Octopus Skimmer Problems

[camaroracer214]

I have an Octopus DNW-150 external recirculating protein skimmer that I've had for a few months now, and I'm currently having problems with it. Initially, the skimmer was kicking butt. I would have to empty the skimmer cup regularly. But then I noticed a decrease in performance. I broke the pump down and noticed that one of the very thin plastic-like washers had broken. I thought since it was so small and thin that it had little effect on the skimmer. I plugged it back in and didn't notice anything getting better. Then I decided to do some modding. I kept it simple and only opened up the air intake a slight bit more. Performance immediately increased, but now I'm back to square one. I added a new washer to the impeller shaft to see if that did anything, but still nothing. I'm getting tremendous bubble action within the skimmer body and I am getting skimmate rising to the collection cup. However, when it gets to the top of the tube, it doesn't go into the cup. For whatever reason, I just can't get any skimmate. I've tried different feed pumps, from a MaxiJet 400 to a MaxiJet 1200 to see if there were any differences, but the performance is the same. I've tinkered with wet and dry skimming but still no difference. It's quite frustrating...and internal skimmers aren't an option in my refugium. The refugium is a CPR Aquatics Aquafuge Pro or something like that. It came with a MaxiJet powered skimmer that was designed as a part of the refugium. It worked for a while, but I needed an upgrade and chose the Octopus. Any help or suggestions guys?

 

[Anonymous]

Brandon

I wrote you a reply on the marsh site, check it out. You missed my tank on the tank tour mister lead foot. How did traffic cout go?

Later

 

[camaroracer214]

actually...i misread the ticket. the court date was for 7/7/08, not 6/7/08. it makes sense too since courts usually don't meet on saturdays. i'm such a tard. btw...responded to your marsh post. thanks.

 

[Ben1]

actually...i misread the ticket. the court date was for 7/7/08, not 6/7/08

I have gone 10 months ticket free, woo hoo. Next suspension would have been 1 year for me lol.

Anyhow sorry not much advice on the skimmer. Maybe give the whoel thing a nice cleaning and soak the pump in vinager for a night.

 

[camaroracer214]

the thing about the skimmer is that it's only about 3 months old. i've broken it down several times to see why i'm not skimming properly and each time it has been clean as a whistle. i am getting some skimmate that rises up to the top of the collection cup every once in a while, but it never seems to go into the collection cup and it's never dark.

 

[Ben1]

I saw on your other thread you are using prodibo, is that the same concept as using a carbon source? IIRC if that is the case then the skimmer should be skimming more not less. I am not sure how prodibo works though.

 

[camaroracer214]

prodibio is a bacterial culture that you can add to your tank to help reduce nutrients. basically, you break open a couple of vials into your tank every two weeks and let them do their job. they reduce nitrates and phosphates mostly, but can also take care of ammonia and nitrite if you get any spikes. they do work. i've seen it in my tank as well as a few others. as the story goes, you add the stuff to your tank every two weeks and after about a month or so of treating, you should see a dramatic decrease in excess nutrients. someone of RC posted a day by day testing from day 1 and right at the 4 week (or after the second treatment) the nitrates and phosphates just fall right off.

it's not like adding sugar or vodka. basically with those you are feeding and growing your own bacteria. with prodibio, you're adding bacteria to "supercharge" your system.

 

[Ben1]

Sounds interesting. In anycase it does sound like that may be that case then that the nutrient is so low in your system there isnt much left to skim.

Maybe bring your skimmer to work and throw in on one of the systems and see if it takes off?

 

[SnowManSnow]

I have that EXACT skimmer. If you do the mesh wheel mod it will increase the performance 10X. No joke. It make it skim like a skimmer that would cost a thousand more. The ONLY downside is that it DOES make it a little louder.

Word of advice. Go ahead and find a way to actually RESTRICT the air intake if you do the mesh wheel. If you don't you'll over flood your collection cup the first night it is on. Yes, it makes so many air bubbles that it actually OVER preforms.

I took the extra parts from a RODI unit and did this. On the tube that takes the air in.. insert some of that stiff plastic tubing that you use with the RODI unit. Buy an extra gate valve, like the one on your RODI unit that dictates how much waste water you make and put it on the end of the tube. Then just add a little more tubing on the other side of the valve so that the air intake is higher than the collection cup so that water doesnt shoot out if the power goes off and the cylinder fills up.

Bingo, you've got a way to actually dial in how much air your skimmer takes in.


I highly recommend doing the mesh wheel mod. IF you need help doing it drop me a pm .. ill be happy to walk you through it.

B.

 

[camaroracer214]

ok, so i'm getting a little enkamat from a local club member, probably today. i'll pm you later b for some help if i can't find any links on the net. or if you have links can you go ahead and post them for us all to enjoy?

 

[SnowManSnow]

It's really easy to do once you get over the fact that you have to destroy your OEM needle wheel haha.

B.

 

[camaroracer214]

i was seeing on rc where people didn't have to destroy the needle wheel. they just zip tied the mesh to the needle wheel and let it go to town. i'm going to try the rc method first, then if it doesn't work, i'll continue on.