Octopus Skimmer Mods

[grandp10]

Richconley or anyone who knows. What would be the recommended pump for the Octopus NW-150? I saw that an Eheim pump was recommended for the NW-200. Would an Eheim pump be that much better than the stock? If someone knows please let me know what model of Eheim pump it is, and can you use the same needle wheel impeller off the stock pump or what is recommended? Thank you very much.

 

[BigJPDC]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8878375#post8878375 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dandy7200
I have heard it also sucks moist air and keeps the venturi clean.

I wonder if I can plumb things such that my ATO adds RO\DI water into the inlet, thereby constantly cleaning it.

jp

 

[CarlC]

JP I would be worried about it overflowing if you added water to the air inlet. I know when I plug my hose the water rise's very fast.

Carl

 

[BigJPDC]

as soon I I sent that I realized it might sound goofy. When I poured water into the inlet to 'un-gunk' it the other day, I didn't notice anything making it's way up in the cup. It was a crazy idea.

 

[coreno16]

Does anyone have an extra impellor shaft laying around that you'd be willing to give me? I broke mine on accident tonight pulling out the impellor. Was useing it to pry out the impellor like a complete idiot. If you do please try to get ahold of me as soon as possible. I'd appreciate it.

- Cory

 

[ThunderousTalon]

I just ordered a 150, my ER5-2 took a crap(well the sedra did, i maintained it to no end, the dang magnet swelled up). I am going to do the mesh mod as soon as i get it. Read a little ways back it didnt make a tremendous difference on the 150. but i will give it a shot. Also has anyone thought of just weaving fishing line or a like over and under through out the current needle wheel on there and dabbing super glue down to hold it? or would it be to much flex? Just an idea... I've been cut by line a few times so i'd imagine it'd be pretty brutal to some bubbles.

 

[wojo]

guys, do you have any pictures on how to do the (SHORT) venturi mod on NW-150? I was pulling 4 l/min stock and 6 l'min after mesh mod but i think the stock venturi is not letting enough air.

any help is appreciated

thanks,
Wojo

 

[coreno16]

Well since this is the mod thread i thought id let you all know what i did for my pump. Since i broke the impellor shaft, I MADE A NEW ONE!!!!! YAY! There was no way i was going to let my skimmer sit dry EVER! So I took some of the leftover carbon fiber shaft i had from my maximods, and cut it to length. One drawback is the shaft does not fit the impellor all too well. It's definatly too small of a diameter. So next order i make ill buy some larger diameter carbon fiber rod and use that one for good. Other than the noise from the impellor vibrations, the skimmer runs as good as new, and with some of the mods ive done even better than new. I LOVE THESE SKIMMERS.


- Cory

 

[JCTewks]

Well, I finally got an air meter

On my dnw 110 with the otp1000 pump i am pulling 15 SCFH at only 14.5 watts of power :eek1:

I think that is pretty good....

I am going to try and get more air in there....I melted my last pump and am taking it easy on the new pump at the moment...I hope to get 20 SCFH and stay at 14 watts or less. IMHO that would be an efficient bubble producer.

FYI: the impeller is a bottom layer of needle pointers mesh, with 4 layers of the mavgi mesh and gutterguard on the top...all sewed together with 10# test fishing line.


Jeff

 

[wojo]

hey jeff, whats the conversion from SCFH to L/MIN? i got the meter but its in L/MIN. I meshmodded the impeller on my NW-150 and im getting 7 L/MIN now.

i have no idea if its good or not.

also do you know how to mod the short venturi on these pumps?

thanks man, i just hope this thread is not dead

 

[Avast Marine]

Conversion Calc care of Randystacye. Thread is far from dean

 

[wojo]

thanks dandy7200, you rock, and i meant "dead" (thread edited) LMAO so im pulling around 15 SCFH on my skimmer. good or bad?

im gonna try asking this question again, how to mod short venturi. i read entire thread but noone described on how its done?

anybody?

 

[Avast Marine]

What mod are you refering to? There is drilling the venturi hole out a bit and then there is notching the o-ring to let the air pass through better. Both are very simple and the o-ring one should be done out of the box. 15 SCFH is what my 3000 pulled out of the box. I switched to the new sp4 pull way more than that but have to restrict it to about 30 SCFH even with the extended neck. HTH

 

[wojo]

i dont think i need the o-ring as my skimmer seems to be newer model or something and it does not block the inlet. i dont even have a rubber washer on it.

drilling the venturi is the one. i am not sure what needs to be done, should i make the holes bigger? the one that goes from the top (with little plastic pipe) and the one that goes along the pipe? is that the issue? making it bigger so more air goes through? sorry about my ignorance...

what is sp4?

thanks mate

 

[Avast Marine]

Drilling the venturi has mixed results. If your pulling that much air, I would focus on getting the bubble size you want not more air. Often people end up restricting the air at the end of the tubing after drilling the venturi. I wouldn't even consider doing this to the short venturi since it is a wierd design, works great though as is.
sp4 is a Euroreef modded genx4100 with pinwheel, no I'm not cutting the pins off, very happy with the results I am seeing.

 

[wojo]

dandy7200, gotcha thank you. my bubbles got nicer after meshmod so i guess i just leave it as is. I get cup full of dark skim every 2-3 days.

 

[SeaView]

Just ordered a new NW200. Will be here on Tuesday. On the newer models is there any mods that are recommended? Is the elbow mod still an issue? I been reading through the mod post for weeks but can't seem to find the exact info I need.

TIA

 

[wojo]

from what i have read elbow mod is not recommended anymore, just 2 cents

do your meshmod and you will be good

 

[JCTewks]

wojo, I have the recirculating model, and it only came with 1 venturi. it was junk...I drilled straight through and put a 1/4" ID barbed fitting in(cut at an angle of course). I did a lot of other mods enlarging anything i could on the pump and the body.

Last night i enlarged the pipes that the pump attaches to the body, and made the pump volute a little bigger. It is now drawing 18SCFH and i think i could get more.....but i woke up to an overflowing skimmer and about 2 gal lost.

Even with the 16" neck extension I think the DNW 110 will only hold about 17SCFH


Jeff

 

[SeaView]

Got the nw200 today and it is all set up and running in my sump. I appear to be getting a great deal of micro bubbles in the display tank. Do these die down after the skimmer breaks in? Do I need a gate valve or is there another trick to easing these bubbles.

Thanks