Skimmer question

[stangd1909]

I bought a Reef octopus skimmer off a member here. Well it doesn't seem to be skimming....I noticed water coming out of the bottom of the collection cup where there is a little hole. Is that hole supposed to be there? THANKS FOR ANY HELP>

Here is a pic of the bottom of my collection cup

Here is a short video of the skimmer in action...

 

[shifty51008]

I am guessing that hole is for an external drain. you can plug it up if you want. or you can run a hose to a larger container to collet the skimmate.

it can take a few days to still break back in the skimmer so just give it time. it looks like it is producing very nice bubbles

 

[stangd1909]

Thank you for your help....

 

[seanm001]

I have a Reef Octopus skimmer, and shifty's assertion is correct - that hole is a drain hole. From your video, it looks as though your skimmer is creating a foam head and that some foam is running into the collection cup, so it's running correctly, but if you don't plug that hole the skimmate will just drain right back into your sump. It could be that the previous owner was using the drain hole to drain skimmate into a separate (and probably larger) container and therefore was not using and possibly no longer had the rubber plug to give you.

Next, it looks like you may have it assembled wrong. The "A" tube should be inserted into the elbow coming out of the skimmer body. On top of that, you put the tee and on top of that you put the tuning tube labeled "Open / Closed." The "B" tube is an outlet extension tube that can be inserted into the downdraft side of the street ell. However, if the outlet tube is submerged more than 1" it will create back pressure that will negatively impact your foam head. You want your outlet in just enough water to keep it from splashing and making noise. I do not use the "B" tube at all and I have the street ell turned so that the top edge is just barely under the water's surface.

Also, make sure you are running the skimmer in 8" - 10" of water. Anything less or more will negatively impact performance. The water depth in my sump is 12" so I built a stand for my skimmer to keep it at the right depth.

Shifty is also right in that it takes some time for the skimmer to build up the biofilm that will make it run really well. After a few days, you can tune the height of the skimmer head by turning the tuning tube. I typically keep my skimmer set so the water level in the reaction chamber is even with the bottom of the collection cup. My head drops a bit when I feed but it goes up when I add aminos, so keeping it set at that level seems to skim well without overflowing.

PM me if you want more help. I know the instructions on those skimmers are horrible, even if you managed to get them from the previous owner.

 

[stangd1909]

Thanks a lot for the great info. When I received the skimmer, he gave me a pic of how is should be put together. Here is a pic out of the water.....do you know where I can buy a rubber plug? Again thanks a lot...

 

[stangd1909]

I see from looking at your pics mine is all jacked up lol. I will remove it and fix at once. Your post is a huge help....thanks :beer: I just need to find one of those damn plugs LOL.

 

[seanm001]

Reef Octopus was bought out by CoralVue, so that would be who you'd want to contact for an OEM part. Other than that, you could go to the supermarket or some such place and buy a bag of assorted rubber stoppers and probably find one that would fit. As a last resort, you could use a piece of vinyl or rubber tubing, slip it over the nipple, and then clamp it off with a clothespin or binder clip or something similar. If you don't think you'll use the drain hole, you could just put a squirt of aquarium silicone in there and let it cure for 24 hours.

I have found that I use my drain hole quite frequently, like when the skimmer goes nuts or when I do skimmer water changes, so I would definitely encourage you to avoid plugging that drain hole in any permanent way.

One other thing I forgot to mention... Reef Octopus used to include rubber airline tubing to go from the volute to the silencer. This flexible tubing has a tendency to pinch and restrict airflow, so I (at the advice of others) bought some 1/2" diameter polyethylene line from Home Depot and replaced it. The polyethylene tubing is more rigid, so it won't pinch off.

 

[stangd1909]

Again thanks for all your help, I just email CoralVue....so I hope I can buy another plug.

 

[alanbates12]

Here is the person you can get in touch with for parts. And it is a drain plug.
Jeremy@CoralVue
CoralVue Lighting & Reef Octopus Aquarium Products
Call us at (985)781-9078 \ Visit us at www.CoralVue.com
Your skimmer looks fine. Just needs to break in. Here is a video of mine brand new. I was told to let the bubbles break about halfway up the neck till it breaks in. This video I've got it skimming to much...
Good Luck.


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[stangd1909]

Here is the person you can get in touch with for parts. And it is a drain plug.
Jeremy@CoralVue
CoralVue Lighting & Reef Octopus Aquarium Products
Call us at (985)781-9078 \ Visit us at www.CoralVue.com
Your skimmer looks fine. Just needs to break in. Here is a video of mine brand new. I was told to let the bubbles break about halfway up the neck till it breaks in. This video I've got it skimming to much...
Good Luck.


<embed width="600" height="361" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullscreen="true" allowNetworking="all" wmode="transparent" src="http://static.photobucket.com/player.swf" flashvars="file=http%3A%2F%2Fvid921.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fad59%2Frab1212%2FOctopusSimmer.mp4">

Thanks a lot, I ordered two plugs today. :beer: