nebraskareef, I would suspect that something is up with your venturi. I don't cut back the air on my 3000 at all, and I always get very fine bubbles. It you check to make sure the venturi doesn't have a pin hole in the body (see a few pages back). Also, make sure that there are no air leaks on the suction side of the recirc pump.
New Reef Octupus Skimmer Thread (Pacific Coast Imports)
- Thread starter Psionicdragon
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Ghever, I do have the flow meter, but the airline tubing doesn't fit snug in it like the ER hose. I have no idea what type of fitting to get to go into the dwyer.
Are you guys turning your air intake down at all? With it wide open the riser tube almost looks like there is little salt in the water. The bubbles are huge!
I also believe my skimmer is defective. There is about 1/4" of space between the bottom of the riser tube and the grey fitting that it is glued to. If you guys have your cups off at all today, run your finger around it and see if the tube is glued flush, because mine sure as hell isn't.
God, I'm PO'ED!
Are you guys turning your air intake down at all? With it wide open the riser tube almost looks like there is little salt in the water. The bubbles are huge!
I also believe my skimmer is defective. There is about 1/4" of space between the bottom of the riser tube and the grey fitting that it is glued to. If you guys have your cups off at all today, run your finger around it and see if the tube is glued flush, because mine sure as hell isn't.
God, I'm PO'ED!
Block, there is no pinhole as far as I can tell. I don't have any teflon tape right now, but I do believe a small amount of air is being sucked in the suction side of the pump. Do you really think that could be causing this?
Is anyone else's bubbles as big as the ones in the photos I posted?
Thanks for your help guys, I really really appreciate it!
Daniel
Is anyone else's bubbles as big as the ones in the photos I posted?
Thanks for your help guys, I really really appreciate it!
Daniel
Well, Scratch that. I pinched off the venturi hose with vise grips and the thing is clear. No bubbles being suck in other than the venturi.
nebraskareef, it sounds like the needlewheel isn't working to chop up the bubbles correctly? Are all the teeth there? Is there a change something got into the pump and is causing a problem (maybe some of the styrofoam packing pieces maybe)?
The only other thing I could think of is a water additive (food, trace, etc.) that is messing with the water surface tension. However, mine hasn't been sensitive to frozen food, 2-part, TLF Seaelements, reefroids, phyto, oyster eggs, or anything else I feed.
All I can say is the bubble size shown is NOT normal. If you can't figure out the problem, I'd ask to get a replacement air induction fitting and see if that helps.
The only other thing I could think of is a water additive (food, trace, etc.) that is messing with the water surface tension. However, mine hasn't been sensitive to frozen food, 2-part, TLF Seaelements, reefroids, phyto, oyster eggs, or anything else I feed.
All I can say is the bubble size shown is NOT normal. If you can't figure out the problem, I'd ask to get a replacement air induction fitting and see if that helps.
damn I need to post pics of mine so you can see how big my bubbles are..
Nebraska... I got my fitting at ace hardware... if you dont have one, check out mcmaster, they have everything... I think its just a 1/4in mpt by 1/4in barb. If you cannot find it, let me know, i can buy it here and ship to you .
G
Nebraska... I got my fitting at ace hardware... if you dont have one, check out mcmaster, they have everything... I think its just a 1/4in mpt by 1/4in barb. If you cannot find it, let me know, i can buy it here and ship to you .
G
damn, one thing I forgot... I have a black hat pencil wrasse (severnsi) that needs sand....I was going to put a small contained that will hold inch or two of sand and put rock around it to hide it...
I guess I could put this container off the bottom by putting a leg or two of acrylic ....what do you guys think? Bad idea? Ditch the wrasse? I'd imagine he would be able to find his "bed" in the tank dont you?
G
I guess I could put this container off the bottom by putting a leg or two of acrylic ....what do you guys think? Bad idea? Ditch the wrasse? I'd imagine he would be able to find his "bed" in the tank dont you?
