Reef Octopus 1000sss XP overflowing..Again

AugustWest

AugustWest

Premium Member
This skimmer is 2 years old now. i had an overflow problem about a year ago ( No apparent reason ) Contacted Coralvue and was sent a new venturi.

Skimmer worked flawlessly after replacing the venturi, now after all this time random overflows again !

This is definitely not being caused by any tank additives. I haven't changed anything since when the skimmer was working properly.

I removed the skimmer and gave everything, including the pump a good cleaning. I noticed right away I was having to adjust the skimmer so that the water level inside the skimmer was much lower than I normally ran it when it functioned properly. Sure enough within a couple of hours it was overflowing again.

It's a shame because when this skimmer works properly it is awesome. I'm at a loss as to what to do this time, any suggestions? Skimmer sits at a constant water level of 5 3/4" which is the optimum for this skimmer.
 
AugustWest said:
This skimmer is 2 years old now. i had an overflow problem about a year ago ( No apparent reason ) Contacted Coralvue and was sent a new venturi.

Skimmer worked flawlessly after replacing the venturi, now after all this time random overflows again !

This is definitely not being caused by any tank additives. I haven't changed anything since when the skimmer was working properly.

I removed the skimmer and gave everything, including the pump a good cleaning. I noticed right away I was having to adjust the skimmer so that the water level inside the skimmer was much lower than I normally ran it when it functioned properly. Sure enough within a couple of hours it was overflowing again.

It's a shame because when this skimmer works properly it is awesome. I'm at a loss as to what to do this time, any suggestions? Skimmer sits at a constant water level of 5 3/4" which is the optimum for this skimmer.
Click to expand...

Is the air inlet to the pump clogged?
 
The biggest issue I found with mine overflowing is salt creep buildup inside the venturi. Simple soaking in hot water would not clear it. I have to scrape it off every couple months or so.
 
I thought I cleaned it pretty well. Think ill take it off again and soak in vinegar, what else could it be if its not the Venturi?
 
It's funny, when you do a search these Reef Octopus skimmers are always highly recommended, I like it myself ( when its working properly) but there are also a bunch of threads with people having oveflow problems......how could there be so many issues yet people recommend them ? Maybe because theirs hasn't overflowed....yet
 
I had a XP 1000SSS and it kept overflowing, the problem is the outlet. If they were to add a riser tube to the outlet, it would get rid of any back pressure by utilizing the riser rather than back pressuring the body of the skimmer which leads to overflowing. Got an upgrade version of my tried and true and haven't been happier. I bought into the gimmick of a cone and drank the koolaid. The space saving design, althoguh does save space, just isnt made to skim consistantly. If I ever went RO again (unlikely) I would get a nonspace saving model.
 
I guess I drank the Kool aid too:lmao: I should have known better. Coralvue says there is no problem with the design, yet they sent me a different Venturi when I had the initial problem...I have to say their customer service was good. Haven't contacted them this time, probably can't do anything anway.
 
Here's a pic of the skimmer. I put a mark where the water level is now( hope you can see it) It hasn't overflowed for about 12 hours. When the skimmer was working properly, you couldn't see the water level because it was near the lip of the skimmer body.

It looked like this yesterday afternoon too yet it overflowed last night....( no, I didn't add anything or mess with water at all)
 

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I don't think its a problem with the spacesaver design. Maybe something else. I run a Warner Marine MF 181 (Skimz 181) and its the same basic design as the reefsaver where the pump is inside the base and I have never had a overflow problem. Been running almost 2 years now
 
AugustWest said:
I guess I drank the Kool aid too:lmao: I should have known better. Coralvue says there is no problem with the design, yet they sent me a different Venturi when I had the initial problem...I have to say their customer service was good. Haven't contacted them this time, probably can't do anything anway.
Click to expand...

They do have excellent customer service. My original BB pump broke or something and they sent me a knew one with no problem.
 
For preventive maintenance once a week I pour a cup of hot RO/DI water in the silencer, the water gets drawn into the air tube and volute and this will clear any salt creep.
 
AugustWest said:
Can anybody tell me the suggested water level inside of the skimmer ?
Click to expand...

Dont go by the water level in the skimmer.

When you first start the skimmer, set the bubbles to break at the bottom of the collection cup. Wait 30 min. Then, adjust to midway up the neck. Let it run there and adjust higher or lower depending on whether you want wet or dry skim, or if necessary.
 
wildman926 said:
Dont go by the water level in the skimmer.

When you first start the skimmer, set the bubbles to break at the bottom of the collection cup. Wait 30 min. Then, adjust to midway up the neck. Let it run there and adjust higher or lower depending on whether you want wet or dry skim, or if necessary.
Click to expand...

Thanks. Problem is if I let the bubbles break midway up the neck I will be sure to have it overflow within a few hours. That is why I have it adjusted so low. Seems to be working ok like this but I never was able to see the water level inside the skimmer the way I had it adjusted before I started getting oveflows.

I have completely broken down the skimmer and cleaned everything. Soaked the venturi in vinegar...

Last skimer I had ( a Euro-Reef knock off) Ran for 10 years and I never touched it except for replacing the pump.

I have had this thing for 2 years and still having issues
 
AugustWest said:
Thanks. Problem is if I let the bubbles break midway up the neck I will be sure to have it overflow within a few hours. That is why I have it adjusted so low. Seems to be working ok like this but I never was able to see the water level inside the skimmer the way I had it adjusted before I started getting oveflows.

I have completely broken down the skimmer and cleaned everything. Soaked the venturi in vinegar...

Last skimer I had ( a Euro-Reef knock off) Ran for 10 years and I never touched it except for replacing the pump.

I have had this thing for 2 years and still having issues
Click to expand...

Sorry to hear the issues you have had with it. I would just set the bubbles to break at the bottom of the collection cup, and leave it there, escpecially after you cleaned it like you have. It will basically go through a break in cycle again, and then you should be good to go.

I hope you got the new venturi on the volute they sent you, and not the old one. You can see the opening smaller on the new one.
 
Funny, i have had mine since release and have had no real issues with it other than last week the impeller literally exploded. Original volute here as well, i think i should ask coralvue for the new one when i get my new impeller

If it is a back pressure thing then wouldnt it be as simple as adding a metric elbow to the skimmer and then a small piece of pipe and then the gate valve, just like all the other non SSS models.
 
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