impur Posted February 4, 2007 Author Share Posted February 4, 2007 Ok so i added 2 layers of mesh. I cut out the tabs in my sump to give the skimmer a better fit overall. Its been running for an hour, i see what you guys meant about the chamber not being as full of bubbles as it should now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted February 4, 2007 Author Share Posted February 4, 2007 For comparison before now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R-3 Posted February 4, 2007 Share Posted February 4, 2007 Yeah that looks better. Keep us updated. Later Ryan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powdertang05 Posted February 4, 2007 Share Posted February 4, 2007 on my octopus i had to drill bigger holes in the venturi and also the u that goes from the pump to the skimmer chamber and also take out the needlewheel parts and put mesh down with a plastic panel that i used a hole saw to make super glued it then i was only able to strap down 2 layers of mesh and also use a air pump and finally it was like a champ lots of work think ill go with as deltec or mrc next time maybe a geo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vanz Posted February 4, 2007 Share Posted February 4, 2007 wow, definitely bigger difference in micro bubbles now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted February 4, 2007 Author Share Posted February 4, 2007 The water level seems to fluctuate in the neck. It keeps going up and down maybe 1/4". I've got no foam now. Grrr. I did just do a decent sized WC though...i'll give it a day or 2. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reefgeek84 Posted February 5, 2007 Share Posted February 5, 2007 The water level seems to fluctuate in the neck. It keeps going up and down maybe 1/4". I've got no foam now. Grrr. I did just do a decent sized WC though...i'll give it a day or 2. Mine does the same, but still produces a bunch of skimate.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldbrownies Posted February 5, 2007 Share Posted February 5, 2007 maybe you just don't have anything in the water to skim out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAVES Posted February 6, 2007 Share Posted February 6, 2007 the level of water in your sump like Ryan pointed out greatly effects these skimmers. I would also consider the mesh mod, that made a huge difference on the rps-2000 at the shop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted February 6, 2007 Author Share Posted February 6, 2007 As you can see in the pic its only in maybe 4-6" of water. I have left it to skim over the weekend didn't get any foam all weekend. THis morning there is foam, its up to the top of the collection riser and the neck is brown again. I just hope the stuff gets into the cup finally. I'm going to add the gatevalve mod this week. I would tend to agree there isn't much to skim, but my Via Aqua skimmer pulled a few cups a week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted February 7, 2007 Author Share Posted February 7, 2007 Here's how it looks tonight. Still no skimmate after 14 days of continuous use. Becoming frusterated! All reviews say this is a great skimmer. Comparing it to an ASM there is not much difference. I just don't get it. Do you really have to spend a min of $500 on a skimmer to get decent performance? If thats the case i'll just run skimmerless i guess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted February 7, 2007 Author Share Posted February 7, 2007 Ok i think i've found the problem. The venturi on this pump is crap, just pure crap. I dumped 1/2 cup of RO water down the tube and viola!!! Instant skimmate. The foam instantly went over the riser into the cup. The venturi is getting clogged after about 2 days. Now i have to come up with a fix. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vanz Posted February 7, 2007 Share Posted February 7, 2007 cool. now show us some skimate!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted February 7, 2007 Author Share Posted February 7, 2007 Will do as soon as i fix this venturi. Any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vanz Posted February 7, 2007 Share Posted February 7, 2007 yup, buy a new pump (agree) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted February 8, 2007 Author Share Posted February 8, 2007 Bleh nah i can fix it for much less. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy Posted February 8, 2007 Share Posted February 8, 2007 I made my venturi out of a 3/4" -> 1/2" slip/threaded bushing screwed into a 1/2" -> 3/4" threaded/slip bushing. I drilled a hole into the part 'downstream' from the constricted, and glued in a short length of epoxy tubing for the air supply. It works just fine on my OR2700 NW. Like this: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted February 8, 2007 Author Share Posted February 8, 2007 Thanks Andy, i can do that, piece o cake How do you attach it to your pump? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nu2reef-n Posted February 8, 2007 Share Posted February 8, 2007 Excellent DIY venturi. Nice and cheap. Good job Andy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theron Posted February 8, 2007 Share Posted February 8, 2007 I might have another solution. I was told to put a timer on the NW pump on my deltec so that it would shut off for 10 minutes every day. This allowed the tube to fill with water and disolve any salt deposits. Might try that if you have a spare timer. Theron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted February 8, 2007 Author Share Posted February 8, 2007 That was in the instructions? Hmm interesting, i think i've heard that before. Makes sense! Here is what i did, and i am getting much more bubbles in the chamber i think. It seems to be a lot more white than before. Now we'll see how long that lasts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy-S Posted February 8, 2007 Share Posted February 8, 2007 Yep photos look a lot whiter i would say you increased the bubbles two fold Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy Posted February 8, 2007 Share Posted February 8, 2007 I just glued it inline with the recirc pump... You can see it pretty clearly in this picture Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theron Posted February 8, 2007 Share Posted February 8, 2007 I did not get written instructions with the skimmer. I bought it used, but the person I purchased it from told me that is what he did to keep it clean. Theron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted February 13, 2007 Author Share Posted February 13, 2007 Well i've got wet green/brown water in my collection cup, maybe 3/4". I really gotta do something about the venturi, it clogs and limits the air into the skimmer after 1 day. I'm gonna just drill it out and use larger tubing. I think the 90 el it makes inside that fitting is the culprit. I'm going to implement Theron's idea for this week and see how it does. I have a spare timer now that i finally took my xmas lights down lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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