New Reef Octupus Skimmer Thread (Pacific Coast Imports)
- Thread starter Psionicdragon
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bond007069
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My Gen-x 4100 on a G2 pulls
around 20 schf/air
around 20 schf/air
Pyrrhus
New member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7249841#post7249841 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by clkwrk
Just for comparison both my g-3 and er 8-2 with sedra 5000 pull an average of 10 scfh. Bouncing down to 8 and upto 13.
Which puts them inlinea good thing .
What is the watt draw on a Sedra 5000?
Does anyone know if you can buy the venturi fitting for the Gen-X pumps separately. I really have to believe that the lower air draw on the Octopus pump is due to an inefficient venturi.
In another thread, someone reported that the OR3700 pulled about 900 lph (~30 scfh) of air. I would expect the Octopus pump to do similar.
I guess it may also be possible to use an air pump to feed more air and just rely on the pump to chop up the bubbles. That's what the user of the OR3700 ended up doing on a DIY airstone/needlewheel skimmer.
In another thread, someone reported that the OR3700 pulled about 900 lph (~30 scfh) of air. I would expect the Octopus pump to do similar.
I guess it may also be possible to use an air pump to feed more air and just rely on the pump to chop up the bubbles. That's what the user of the OR3700 ended up doing on a DIY airstone/needlewheel skimmer.
well, I have been able to get mine up to as high as around 10 lpm... which is about 21 scfh... so that isnt that far off from 30scfh... but yah, if we can get it even higher it would be nice.. but seems like arund 12-15 scfh should be fine.... my foam is starting to get thicker..I am trying to go super dry just to be safe for now because i am not at home and dont want it to skim wet and empty out my tank....we'll see how things go....
I believe that the limiting factor for the venturi is the way they drilled the hole, with the 90-degree turn. If I'm not mistaken, the suction in a venturi comes from the pressure/velocity change that comes when water is forced to flow through a restriction (pipe ID decrease) and then rapidly accelerated (pipe ID increase). I think the Octopus uses the ID of the union as the restriction and the pump intake (which is larger than the union ID) as the expansion.
If you look at the cut-away pictures for a standard venturi, (see Kent Turbo Venturi on Marine Depot site), there is a larger contraction and expansion.
However, I would have to say that I would not be terribly unhappy if I could get 10 lpm (~600 lph) air flow. That puts it on par with the recommended air flow for the Deltec AP701, which has the same diameter.
If you look at the cut-away pictures for a standard venturi, (see Kent Turbo Venturi on Marine Depot site), there is a larger contraction and expansion.
However, I would have to say that I would not be terribly unhappy if I could get 10 lpm (~600 lph) air flow. That puts it on par with the recommended air flow for the Deltec AP701, which has the same diameter.
franklinbeens
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daytonreefRob
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<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7245845#post7245845 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mr. pluto
8.5 liter/minute = 18.010 scfh. thats the average
mine bounces around. from 7~11
i have no problems , i'm ok with this skimmer.
i am using the stock flat rubber washer uncut.
What model is your air meter? Where did you get it?
mr. pluto
New member
daytonreefRob, i have a rma22 i think ghever has an extra.
but i got mine at http://www.dwyer-inst.com/htdocs/flow/SeriesRMPrice.cfm
but i got mine at http://www.dwyer-inst.com/htdocs/flow/SeriesRMPrice.cfm
Any more updates? I just hooked up my second 3000 on my tank at home (other is on a tank at church). For this one, I used a little super glue to secure the gasket to the air induction fitting and then used a knife to notch it. I get lots more air on this one, and the bubbles are really tiny in the body (any smaller and I wouldn't be able to see the individual bubbles). I'll post an air flow number when my meter gets in.
Just curious, what pump are you using to feed the 3000? I'm using a Maxijet 900 right now since I had it handy, but with the elevation change I'm only getting about 90 gph out of it. I'd like to push it a little higher (maybe to 180 gph); I have a 90 gal tank.
Just curious, what pump are you using to feed the 3000? I'm using a Maxijet 900 right now since I had it handy, but with the elevation change I'm only getting about 90 gph out of it. I'd like to push it a little higher (maybe to 180 gph); I have a 90 gal tank.
tonyf
New member
I finally broke down and ordered one of the first here in Australia -- you guys are all to blame!
The RPC 3000 (DNW 200-6540 as it is marketed here) arrived within 2 days of ordering. I must concur with everything that has been written here about these skimmers. They are very nicely made!
Assembly was simple and all the bits and spares made perfect sense. Undertook the washer ' gasket modification and fixed it in place with a dab of Super Glue.
The skimmer runs beautifully and doesn't leak at all despite me not glueing or taping the pipe joints. What excellent manufacture.
I read that some are getting around 600 l/hr of air flow -- that's around about what my beckett skimmers fires best at. However, the best that I can extract from my 3000 is 300 - 360 l/hr maximum. Despite the low air draw, the bubble size is good and the density whilst not solid white is not too bad.
Has anybody worked out some new tweaks to make these things fly without radical re-engineering?
Tone
The RPC 3000 (DNW 200-6540 as it is marketed here) arrived within 2 days of ordering. I must concur with everything that has been written here about these skimmers. They are very nicely made!
Assembly was simple and all the bits and spares made perfect sense. Undertook the washer ' gasket modification and fixed it in place with a dab of Super Glue.
The skimmer runs beautifully and doesn't leak at all despite me not glueing or taping the pipe joints. What excellent manufacture.
I read that some are getting around 600 l/hr of air flow -- that's around about what my beckett skimmers fires best at. However, the best that I can extract from my 3000 is 300 - 360 l/hr maximum. Despite the low air draw, the bubble size is good and the density whilst not solid white is not too bad.
Has anybody worked out some new tweaks to make these things fly without radical re-engineering?
Tone
tonyf
New member
How's this for an idea to improve airflow?
Reduce the internal diameter of the union that connects to the 'venturi' fitting by say a millemeter or two to create a greater rate of expansion on the pump end. Would this create more of a vaccum due to the 'pull' of the recirculation pump and thus suck more air through the venturi?
The internal diameter can be reduced by fitting an acrylic baffle or 'washer' into the gap between the male and female pieces of the union.
Any DIY types care to try this out?
Tone
Reduce the internal diameter of the union that connects to the 'venturi' fitting by say a millemeter or two to create a greater rate of expansion on the pump end. Would this create more of a vaccum due to the 'pull' of the recirculation pump and thus suck more air through the venturi?
The internal diameter can be reduced by fitting an acrylic baffle or 'washer' into the gap between the male and female pieces of the union.
Any DIY types care to try this out?
Tone
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