noisy skimmer - Reef octopus Elite 200SSS

Coolcasino · May 8, 2023

I'm sure they have heard of this issue. You aren't the only one that has reached out to them regarding the popcorn issue. Mine was a brand new Elite 200. Could not make it stop making popcorn. They wanted me to send the pump in for diagnostics on a brand new pump. I always thought BRS sent me a used or a returned skimmer for some reason. Thing is it doesn't make any noise if I run the pump by itself. I down graded to a Elite 150 and it is silent. If the water level is erratic you might need a new pump altogether.

RKeenan · May 8, 2023

Yeah my Regal 150SSS was super silent. This one is a 150 though as well. Ordered new tubing for it and going to try that. It almost sounds like there is a leak in the line or something.

Coolcasino · May 8, 2023

I think what you are hearing is the air getting chopped up by the pump. Something is wrong with the pump or the needle wheel or impeller. The sound is escaping thru the ventury somehow. The silencer cant dampen the sound. That's what I thought with mine. I never figured it out. It still skimmed like a beast tho. I purchased a regular impeller and use it as a mixing pump and it is silent. I cant explain it. If yours cant keep the level constant in the skimmer that a whole other problem also. Again might need a new pump. Popcorn sounds and level might fix itself with a new pump.

Rick2024 · May 9, 2023

I have the 150 sss elite. Nothing I tried worked. Spent so much days, money, effort, time trying to make it stop making popcorn. I’ve shipped the unit back for diagnostics to no avail, changed the water height in my sump, taking it apart so many times. I think it’s because the Venturi is horizontal since the pump is upside down as opposed to most skimmers that are vertical. Just my opinion. It’s a great skimmer but the noise can’t be solved.

Coolcasino · May 10, 2023

Trust me. I feel your pain. The only reason why I even downgraded to the 150 is because of the pump controllability with Apex. I almost did just buy a Regal. If only Sicce had the 0 to 10v instead of the iota I would have went with the Acura. I don't know why Neptune has not come up with their own skimmer. And it's not like these are cheap skimmers. I also believe the sound has something to do with how the pump is oriented... which is what makes the skimmer so cool looking. Maybe air is trapped in there and can't get out or something.

Rick2024 · May 10, 2023

Coolcasino said:
Trust me. I feel your pain. The only reason why I even downgraded to the 150 is because of the pump controllability with Apex. I almost did just buy a Regal. If only Sicce had the 0 to 10v instead of the iota I would have went with the Acura. I don't know why Neptune has not come up with their own skimmer. And it's not like these are cheap skimmers. I also believe the sound has something to do with how the pump is oriented... which is what makes the skimmer so cool looking. Maybe air is trapped in there and can't get out or something.

I did a test. I blew into the hose underwater with the Venturi horizontal (upside down how it is when attached to the pump) and vertically (how most skimmers have it) when it was vertical, the noise was gone. Just my opinion.

Rick2024 · May 12, 2023

RKeenan said:
Yeah my Regal 150SSS was super silent. This one is a 150 though as well. Ordered new tubing for it and going to try that. It almost sounds like there is a leak in the line or something.

Please let me know if you’ve found a solution. I have the sss 150 elite for a year now and dealing with the noise since then. I’m pretty much at my limit lol.

RKeenan · May 17, 2023

Well I still do not think it is the pump. I replaced the air line with plenty of slack, the adjustment pipe (with new washer) and new set of screws for the body and seemed fine for a bit then started getting nutty again. BUT do notice water squirting out of the hole in the adjustment tube that the air tube goes in?

Rick2024 · May 18, 2023

RKeenan said:
Well I still do not think it is the pump. I replaced the air line with plenty of slack, the adjustment pipe (with new washer) and new set of screws for the body and seemed fine for a bit then started getting nutty again. BUT do notice water squirting out of the hole in the adjustment tube that the air tube goes in?

I’m giving up. Replacing it with an elite int 150. Arriving today. Hoping for the best. Will update after. I’m hoping it’s because the sss has the pump upside down. Not necessarily the pump, just the fact because it’s upside down, maybe the Venturi doesn’t function silently. Just my theory.

Coolcasino · May 18, 2023

That's what I'm thinking as well. The pump is silent when I run it alone. All I hear is the pump chopping up the air 10 times magnified.

Rick2024 · May 19, 2023

Coolcasino said:
That's what I'm thinking as well. The pump is silent when I run it alone. All I hear is the pump chopping up the air 10 times magnified.

Installed my elite 150 int. Man is this thing amazing. The second I installed it, it started skimming. No need to adjust sump level, play with skimmer internal level, just set the pump and medium and it was perfect. And more importantly, completely silent! I wasted so much time and money with the sss trying to solve the engine idling popcorn sound for over a year. Even mailed the pump back to the manufacturer at my expense, buying so much skimmer stands, cleaning the skimmer, and then just putting up with the noise. Got fed up and took a risk buying reef octopus again (love their products) with the int version. I’m happy. It skims a lot better than my sss, and my sss still skimmed great. Was just louder than I wanted.
Compared to my 1 year old sss elite. I was lucky to pick up the int elite 150 “open box” from coral vue for only $460. And it was just a damaged box. It was still wrapped in original plastic, never opened. Never touched water.

Coolcasino · May 20, 2023

Same when I went from the 200 to the 150. Didn't even change the water depth. Installed and is skimming like a champion. And silent. Don't hear anything. I believe yours are the same pumps so now you have an extra pump. They are great skimmers. I just think they need to do something to the pump while installed vertically. Maybe it needs a washer or something. Needs to go back to Reef Octopus Engineering so they can figure out what is causing some of these pumps to sound like popcorn machines while vertical.

Rick2024 · May 20, 2023

Coolcasino said:
Same when I went from the 200 to the 150. Didn't even change the water depth. Installed and is skimming like a champion. And silent. Don't hear anything. I believe yours are the same pumps so now you have an extra pump. They are great skimmers. I just think they need to do something to the pump while installed vertically. Maybe it needs a washer or something. Needs to go back to Reef Octopus Engineering so they can figure out what is causing some of these pumps to sound like popcorn machines while vertical.

Thanks. Yeah I definitely agree. I applaud RO for the unique space saver design. But just needs more refinement. Also the int has a much larger bubble plate (in white in my picture) whereas the elite sss has a small bubble ring plate around the pump. Probably why my int creates much better foam. Just my thoughts. Either way, I have very expensive paperweight with my sss. Both my return and int pumps are varios s2, so maybe I’ll keep the pump.

PeterC99 · May 20, 2023

Rick2024 said:
Thanks. Yeah I definitely agree. I applaud RO for the unique space saver design. But just needs more refinement. Also the int has a much larger bubble plate (in white in my picture) whereas the elite sss has a small bubble ring plate around the pump. Probably why my int creates much better foam. Just my thoughts. Either way, I have very expensive paperweight with my sss. Both my return and int pumps are varios s2, so maybe I’ll keep the pump.

Next time around I will go with the int over the sss because maintenance is much simpler on the int!

Andyt2989 · May 21, 2023

I have the 200 version. I had some issues initially due to poor sump design. Basically I had it in the same compartment as the return pump, the water level in this compartment varied with evaporation - so I either got excess dilute skimmate or no skimmate and it made a chugging noise. I drained the sump and added an extra partition so that the skimmer is always in the same depth of water - once dialed in it pulls loads of gunk from the tanks and is pretty much silent. Not sure if that will help with your issues, but something to consider if it is exposed to variable water depth.