New Reef Octupus Skimmer Thread (Pacific Coast Imports)
- Thread starter Psionicdragon
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the Frogspawns are 12 inches across.
The white PVC is actually an 1 1/4 inch 90 degree ell. it fit really well. I didnt glue it becuase i am not done with the final placement. this skimmer is so quiet its amazing. these photos dont do the bubble size justice. here is hopefully a unedited full size photo of the skimmer.
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The white PVC is actually an 1 1/4 inch 90 degree ell. it fit really well. I didnt glue it becuase i am not done with the final placement. this skimmer is so quiet its amazing. these photos dont do the bubble size justice. here is hopefully a unedited full size photo of the skimmer.
franklinbeens
Premium Member
thanks condair,
f. beans.
f. beans.
trmiv
Active member
I found something that works great for getting rid of that noise, and you have the added benefit of being able to tune bubble size. I have one I bought for tuning bubble size that I don't use for that, I run it wide open, but the great thing is, it makes the skimmer completely quiet. This is on my current ASM, but I'm sure it will do the same for this skimmer.
http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/pr...splastic&category_name=15615&product_id=15616
http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/pr...splastic&category_name=15615&product_id=15616
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trmiv
Active member
It's just a precision needle valve, normally used to tune down the amount of air injected into the skimmer. It goes on the airline that feeds your venturi. I purchased it for that reason, not to quiet the venturi noise made by the skimmer. When I started using it, I found out that even with the valve set to wide open, it completely silences the venturi "hissing" noise. It would also be useful if you want to tweak the bubble size on your skimmer, so kill two birds with one stone.
I bought item 22149, and two 62005 adapter fittings that screw in on the end and slip into the tubing.
I bought item 22149, and two 62005 adapter fittings that screw in on the end and slip into the tubing.
Sorry my tank was so dirty in the photos. There isnt much of a hiss to this skimmer. I should add that the way the end of the air intake hose is cut has alot to do with noise. a 45 degree cut effectively provides more area for the air to pass. a flat or square cut will lessen it and cause hissing.
Psionicdragon
New member
Hey Condair,
are you running the skimmer externally? How did you hook up water to your skimmer? Did you plug it from your overflow to the skimmer directly? Is it really almost 30 inches tall?
are you running the skimmer externally? How did you hook up water to your skimmer? Did you plug it from your overflow to the skimmer directly? Is it really almost 30 inches tall?
drock59
Premium Member
I think people have mis understood my issue. The hissing sound is not coming from the airline intake. Its coming from the ump itself. Sound just like a bunch of air bubbles are being chopped up by the impellar. 
Just wondering if anyone else is having this issue. THe pump noise is louder than the air sucking noise.
Just wondering if anyone else is having this issue. THe pump noise is louder than the air sucking noise.
I used a RIO 900 or 1100, something like that. I placed it in the sump AHEAD of the skimmer return and before any mechanical filtration. I came close to putting in a siphon in the overflow skimmer box but I didnt want to take a chance on a flood and I felt it may be finicky. I measured it at the store and it is 1/8 of an inch under 30" My stand is exactly 30" inside height. I had to Cut to collection cup down 1/4". I used a dremmel and tons of care in doing so. I alos cut off the bottom drain from the collection cup and drilled a drain hole in the side of the cup. I then glued a new 90 degree drain fitting on the side and covered the old hole. this was done to allow the union ring of the skimmer neck to come up and clear the seam so it can slide directly off. Before you had to raise the cup and unscrew the union. I had to make it zero clearence to fit on my stand. I dont see a performance difference.
Drock, My pump has just a slight humming sound typicall of any pump. Without the Gen-X submersible running i can hear the skimmer with the doors closed. No hissing sound that you describe. Check for debris in the impeller.
I gotta say it again, I frigging love this skimmer.
Sean
Drock, My pump has just a slight humming sound typicall of any pump. Without the Gen-X submersible running i can hear the skimmer with the doors closed. No hissing sound that you describe. Check for debris in the impeller.
I gotta say it again, I frigging love this skimmer.
Sean
I read in the first few pages of the thread that there is an air intake problem. He describes the gasket blocking 80% of the hole. Ilooked at mine and it is partially blocked. I am going to get an O-Ring instead of the flat hose type rubber washer and see if that helps. Even slightly blocked this thing bubbles like crazy.
drock59
Premium Member
condair, elaborate please. I am confused about which gasket you are referring.
Also, upon further analysis the pump noise sounds more like internal vibration than air intake hissing. Should I contact the manufacturer? I can hear this thing in my bedroom with the door closed.
I cleaned the pump yesterday, nothing stuck anywhere.
Also, upon further analysis the pump noise sounds more like internal vibration than air intake hissing. Should I contact the manufacturer? I can hear this thing in my bedroom with the door closed.
I cleaned the pump yesterday, nothing stuck anywhere.
Drock,
the gasket is the gasket used at the union connection at the air intake. once you take apart the unions (3/4") actually its metric but thats close, you can see what i am talking about. If your pump is older than i would suspect the rubber grommets that hold the shaft. if it's an air-cooled model look at the fan if there is one. I dont know which pump you have so i am guessing at this point.
the gasket is the gasket used at the union connection at the air intake. once you take apart the unions (3/4") actually its metric but thats close, you can see what i am talking about. If your pump is older than i would suspect the rubber grommets that hold the shaft. if it's an air-cooled model look at the fan if there is one. I dont know which pump you have so i am guessing at this point.
drock59
Premium Member
hmm the union at the air intake is a standard union and I dont see how the gasket could get blocked. Are you talking the union between the pump and the skimmer or the elbow and the pump. Now that I think about it the latter would make more sense. Ill take a look at it when I get home tonight.
Another question, when i shut off the pump water travels up the airline...then when i restart it will not suck the water back down the line. I have to physically blow into the air line to get the venturi started. Im thinking this is not normal either.
This might turn into a headache.
Another question, when i shut off the pump water travels up the airline...then when i restart it will not suck the water back down the line. I have to physically blow into the air line to get the venturi started. Im thinking this is not normal either.
This might turn into a headache.
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