Downdraft Skimmer identification. Octopus logo.

[mcarroll]

...can anyone ID this skimmer for me? It is old and I have been assuming it is a Reef Octopus, but google has never turned anything up for me when I've tried to verify it. There are no other markings. It's a downdraft style skimmer and had been hooked up to a submersible 1200 GPH pump.

I need the manual so i can stop guessing about the correct operating depth....and also need a new lid.

 

[redfishbluefish]

I think that decal is a ruse. To me it looks more like an MRC (MyReef Creation) or an MTC (Marine Technical Concepts). The black box (newer ones, blue) on the bottom is very much like MRC's and the gray screw collar is found on both the MTC and MRC skimmer. That said, I don't think it's either....maybe a blend of two or more skimmers? I'm at a loss, but will follow out of curiosity. And FYI, I've had both skimmers in the past....best for skimming but too noisy and energy hogs.

 

[mcarroll]

Me too...and thanks for the bump. :)

The base has really sharp corners which I've never seen one of the majors do....always a nice rounded edge...this base would cut you. But you're right about a lot of the similarities.

The neck is just a union fitting, so unthreading it to empty the cup is never fun. Hoping it's tunable to be self-cleaning like an ETSS, but so far I can barely get it to skim. If I didn't know who had it before me and how much they liked it, I would've junked it by now.

I'm a fan of ETSS and AquaC...never had a chance to have an MTC, but I did eyeball and airstone powerd MTC on Marketplace not too long ago. We have a one-dimensional skimmer market these days. You can have any kind of skimmer you want, as long as its a needlewheel. :D

 

[UncommonSense]

I need the manual so i can stop guessing about the correct operating depth....

Most downdraft skimmers I’ve seen employ a gate valve on the drain plumbing, which allows you to fine tune reaction chamber water height independent of submersion height!

These type of skimmers were sometimes externally/remotely mounted, and plumbed to/from the sump… a gate valve would be mandatory in this scenario!

— does this skimmer employ bio balls or anything else inside the downdraft tower? Or does it spray directly into the reaction chamber?

 

[mcarroll]

Most downdraft skimmers I’ve seen employ a gate valve on the drain plumbing, which allows you to fine tune reaction chamber water height independent of submersion height!

These type of skimmers were sometimes externally/remotely mounted, and plumbed to/from the sump… a gate valve would be mandatory in this scenario!

— does this skimmer employ bio balls or anything else inside the downdraft tower? Or does it spray directly into the reaction chamber?

Right!

This one's got mini-bioballs (not sure how many).

Instead of a gate valve, the outlet (in the far-right of frame) has an upward facing 90º fitting...about 2.5" from looking at it...with an adjustable collar. In the pic the collar is at its lowest setting; it can be raised 4-5" to raise the foam level in the body – there should be a sponge on the collar to eliminate splashing. I remember this being a typical drain setup (from who??) for a little while....some early neelwheels used something similar with a sponge.

Maybe there was another Chinese "me too" Octopus brand for a minute?

I think the pump it ran when I got it was a Gen X submersible like this, tho I think it was the 1200 GPH model....maybe the 5000?
https://www.customaquatic.com/estore/control/product/~product=WP-PCGX-6000

For what that may be worth...

 

[UncommonSense]

the outlet (in the far-right of frame) has an upward facing 90º fitting...about 2.5" from looking at it...with an adjustable collar. In the pic the collar is at its lowest setting; it can be raised 4-5" to raise the foam level in the body – there should be a sponge on the collar to eliminate splashing. I remember this being a typical drain setup (from who??) for a little while....

That’s definitely familiar!

I’ve got an older needle wheel Reef Octopus skimmer with an identical drain setup, in fact!

I suppose one hint would be taking a set of calipers to the original plumbing to see if it lines up with a metric, or imperial size!