New Reef Octupus Skimmer Thread (Pacific Coast Imports)

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I am thinking about getting the rps-2000 rc for my tank. However I am torn between that or a ASM g-3 (maybe with the recirc mod). My tank is currently a 55 w/30 gal sump, and 10 gal fuge. I am upgrading to a 90gal this fall, and will use the same sump, and fuge.

Here are my quetions:
1. Which would perform better?
2. If I get the 2000 does it include the plumbing now?
3. Will a Gen-x gx1000 be enough to power the feed line?
4. Is that the best pump to use, and how quiet will this whole thing be?

So many questions!!!! ahhhh...
 
Psionicdragon,

A 1" drain will flow ~600 gph maxed out. It really depends on your return pump. IMO, 600 gph is too much flow for any of these skimmers. I would say ~300 gph or so for the 3000 model.

As an update, I discovered on Friday that I had mis-calculated the flow rate through my 3000 (got to love calculator dependency). I was flowing at ~120 gph, not the 240 I thought. I have increased the flow to ~180--200 gph and I believe I'm getting a little better foam production. I'll have to wait a few days to be sure.

FWIW, the turbulence in the neck of the skimmer was very high after increasing the feed rate, but this seems to have dropped back a lot after about a day of operation. I'll probably try and adjust the flow up to ~240 gph in a day or so and see where that puts me.
 
Anybody dial in an RPS-2000 yet?

Anybody dial in an RPS-2000 yet?

I'm running it in sump and was wondering about the water level you seem to make the best foam at?

Ron
 
good question.... anyone?
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7184771#post7184771 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by fareforce
I am thinking about getting the rps-2000 rc for my tank. However I am torn between that or a ASM g-3 (maybe with the recirc mod). My tank is currently a 55 w/30 gal sump, and 10 gal fuge. I am upgrading to a 90gal this fall, and will use the same sump, and fuge.

Here are my quetions:
1. Which would perform better?
2. If I get the 2000 does it include the plumbing now?
3. Will a Gen-x gx1000 be enough to power the feed line?
4. Is that the best pump to use, and how quiet will this whole thing be?

So many questions!!!! ahhhh...
Click to expand...
 
A little thing I discovered that I thought I'd share. I needed a longer output pipe to decrease the water noise, so I searched for 50MM piping but without success. What I found out while at my local HD is that a coupler for 1.25" piping has an outer diameter that is exactly 50MM :). I then bought a 2ft length of 1.25" pipe and was done!

ef6cbbaf.jpg
 
Okay I have a problem with my 2000. I set it up last week. Works great, much better than my previous skimmer. Today the pump was very quite and there was water all over the floor. There were no bubbles being produced and the flexible tubing was leaking water. Somehow there was a siphon created. I think my power went out today, but I'm not sure. Has anyone had this problem?

I turned it back on after leaving it off for about an hour. I had to blow air through the tube to get it to work again. What's going on with it?
 
i don't have that model but the tube has to be higher than
your water line in your skimmer in case your power goes out. which i think you found out. the 3000 model does not have the starting issues as the 2000.
 
Yup, power went out and water drained out the air tube. I swapped out the included silicone hose with Norprene tubing and extended it above the bottom of the cup to prevent siphon.

I have the same issue with the RPS-2000, each time I turn it off I have to blow into the air intake to start the pump spinning again.
 
The way it is made, the tube can't be higher unless I get some extra tubing. The little filter thing that they put on the end of the tubing sits in the bracket below the neck. I guess I could put extra tubing on top of that, but that is a silly design flaw if it is true. I'll experiment with it tomorrow, because I don't want to come home to a mess on my floor again.
 
Thanks pyrrhus, I guess I'll do the same thing. You would think they would catch those type of things before they manufacture them.

So I guess these are the drawbacks to buying one of these instead of the big dogs like ER. Save a little money, but more problems.
 
If your water level is above your air intake on any skimmer and the power goes out water will drain out the air intake.

