Octopus Skimmer Mods

[BigJPDC]

Thank you impur - you gotta hang in there.

wojo - 1.5 for the 150. I got mine from a well stocked LFS - try them too.

 

[BLockamon]

Has anyone successfully done the Gutterguard mod on an RPS-3000 / DNW-200. I tried with mine, but the performance didn't change much (increased air about 1--2 LPM). I'm now pretty steady at 8 LPM (480 LPH, 17 SCFH). I have noticed that the air silencer restricts air flow now, which it never did before.

I opened up the elbow on the pump discharge a little. For the Gutterguard mod, I added three layers to the standard impellar (without removing the second row of teeth). I used 5 zip ties to keep the layers tight, since there wasn't a lot of extra room.

Any suggestions? Thanks.

 

[Covey]

I mesh moded the RPS-3000 with the PF4 mesh 3 layers as big as possible. I would say it is almost too much air. The water line is down to the base of the cone.

Might want to talk to Roland. he was the one that started the GG mod either that or get some mesh.

 

[BLockamon]

Covey, I'll look into the mesh.

Have you done any venturi mods? My air draw drops every few days and I have to flush the air line with water. I'm thinking of trying to modify it for more air.

Thanks

 

[BLockamon]

Covey, was that Enkamat part number (PF4) from Aquatic Ecosystems? Three (3) layers would be ~3/4" thick wouldn't it?

Did you remove any of the needles? How did you attach the mesh (tie wraps or needle and thread)?

Thanks!

 

[Roland Jacques]

Tie straps pull it down a good bit.

 

[impur]

Here is what i did, and i am getting much more bubbles in the chamber i think. It seems to be a lot more white than before. I have yet to get any skimmate after 14 days, so it was time to go to work on this thing.

Now i just have to find a 1.5" PVC gate valve...

Now we'll see how long that lasts

 

[Covey]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9185250#post9185250 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BLockamon
Covey, I'll look into the mesh.

Have you done any venturi mods? My air draw drops every few days and I have to flush the air line with water. I'm thinking of trying to modify it for more air.

Thanks

1) I trimmed the gasket by the venturi (see 1st page)
2) Slightly ported the output of the pump(Roland page4)
3) Then did the mesh mod (actually tinkered with 3 different materials)

The PF4 mesh accounted for probably 80% of the air increase and that much air is running thru the basically stock venturi.

These skimmers are quiet easy to mod and really don't have to be extensively craved up to perform. I tend to do all of my moding this, the prop mod, etc in a rather meandering way in order to understand the process behind it all but basic mods can get you a TON of air.

 

[Covey]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9185282#post9185282 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BLockamon
Covey, was that Enkamat part number (PF4) from Aquatic Ecosystems? Three (3) layers would be ~3/4" thick wouldn't it?

Did you remove any of the needles? How did you attach the mesh (tie wraps or needle and thread)?

Thanks!

How did I attach it. In fiddling with it. I slowly destroyed most of the plastic bits on the impellor.

So I ended up making a plastic disk out of a Phosban lid and used the smallest wire ties I could find to tie down.

note that photo was with the Quickie scrubber not as good as the PF4

Anyway if I had it to do all over I probably would have just clip the pins off the top row and tied the mesh to that.

Also I found that have the wire ties along the outside of the diameter of the disk seemly pulled more air.

 

[Covey]

.

 

[dmack]

Where can I get some Enkamat?

 

[Covey]

Here
http://www.lagunakoi.com/koishop/cgi-bin/hazel.cgi?action=DETAIL&item=60007
or here
http://www.aquaticeco.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/product.detail/iid/4323

and I think Marine Solutions sells it now.

 

[dmack]

Thanks Covey.

 

[192clark]

dmack- Thunderous Talon- a member earlier in this thread went and bought quite a bit from aquaticeco and sold it to quite a few of us for $5. Seems there is a minimum order which is more than any of us need. I would imagine he has some left.

 

[BigJPDC]

Blockman - I've been posting about the same issue for a while. Keep me in the loop if you make any discoveries.

jp

 

[Kurt03]

are you guys taking the whole top needle wheel off? It seems like if you did that it would move up and down more then usual. Is there anything wrong with just breaking the pieces that stick outwards of the top disk off?

 

[coryjac0b]

well got my recirc nw200 in about a week ago, unpacked it today, and got to modding. I bored out the 90 coming out of the pump a little bit, took of the ugly venturi silencer it seemed to hinder it. i used 2 layers of enkamat, not sure exactly which ones. I didn't cut anything off the impeller just yet. This is it running in a vinegar and water solution kind of just to break it in and also just to see some micro-bubbles:

oh and i tried to peel the sticker off the chamber but it didn't work well, anyone know how to get that ugly thing off so i can see the bubbles?

 

[Avast Marine]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9191256#post9191256 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Kurt03
are you guys taking the whole top needle wheel off? It seems like if you did that it would move up and down more then usual. Is there anything wrong with just breaking the pieces that stick outwards of the top disk off?

Really good point! If I were mesh modding this pump I would take 1 wheel off and put some nylon washers in it's place, then do the mesh thing.

 

[Covey]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9191256#post9191256 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Kurt03
are you guys taking the whole top needle wheel off? It seems like if you did that it would move up and down more then usual. Is there anything wrong with just breaking the pieces that stick outwards of the top disk off?

That is the easiest way to do it. Just clip them off.

 

[Covey]

Cory you can get the sticker off with "Goo Gone" but don't get that stuff anywhere near the water.