octopus protein skimmers

[bkvreef]

I am looking at getting one (probably the 200NW) and am looking for pros and cons.
Also some comments on the mods that I've seen and read would be nice.

 

[bkvreef]

Anybody?

 

[kevin34]

I also plan on getting one and have heard they are great. Even better than ASM and at a very reasonable price.

 

[hammerhed7]

I am interested in this as well, I have heard nothing but good things about the octo's

 

[joncat24]

there are no cons....great construction, great price, easy to use, skim great.

 

[bkvreef]

Originally Posted by joncat24
there are no cons....great construction, great price, easy to use, skim great.

What about the mods.
I read on the site (that I'm getting my nw 200 for $179) about a mod.

 

[reefraff]

I had a recirculating 110. Built like a brick outhouse
Worked pretty well.

 

[joncat24]

Originally Posted by bkvreef
What about the mods.
I read on the site (that I'm getting my nw 200 for $179) about a mod.
that is the gatevalve mod...it is used help regulate the water height in the skimmer a little more precisely than the riser tube

 

[bkvreef]

Originally Posted by joncat24
that is the gatevalve mod...it is used help regulate the water height in the skimmer a little more precisely than the riser tube
Is it a good idea to make it?
From reading the excerpt it doesn't sound all that difficult to build on my own. Is my assumption correct?

 

[thangbom]

great skimmer for the price... only down side i see in the 200 is that the neck is too small after the mesh mod... ( pf4 mesh off the bay for $5, pry off the nw till there is only 1 layer of nw left, then add 2 or 3 layers of the pf4 on.. you can zip tie or fish line tie them to the on spokes.. and put her back in the pump) the pf4 mesh mod get the skimmer to pull 2x more air... you can also smoth out the outlet pipe some in the volute to give the water a smoother ride out of the pump... also reamed out the venturi out some.. then also ream out the outlet plumbing pipes and fitting out as much as you can.. the outlet line is way too small and restricting outflow... you would probally want to put the pump on a kill-a-watt meter just to make sure you dint ass too much pf4 and making it run hotter/more watts then standard... google jctewks octopus mesh mod or something of the kind.. you will find it on --....
YzGyz

 

[stanlalee]

only downside I can think of is some of the pumps have been downgraded a bit (smaller wheels and who knows what else). there have been reports they arent as reliable as the original pumps but thats about the only downside if you have to have one. make sure you buy from a source that takes care of their customers it does become an issue (if you mod it doesn't apply since you void the warranty).