Reeflo/Sequence Skimmer Club

[rbc1225]

Hello all. I just recieved my new Orca 250 today and Mike at Reef Specialty asked me to make sure I had it set up correctly before I glued anything. Jeremy would you take a look at my pics and see if you see anything wrong with how I have it assembled? I sure would appreciate it. Anyone else welcome to comment as well.

Thanks a lot

 

[rbc1225]

All plumbed up and nog in the cup. I know these skimmers take a bit to break in, but I am really pleased with the thing so far. One day and producing nog, I have never seen that before.

 

[rbc1225]

All plumbed up and nog in the cup. I know these skimmers take a bit to break in, but I am really pleased with the thing so far. One day and producing nog, I have never seen that before.

 

[Lunchbucket]

pics??

 

[rbc1225]

I just cleaned it out as I am finding out the overflo point with this pic and shut the output off a bit. Good nog forming again. It pulses so you get a head and then it subsides. I then adjust the gate valve a bit. I am sure with it breaking in the next few week it will be a lot better than I had on my old skimmer.

 

[rbc1225]

I think I got things running as they should. Definatly not bad for only 2 days or so break in.

 

[tangtang clown]

Looks killer man!!! I would like to see more after break in. Thanks.

 

[Fish n' Frags]

Hey all,

We just bought a old stock brand new Reeflo Orca 250 with the regular Orca pump. I'm curious what everyone is using to feed there 250's? Is there a standard?

Also, how do i test how much air i'm pulling?

Thanks in advance

 

[tangtang clown]

A friend on RC just meshed his Reeflo. Anyone else tried this yet?

 

[RonD]

what rpm does the gold pump turn at ?

 

[klasiksb]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14413232#post14413232 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Fish n' Frags
Hey all,

We just bought a old stock brand new Reeflo Orca 250 with the regular Orca pump. I'm curious what everyone is using to feed there 250's? Is there a standard?

Also, how do i test how much air i'm pulling?

Thanks in advance

I'm feeding mine with a Mag 5.

You would need an air meter to test the air draw, but you should be right about 60 SCFH of air with the stock pump (regular or gold)/impeller. I saw no air jump from the standard dart to the dart gold.

 

[rbc1225]

Not bad for 3 days. I changed to a mag 5 for the feed pump Sunday night and been doing great ever since, and yes that skimmate is really that dark.

 

[tangtang clown]

Is that your coffee pot?

 

[ddier2020]

ok i have two dumb questions, how do you know when the skimmer is broken in? and can how do you dial in the skimmer if you want dry or wet skim?

 

[drstupid]

when it breaks in (and this includes when you do major mods like a new needlewheel, or a thorough cleaning like a vinegar bath), it suddenly produces a ridiculous amount of foam and is very likely to overflow if you don't have the wedge valve wide open. i don't know how long this goes on, i've only seen the after effects (full bucket of spooge). afterwards it's controllable and should not do that again.

for safety's sake, i keep a float valve in the lid of my spooge bucket that will shut off the recirc pump.

the skimmer takes a good three weeks to break in, you will know when it's there.

wet-dry is dialed in with the wedge valve (flow). you should always leave the air wide open.

 

[FishTruck]

My skimmer does the opposite when I clean it too thouroughly.

I get nothing for about three days (seven if I really clean it like brand new clean - not recommended), then, back to normal.

I guess you know you are broken in when you get consistent skimmate.

Now, I just rinse the neck and cup with warm water and do a single wipe with a paper towel. This does not interrupt skimmate production.

You adjust for dry or wet skimmate by raising and lowering the water column. Usually, by dialing up / down the resistance on the outflow. If you push the column up, you will get wetter (and more) skimmate. If you push it way up, water will start pouring out of the skimmer and you can do a water change this way (see thread of the month).

 

[drstupid]

sorry, let me be more clear: mods or major cleanings will lead to a new break in period, which will end in the same way as the original break in period.

for routine cleaning i've been using a toothbrush on the neck. once every couple of weeks i'll take the cup off and rinse it with water and wipe it with paper towels.

 

[rbc1225]

I can't answer the question of how do you know when the skimmer is broken in but I assume it really doesn't matter if it is producing skimmate. I had to play with mine and try a couple different pumps but mine was producing very quickly as shown in the pics above. I took my old skimmer off the day I got my Orca and have been very please ever since. I clean the neck of the skimmer about every other day or so by wiping it with a wet paper towel. When I have had my hands in the tank and the skimmer is down closer to the bottom of the neck is the best time to clean the cup and neck. It starts to rise and produce again within an hour or two. I am going to let it accumulate a weeks worth of skimmate and measure it and see where it come in on an average day over the week.

 

[ddier2020]

well I know I got the right level as far as plumbing goes,but the skimmer is accumulating alot of sludge on the flange where the skimmer boby narrows. also I am feeding it direct of one of my calfo overflow tubes...

 

[rbc1225]

Where do you have the water level set without the pump running? If you are feeding with your overflow tubes, without the pump running are you able to keep a consistant water lever inside the skimmer? I have my water lever right at where the cup flange meets the skimmer body flange withouth the pump running. Once I turn on the pump, it overflows a bit then settles down and then starts producing the head of bubbles.