I have never run the water level above the union on my RPS-2000, and do not recommend it. On most external skimmers you never want your water level above the cup/body interface, that way when you need to empty the cup you just cut off the recirc and leave the feed running, remove the cup and no water will spill. If you run the water level higher you have to adjust your skimmer each time you clean the cup, which is a major PITA.

RE: water on floor. If you didnt account for the skimmer draining into the sump as well as the normal overflow from the tank, that may have been the cause of the water loss.
 
I dont think you can blaim this on the skimmer. You need to do a power down test to see if things are going to leak. This is one of the reasons I dont like external skimmers since you cant eliminate the flood problem 100%
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7184771#post7184771 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by fareforce
I am thinking about getting the rps-2000 rc for my tank. However I am torn between that or a ASM g-3 (maybe with the recirc mod). My tank is currently a 55 w/30 gal sump, and 10 gal fuge. I am upgrading to a 90gal this fall, and will use the same sump, and fuge.

Here are my quetions:
1. Which would perform better?
2. If I get the 2000 does it include the plumbing now?
3. Will a Gen-x gx1000 be enough to power the feed line?
4. Is that the best pump to use, and how quiet will this whole thing be?

So many questions!!!! ahhhh...
Click to expand...


Anyone???
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7207582#post7207582 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by fareforce
Anyone???
Click to expand...

I dont think anyone can really say which is a better choice... ASM obviously have a proven track record, whereas the RO doesnt... if I were you, I'd get the ASM because of probs with RPS2000 reported (leaks etc). You can then do the recirc mod and gate valve mod yourself and have a excellent skimmer that is WAYYYY overkill for a system your size....so you'd be able to keep SPS and heavy bioload.

GenX1000... sounds like WAYYYYY too much flow would be going through your skimmer and/or fuge...

If you are set up for a closed loop, I'd shoot for a return pump that can do about 300gph and is low wattage (Check out Eheim and Blueline)...this will save you a ton on electricity over the GENX which is probably over 200w.....plus your skimmer really needs no more than 300gph and obviously water going through your sump and refuge ideally wouldnt be ripping through at 1000s of gph.

If you arent set up for a closed loop...maybe get a pump such as GenX 55hp (I have one for sale, shameless plug) and then feed your skimmer via a maxijet1200 taking water directly from the overflow drain area.

G
 
ASM's have have problems with leakage. Even with the recirc mod, you should still use them in-sump. The connection at the transition cone isn't always 100% tight.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7207637#post7207637 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ghever
I dont think anyone can really say which is a better choice... ASM obviously have a proven track record, whereas the RO doesnt... if I were you, I'd get the ASM because of probs with RPS2000 reported (leaks etc). You can then do the recirc mod and gate valve mod yourself and have a excellent skimmer that is WAYYYY overkill for a system your size....so you'd be able to keep SPS and heavy bioload.

GenX1000... sounds like WAYYYYY too much flow would be going through your skimmer and/or fuge...

If you are set up for a closed loop, I'd shoot for a return pump that can do about 300gph and is low wattage (Check out Eheim and Blueline)...this will save you a ton on electricity over the GENX which is probably over 200w.....plus your skimmer really needs no more than 300gph and obviously water going through your sump and refuge ideally wouldnt be ripping through at 1000s of gph.

If you arent set up for a closed loop...maybe get a pump such as GenX 55hp (I have one for sale, shameless plug) and then feed your skimmer via a maxijet1200 taking water directly from the overflow drain area.

G
Click to expand...


I have also been looking at the 3000 recirc one also.. Have they had problems with leaking? I am hoping to not put this in my sump.

Also, the GexX1000 is only 265 gph. 130gph @3' of head.. This would be fine right? Are the GexX pumps quiet?

I have all of the flow I need, and am not looking for more.. I was going to have the input for the skimmer in chamber #1 on my sump (where my overflow dumps), and the return set to chamber #2 (where my return pump is). This is how it is setup now, and seems to work great. I also have a maxi-jet 1200 that pumps water from chamber #1 to chamber #3 (fuge).
 
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