Octo Extreme Skimmer KO Club

[HerdofCrickets]

I understand, but two sicces on that skimmer should be enough, but I would recommend getting a better pump. Mesh will help a lot, but you will have start up probs, which I didn't mind, but I have a bb3000 on my 200 and it is night and day/set it and forget it.

If I keep having problems I'll just jump up to the BB and call it good.

I also just realized that I had the skimmer sitting on the inside of my sump (100gal rubbermaid) and not 8-10 inches up. I'll make a shelf tonight for that too...

 

[Ghostbuster]

I'm not too satisfied with my Reef Oct 160. The Bubble Blaster Pump HY-2000S seems to have the same flow rate as the stock Sicce pump... Sounds like if you replace the Sicce with the BB then you have a better Reef Octo skimmer; is that true?

GB

 

[InfernoST]

I'm not too satisfied with my Reef Oct 160. The Bubble Blaster Pump HY-2000S seems to have the same flow rate as the stock Sicce pump... Sounds like if you replace the Sicce with the BB then you have a better Reef Octo skimmer; is that true?

GB

I did it to my 160 and the difference was night and day. I just got fed up with sicce's problems, noise and lack of performance.

 

[JAustin]

I'm not too satisfied with my Reef Oct 160. The Bubble Blaster Pump HY-2000S seems to have the same flow rate as the stock Sicce pump... Sounds like if you replace the Sicce with the BB then you have a better Reef Octo skimmer; is that true?

GB

Did the same thing that InfernoST did, bought a BB2000 for my Extreme 160....and not looking back. The BB2000 is pulling out more skimmate than the sicce did with a 4 layer mesh and with 0 start up issues.

 

[Ghostbuster]

I did it to my 160 and the difference was night and day. I just got fed up with sicce's problems, noise and lack of performance.

Great feedback; I'll plan on making the change. I'll use the sicce on the coral life skimmer; see what happens. Thanks!

 

[kmu]

Most likely the PPW is not spinning on the impeller. Mine did this and I had to drill the center of the ppw larger so it would spin. Should be an easy fix. If this doesn't work, switch back the first impeller you were using to make sure the motor still works.

Well I put the oem pin wheel back on, couldnt make the purple pin wheel work... where did you drill the purple pin wheel and how?

THX in advance

 

[1badbrd]

so waht size BB is needed to replace the sicce pumps on a MSX250?

Plus do i replace one pump or do i need two?

 

[DRC69]

Well I'm happy with my 160 Extreme. ALL stock. That's about 3 days worth in the cup.
Been great since I bought it new. :thumbsup:

 

[tangtang clown]

Great feedback; I'll plan on making the change. I'll use the sicce on the coral life skimmer; see what happens. Thanks!

Post pics of both when you do:beer:

 

[tangtang clown]

so waht size BB is needed to replace the sicce pumps on a MSX250?

Plus do i replace one pump or do i need two?

I would try the bb5000, should be plenty.

DRC, what size tank is that 160 on? That is crazy. I only get skimmate like that if I poor some "ready-made skimmate" into my sump.

 

[1badbrd]

do know if someone on this thread has replaced two sicce pumps for one BB pump?

 

[DRC69]

I would try the bb5000, should be plenty.

DRC, what size tank is that 160 on? That is crazy. I only get skimmate like that if I poor some "ready-made skimmate" into my sump.

120 tank. Lots of fish in the tank that's the only way she will let me have it.:lol2:

 

[maynardjames]

Most likely the PPW is not spinning on the impeller. Mine did this and I had to drill the center of the ppw larger so it would spin. Should be an easy fix. If this doesn't work, switch back the first impeller you were using to make sure the motor still works.

me too how much larger did you make hole om the ppw

 

[Ghostbuster]

Post pics of both when you do:beer:

Will do; I'll have to wait for my tax refund before I make the switch.

GB

 

[Ghostbuster]

Well I'm happy with my 160 Extreme. ALL stock. That's about 3 days worth in the cup.
Been great since I bought it new. :thumbsup:

Those are very interesting pics! You have your skimmer sitting in very little water; seems like just a few inches. I thought the skimmer works best in 7-10 inches of water... Maybe this is the issue.

GB

 

[InfernoST]

Those are very interesting pics! You have your skimmer sitting in very little water; seems like just a few inches. I thought the skimmer works best in 7-10 inches of water... Maybe this is the issue.

GB

When my 160 was stock it worked best in 6 to 6.5 inches of water, maybe you want to give that a shot 1st, it will also make adjusting the the water level inside the skimmer much easier.

 

[tangtang clown]

do know if someone on this thread has replaced two sicce pumps for one BB pump?

I have seen many who switched there sicces out for an Askoll 1500, so the bb5000 should be similar.

 

[DRC69]

Those are very interesting pics! You have your skimmer sitting in very little water; seems like just a few inches. I thought the skimmer works best in 7-10 inches of water... Maybe this is the issue.

GB

The skimmer is in about 6" to 6.5" of water, seems to work good.
I tried more, but when back down to 6.5" or so.

 

[Ghostbuster]

When my 160 was stock it worked best in 6 to 6.5 inches of water, maybe you want to give that a shot 1st, it will also make adjusting the the water level inside the skimmer much easier.

I solved the issue; doesn't have to do with the water level or "B" pipe at all...

Thanks for your help!!! Saved me $200.

GB

 

[Ghostbuster]

For eveyone with a Reef Octopus Extreme 160 that may think you're not getting enough bubbles/flow, here's the solution:

The pipe extension with the "open" and "closed" labels has to be fully seated into the T-
pipe connecting the B-pipe, etc. You'll have to push down with a little pressure to ensure the seal goes into the T-pipe by about a quarter inch.

This is probably on this massive thread somewhere but I've been struggling with the flow rate issue since I bought the skimmer months ago. My initial solution was having the skimmer in about 12 inches of water in order to get the bubbles to just overflow where the collection cup starts; I thought the Sicci pump was underpowering the skimmer; this is not the case at all.

Thanks for all the helpful advice from others on this thread.... Now the skimmer is kicking it into gear!!! Works great! Let me know if this helps anyone with the same issue. Also don't mind if you send me 10% of the $ you planned on spending to fix your SOE 160; LOL.

GB