G
Covey
New member
Daniel how long have you had your skimmer set up. If I remember correctily you waited on the drop ship and you said it had a funny chemical smell. I think you got a skimmer fresh off the boat if you will. I think you just have more bring in time. If there are still acrylic slovents in the skimmer the bubbles are going to be WAY weird until they go away.
Just a idea.
Just a idea.
Covey
New member
I think the total lack of instruction has lead to this but I tend to agree with this guys.
I own a 3000 and I have just 200g total in the system. I started with a 175GPH powerhead because I had it. I knew that was to weak so I tryed a maxi jet at 295GPH ran it like that for two weeks. Just a week a ago I switched over to direct feed with about 400GPH running thru it. I am getting a about 2x the skim output versus the lower flow pump feed.
Think about it do they design the skimmer to match there suggested tank size and rating.
Or try to guess wildily at what size tank you will put it on.
guys, I just had a few moments to read this, and do appreciate the support. I've fiddled with the air some more and will take pics in a couple of hours.
Daniel.
Daniel.
This morning, after I read some of the posts, I took the entire skimmer down and sprayed it all out with the hose as well as I could. I disassembled the pump and there was nothing wrong with the wheel as far as I could tell. I had orignally made a small notch in the venturi gasket, but when I put it back on I placed it so the notch was not over the venturi, to try to tune it "stock". I was greated with huge bubbles. I was dying out here!
Well, I don't know what the hell to think now. I turned the air down some and got smaller bubbles. I kept screwing with it and adding more and more air, trying to "top it out" eventually I did, and left it while I went to bed (I work graveyard). When I got up, there was crap accumulating in the top of the neck and I felt pretty good about it. I raised the water lever a little higher to see if I could force it down into the cup, as it seemed the foam was never really "spilling" over. I'm thinking there was not enough air.
I went to dinner and came back and ran downstairs to check the skimmer again, and it's looking about the same. Still, I felt there was not enough bubble density in the chamber so I started to add more and more air, expecting it to "top out" and start throwing the huge bubbles in, and it never did. I removed the valve completely and added the silencer, and while the bubbles are still small, it seems to be pretty turbulent in the neck. I'm going to watch it for a few hours tonight and see what I come up with.
Maybe I'm jumping the gun here completely, I'm sure you guys know how it is with a new peice of equipment. I want it to work 100% flawlessy out of the box, but we all know that never happens.
Again, any input is appreciated.
Thanks for the support!
Daniel
Well, I don't know what the hell to think now. I turned the air down some and got smaller bubbles. I kept screwing with it and adding more and more air, trying to "top it out" eventually I did, and left it while I went to bed (I work graveyard). When I got up, there was crap accumulating in the top of the neck and I felt pretty good about it. I raised the water lever a little higher to see if I could force it down into the cup, as it seemed the foam was never really "spilling" over. I'm thinking there was not enough air.
I went to dinner and came back and ran downstairs to check the skimmer again, and it's looking about the same. Still, I felt there was not enough bubble density in the chamber so I started to add more and more air, expecting it to "top out" and start throwing the huge bubbles in, and it never did. I removed the valve completely and added the silencer, and while the bubbles are still small, it seems to be pretty turbulent in the neck. I'm going to watch it for a few hours tonight and see what I come up with.
Maybe I'm jumping the gun here completely, I'm sure you guys know how it is with a new peice of equipment. I want it to work 100% flawlessy out of the box, but we all know that never happens.
Again, any input is appreciated.
Thanks for the support!
Daniel
tonyf
New member
Daniel,
If you watch it then just out of spite it won't foam
To wash it out effectively, you will need to disconnect it and run a vinegar solution through it for an hour or so.It is encouraging to see that you have some foam starting ... just open the air and let it run ... you'll see it will come good and embarass you for doubting it!
Courage, my Friend ... patience and all will be revealed Grasshopper!
Tone
Well, after 12 hours it is definatly starting to do something! There is a pretty decent brown "mulm" building up in the top of the riser and a little bit of brown water in the cup. Not yet enough to overflow in my container, but it's a start.
