Octopus Skimmer question

[dainironfoot]

Hi guys, Just got my Octopus NW 110 skimmer in the mail. Is there seriously no way to regulate the air intake on this thing? The flimsy little air hose has no valve or anything on it and there is no manual or directions that came with it(bought it new). If I allow the air hose to fold over(flimsy) then it barely gets any air(no foam after 12 hours). If I hold the hose up and prop it up so it is open the there is so much wet foam that it fills the cup in 30 seconds. HELP!!! I'm getting frustrated!! Does it take a while for it to break in? Thanx guys, any experience with this skimmer would help a lot.


-Tony

 

[Entropy]

You can get a little air valve for the line from home depot. A lot of people add them to the top of the Durso's so it should work the same.

 

[danferd2002]

Mine is wide open with no problems, wish it would pull more air actually.

 

[dainironfoot]

Wide open? Doesn't it fill the cup really fast? Mine fills in less than a minute.

 

[Hop]

Ideally you leave the air intake wide open and adjust the water height by means of the riser tube...

 

[THE ROOK]

You'll want to open the wedge pipe that Hop mentioned. Then slowly close until the water level is near the 1st bend. I'd leave it there for a week or so to break in. Then you can close the wedge a little each day until it skims correctly. I only adjust mine about 1/8" at a time then leave it for a day to stabilize.

 

[stanlalee]

restricting air increases water flow raising the water level so restricting it wont prevent it from overflowing the collection cup (stick your finger over the hose and watch). the hose should be kink free and unrestricted to PREVENT overflowing the collection cup.

there is absolutely NO reason to restrict air on a NW110. the OTP-1000 doesn't pull enough air to restrict it even with the new pinwheel. If anything you should be trying to get more air pull. If your cup is overflowing either the water level is way too high, the riser pipe is raised to high or the air passage is restricted. the riser pipe on the output is moved up and down to adjust the water level. while breaking in the water level should be just below the collection cup and left alone. when its dont breaking in a foam head will build on its own and you will begin to collect skimmate. From there you can start adjusting for wet and dry foam. I think your problem is expecting real production prior to break in. "No foam for 12hrs". I had no foam in 4 days before my octopus broke in and produced foam other than the occasional inconsistant foam flare up.

 

[THE ROOK]

My mistake, thought they utilized a wedge pipe like the new Octo Extreme's.

 

[dainironfoot]

Hey thanx for the great reply. I raised the water level to right below the collection cup and completely opened the air hose. Now the foam is just POURING over the top of the cup. Is this part of the breaking in? Thanx so much for the info guys,


-Tony

 

[mikeatjac]

No, in your case lower the water level so it does not pour over the top.

 

[dainironfoot]

OK so I moved the standpipe back down to it's lowest setting(which is only 3/4" from the bottom of the cup). I'm thinking of hack-sawing the pipe down another inch, otherwise I'm at a standstill. )

 

[Stuart60611]

What should be the water height in the sump that the skimmer is placed in? I have mine at about 9 inches? Also, from your post, I see you recommend that the water line within the skimmer body where the bubbles start to form should be right below where the collection cup attaches to the skimmer body?

 

[stanlalee]

also check your airline and venturi on the pump for restrictions (sand, salt or debri). anything like that in the air path will cause what you describe. It would take an extremely high water level to cause what your having with the pipe nearly all the way down so I dont think its sump water level (but what is it just in case. If you have something crazy like 12" in the sump that could be a problem. perhaps taking the pump apart and inspecting everything and reassembling is in order.

 

[MSX-Jeff]

This skimmer will work best in about 8-9" of water. What is the water level in your sump where the skimmer is sitting?