Octopus Skimmer Mods
- Thread starter Roland Jacques
- Start date
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impur
New member
After running mine a week or so with the bored out venturi fitting, i'm still getting significantly less bubbles after a day or 2 of running. IMO one of the biggest drawbacks to this skimmer, i have the NW200, is the venturi. Adding 2 layers of mesh onto of the stock NW impeller really increased the bubbles in mine, as did boring out the elbow slightly.
I'm going to have to do some more work on that venturi.
I'm going to have to do some more work on that venturi.
markywmson
Member
Cato, we (my roommate and myself) just modded his NW-150. it was pretty easy. just took off the top needlewheel and put on 3 layers of Enkamat PF4 with 4 small zipties. Already looking much better. Still need to do a few things like open up the venturi a bit as was mentioned earlier, but still, working well.
I might have some extra PF4 after I mod my 200. PM me when you get to that point. i'm in bristol...
I might have some extra PF4 after I mod my 200. PM me when you get to that point. i'm in bristol...
Covey
New member
1) The gasket mod (real easy page 1)
2) The mesh mod (PF4 is the best)
It will pull a ton of air at that point and those mods are easy. Everything after that is icing on the cake but if you still want to fiddle.
3) porting the pump output
4) Screwing with the venturi: It can easily do more harm than good. I moded the heck out of mine and am still running the stock grey venturi.
hounddog01
Active member
The only thing that I see about my skimmer is that it skimms wet for the first 3 days then very dry. The color of the skimate goes from tea color to dark coffee color. I cleaned it last Friday and I have about 1.25 inches of dark nasty skimate in the cup. It is a huge cup (NW 200) but I would like it to skimm more consistantly. I know I should clean the cum more but since I broke my ankle It is not that easy.
As soon as i get the other impeller I am going to mod it and see what it does.
As soon as i get the other impeller I am going to mod it and see what it does.
timrandlerv10
New member
where are people buying:
enkamat pf4
new impellers to play with
new elbows in case they break the old ones
i have a nw110, and i really want to get started!
thanks
enkamat pf4
new impellers to play with
new elbows in case they break the old ones
i have a nw110, and i really want to get started!
thanks
Avast Marine
.Registered Member
Thats a gen-x 4100 pinwheel (euroreefs SP4). I used a hole saw and uniseals. I kept one hole that was originally there and drilled one lower for the pump input. I left the standpipe alone since I am running this in sump right now. I am planning on pulling it out in a few weeks to sell it so I will most likely finish the plumbing with the valve on the riser tube, tee, etc at that time. I will post those pictures here at that time. I plan to use 1 1/4" schedule 80 and just bore out the first fitting to make the transition from metric to standard. It really is a shame we don't have a decent source for metric fittings in the entire USA huh?
Avast Marine
.Registered Member
Oh FYI a hole saw sized for 1" uniseals fits perfectly around that little black molded acrylic piece on the body that the Oct pump input uses on the NW200.
hounddog01
Active member
Got my new impeller today. I guess I will see what happens.
boxfishpooalot
Active member
This is a simple mod to do. It prevents the stupid venturi from getting plugged every 2 days with salt creep. I have had it going for 2 months without a cleaning and it remains at full force! All you need to do is run the airline venturi line up to the skimmer cup. In the lid there is 2 holes. Let it suck in 100% humid air from inside the cup. Keeps it running full force.
Here it is not conected.
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y178/salwaterfish123/Picture004-5.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>
Here it is concected
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y178/salwaterfish123/Picture003-4.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>
Here it is not conected.
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y178/salwaterfish123/Picture004-5.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>
Here it is concected
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y178/salwaterfish123/Picture003-4.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>
boxfishpooalot
Active member
Post pics if you can 
It really works good, just be sure not to decrease the diameter of the airline tube much otherwise you loose air a bit.
I think Life Reef skimmers does this and they also claim plug-free venturi. But it does work. Id say what, about 1$ to do this mod and prevent water level variations and add stability.
It really works good, just be sure not to decrease the diameter of the airline tube much otherwise you loose air a bit.I think Life Reef skimmers does this and they also claim plug-free venturi. But it does work. Id say what, about 1$ to do this mod and prevent water level variations and add stability.
Roland Jacques
Premium Member
Good Idea:thumbsup:
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