Octopus dnw 110 skimmer problems, Help!

[gatsby174]

I just picked up the new recirc version of the dnw 110 skimmer made by reef octopus. The directions are absolutely terrible! The directions do say that it is an external only skimmer, but my lfs is telling me to just stick it in the sump? I searched on the web and found some folks putting a tee in the drain line, one end gets plumbed into the skimmer, and the other goes into the sump. In this setup, the skimmer is gravity fed, and whatever it can't handle goes into the sump. I have no idea how this is supposed to work and am now confused. What would you do? Thanks,
JC

 

[HornetMech242]

I dont know why your LFS is telling you to put an eternal skimmer into the sump, that is just crazy. i did what you mentioned and plumbed my external skimmer to the over flow. I split the drain line to the skimmer and to the sump, puta ball valve on each to control flow. Its also helpful if you remove the skimmer for cleaning then you just close the valve to the skimmer and open it to the sump and you dont shut down the system to clean the skimmer. I will try to take a pic of it later and post it when i get some more time.

 

[gatsby174]

A pic would be great! I've read elsewhere that the Octopus directions may be outdated and it can indeed go insump? I'm thinking that it would still be better to use the skimmer externally, since I could then use most of the sump for a fuge (I can only fit a 10g sump under the tank). Any others running this skimmer that may have some insight? Thanks,
JC

 

[skimmy]

any external skimmer can go in the sump as well, this one included.

I would suggest feeding the skimmer with a pump that delivers 1.5 the total display volume to the skimmer per hour.

 

[reef15melo]

I just put one of these in the other day and the instructions are terrible! I am using mine externally next to the sump. One problem you may come across is the water outlet (pieces a and b) dumps the water out of it so it needs to be above your sump so the exiting water can be plumbed back in.. I had to build a platform. The water inlet nozzle piece is stupid because when assembled you can simply pull it out if tugging on the tubing it will have once plumbed to your feed pump .. I used pvc cement to make sure it no longer can be pulled out. Once set up the grey pvc piece with the small nut and nozzle is turned ("open" and "close" stickers on it) to adjust the water level in the skimmer.

 

[Minibus]

It can go either external or in the sump. I ran mine in the sump since the collection cup is rather small, if it starts to overflow is just drains back into the sump instead of onto your floors.

HornetMech242's suggestion for setting up the dual ball valves is a good one and will help with controling how wet you want to skim. Also makes cleaning it much simplier since you can just turn one side off and not disrupt the entire system.

 

[gatsby174]

Are there any major benefits to mounting it externally rather than internally? Or is it six of one, half dozen of the other?

 

[HornetMech242]

Another reason i went external was if the cup overflowed then it would go in my stand and not dump that concentrated waste back into the system. Working on that pic still.