need help with octopus nw200 set-up

[dmack]

I have been running my nw200 for 8 days now. It has yet to produce skimmate. It is starting to build a foam head, but it seems to me that the skimmer should have begun to skim by now. Initially, I put it in a tub of vinegar and freshwater and ran it for a couple of hours. Now it is in my sump in about 12" of water. I'm unsure of how high the riser tube should be set. Any advise would be really appreciated. I'm getting concerned that my tank is turning into a toxic waste dump in the meantime. My bioload is med-heavy.

 

[klasiksb]

They take awhile to break in, but sounds like your getting there. Where is the water level in the skimmer now?

 

[dmack]

The water level is in the middle of the union for the collection cup.

 

[greenstarman]

I have been running the same model for over 4 months now and if you have a low load it won't skim hardly at all. I put in about 15ml of DT's a day to a stocked tank and can barely fill the collection cup in a month. I would say it will fill the collection cup about an 1/8 of an inch and the inside wall of the collection cup gets coated with a green skim that the bubbles just don't seem to rise upon. So therefore I am cleaning it once a week whether it needs it or not. As for the breaking in period my took 2 weeks before I noticed any solid production of foam.

Hope that helps.

 

[greenstarman]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9090021#post9090021 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dmack
The water level is in the middle of the union for the collection cup.

My riser tube will only go as high as the body. Any higher and the tube comes out of its holder...

 

[klasiksb]

I ditched the riser tube and did the gate valve mod. Just makes it easier to set an it's much quieter and doesn't have the splashing.

I think since your starting to get a foam head, leave it where it's at for a few more days. Or raise it slightly and keep an eye on it.

 

[dmack]

I have a riser tube on order. Thanks for the advise.

 

[dmack]

What how deep is the water in your sumps?

 

[klasiksb]

10" now, had it running in 9" before. Doesn't seem any different.

 

[greenstarman]

Mine sets at 9.25 inches. Do you have a link on the mod for the riser tube.

 

[drives300]

Hour is the Sg of your water. Skimmers operate best at 1.026. The device should be calibrated because there are errors with refractometers and hydrometers not calibrated with a fluid. See randy's article.

 

[klasiksb]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9091002#post9091002 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by greenstarman
Mine sets at 9.25 inches. Do you have a link on the mod for the riser tube.

http://www.marinesolutionsinc.com/c...50/NW200-Gate-Valve-Mod-Kit/product_info.html