question about skimmer depth

[lifesworksataol]

i have this skimmer http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merc...duct_Code=CV-OCT-NW-200&Category_Code=Octopus
its the octopus 200
how high should the sump water go up on it?
i know my euro reef is 6 to 8 inchs.
anyone know what it is for this skimmer?
there website is not any help at all.

 

[TheGrog]

I am not 100% on this brand, but it is very similiar to ASM and euroreef skimmers. I think they are set at the same depth. I would set it so the top of the intake gasket is covered (usually 6-8")

Hope this helps.

 

[sytanek]

I do my octopus to the top of the union, I just start there and adjust for how wet I want the skimmate. Not sure on height, exactly, because I believe the 200 is taller than the other ones.

 

[lifesworksataol]

its huge! i get alot of skim but it never makes it to the cup. it just clings to the inside wall of the tube and the adjuster cant go any higher. i have the water at 8 or 9 inches already. thank you guys for your help

 

[AJ69]

mine is the 150 and always try to keep it at 6-8" depth

 

[markandkristen]

can you put a gatevalve mod on it?

 

[lusenut2]

Call skippy he has the same skimmer. He would know.

 

[dugg]

I have my NW-150 modded with a gate valve. It sits in from 8 to 11 inches of water, depending on if i remember to fill my topoff water. It doesn't effect the skimmer when the level drops to 8 inches at all. My internal water level doesn't depend on the outside level with the gate valve. I never used it with the stock riser pipe, so i don't know how the internal water level acts when using the stock pipe as opposed to the gate valve.

 

[lifesworksataol]

do they have a gate valve setup for sale anywhere? i need to call skippy! i just never remember to call him when he is home

 

[jade2122]

once you get it going you will have to let me know how good the skimmer is, that is one of the ones i was thinking about getting. best of luck

 

[lifesworksataol]

thanks - iam going to try that gate mod. that is the same mod i never did on my euro reef that i always wanted to do.

 

[dugg]

My mod is just 1 1/2 inch pvc. I have a straight 1 1/2" coupling slid over the original riser tube. When the center part of the coupling hits the o'ring, it seals up snug. Then just plumb it from there. No glue or cutting on the skimmer is needed.

 

[dugg]

Here is mine. I haven't taken it back apart to make it all final yet, but it works fine. The other plumbing in the background is the 2" drain from the tank, and the bypass for the return, and DIY phosban reactor.

 

[lifesworksataol]

thanks - thats project 1 for today (if i dont end up working) is that a wrasse by your dump out?
why do you have your up pipe on your skimmer going out and over? dont people usually just go up with it? just wondering if you found a cool better way or something

 

[thor32766]

actually i would say thats a skunk clown.

 

[lifesworksataol]

well i like your old avatar better! my monitor sucks, but it looks to long to be a clown. drum roll....

 

[dugg]

It's a pink skunk clown that was picking at my new black clowns. The up pipe on my skimmer is just like that because i was testing it out, and didn't have any more straight PVC lol. I still need to go to lowes and get some more PVC and re do everything. The 90's on the up pipe are actually a problem. They cause a kind of surge in the flow if the water level reaches the bend.

 

[lifesworksataol]

dang i was wrong. give it up for thor!
where can you get the black pvc pipes?

 

[sytanek]

This is what the official gate valve mod looks like, its a small pic, but you can get the idea. With my DIY skimmer, I didn't have a T I just used a 90 and then to a gate valve, and it works fine.

 

[dugg]

Here, i fixed it lol. I just noticed a huge type-0 in my first post. The skimmer parts are 1 1/4 inch PVC not 1 1/2. There is no need to cut off the original riser pipe IMO. The 1 1/4 coupler slips on there pretty snug. As long as it is an in sump installation it will be fine. No need in destroying the skimmer, you may want to sell it and keep your gate valve one day.