you prefer to wet skim or dry?

Moonstream · 07/20/2008, 09:21 AM

I usually try to skim as wet as possible, I feel that it is more effective. I dont think there is a min water height.

Deminos · 07/20/2008, 09:30 AM

Did the pump come with the correct impeller, I think I have seen some posts now and again that have had that problem.

Moonstream · 07/20/2008, 09:36 PM

what would the right impeller look like? I think it did...

I am planning to remove this skimmer now, since it is not doing anything but taking up space, and I am going to replace it with my coralife skimmer, which has always done very well getting waste out of the water.

tomorrow I am planning to add a few more fish to the tank, so I will have to see what I can do about the skimmer.

jab502 · 07/20/2008, 10:02 PM

Before you get rid of a potentially good skimmer I would suggest testing the water for nitrates. If your trates are 0 and your phosphate is 0 then you probably don't have enough waste in the tank to produce any foam. That is a good thing.

07/17/2008, 01:14 PM	#1
Moonstream Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: NYC Posts: 2,581	skimmer not getting foam head after 3 mnths? I have an octopus nw skimmer rated for up to 135g on my 100g system, and it isnt getting a foam head. I have more then enough livestock to make something to skim in the tank (1 swallowtail angel, 3 firefish, 2 perculas, 1 YWG, 1 flasher wrasse) but it still wont form a foam head. how can I get it to start working? I had such better luck with my coralife skimmer, I wish I had just gotten another one of those! someone help! Last edited by Moonstream; 07/17/2008 at 01:22 PM.

07/17/2008, 01:58 PM	#3
nauticac4 Baby Fish Wrangler Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,237	Is it plugged in? Is the pump actually running? I have a NW 200 and it creates an insane amount of foam and nastyness. Get us a pic __________________ Put Wings on it and Let it Fly!!! PBITAWA !!! Current Tank Info: 180 Cube 3x3x3. 29Gallon Sump 20 Gallon Fuge (1) Lumenarc Reflector w. 250W ARO Ballast and - Modded GS1 Skimmer - Eheim 1262 Return - Vortech MP40W and Swirler Stein

07/17/2008, 02:07 PM	#5
snorvich Team RC member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Outlander Posts: 40,953 Blog Entries: 46	ROTFLMAO Is it plugged in? __________________ Warmest regards, ~Steve~

07/17/2008, 02:09 PM	#6
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Do you have anything floating around that could clog it or deposit? Have you tried cleaning it? __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

07/17/2008, 05:48 PM	#9
nebraskareef MFCEO Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,495 Blog Entries: 1	Pictures would be an immense help. Is the water level static in your sump? __________________ Originally Posted by tmz "Now if I drink the vodka the colors do look much better than if I drink the vinegar."

07/17/2008, 01:42 PM	#2
FB Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Georgetown, ON Posts: 1,305	Got a pic of the skimmer in action?

07/17/2008, 02:04 PM	#4
aastretch64 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Franklin Park, IL Posts: 384	"Foam" is created under a heavier bioload. It may be that you do not have enough for the skimmer to really produce the foam. I have a Euro-reef RS100 and I don't really get foam head either. More of larger bubbles popping at the top. I like nauticac4's qustions...is it plugged in LOL! Alex

07/17/2008, 02:12 PM	#7
wildcats Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 92	Have you checked the air inlet on the venturi? Sometimes they get clogged which reduces the air injection. Do you have foam but no skimmate to speak of, or less air being injected?

07/17/2008, 05:14 PM	#8
Moonstream Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: NYC Posts: 2,581	I have tryed cleaning it, unplugged and plugged it back in, made sure nothing was cloggint he impeller, increased flow in hope to get more detritus water borne and into it, moved it around, and still no result. I am planning to add more fish at the end of the summer, so hopefully that will increase bioload to the point that it can actually produce foam. could I do a mod to get more bubbles that might help?

07/17/2008, 06:10 PM	#10
papajojo Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Tampa FL Posts: 234	is ur water line in the skimmer close to the riser? u might need a ball valve to create a little more back pressure to bring the level up but with most octupuses they have a riser on the out flow which can be adjusted to get the appropriate pressure/backpressure on the skimmer hope this helps

07/17/2008, 07:20 PM	#11
nu2reefva Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Chesapeake, Virginia Posts: 427	are you using SALTWATER

07/17/2008, 11:41 PM	#13
Doahh Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Loomis CA Posts: 2,398	Skimmers DO work in Freshwater too you know... __________________ -Josh Current Tank Info: 90 Gal Custom SW Reef

07/18/2008, 03:30 AM	#14
boxfishpooalot Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: canada, Grande Praire, Ab Posts: 5,824	does not surprise me with the octopus brand skimmers. I had my nw-200 rc for 1 year, all i get is a small foam head, and dark sludge around the neck. Never has it filled with a cup of skimmate. imo, look into something proven. __________________ Its a good idea to have a refrence sample for alk test kits. 1.1350 grams of baking soda in 1gallon of distilled water=10dkh. Check your alkalinity test kit! Algae is Mother Natures phosphate remover Current Tank Info: 220 galon mixed reef.

07/18/2008, 09:35 AM	#15
jade2122 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Orlando, Fl Posts: 922	i have an octopus nw200 and that thing pulls gunk out extremely well. i did the meshmod on it but it pulled great before then, the stuff i pull out smells like death, haha, however i do have a very heavy bioload and barebottom

07/19/2008, 09:27 AM	#16
Moonstream Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: NYC Posts: 2,581	I was told my quite a few people that the octopus was a good skimmer! grrr! anyways, what would be a good skimmer to get?

07/19/2008, 10:01 AM	#17
nebraskareef MFCEO Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,495 Blog Entries: 1	The octopus is a good skimmer. It is "proven"...you aren't really providing us with enough information to help you. __________________ Originally Posted by tmz "Now if I drink the vodka the colors do look much better than if I drink the vinegar."

07/19/2008, 11:59 AM	#19
Doahh Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Loomis CA Posts: 2,398	High end Koi ponds still use Skimmers.... I'm just tired of all this skimmers don't work in FW Crap __________________ -Josh Current Tank Info: 90 Gal Custom SW Reef

07/19/2008, 01:08 PM	#20
Moonstream Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: NYC Posts: 2,581	okay, answers to questions yes it is saltwater ill see what I can do about pics the water isnt very close to the riser, I am trying to get it higher, and will get it higher as soon as I get home (I am away) what would a static water level be?

07/19/2008, 02:06 PM	#21
kar93 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Lincoln Posts: 5,521	Does the skimmer body have a min water level height? Do you prefer to wet skim or dry?

07/20/2008, 09:21 AM	#22
Moonstream Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: NYC Posts: 2,581	I usually try to skim as wet as possible, I feel that it is more effective. I dont think there is a min water height.

07/20/2008, 09:30 AM	#23
Deminos Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Reserve Twp. Posts: 63	Did the pump come with the correct impeller, I think I have seen some posts now and again that have had that problem.

07/20/2008, 09:36 PM	#24
Moonstream Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: NYC Posts: 2,581	what would the right impeller look like? I think it did... I am planning to remove this skimmer now, since it is not doing anything but taking up space, and I am going to replace it with my coralife skimmer, which has always done very well getting waste out of the water. tomorrow I am planning to add a few more fish to the tank, so I will have to see what I can do about the skimmer.

07/20/2008, 10:02 PM	#25
jab502 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 157	Before you get rid of a potentially good skimmer I would suggest testing the water for nitrates. If your trates are 0 and your phosphate is 0 then you probably don't have enough waste in the tank to produce any foam. That is a good thing.