add a T and a ball valve to the drain so you can decide how much acctually goes into the skimmer.
New Reef Octupus Skimmer Thread (Pacific Coast Imports)
- Thread starter Psionicdragon
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covey, check the Deltec forum for recommendations on plumbing the overflow. That's a pretty regular question over there. Deltec recommends plumbing to the overflow. Interestingly, H&S (Finsreef) recommends that you NOT do this. They (he) feels that the surging you get from an overflow is counterproductive, although with a really good design it is possible to minimize surging.
you COULD put it on the output of the skimmer, but you'd have to clean it everyday.
I don't believe it's too safe to make your entire overflow go into the skimmer without another option for water to get into the sump.
too many things could potentially go wrong, especially if this skimmer is not going to be in, or on top of your sump.
I don't believe it's too safe to make your entire overflow go into the skimmer without another option for water to get into the sump.
too many things could potentially go wrong, especially if this skimmer is not going to be in, or on top of your sump.
ghever, I got my airmeter today, so I'll be checking the flow this weekend (found the fitting at the local Grainger).
First of all, I wouldn't recommend more than about 300 gph going through the RPS-3000 based on the turbulence in the body. To plumb to an overflow, you attach a Tee to the drain so that there is a straight run down and a side run off at 90 degrees. Route the side run (90 degree out) to the sump. You can put a filter sock on this stream. The other leg (going straight down) goes to the skimmer. Put a valve at or near the skimmer to control the flow. This will also cause water to back up in the line and minimize the surging. The excess water that doesn't go to the skimmer (because of the valve being throttled) will go out the side of the tee and to the sump.
Please keep in mind that I don't actually use this method. It seems like a pain to me, but I MAY give it a try when I rearrange my setup. This is just the most reasonable method I have seen recommended by others. I have also seen people recommend sending the straigh path to the sump and the side leg to the skimmer. You can try both using flexible tubing and choose the one that gives you the least surging and large air bubbles entering the skimmer (turn the recirc pump off so you can see better).
First of all, I wouldn't recommend more than about 300 gph going through the RPS-3000 based on the turbulence in the body. To plumb to an overflow, you attach a Tee to the drain so that there is a straight run down and a side run off at 90 degrees. Route the side run (90 degree out) to the sump. You can put a filter sock on this stream. The other leg (going straight down) goes to the skimmer. Put a valve at or near the skimmer to control the flow. This will also cause water to back up in the line and minimize the surging. The excess water that doesn't go to the skimmer (because of the valve being throttled) will go out the side of the tee and to the sump.
Please keep in mind that I don't actually use this method. It seems like a pain to me, but I MAY give it a try when I rearrange my setup. This is just the most reasonable method I have seen recommended by others. I have also seen people recommend sending the straigh path to the sump and the side leg to the skimmer. You can try both using flexible tubing and choose the one that gives you the least surging and large air bubbles entering the skimmer (turn the recirc pump off so you can see better).
I bought the NW-200 and converted it to a recir in 3 hr.'s
Th ventiri that come's with the 200-6540 is about 5/8in. diag.I cut off the nipple for air hose and closed the exsiting hole with dib of glue moved back the nipple about 1/2in. and opend up the hole. There are so much micro bubbles in the skimmer it looks like it's full of soap.The key is to restrict the input to the pump and open up the air nipple.I don't have a air gage but bubble increase is clear.Willie
Th ventiri that come's with the 200-6540 is about 5/8in. diag.I cut off the nipple for air hose and closed the exsiting hole with dib of glue moved back the nipple about 1/2in. and opend up the hole. There are so much micro bubbles in the skimmer it looks like it's full of soap.The key is to restrict the input to the pump and open up the air nipple.I don't have a air gage but bubble increase is clear.Willie
I just measured the air pull on the RPS-3000 skimmer I have at home. 6 lpm. IMO that isn't good enough for an 8" diameter skimmer. I think I'm going to try ordering a Sedra venturi and see if I can attach that to the pump. This thing has got to be capable of pulling more air than that. If not...well, it's only $15.
hey blockamon...
