Octopus NW-150 issues

[EMSguy]

Got a new Octopus NW-150 yesterday. There is no instruction booklet - just a diagram on how to assemble it - which has much to be desired. But I figured it out, eventually. The water and bubbles are at least 6 inches from even reaching the neck below the collection cup. It's been this way for 12 hours and the bubbles won't get any higher. Here is a pic of what it looks like.




Any suggestions on how to get this thing working correctly?

[EMSguy]

I have raised the out-line and the water level has increased up to the cup, but it isn't over flowing into the cup yet. Do I need to raise it more? Or will it eventually make itself up there?

[daytonreefRob]

There is a riser pipe on the exhaust of the skimmer, raise it until you get the type/amount of skimmate that you want. Most skimmers will take anywhere from 3 days to two weeks to break in, give it a little time.

[MSU Fan]

unfortunately, these skimmers need to sit in a lot more water than what you got - typically 9-10" of water. I don't know if you are going to be able to run this skimmer with the water level as low as you have it now.

[luke33]

As long as the pump is under water it won't matter, but the splash is going to be horrendous! Just have teh water level up to where the riser tube starts, and the bubbles are about half way up the neck.

[ElDiabloPollo]

Since it is acrylic, it needs a week or two "break in" time to start producing skimate. Give it time.

[Conesus_Kid]

Originally posted by MSU Fan
unfortunately, these skimmers need to sit in a lot more water than what you got - typically 9-10" of water. I don't know if you are going to be able to run this skimmer with the water level as low as you have it now.

Agreed. I have this skimmer in 9" of water and I have to empty the cup every other day or else it overflows with stinky, thick, black coffee-like skimmate.

Once you get things dialed in, you're going to love this skimmer!

[salth2owannabe]

Also- I wouldn't get the column too high as it is breaking in you may go to bed and wake up to a mess and find the thing bubbling over full. Like they said above give it a little time and go a little slow.

[barjam]

I don't think he even has the riser tube installed, see the seal ring?

[daytonreefRob]

Originally posted by barjam
I don't think he even has the riser tube installed, see the seal ring?

Now that you point that out, I think you are right.

[jcpatella]

I just noticed that too (seal ring). Check the box it came in - it should have a black riser tube that goes right over the fixed tube.

[MSU Fan]

Yeah, without that riser tube (or an installed gatevalve mod), you aren't going to be able to raise the water up higher.

Can't believe I missed that!!!

[barjam]

I found on my 110 that even the riser tube can't go high enough to skim wet. I ended up shoving a PVC fitting down the tube (about 1.5 inches worth) and now I can finally skim wet.