Skimmer Help

[MikeDeL]

I just got a Octopus DNWB-110 Needlewheel Recirculating Skimmer from premium aquatics. The site advertises it as internal or external, but the directions say external only...... What the **? So anyone else use this skimmer? How is it set up?... Also it doesnt really give directions on how to work it either... Any help would be appreciated.


Thanks,
Mike

[justahobby]

That's the first complaint I came across when researching Octopus...NO directions. I haven't purchased one yet, but I know there are threads on different forums that pop up if you just google the model.

[MikeDeL]

so no one has used this skimmer?

[LoneStar]

Well the main issue here is wether or not the recirculating pump is really meant to be wet or not. I believe the manufacturer is stating that it is meant to be run externally only as a precaution if the pump were to fail (or short out). I am not sure if their external skimmer pumps are any different than their submerged style pumps. Either way, if you choose to run the skimmer internally, I would make sure the skimmer sits high enough in the water column as that the water level would not come in contact with the pump.

As for running the skimmer, you will need to feed water to it either through a seperate feed pump (like a small eheim or maxi-jet) or split a drain line and run it directly into the skimmer. In either setup, you will want to have a valve inline so you can adjust the flow going into the skimmer's main body. This will help you 'tune' the skimmer.