diy gate valve mod...

[leveldrummer]

if anyone is interested in the octopus skimmers, this mod really comes in handy, it took me about 20 minutes to put a gate valve on mine.

i have the 200, for any size skimmer, you have to get the proper sized pvc.
you need a T, a 90, and a gate valve, and a small piece of pipe. (about 2' or so)




the part im modifying is the stand pipe that the water comes out of.



take the stand pipe off.


i left the inside pipe, so people said to cut it down, and glue a coupler on, but this way, i can reverse the mod if i ever want.

i had to ground the inside of the T so it would slip tightly over the existing pipe.
this is before


this is after


i used a simple dremel tool to grind it down
just grind it a little, and check it to see if it fits over the grey pipe on the skimmer, you want it to fit tightly.

if you guys live with a girl, this is the most IMPORTANT PART!!!


assemble the valve, the T and the 90, and a couple pieces of pipe so it looks like this.


i pushed the T down onto the grey pipe so it fit snug, and didnt move,


open the valve all the way, turn on the skimmer



with a simple easy adjustment of the gate valve. the skimmate comes pouring in.





hope this helps anyone that likes a simple DIY project, it sure made me like my skimmer even more.

[Wiskey]

Great writeup! Good work, and very helpfull.

Whiskey

[leveldrummer]

Originally Posted by Wiskey

Great writeup! Good work, and very helpfull.

Whiskey

thanks!! ive looked around alot looking for help on how to do this, and no one had a simple write up. so maybe it will help, next mod im doing will be a drain on the collection cup.

[Wiskey]

Originally Posted by leveldrummer

thanks!! ive looked around alot looking for help on how to do this, and no one had a simple write up. so maybe it will help, next mod im doing will be a drain on the collection cup.

Those drains come in handy,.. but check this out. What I do is put a valve on the drain line,.. close it during the day (so if the skimmer overflows it won't flood my house) then drain the cup once a day by opening the valve.

I clean the neck out every couple days by use of a Bably bottle brush, eazy!

I put a drain in my turbofloater.

Whiskey

[Fly Guy]

Originally Posted by leveldrummer

if you guys live with a girl, this is the most IMPORTANT PART!!!





.

bah. Walking on scraps is part of being in the garage

Tell her to stay in the kitchen

[theplatypus]

Looks good

[Mike01z]

The open part of the pipe that goes straight up from the skimmer outlet ,, why do you have that on there? Its it actually open or closed?

[leveldrummer]

Originally Posted by Fly Guy

bah. Walking on scraps is part of being in the garage

Tell her to stay in the kitchen

she parks in there, and carries our kid in and out, so i better watch my butt

[leveldrummer]

Originally Posted by Mike01z

The open part of the pipe that goes straight up from the skimmer outlet ,, why do you have that on there? Its it actually open or closed?

on the original version, you raise and lower that tube to set the water level, the water actually still rises in that chamber, setting the water level, wish it was clear so you could see what i mean, but it is open on top.

[leveldrummer]

Originally Posted by Wiskey

Those drains come in handy,.. but check this out. What I do is put a valve on the drain line,.. close it during the day (so if the skimmer overflows it won't flood my house) then drain the cup once a day by opening the valve.

I clean the neck out every couple days by use of a Bably bottle brush, eazy!

I put a drain in my turbofloater.

Whiskey

i built a little rack in my sump out of egg crate that holds a gallon jug. i put the end of the drain in it, if the skimmer goes crazy, it will only flow back into the sump. when the jug is half full, i pull the drain out, dump the jug, and back it goes. (on my old one anyway)

i need a bottle brush for the neck though. i usually pull the whole cup off once in a while and scrub it good. but i like the idea of a bottle brush much better.

[Mike01z]

Originally Posted by leveldrummer

on the original version, you raise and lower that tube to set the water level, the water actually still rises in that chamber, setting the water level, wish it was clear so you could see what i mean, but it is open on top.

I think I get it, the higher the tube is the more water the skimmer has to push out so the lower the water lvl is right? The lower it is the less it has to push out so more inside the skimmer.


It makes perfect sense now, thanks.

[Sambo]

Andy

Thanks for this fantastic post - the pictures are a great guide. I've been thinking of trading up my existing skimmer and was going to go for a ASM-G3 but an octopus is also on my list. How are you finding yours?

[crvz]

I've got a similar setup on the tank I've got curing rock right now, but I've put a long reach between the T and the 90 elbow (about 2 feet), and mine is constantly gurgling (i assume there is a syphon somehow). I expect it's because of the extension between the T and the 90, and I won't be doing this when it comes time to move the skimmer to the display, but I thought I'd ask; does this create any syphoning/gurgling on your skimmer?

[leveldrummer]

Originally Posted by Mike01z

I think I get it, the higher the tube is the more water the skimmer has to push out so the lower the water lvl is right? The lower it is the less it has to push out so more inside the skimmer.


It makes perfect sense now, thanks.

actually, you got it backwards, the water level in the tube is the same as what is in the skimmer chamber, raise both together. the tube is where the water leaves the skimmer body, so the higher it is the higher all the water is together.

Originally Posted by Sambo

Andy

Thanks for this fantastic post - the pictures are a great guide. I've been thinking of trading up my existing skimmer and was going to go for a ASM-G3 but an octopus is also on my list. How are you finding yours?

i like it alot, much easier than my old becket, i was looking at asm's too, but the asm site is actually selling the octo's now, i figured i would try it, glad i did too.

Originally Posted by crvz

I've got a similar setup on the tank I've got curing rock right now, but I've put a long reach between the T and the 90 elbow (about 2 feet), and mine is constantly gurgling (i assume there is a syphon somehow). I expect it's because of the extension between the T and the 90, and I won't be doing this when it comes time to move the skimmer to the display, but I thought I'd ask; does this create any syphoning/gurgling on your skimmer?

no gurgleing on this one, do you have a riser pipe? can you post a pic, maybe someone can help.

[crvz]

Originally Posted by leveldrummer

no gurgleing on this one, do you have a riser pipe? can you post a pic, maybe someone can help.

I do not have a current picture, but this shows the basic setup.

http://thereeftank.com/forums/showpo...1&postcount=29

What has changes since this photograph was that I've purchased an actual gate valve and it does have a riser pipe. The gate valve is at the skimmer, too, unlike where the ball valve is here in this photo.

Like I said, I'm pretty sure its a problem with the extension... I was just trying to get a little better water flow in this rock tank so I moved the exit over to the far section of the sump. I'll try to get a better picture sometime later this weekend.