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| General Reef Discussion In this forum we discuss issues related to keeping marine and reef aquariums in a friendly flame-free environment. |
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11-11-2007, 10:18 AM
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#1
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Reef Nut
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Illinois
Posts: 1,215
Reviews: 1
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Use Skimmer pump for Return pump?
I'm working on my new 75 set up and I broke my Octopus NW 200 skimmer. I will need to get a new skimmer, but now I have the pump which is brand new and I can't find a way to get a new skimmer w/o the pump. I was wondering if I could take out the needlewheel part and use the pump as my return pump? What do I need to put in the pump to make it work, or do I just break off the 'needles'? (I'm planning on another NW 200, so I know the pumps would match for my return.) Any ideas/suggestions would be great, I'd hate to waste all of the $'s spent for that skimmer. Don
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11-11-2007, 10:32 AM
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#2
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Gone Snorkeling...
  
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Greenville,SC
Posts: 8,520
Reviews: 52
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how did you break it... post pics... maybe you can salvage it or someone else can and then buy another return pump..
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11-11-2007, 11:02 AM
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#3
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Reef Nut
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Illinois
Posts: 1,215
Reviews: 1
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It's not salvagable. I would sell the pump, but if I could use it somehow, it wouldn't be a total waste.
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11-11-2007, 11:08 AM
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#4
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Little Fishy
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Albuquerque, NM
Posts: 385
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hey scoop! sorry about your skimmer. I've ordered that very skimmer for my new 220. please tell me what happened in the hopes I can avoid breaking mine! Thanks.
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biggest problem a smart guy has,  he thinks he's smart
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11-11-2007, 11:52 AM
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#5
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Ghost of reefers past
Join Date: Jan 1999
Location: Southern Oregon, Way West of Dimples ;)
Posts: 25,131
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Not sure about needle wheel pumps but if you use Identical pumps for skimmer and return the flow rates will not be the same. The skimmer will create a lot of back pressure and slower thru rate, and the return pump wont hit maximum flow rate depending on the return line height and number of bends in the line, FWIW
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11-11-2007, 12:15 PM
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#6
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.
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: NW
Posts: 11,333
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Just dont hook the venturi up to it and it will pump fine.
AFter head pressure on your return it should be a pretty good match for the same pump pumping air and water to your skimmer
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I like to glue animals to rocks and put disturbing amounts of electricity and saltwater next to each other
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11-11-2007, 12:17 PM
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#7
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Reef Nut
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Illinois
Posts: 1,215
Reviews: 1
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David, I broke it cutting the pipe to do the gate valve mod - it's a very difficult modification, you have to cut a thin pipe and try to balance a very slightly larger pipe on top of where you cut it and try to get it to stick enough to hold a very heavy gate valve. Anyway, a lot of people have done it, so it could just be me.
Doug, I was just kidding about matching the flow. Do you know what I could do to make the pump work as a return pump, though?
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11-11-2007, 12:18 PM
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#8
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Reef Nut
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Illinois
Posts: 1,215
Reviews: 1
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Fly, I don't think it has a venturi? There is a needlewheel inside the pump that creates the bubbles, how do I replace that, or can I just take the needles off?
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11-11-2007, 12:26 PM
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#9
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Ghost of reefers past
Join Date: Jan 1999
Location: Southern Oregon, Way West of Dimples ;)
Posts: 25,131
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Quote:
Originally Posted by scoop
Fly, I don't think it has a venturi? There is a needlewheel inside the pump that creates the bubbles, how do I replace that, or can I just take the needles off?
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I think it would need switched to a standard impeller to pump much for a return
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Cowboy is a verb, not a noun
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11-11-2007, 12:27 PM
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#10
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.
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: NW
Posts: 11,333
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Quote:
Originally Posted by scoop
Fly, I don't think it has a venturi? There is a needlewheel inside the pump that creates the bubbles, how do I replace that, or can I just take the needles off?
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The needlewheel only chops the air up if their is air there to be chopped up in the first place. No airline= no air
It isnt the most efficient pump that way, but you dont need that much out of your return pump anyway.
I could be wrong here and Im not familiar with what kind pf pump it is exadctly, but Im willing to bet that the same pump pumping air and water to your skimmer, as the pump hooked up to your return dealing with the lift and bends to your tank, will be moving real close to the same amount fo water whcih is what you want.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Doug1
I think it would need switched to a standard impeller to pump much for a return
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You very well may be right......im not sure how the pump will handle the head pressure but I use a sedra 9000 to mix water sometimes and it seems to move water just fine with the needlewheel......the question I 'spose will lie in how it hanldes the head pressure
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I like to glue animals to rocks and put disturbing amounts of electricity and saltwater next to each other
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11-11-2007, 12:32 PM
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#11
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Reef Nut
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Illinois
Posts: 1,215
Reviews: 1
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Fly, I wasn't thining when you said venturi, duh, Just don't attach the air tube. I got it. Does anyone know if they make a regular impeller for the pump that comes with an Octopus NW 200 skimmer? Thanks, Don
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11-11-2007, 12:34 PM
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#12
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.
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: NW
Posts: 11,333
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Don, can you post a pic of where and how you broke your skimmer??
Its acrylic and plastic. Unless you absolutley crushed it........i think theres a real good chance we can fix it and save you a couple hundred bucks
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I like to glue animals to rocks and put disturbing amounts of electricity and saltwater next to each other
Last edited by Fly Guy; 11-11-2007 at 12:45 PM.
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11-11-2007, 12:51 PM
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#13
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Gone Snorkeling...
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Greenville,SC
Posts: 8,520
Reviews: 52
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i agree... unless you want to get another.. in that case, send it to me... i'll pay the shipping 
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My 135RR Tank build
Upstate SC Reefers Unite!! Join the PMAC!
"Imagination is more important than knowledge." - Albert Einstein
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11-11-2007, 04:58 PM
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#14
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Reefless Reefer
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Durham, NC
Posts: 20,559
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you will get very little head pressure out of a needlewheel pump. you need the surface are on the blades to push the water. the regular impellor should be a direct replacement for the needlewheel one.
G~
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11-11-2007, 08:21 PM
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#15
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Reef Nut
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Illinois
Posts: 1,215
Reviews: 1
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Fly, Here are some pic's. I broke it trying to do the gate valve mod, I bought the kit from Marine Solutions. I wasn't careful and just snapped off the whole output potion from the skimmer body.Here are a couple of pics - i would live to get it fixed vs. buying a new one if it is possible. Don
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