The last Octo mod

[Covey]

How did that saying go?

"Me breaking everything is the mother of all invention"

Well in my case it is. I did this about a month ago and I thought I would post some pictures and explain it. So I had a SSSLLLOOWWW drip that I probably could have left alone but I just had to fix. As is usually the case with me and plastic part I used the the old turn it till it breaks and then back off a bit. So standing the with the broken output to the recirc pump in my hand. I had a few options.

1) Buy a new skimmer (New toys are fun but my taste are just too expensive)

2) Find and order a new pump then mod all the mods I had moded to that point just to get back to where I am.

3) Do the last and most invasive of the mods I know of.

I went with number 3.

 

[Covey]

So you take this eheim at $120
http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merc...OD&Product_Code=EHEIM1260&Category_Code=Eheim

and if your deltec or H&S you add a NW and then fine tune the impeller. Fine tune the venturi and then finally increase the plumbings output diameter and you get this pump for an unavailable $300.
http://www.finsreef.com/product.php?productid=16350&cat=284&page=2

BUT

BUT

The blueprint is right there.

So I had all ready mesh moded the impeller and tuned it to the max air output.

I had all ready moded and fine tuned the venturi.

So with that broken plastic in hand I set off on the last mod increasing the output diameter of the pumps plumbing.

 

[Covey]

Ok so why would you want to increase the size of the output.

Basically for the hundreds of thousands of needle wheel skimmers out in the world now there is not a SINGLE pump in the world that is design from the ground up as a "air chopping" pump rather than water moving pump.

All companies when making there skimmers modify the stock pumps to suit there needs. Some better than others. The Seaclone gets a new intake on an other wise stock Maxi-jet. The better companies go thru the whole process above.

So Haliea pump on the Octo skimmer comes stock with restrictive plumbing on the output made worse by a poor choice in plumbing. Still narrower.

Well I broke that off the its time to mod :lol:

 

[Covey]

Sorry for the mutli post RC tend to f up the long post so I am not taking any chances.

Here is the scary part. I had to take a hole saw and drill out the existing output on the skimmer body. I started it in foward and then finished to hole in reverse.

I don't know if this is a good thing or a bad thing but I didn't even have to leave the house as my junk drawer full of plumbing parts and all the 1" plumbing I needed. :rolleye1:

I had to fabricate a new pipe into the skimmer I only had that hole the size pipe and I couldn't fit my hand in to add a tee or anything so I had to come up the something.

I used a straight section of pipe and caped it then dremeled out to large hole on either side to make a tee of sorts that I could just slide right in.

Looks like crap but but breathes alot better than stock.

Beside you never see it when its on

 

[Covey]

So the outside plumbing

Kept the layout of everything the same I just made it bigger.

It was nice that everything still lined up on the stock hole spacing or I would have been screwed.

another pic

To be on the safe side considering my gorilla fisted maintenance skills I've got one stick of AquaMend supporting the plumbing on the body and one stick support the plumbing added on to the pump.

Works good it not as jaw dropping as the mesh mod. Seem to make the pump run cooler and a I wish I had a Kill-A-Watt as I would bet the wattage went down too.

Check out the Baby poo

I've got nothing left to mod I am going to have to buy a new skimmer just to have something to fiddle with:lol:

 

[Nanemene]

Aye. Complicado.

 

[SnkyJake]

Did anyone else notice the body laying in the bath tub, which is behind the water bottles, which are behind the "I'm old enough to drinkwristband from last night's concert, which is next to the empty loctite putty package, which is above the shoes (presumably from the body in the bath tub) near the super glue?
ROFL... Sorry Clayton, I couldn't resist!!!!
(I wonder how many people are scrolling back up to look...)

 

[leeweber85]

I don't see the body in the bathtub, I think your on crack