New Reef Octupus Skimmer Thread (Pacific Coast Imports)

[Mr Bojangles]

IMO it seems that all of the new NW skimmers that seem to be coming out are not breaking in as fast as the older ones that you see in some of the earlier posts. Mine is about 10 days into the tank and I still have nothing, I have small micro bubbles and the water is set about 3 inches down from the top. I did the mesh wheel and ran the skimmer in a vinegar water bath for 24 hours. So it seems that whatever they did differently its not working the same way.

 

[curtisk]

Have you tried to restrict the air line going to the venturi? I have an old control valve from my sea clone that I wrapped with teflon to fit into the tube and adjust it to get smaller air bubbles.

 

[Mr Bojangles]

yup, I have been told to just let it do its thing

 

[hounddog01]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9200390#post9200390 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Mr Bojangles
IMO it seems that all of the new NW skimmers that seem to be coming out are not breaking in as fast as the older ones that you see in some of the earlier posts. Mine is about 10 days into the tank and I still have nothing, I have small micro bubbles and the water is set about 3 inches down from the top. I did the mesh wheel and ran the skimmer in a vinegar water bath for 24 hours. So it seems that whatever they did differently its not working the same way.

When you say 3 inched down, is that from the top of the skimmer cup? I run mine about 2 inches down right now. It still skims pretty dry. I would like a the skimate to be wet-er. It seems that when the neck of the cup gets gunked up then it slows down. I just dumped my cup after 3-4 days and got about 2 cups of smelly gunk. Before I cleaned the cup it had dark foam coming out so i move the water level up so the top of the bubbles were 2 inchs from the top of the skimmer cup. I believe that still make the water level in the neck of the skimmer but I can judge the bubbles a little better.

 

[jacmyoung]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9179259#post9179259 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by thugmebaby
My DDNW-250 has that very same sticker. I was wondering about that also however the pumps say Octopus 3000 so i guess I am okay.

Can't really tell but heres a pic of mine:

thugmebaby, where did you buy your skimmer? How is it doing now?

I am considering one of these dual pump externals, but am concerned of the noise since mine has to sit outside the stand and in the living room.

What is your feeling if this thing can be tolerable in a living room? Also what is the diameter of the water intake hose on the skimmer body?

Thanks

 

[Mr Bojangles]

OK, I am feed up know, its been 2 weeks and I have nothing. I ran it in vinegar for a day and the only mods I have is the gate valve and I wound up putting one layer of mesh on the two needle wheels. I have tried the air valve and nothing happened. Whats wrong? My water level is right above the union.

 

[Kurt03]

maybe the layer of mesh ontop of the existing needle wheels is to much? I sniped the top layers pins off and ziped 3 layers of mesh to it. Still breaking in but its starting to pull some nice dry foam.

Have you ran just the needle wheel before? how did that skim?
Mine was still pulling some dry foam with the stock impeller.

I would run a drill bit in your venturi to make sure its clean. I had a piece of something blocking a good portion of mine before i did this.

 

[Mr Bojangles]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9217192#post9217192 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Kurt03
maybe the layer of mesh ontop of the existing needle wheels is to much? I sniped the top layers pins off and ziped 3 layers of mesh to it. Still breaking in but its starting to pull some nice dry foam.

Have you ran just the needle wheel before? how did that skim?
Mine was still pulling some dry foam with the stock impeller.

I would run a drill bit in your venturi to make sure its clean. I had a piece of something blocking a good portion of mine before i did this.

I did, I ran the needle wheel alone for a week and a half and saw nothing, so that's why I tried it. I will try to drill out the venturi tomorrow

 

[Kurt03]

is the tank stocked or is it new with nothing in it?

does the water level in the skimmer go up and down or is it pretty steady?

 

[hounddog01]

The water level and the bubble level is different. If you see bubbles just in the bottom of the cup neck them crank the gate valve down until they are about 2 inches from the top of the cup neck. This will produce foam. You water level will then be at the bottom of the neck of the skimmer. I know it may not make sence but you need to remember that the water level and the bubble level are different. I have my bubble level about 2 inches from the top of the skimmer cup neck.

 

[Mr Bojangles]

The tank is about 3 years old and has a few fish in there so there is a load on the tank. I had a CC skimmer on there and it was working fine.

Kurt03, just to let you know I Just ran a drill bit a size larger than the venturi and drilled inside and took some stuff out and removed the mesh and it looks like it may start to work, I will let you know tomorrow

 

[Kurt03]

ok great ! good luck!

 

[thugmebaby]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9211103#post9211103 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jacmyoung
thugmebaby, where did you buy your skimmer? How is it doing now?

I am considering one of these dual pump externals, but am concerned of the noise since mine has to sit outside the stand and in the living room.

What is your feeling if this thing can be tolerable in a living room? Also what is the diameter of the water intake hose on the skimmer body?

Thanks

1) IMO this thing is loud
2) Got it from Aqua Cave
3) Inlet on it is 5/8"

And on a side note.... still not skimming worth ****

 

[Randy1]

Basicly nothing but bad reviews for this skimmer. I'm going with the new Ero-Reef.

 

[Randy1]

Basicly nothing but bad reviews for this skimmer. I'm going with the new Ero-Reef.

 

[reefkeeper1]

I'd get the Eros-Reef - it's sexier.

 

[BigJPDC]

lol reefkeper.

hounddog - I think that's where I keep my bubbles, about 1/3 of the way up the cup, and I empty it about every 3 days, when it's about 1/2 full and I start to worry about spilling it on the wife's carpet on the way to the sink.

jp

 

[Mr Bojangles]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9224642#post9224642 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Randy1
Basicly nothing but bad reviews for this skimmer. I'm going with the new Ero-Reef.

I would say very untrue, it just seems that a few of us are having trouble, mine is working now after finding packing material stuck in my venturi, so all is good

 

[psimitry]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9224639#post9224639 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Randy1
Basicly nothing but bad reviews for this skimmer. I'm going with the new Ero-Reef.

Outstanding, content laden post. You should post more.

 

[hounddog01]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9225078#post9225078 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Mr Bojangles
I would say very untrue, it just seems that a few of us are having trouble, mine is working now after finding packing material stuck in my venturi, so all is good

I am glad to hear it is working. When I unpacked mine the packing was all over the place. I had to pick it out of everything.