New Reef Octupus Skimmer Thread (Pacific Coast Imports)

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I know you can sort of make it work, but it's still a compromise. A gate valve offers much finer control, which is why most commercial skimmers use gate valves for exit control. The gate valve on my ASM takes many, many turns to full close, so even a half a turn on the valve is a very fine level adjustment in the skimmer.

I'm going to figure out a way to get a 1.25" gate valve on this thing. Maybe if I get the adapter I could get it on there.
 
The OD of outlet pipe of my 3000 is almost exactly 1.9" (which matches standard 1.5" pipe). The strange thing is that according to information I looked up online, this should be the OD for 40mm pipe, but my fittings say 50mm.

Measure the outlet pipe you have and compare to the OD of standard US pipe sizes.
 
I'm considering purchasing one of these for my oceanic 58gal with 15gal sump that has a fairly heavy fish load and will be a future sps tank. It has to be one of the in sump models due to space constraints under my stand. I'm tossed between these 2 http://www.reeftanksupply.com/product_info.php?cPath=38_114&products_id=390
http://www.reeftanksupply.com/product_info.php?cPath=38_103&products_id=192
Looks like the only difference is the pump. Is it really worth the extra $44 for the larger pump?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7045959#post7045959 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by joreef

Looks like the only difference is the pump. Is it really worth the extra $44 for the larger pump?
Click to expand...

If you only plan on keeping the tank for a year it works out to almost 12 cents a day and I'm sure you plan on keeping it longer than that. I'd go with the bigger pump.
 
Ya thats a good point....But also was thinking I could put that money towards replacing it with a highier quality like an aquabee.
 
For you guys with this skimmer, how long has it taken it to produce anything after you installed it? I cleaned mine with a vinegar and warm water soaking for about 5 hours, and then it dry for a day before I installed it. It's been on the tank (mature tank setup for a year and 4 months) for three days and it hasn't produced the slightest amount of skimmate. It produces a little foam, but nothing ever goes anywhere. Just needs time to break in more, or have people seen it get going this quickly?

Also, does anyone think there is a lot of turbulence in the neck of this skimmer?
 
Argh! I adjusted my skimmer too high I guess. I went to watch TV, and the damn thing overflowed. Luckily I came in before it filled the waste collector enough to flood the floor.

Someone mentioned they had adapted the aqua-c auto waste collector for their skimmer. I was thinking of getting one from My Reef Creations that does the same thing. What I don't get is how it works? Do I need to seal the collection cup somehow to get it to work?

It's either that or I was thinking of getting a float switch for my collection bucket. I was thinking of running the switch so it is on when down, off when up, then hooking it to my skimmer feed pump. Then if the skimmer overflows and begins to fill the cup, it will trip the switch and shut down the feed pump.

Which one of those is the better idea?
 
I would imagine the skimmate would foul the float switch rather quickly and make cleaning it a PITA.

The waste collector should work without modifying the skimmer, There is likely enough backpressure from the collector without fully securing the lid. basically when the collector fills up it creates enough pressue to reduce the amount of air the skimmer can pull in, provided the air doesnt vent elsewhere.

Try running your water level just below the union the collection cup attaches to,

you could also use a small amount of chemi-clean or Novaqua (or any slime coat product from Kordon) to jump start production.

In over a months use, I have yet to overflow this skimmer. I set the water level once and now I use an airtap to control the type of skimmate, or to throttle it back when necessary.'

Break in time is usually less than 2 days with these skimmers, and IME they go back to work within 30 seconds after a good cleaning.
 
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I just ordered a waste collector from My Reef Creations. You'll need to put some tape over the two vent holes in the collection cup. Then, the only vent for air will be through the drain hose to the collector.
 
I tried testing it last night. I put tape over the vent holes, and then kinked the drain hose. Unfortunately that doesn't stop or even slow bubble production. But, if I seal the rim of the lid with black tap, buddle production almost stops. If I could get or make an o-ring that would fit the lid, the waste collector would work fine.

I think I'll get a waste collector. Even if they are hard to overflow, the piece of mind is worth it. I live in an apartment on the third floor, I can't afford my downstairs neighbors suddenly being awaken by saltwater on their heads.
 
trmiv, thanks for the heads up. I'll take some measurements of my lid tonight and look into o-ring sizes. I'm sure I can find something at McMaster (love that store!).
 
Let me know what you find. I tried a few o-rings I had laying around but nothing was the right size.
 
I've read through the entire older thread and this continuation thread. Does anyone have any decent photos of these unit working and what the skimmate looks like that it's skimming? Curious, IMO as this skimmer looks like an H&S copy to me.
 
I was just thinking, one of the big advantages to using one of these auto waste containers with this skimmer is, since they have the carbon in the lid, it would be great for using ozone with this skimmer. Once you seal the lid, you force the air exhaust into the collector, and the carbon will get rid of the ozone that could escape into the air.
 
I found the McMaster page that has all the o-rings. I'm at work right now so I can't measure, does anyone have access to an RPS-2000 and can measure the inside diameter of collection cup lid? There is like a lip on the cup, what I need to know is the inside diameter of that lip. Also, the width of that lip. McMaster has a ton of o-rings, so something is bound to work.
 
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