Skimmer help regarding mesh mod and adjustment

[kaiboshi]

I've got some questions regarding my new setup and new Octo extreme 200. (I know there's a thread but it's like a million posts long)

I watched a video about mesh modding shortly after I acquired my octo extreme 200 so I decided since it looked so easy I'd give it a whirl. Aside from a little start up hassle it seems to work great, thing is I'm not getting good skimmate. I'm getting mostly water. I wanted to clarify where I should set my foam level to get effective production and to make sure that my mesh modding can't screw up the functionality of the skimmer. Note: the water level on the skimmer body is ~9"

A= top of collection cup
B= where my foam level is set
C= top of neck
D= bottom of neck

I don't know where I should be setting it...

Next thing I'm wondering about. I have the skimmer on a small eggcrate stand but It's not the sturdiest thing ever. I read that moving the skimmer can disrupt the foam head, I don't know if this is only on older skimmers or what the deal is, is it possible that the little egg crate stand is wobbling or something and not allowing a proper head of foam to form? I was considering replacing the eggcrate with a few bricks in a plastic bag because they are roughly the same height.

The skimmer is running in a 75 gallon sump connected to a 125 gallon DT. I can't remember if I have 100 or 120 lbs of live sand, I've got maybe 100 lbs of live rock (again I don't remember exact numbers, this is an upgrade from my old tank so everything is live and good to go). Inhabitants are currently a small ocellaris clown and a small blue devil damsel. I'm using ro/di water and instant ocean salt (fowlr tank). I know the bio load isn't very high but I should still be getting SOME kind of gunk out of the skimmer, not just what looks like water. I also know you've gotta let the skimmer break in but it's been probably 2 weeks now so I'm just wondering if I messed anything up.

 

[bravanc]

the skimmer works best in 7-9 inches of water there you will get consistant foam production. If your bio load is very small you will get a light green skimate in a couple of days not the dark color. as long as the foam can fall just over the tube its doing its job. adjust the tube in very tiny increment and wait ,then come back again and adjust if you need to. every time you adjust you will have to wait for the skimmer to adjust.

 

[tangtang clown]

I keep mine about a 1/4 inch below D. I run mesh and the skimmer is doing about 40scfh. Post some pics of your skimmer so we can get a better idea of your setup. I have mine in ~7 inches of water. I will be taking my pump apart tonight, so if you need pics holla.
Tang.

 

[Charlie Davidson]

Tang tang - found this thread and pointed me to it We are Mesh mod nuts!
Again skimmer sitting in as close to 7" as possible..
Your saying foam level, that term as several meanings.. do you know the term Bubble break ?
The bubble break for Pin/w is C..
bubble break for Mesh is D but can be moved up , as each mesh/w is different.. and so is the owner.. ( no exact science here)

Also, is the output , underwater? (very common mistake due to poor to no instuctions) remove any output piping that is under water..

As for stand, I have mine on some PVC piping but it wobbles alot also
I saw one the other day -- I am thinking about trying-- he cut the top section of a 5G bucket and flipped it upside down.. :thumbsup:
Noticed he used "reef cyrstals" too!

 

[kaiboshi]

I apologize for the poor pictures, my camera died after a few pictures so you'll have to suffer =]

Maybe I meant to say bubble break is at B? In any event when I got home I moved it up a bit and now I can see that there is some brown stuff inside the neck (proper term?) of the collection cup so it was doing something just not much.

That is what the skimmate looks like, all blurry and whatnot but you can still see that it's water.

7" of water you say? Easy enough to do, I like the bucket idea. I've got plenty of space and plenty of buckets. Once I set it back up I'm going to get rid of the outlet pipe that's in the water and I'd like to gate valve mod the thing, if I properly understand the mod (it's just using a gate valve to adjust instead of the stand pipe, right?). As for my mesh I did 3 layers, I have no idea if it is doing better than the pinwheel 'cuz I can't remember how it ran with the pin wheel and like a doofus I used the pinwheel instead of the other impeller to do the mod.

I really appreciate the help you guys are offering, the "manual" this thing came with blows and information found online only makes so much sense to the uninitiated =]


edit: I forgot that I'd be displaying my poor craftsmanship lolol. Not a ton of experience with pvc glue (more the primer) and my silicone beads are uber thick (on purpose, when I used acryllic baffles the beads failed so I went crazy overkill with the glass baffles)

 

[tangtang clown]

Can you take a pic of the outlet side of your skimmer?
Also, check out the Octo Extreme KO skimmer club thread.