HELP with Reef Octopus sss-3000int

globaldesigns · #1 03-13-2013, 11:33 PM

Finally found a video of my actual model on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xvlC2D67zg

This video shows the agressiveness of the internal water. Within the skimmer cup column you will notice it is like rapids, instead of a nice bubble head rising to the top. Is this what I should be doing?

If this is the case, maybe I am tuning this thing wrong. So I have put it back in the sump as the video shows, and how others here explained. I will let it settle, and eventually it will go crazy like the video, I will then adjust accordingly. Then I will see if it can hold this level and aggressiveness.

If this is the case, boy this skimmer functions totally different to any skimmer I had before.

globaldesigns · #2 03-14-2013, 08:58 PM

Well, went to LFS to get new pump, but of course the new one is slightly different than what I had for mounting.

Jeremy from Coralvue, called me while I was in the store. I went home to take a picture of my venturi, as I always had a feeling it was that. I have included the image I sent.

Jeremy's comments: "That is definitely your issue. I am surprised it was working at all."

Problem is that the air nozzle is going into the inner chamber, and is pretty close to the inner wall. This probably causing poor air flow, especially if things like salt, snails, debris plug it up. This causing my up and down inconsistancies and poor bubble head and no skimmate. When I unplug, it probably backflushes it clean, until it happens again. Even if it didn't plug up, skimming abilities probably would always be next to nothing, like I have been experiencing.

So I am glad to finally figure things out. Looking forward to having a new skimmer that works properly. YIPPPPEEEE!!!

I do want to thank Jeremy from Coralvue, also Dave and Denny at Concepts. They all were probably very frustrated with my persistence, but I am glad to finally get a resolution, and thanks to you all!!!

Now I wait for the new part.

lastlight · #3 03-14-2013, 09:03 PM

even if we did suspect the chaps were on a little tight... there's no denying that's a real issue! glad you sorted it out... i would have probably run it over by now lol.

globaldesigns · #4 03-14-2013, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lastlight

even if we did suspect the chaps were on a little tight... there's no denying that's a real issue! glad you sorted it out... i would have probably run it over by now lol.

Oh believe me... I was ready to do many things to this thing, was even measuring and looking at Bubble Kings, etc. Hopefully things work as they should.

And I DON'T wear chaps anymore. JEEEEEZZZZ, I will never live that down will I.

Lexy · #5 03-15-2013, 01:32 PM

Your skimmer's pump have a build in monitoring safety switch. If there is any slight internal pressure changes inside the impeller casing or air intake restriction or motor faulty it will show down the rotation and eventually stop. Your water level must have a constant level. Since you replaced the impeller, did u check if the impeller magnet, if there is any hair line crack? From your picture, air intake line look good and not pinch. Try to unplug the power and let it sit for 5 - 10 mins, then power it back. It should run in full capacity or sometime it lagging. If it doing it again, I think it skimmer pump is the problem.

globaldesigns · #6 03-15-2013, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lexy

Your skimmer's pump have a build in monitoring safety switch. If there is any slight internal pressure changes inside the impeller casing or air intake restriction or motor faulty it will show down the rotation and eventually stop. Your water level must have a constant level. Since you replaced the impeller, did u check if the impeller magnet, if there is any hair line crack? From your picture, air intake line look good and not pinch. Try to unplug the power and let it sit for 5 - 10 mins, then power it back. It should run in full capacity or sometime it lagging. If it doing it again, I think it skimmer pump is the problem.

Its not a matter of a pinched line, if you look at the internal chamber of the venturi, the airline tube pertrudes into the chamber. In actual fact it is maybe 2mm away from the inner wall. So there is a major restriction here. Salt creep, snails, dust, crud will also easily plug it.

Looking forward to the new part, and hopefully a skimmer that works!

RuGlu6 · #7 03-16-2013, 10:27 PM

Wow, this took some time to figure out (glad you did).
I have exact same pump Bubble Blaster 3000 the newest version. And it makes my skimmer insanely powerful. I i get around to upload the pics and video i will post it.
It is a cone but not a SRO, design is similar to vertex. Water level is very stable in mine though.

http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=76429
I have replaced oem pump with Bubble Blaster 3000 for more air intake volume, oem was 700l/h BB3000 is up to 1400l/h.

And it seems a little too powerful for the skimmer size, so as you also noticed there is a lot of turbulence in the reaction chamber even though there is a diffusion plate on the pump output fitting.

So my solution to it was a plastic netting rolled in to a reaction chamber to reduce the turbulence as well as air intake control to reduce bubble size and turbulence.

Also a very good practice is to unplug the skimmer every time you clean a collection cup so your ventury is getting soaked and cleaned more frequently.