RO NW200 Meshwheel Mod

[avgjoe]

I'm looking to do the meshwheel mod on my NW200 Reef Octopus skimmer. Does anyone have some leftover mesh? Also has anyone here done the this mod to the same skimmer with good results?

 

[Jah2707]

What kind of mesh are you going to use?

 

[Reeferhead]

I can hook you up.

 

[Reeferhead]

Enkamat 4

 

[Jah2707]

I just bought some on eBay. It was like $5.00 I am excited to try it. Thanks for the help. Reeferhead that is an awesome aviator!

 

[Reeferhead]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10331970#post10331970 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jhuggins
I just bought some on eBay. It was like $5.00 I am excited to try it. Thanks for the help. Reeferhead that is an awesome aviator!

Thanks,

Although, I need to update it. It was taken in a old tank I tore down about 3 years ago so I no longer have the crab or the brain but since I'm terrible at taking photos I cling to the few good ones.

 

[Markk96]

I have some mesh as well, however I am going to take it out and put my needlewheel back in.

 

[avgjoe]

Markk96: the mesh not working well for you?
What kind of mesh did you use? I've read about some of the cheap stuff falling apart relatively quickly.

 

[Markk96]

I uses the Enkamat 4 I find after about after a couple of weeks it does not perform as well as the needlewheel that I pulled apart.

 

[avgjoe]

Markk96: Wow, quick reply. Hmmm, this makes it very tough for me to hack up my needle wheel to try this out. Which skimmer are you using?

Edit: And does the mesh work well again after it is cleaned or do you have to replace it?

 

[Markk96]

I use it on my Geo Needle with GenX 4100 pumps. I have some of the mesh if you want it.

 

[sirreal63]

I only mesh my feedpump, not the main recirc. pump. The GenX needlewheel actually works pretty good in stock form.

 

[avgjoe]

So far I've done the Mesh mod, o-ring mod and reamed out the venturi air line which was almost completely block from the glue that was applied to the nipple at the factory. This has made such a huge difference in the air intake that I've had to lower my water level by half. My pump is now pulling 85 watts vs. the typical 65 which leads me to believe the limiting factor is still the venturi air flow. Does anyone in the local area have an air meter that I can borrow, before I undergo the risky task of enlarging the venturi hole some more?

 

[sirreal63]

An increase in air should drop the wattage. If the mesh is too large it will increase the pump draw.

 

[avgjoe]

Correct, but there are two ways to handle this. Decrease the pump water draw by trimming the mesh, or leave the mesh as is and increase the venturi air draw by eliminating the air flow restriction. Right now my venturi air line is only 1/8". If I increase that to 3/8" or 1/4" I should be able to get my wattage draw back around 65-70w. However I want to confirm the air flow with an air meter before I start hacking up the venturi some more

 

[sirreal63]

making the venturi larger isn't that hard. You may have to drill the old one completely and add a larger pc of rod for more air.

 

[StupidsReef]

I have the NW300 Otcopuss skimmer and I did Not do the mesh mod because Im Lon2 did it to his ASM and the wheel swelled due to heat and quit working. In fact the only Mod's I've done to this skimmer is I drilled out the venturi, as thin as I could get it. And then the changed out the O-rings. Other than this it doesn't need anything else for mine she works greater than great.

 

[Markk96]

I took my mesh modded pump apart tonight for the first time in about 5 months of doing it, there was barley any mesh left. I put back in the original Needlewheel and all is well.