New Toy

[Gary Majchrzak]

Scott: leave the drain line in place. Remove the top of the skimmer collection cup and set the skimmer to extreme wet skim while using a brush to scrub neck and cup.

Nothing could be easier. Having a drain line should actually encourage one to clean the skimmer!

 

[Piazzon12]

If you use the drain line just be sure that you have a shutoff, or a collection container that somehow overflows into the sump... One day the skimmer WILL go nuts and drain your sump and flood your floor if the proper protections arent in place

 

[serenitynow2010]

I am thinking about getting this protein skimmer. Are you still happy with it?
Thanks

 

[superkat]

love my octopus!

 

[magdelan]

"New Toy"

And I thought that this was going to be another picture of someone's pimped out 1987 Honda Civic.

The skimmer looks great!!

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

I don't think I'd ever run a drain line on a skimmer cup without a well-proven auto shutoff. Anyone remember Steve Weast's 850g tank? It crashed because his skimmer, equipped with a drain line that simply emptied into the sewer, freaked and drained his tank down. The ATO kept up and his salinity dropped. Considering that things like switching foods or rearranging rock can make a skimmer run away like that, I wouldn't be able to sleep at night with a waste drain on a skimmer unless I knew for sure that it would shut things down if the skimmer ran away.

Back on topic - nice skimmer. I must say that the Reef Octopus has a vast range of skimmer options. Seems like you can get any needlewheel-based configuration on the planet from them. Pick a tank size and they have at least 3 or 4 different model that apply. How did you choose this over their other products?

 

[mr9iron]

What is this skimmer auto shut of people speak of? How does it work?

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

The typical implementation is just a mechanical float at the top of a waste collector. The waste collector has only a single vent with a float just below it, such that if the waste level gets too high, the float blocks the vent, sealing the container - when it's sealed, waste from the skimmer cannot flow in, and the foam production in the skimmer more or less shuts down.

Other implementations I've seen use an electronic float switch either in the waste collector and/or the skimmer cup, such that the skimmer pump actually shuts off if waste level gets too high.

On an internal skimmer with no waste collector, it's not really something you need to worry about - it's only a concern with external skimmers and/or waste drains/collectors.

 

[toddmh]

I don't think I'd ever run a drain line on a skimmer cup without a well-proven auto shutoff. Anyone remember Steve Weast's 850g tank? It crashed because his skimmer, equipped with a drain line that simply emptied into the sewer, freaked and drained his tank down. The ATO kept up and his salinity dropped. Considering that things like switching foods or rearranging rock can make a skimmer run away like that, I wouldn't be able to sleep at night with a waste drain on a skimmer unless I knew for sure that it would shut things down if the skimmer ran away.

Back on topic - nice skimmer. I must say that the Reef Octopus has a vast range of skimmer options. Seems like you can get any needlewheel-based configuration on the planet from them. Pick a tank size and they have at least 3 or 4 different model that apply. How did you choose this over their other products?

that sucks about the guy you mentioned..For me I'd rather auto top off my self manually and have a drain line on the skimmer,then have a ato from a ro/di unit..That way the worst that can happen is the tank dropping below the overflow(no problem there) and maybe running the return section on the sump dry and burning up a pump..

I'll take that any day over flooding my tank with fresh water,I've read to many horror stories on that count..Plus my skimmer drains into a 5g bucket..My fish room could flood the house with a ato..No thanks lol

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

I agree, the ATO "replacing" water that floods out a skimmer isn't the skimmer's fault - the ATO should have some sort of protection from over-run. But, IMHO, skimmers that are external or have a drain line should have shutoff regardless of the topoff solution employed. Sure, it sucks to have an ATO over-run because your skimmer is dumping tankwater into the sewer, but it also sucks to have the skimmer dump tankwater into the sewer without the ATO contributing to the problem. Considering how easy/cheap it is to add a shutoff, and what it can save you from (water on the floor, burnt out return pump, etc) it strikes me as worthwhile.

Then again, as I've probably proven many times over by now, I'm on the more paranoid end of the spectrum when it comes to failsafes on reef tanks.

 

[mr86mister]

How has that been working for you Dave? I could never let my cup overflow. I would clean it once every 2 days...lol.

 

[wetbehindears]

I love reef octos when u get them dialed in they can pullsome nasty stuff. They are also going for a reasonable prices now

 

[Neoz]

This skimmer is still pulling some nasty stuff. When I run the skimmer wet I dump the collection cup about every 3 days. And I cut the feeding way way back. When I run the skimmer a little drier I can literally "scoop" the poop out. Very thick and nasty.

Funny story every time I have to dump the collection cup my wife runs for the door. The smell this Nog gives off will test anyones gag reflex. Mine included. Is everyone else's waste smell that bad? Even with the cover on its sooo bad...

Now my concern is going to be installing this on my 90 gallon setup. Not sure how it will perform as its rated for up too 300 gallon. I'm hoping it will work OK for the short term. Time will tell...

 

[wetbehindears]

My modded 5ft skimmer litterally smells up my whole basement. It smells like an out house when my fans kick on. And when i dump the waste every couple days it is the most foul thing.

 

[mr9iron]

The typical implementation is just a mechanical float at the top of a waste collector. The waste collector has only a single vent with a float just below it, such that if the waste level gets too high, the float blocks the vent, sealing the container - when it's sealed, waste from the skimmer cannot flow in, and the foam production in the skimmer more or less shuts down.

Other implementations I've seen use an electronic float switch either in the waste collector and/or the skimmer cup, such that the skimmer pump actually shuts off if waste level gets too high.

On an internal skimmer with no waste collector, it's not really something you need to worry about - it's only a concern with external skimmers and/or waste drains/collectors.

Thanks DWIZM! Do you have any pictures or illustrations for the mechanically challenged? Pictures are worth a thousand words to me.

 

[Neoz]

Just wanted to bring this thread back up and throw this out there in case any one will be looking for a skimmer soon.

This skimmer is only 5 months old and I will be selling it within the next few weeks. Just waiting for the livestock to clear out of the tank. Thanks...