I beleive that my bubble count is still too low though. When I wake up this evening I'm going to check it again, and take pics. Then I will tear open the pump and sit my notch out over the venturi. At least I know IT CAN attain proper bubble size and can skim with the uncut washer. If this notched washer adds as much air as I think it will, I'm going to order the replacement o-ring that TRMIV found many many moons ago.
You guys surely wouldn't mind taking some updated neck/cups/skimmate pics now would you? There is only a small royal gramma and about 20lbs of cured live rock in the tank at this time. I have another 50 or so cooking, which I'll pull out in one more month, so I don't really know what exactly to expect.
You've got Calfo screaming about full cups of coffee colored skimmate on tanks with nothing BUT liverock, so who knows whats' acctually possible. I do have a MJ-STREAM 1434 900 in the tank now that seems to be keeping the "sheddings" from the live rock in suspension reasonably well.
I'll get off the soapbox now.
Thanks for listening, AGAIN.
:rollface:
Daniel
I beleive that my bubble count is still too low though. When I wake up this evening I'm going to check it again, and take pics. Then I will tear open the pump and sit my notch out over the venturi. At least I know IT CAN attain proper bubble size and can skim with the uncut washer. If this notched washer adds as much air as I think it will, I'm going to order the replacement o-ring that TRMIV found many many moons ago.
You guys surely wouldn't mind taking some updated neck/cups/skimmate pics now would you? There is only a small royal gramma and about 20lbs of cured live rock in the tank at this time. I have another 50 or so cooking, which I'll pull out in one more month, so I don't really know what exactly to expect.
You've got Calfo screaming about full cups of coffee colored skimmate on tanks with nothing BUT liverock, so who knows whats' acctually possible. I do have a MJ-STREAM 1434 900 in the tank now that seems to be keeping the "sheddings" from the live rock in suspension reasonably well.
I'll get off the soapbox now.
Thanks for listening, AGAIN.
:rollface:
Daniel
scubaduderon
Member
I have been disappointed.
I have been disappointed.
I'm trying a 2000 on a tank with about 55 gal total volume. I have the trmiv washers. My tank is crammed full of live rock and 5 small fish, probably 50 small hermits, a sally, 50 cleaner snails, and I feed fairly heavily. I have a mixed rubble bottom.
My bubble size is small. I have fairly clean water. My corals are excelling. I replaced an aquac urchin with the 2000.
The 2000 just seems too big. Foam forms but doesn't clear the top of the skimmer very well. I'm beginning to think the tank just doesn't produce enough waste to be effective with the 2000.
Yes, it produces waste, but not much more than the Urhin does.
I guess it is possible to have a skimmer that is too large. I'm still working on it though, trying various methods to make it better. I'll keep everyone posted if I come up with anything worthwile.
Ron
I have been disappointed.
I'm trying a 2000 on a tank with about 55 gal total volume. I have the trmiv washers. My tank is crammed full of live rock and 5 small fish, probably 50 small hermits, a sally, 50 cleaner snails, and I feed fairly heavily. I have a mixed rubble bottom.
My bubble size is small. I have fairly clean water. My corals are excelling. I replaced an aquac urchin with the 2000.
The 2000 just seems too big. Foam forms but doesn't clear the top of the skimmer very well. I'm beginning to think the tank just doesn't produce enough waste to be effective with the 2000.
Yes, it produces waste, but not much more than the Urhin does.
I guess it is possible to have a skimmer that is too large. I'm still working on it though, trying various methods to make it better. I'll keep everyone posted if I come up with anything worthwile.
Ron
I am seeing the same perfomance
I am seeing the same perfomance
On my 2000 that has been setup for two weeks, my performance is only sub par for now. Like I have said before is that the skimmer is built awesome, but the pump is very suspect. I really wish there was a way to connect an aquabee to this skimmer!!!
I am seeing the same perfomance
On my 2000 that has been setup for two weeks, my performance is only sub par for now. Like I have said before is that the skimmer is built awesome, but the pump is very suspect. I really wish there was a way to connect an aquabee to this skimmer!!!
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