Octo Recirc Question

[ifirefight]

I have the Octopus Recirc Needlewheel 200. Had it for a few months now. I dry skim and get some nice colored skimmate. BUT...every once in a while the overflow cup goes crazy and water fills up my cup and dumps all over. It happened this morning. Its almost like somebody closed the gate valve and the water rises to much. Do you thing something is blocking the flow,and therefore overflowing the cup??? The funny thing is it happens only once in a while. Any ideas??

 

[trippkid]

I don't have the Octopuss, but the only time when my skimmer does this, the water level in the sump has increased(auto topoff doesn't shut off, or if my refugium drain gets clogged up a little, makes the ATO dump more in the sump than it should). I don't know if this is the issue with your skimmer. I dry skim too, I set water level in my skimmer about 1.5-2" below where it starts to funnel up to the cup. Again, I don't know if this helps at all, maybe someone else can give their 2 cents. I collect my waste in another container and when it does this, I end up with skimmate all over the place. Has not done this for awhile(knock on wood).
Matt

 

[ifirefight]

Yes, it would happen with an increase in water level....But I dont have an ATO ( well....I am the ATO ).

 

[isistius]

stop letting your kids play under the tank

 

[trippkid]

Somehow there in an increase in backpressure through the unit or pump pushing more water than it should, clogged air intake.

Do you use a feed pump with it or is it plumbed from the tank? Sorry don't have any other ideas. I run the airline from my air intake into a hole I drilled into the top of my collection cup, this prevents it from clogging. Using moist air rather than dry, sort of makes it a self cleaning air intake. Again, sorry can't be of more help.
Matt

 

[ifirefight]

Originally Posted by trippkid

Somehow there in an increase in backpressure through the unit or pump pushing more water than it should, clogged air intake.

Do you use a feed pump with it or is it plumbed from the tank?
I use a feed pump...you can see in the picture...its the little giant,I have it T-d off and some goes to the skimmer and the rest returns to the tank. I dont have a filter screen or anything else on that pump...If that DID get clogged up...that would reduce the water flow and lower the skimmer level. I think it has something to do with the gate valve...somehow something gets in there,restricting the flow and creating the overflow..

 

[chilwil84]

did you dose something into the tank. some chemicals cause skimmers to go nuts while others cause them to not produce anything

 

[ifirefight]

Originally Posted by chilwil84
did you dose something into the tank. some chemicals cause skimmers to go nuts while others cause them to not produce anything
Very good point, I should have stated that I have not dosed anything that would cause that. It is usually fine for a couple weeks and then just overflows...really no rhyme or reason to it. Kind of random...thats what makes it so puzzling.

 

[ifirefight]

Also let me say...that filter sock in the picture , is no longer on the skimmer.

 

[ifirefight]

I was doing a little tank stuff today,and I think I found the reason my skimmer would overflow once in a while. I think trippkid was vrey close to the right answer. I believe it was because my air intake was a little bit clogged...and maybe it would get unclogged a little...hence letting more air in...and raising the water level.... BTW...that was the first time I cleaned the air intake since I installed it.

I should know better than that.

 

[trippkid]

I prevented another disaster last night, my skimmer malfunctioned and just as my collection container was spilling over I caught it and opened up the gate valve more. I guess I'll clean my air intake too, I haven't since I modified it(about a yr I guess). Everything was cool like a half-hour before, I was back in my sump room mixing up a new batch for water change and dosing the tank, went back in later and was like WTH. I guess I'll be the one looking for what went wrong today. Good luck with yours, I've been looking at those skimmers for a little while, I may just modify mine into a recirc.
Matt