Reef Octopus protein skimmer isn't collecting !!!!

[pyekhine]

Hi,

I bought a used reef octopus extreme 160(psk 2500 pump) for 150g tanks about a month ago. I has been running constantly but i don't see much dirty stuff in the collection up. So i raised the water level to over the neck and still don't see much in the cup. Am I doing something wrong or it is still in the break-in process?

 

[pyekhine]

I have 125g tank with 30g sump, 170lbs of LR, 140lbs of LS and have about 10 fish. 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite...

 

[jaa1456]

I believe that skimmer should be in about 8 inches of water.

 

[pyekhine]

Yea it is about 10" under water. The level i'm talking about it the inside water level....

 

[nybb1001]

any foam head formed? i have the same skimmer, nice one.

 

[pyekhine]

yea, i can see the foam abut it is not falling into the cup. It hits the lid but not overflowing to the cup.... i got the skimmer after reading all the good things about it. It collected about a shot glass full of skim mate over 2 weeks which is ridiculous.

 

[mckostya]

I had the same skimmer and it kept my 90g with 17 fish clean! its great skimmer. however the air tube gets easily stuffed, i would clean it right away. also very important to make sure your sump water level is always the same. if you water level constantly changes, skimmer will not work efficiently. let it break in few weeks and it should be good skimmer for your tank. although if you ask me, this skimmer is perfect for 75/90g tank, not 150...

 

[cisco1717]

one thing for sure, no matter how clean the tank may look or readings be zero u should get some muck. my guess is to clean the air tube and pump esp. at the point where the air tube meets the pump.

 

[pyekhine]

Ok... i'll give it a try... thanks guys...

 

[autoponicz]

got any pics?....is the drain from the display shooting water near the skimmers pump?...how fast is the flow going thru your sump....or you might just need to raise the foam head another notch..
every system is different...so raise or lower the head of foam until it skims to your satisfaction...some like it dry...some like it wet...

 

[pyekhine]

Yes, the drain/filter sock is right next to the skimmer. I have an Eheim 1060 (around 600gph). I raised the level last night but doesn't seem to be working. Is it because of the pump getting weak or should I be using mesh wheel instead of pin wheel? I checked the air tube, it is clean....

 

[aznt1217]

Can't really see the skimmer. But I skim REALLY wet. What happens to me is that it gets stuck in the neck. But it does catch A LOT of stuff. I am replacing my ceramic shaft and pin wheel this week.

I have a mesh wheel running. You may want to try that also.

 

[pyekhine]

Is mesh alot better than the pin wheel? I have a mash material and the yellow impeller. I have no idea now to put the mesh on it without chopping off the plastic impeller... i'll post some picks when i get back....

 

[aznt1217]

You replace the entire impeller. You don't chop anything lol.

Open the pump up and check your impeller shaft. It could be busted.

 

[pyekhine]

the shaft is fine... it is hard to find parts for psk 2500 pump.... it is an European brand, right?

 

[aznt1217]

It's expensive but it's the alternative in the US and they are SWC's US distributor. They have parts for the PSK2500. But if the ceramic shaft is fine. Make sure you have the other parts as well. The rubber foot, and the black rubber in the front that caps the impeller.

http://www.swcskimmers.com/

 

[pyekhine]

Is it possible to replace it with different (better) pump?

 

[pyekhine]

I took it apart before i installed it to clean and everything seems fine. I cleaned the pin wheel, magnet, shaft and everything...

 

[pyekhine]

This is what I got as a mesh wheel. I dont know how the mesh goes on the yellow impeller....

 

[pyekhine]

You can see the water level above the neck and bubbles stop after couple of inches or so.