same thing as I get.. around 6 -7 lpm... or 12-15 SCFH.... it might be capable of pulling more, but most the guys on Deltec and H&S forums have theirs dialed to right around this flow...so I dont know if it needs more air...have you tried modifying the venturi gasket? I might try what someone else on here did.. superglue it and cut out a notch in the gasket to leave more open air... damn.. that means I have to take out all the water first... what a pain in the arse..
same thing as I get.. around 6 -7 lpm... or 12-15 SCFH.... it might be capable of pulling more, but most the guys on Deltec and H&S forums have theirs dialed to right around this flow...so I dont know if it needs more air...have you tried modifying the venturi gasket? I might try what someone else on here did.. superglue it and cut out a notch in the gasket to leave more open air... damn.. that means I have to take out all the water first... what a pain in the arse..
ghever, yes I've modified my gasket. My air hole is basically completely clear.
The Deltec and H&S Eheims are capable of pulling 15 lpm (900 lph). The Deltec people usually cut the air back, but the H&S people run at the full 15 lpm. I'll be happy if I can get 10.
I'll keep you posted on the results.
The Deltec and H&S Eheims are capable of pulling 15 lpm (900 lph). The Deltec people usually cut the air back, but the H&S people run at the full 15 lpm. I'll be happy if I can get 10.
I'll keep you posted on the results.
mr. pluto
New member
i don't really know. it works well enough though. what happens if you do increase the air flow? in real world terms,
more bubbles, but same diameter? you are not going to increase velocity of air by trimming gaskets or enlarging the hole openings.
you are going to have to modify your venturi. a sedra venturi is not gonna do it either. check the dyi forum for a venturi fix
it just takes some one to do the r&d 'ing for the rest of us. lol one needs to have a 1/4"dia. tube, cut a 45 degree angle in the
body, fiddle w/ it w/ the air meter (in more ~out more, what ever
it takes to increase velocity.) glue it and your all set. i think they
are set all up for max. flow. so if a tube is stuck down in the neck
area it will decrease flow but increase velocity, thats my understanding of it, but i could be wrong.
more bubbles, but same diameter? you are not going to increase velocity of air by trimming gaskets or enlarging the hole openings.
you are going to have to modify your venturi. a sedra venturi is not gonna do it either. check the dyi forum for a venturi fix
it just takes some one to do the r&d 'ing for the rest of us. lol one needs to have a 1/4"dia. tube, cut a 45 degree angle in the
body, fiddle w/ it w/ the air meter (in more ~out more, what ever
it takes to increase velocity.) glue it and your all set. i think they
are set all up for max. flow. so if a tube is stuck down in the neck
area it will decrease flow but increase velocity, thats my understanding of it, but i could be wrong.
dwdenny
New member
Those using the RPS-1000 the foor print says 6X11 will it fit or do I need to make the skimmer section of the sump a little bigger. My sump is 14" wide so that wont be a problem but the length I need to know so I can start building my sump. I was thinking that if I did 6 1/2" it would fit. Thanks for the input.
Doug
Doug
I just ordered a Sedra volute and venturi from Custom Aquatics. I read on another thread that the Sedra volute fits the OR3700 "almost perfectly." Guess I'll find out what that means; the Octopus 3000 appears to be a dead copy of the OR3500 I have (same as OR3700 but regular impellor). Hopefully I can plumb the venturi into the skimmer using the spare union that was provided for the water feed.
Wish me luck!
Wish me luck!
mr. pluto
New member
the octopus 3000 is smaller than the 3500. i was playing w/ both today. the rotors are different sizes. good news is the volute is a perfect fit. i ran the or3700 with the octopus venturi & got a solid 10 lpm. the outputs are larger than the octopus.so that may be why.
all we have to do here is cut the output down past the threads
glue on a 3/4" dia elbow & hook it to the spare union they gave us.
i glued a 3/4"slip adaptor to the union & it will work as you can
see . 500 more liters of flow. now that is noticable.
since i had the thing out i cut my gasket to match the hole.
all we have to do here is cut the output down past the threads
glue on a 3/4" dia elbow & hook it to the spare union they gave us.
i glued a 3/4"slip adaptor to the union & it will work as you can
see . 500 more liters of flow. now that is noticable.
since i had the thing out i cut my gasket to match the hole.
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