Octopus skimmer -any way to make this work?

katlongo · #1 12/17/2007, 04:03 PM

I LOVE my octopus 150. However,the pump died a few weeks ago. I inadvertently ordered a 3000 model replacement instead of a 2000.

Is there anyway to make it work? The connections are a different size and the connectors that they sent me are totally different - they are a slip fitting on one end. Also, the water intake doesn't have a hole for the air hose....

Any thoughts? I desperately need to get my skimmer back on line without reordering a second replacement pump and waiting a week.

JCTewks · #2 12/17/2007, 04:07 PM

There is ALWAYS a way to make it work

It meay not be pretty, or reversible though

Really though, the OTP3000 is just too much for that skimmer...I don't think you'll be able to get the water level in the skimmer body low enough top keep it from overflowing constantly. I would go ahead and retirn the 3000 and get the 2000 ordered. Your tank will do fine for up to a couple of weeks without a skimmer. Just decrease your feeding a little and maybe throw an extra water change in.

katlongo · #3 12/17/2007, 04:14 PM

bumer..... I've decreased the feeding, but haven't been able to do a water change yet (I'm working massive OT at the job right now and am barely keeping the tank running). The water is looking a little shady so I guess I'll do that tonight .

luke33 · #4 12/17/2007, 04:29 PM

I'd agree with JCT, the flow will be to much for that guy.

JCTewks · #5 12/17/2007, 04:43 PM

Do you currently run carbon? if not, you might want to start running some until you can get the skimmer working again. If you are running it, try changing the carbon. Carbon will help remove some of the pollutants from the water.

katlongo · #6 12/17/2007, 04:52 PM

I'm running Phosban so I'll switch to carbon

flasher1 · #7 12/17/2007, 05:01 PM

you could extend the neck by about a foot or two to keep the skimmer from overflowing. Should pull some nasty stuff.

JCTewks · #8 12/17/2007, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by flasher1
you could extend the neck by about a foot or two to keep the skimmer from overflowing. Should pull some nasty stuff.

Not really, all that would do is add more back pressure to a pump that is already REALLY sensitive to pressure. You'd have flow through like mad, but not a lot of air to go with it. The nocks on theses skimemrs are already too small for what the skimmer pumps could do that are on them.

I added a neck extensionto my dnw110, but it was so that the skimmer could handle TONS of air, not more water.

katlongo: IMO, the nw150 that you are running is too small to begin with if it is on the system in your sig line. The nw200 would be a better fit (if it were modded to the max). You could go ahead and make a larger skimmer DIY since you already have the OTP3000 pump. an 8" body, 24" reaction chamber, 4" neck, mod the OTP3000 to pull 40+scfh and your all set