New Reef Octupus Skimmer Thread (Pacific Coast Imports)
- Thread starter Psionicdragon
- Start date
- Status
trmiv
Active member
I have one of these: http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=usplastic&category%5Fname=15615&product%5Fid=15616
You can also get a brass needle valve from a hardware store or something. Also, Euro Reef has an air valve they use for their skimmers that would work well too.
You can also get a brass needle valve from a hardware store or something. Also, Euro Reef has an air valve they use for their skimmers that would work well too.
ok.....so i put the skimmer together...or at least tried to, so I can at least see what you guys were talkin about.
Here is what I am tryin to figure out...
1) I figured the O rings I got were for all the unions fittings ,
2) I had 2 washer looking things (black)...i use them where the pump connects to the skimmer (top connection and front side connection).
3) Why do I still have one true union after full assembly? Maybe it can be used instead of the barbed union fitting at the top of skimmer where i guess water is pumped in? Assuming so in case people want to feed their skimmer with hard PVC instead of tubing.
4) I still have left a clear washer, any idea what this is? Did I miss something?
So the needle valve i get goes at the end of the clear tubing correct? Instead of the silencer?
5) The long piece of grey pvc, I need to cut that to what height to make the T connection??? Does it matter what height it is cut to?
As fot the gasket you guys are replacing, are you replacing the one on the top of the pump connection or the one connection the front of the pump to skimmer?
thanks
G
Here is what I am tryin to figure out...
1) I figured the O rings I got were for all the unions fittings ,
2) I had 2 washer looking things (black)...i use them where the pump connects to the skimmer (top connection and front side connection).
3) Why do I still have one true union after full assembly? Maybe it can be used instead of the barbed union fitting at the top of skimmer where i guess water is pumped in? Assuming so in case people want to feed their skimmer with hard PVC instead of tubing.
4) I still have left a clear washer, any idea what this is? Did I miss something?
So the needle valve i get goes at the end of the clear tubing correct? Instead of the silencer?
5) The long piece of grey pvc, I need to cut that to what height to make the T connection??? Does it matter what height it is cut to?
As fot the gasket you guys are replacing, are you replacing the one on the top of the pump connection or the one connection the front of the pump to skimmer?
thanks
G
ghever,
1) The o-rings are for the unions.
2) For the 3000, I used one black washer on the pump inlet (the one with the clear tube) and one clear washer on the pump outlet. I had one of each left over afterwards.
3) The union is extra in case you want to pipe with PVC.
4) The clear washers fit the pump outlet connection on mine.
5) I have seen the unit run using a short piece on top of the T. You need enough height that the water will not come out the top when the skimmer is set to skim wet. I cut the long piece in half and used half for each branch off the T.
1) The o-rings are for the unions.
2) For the 3000, I used one black washer on the pump inlet (the one with the clear tube) and one clear washer on the pump outlet. I had one of each left over afterwards.
3) The union is extra in case you want to pipe with PVC.
4) The clear washers fit the pump outlet connection on mine.
5) I have seen the unit run using a short piece on top of the T. You need enough height that the water will not come out the top when the skimmer is set to skim wet. I cut the long piece in half and used half for each branch off the T.
Do any of you feed your skimmer directly from your overflow via gravity? If so, what is your flow rate? Shouldnt we be shooting for a flow rate of about 200-300gph on the 3000?
If so, that means you need to either get a low gph return pump, throttle a higher flow rate pump down, or use a valve on the gravity feed to control the flow....the last option I heard is not recommended and could cause floods.
Just trying to figure out how I am going to connect my skimmer to my system...
If so, that means you need to either get a low gph return pump, throttle a higher flow rate pump down, or use a valve on the gravity feed to control the flow....the last option I heard is not recommended and could cause floods.
Just trying to figure out how I am going to connect my skimmer to my system...
Pyrrhus
New member
On your overflow drain you will install a tee, the main run continues on to a valve and the skimmer. The valve will help control flow to the skimmer and reduce the number of large bubble entering the skimmer body. The branch of the tee is the overflow bypass where excess water will simply overflow the tee and into the sump.
Stephany
New member
I still need to cut that longer piece in half, but this is what I've got. (RPS-1000)
Oh yea, minus the collection cup. =)
New to this design of skimmer, I didn't realize it would take two pumps to run it. John @ Custom Aquatics said it didn't come with a feed pump, and I totally thought that was the only pump I would need. Then I got real confused when I opened up the box and found two pumps. heh
I'd like to hook it up to my overflow I guess, as I'm maxed out on my powerstrip... I just switched out the water inlet barbed part to the gray plain pvc.
Oh yea, minus the collection cup. =)
New to this design of skimmer, I didn't realize it would take two pumps to run it. John @ Custom Aquatics said it didn't come with a feed pump, and I totally thought that was the only pump I would need. Then I got real confused when I opened up the box and found two pumps. heh
I'd like to hook it up to my overflow I guess, as I'm maxed out on my powerstrip... I just switched out the water inlet barbed part to the gray plain pvc.
Stephany
New member
Wow, it's pulled out in the last 3 hours what my other skimmer would take 3 days to do. I really like this skimmer.
I scored out some pvc to fit it to the gray water inlet pipe, and that isn't exactly a tight fit from my overflow. It leaks. I gotta figure out how to get the metric to fit my non-metric overflow pipe.
I scored out some pvc to fit it to the gray water inlet pipe, and that isn't exactly a tight fit from my overflow. It leaks. I gotta figure out how to get the metric to fit my non-metric overflow pipe.
scubaduderon
Member
Wrap it with teflon tape.
Wrap it with teflon tape.
Why did you have to cut the longer pipe?
The way I see it you just need to slant the longer pipe back into your sump. You just do this by cocking the 90 degree elbow so it doesn't point straight down but goes down at an angle...
Ron
Wrap it with teflon tape.
Why did you have to cut the longer pipe?
The way I see it you just need to slant the longer pipe back into your sump. You just do this by cocking the 90 degree elbow so it doesn't point straight down but goes down at an angle...
Ron
Can't wait!- Status
