Mesh mod madness!

I did the mesh mod on my new duel recirc octo last night and wow it is pulling at least double the air. So much so that it is all most impossible to controle. I probably should have only done the mod on one impeller. So before I order a new impeller so I can get this thing to a more controleable state I was wondering if anyone has a otp 2000 impeller for the newer model that they would want to trade for a mesh moded impeller?

 

Yea but the only air check valve I have is pluged with kalk as I was useing it for a drip before I set up my ato. I have it skimming now but the wedge pipe is all the way open and it is still skimming a little wet. I just think it would be much easyer to controle with only one mesh mod.

 

The hole in a air check valve is much smaller that the air tube on the skimmer so it will restrict about 60% of the air right off the bat. So what would be the point of leaveing in the mesh wheel and makeing the pump run harder just to restrict the air with the valve to a point less than the normal amount of air drawn. Also the check valve would be bound to draw salt creep and clog. Not realy wanting to go that route.

 

I have another skimmer a octo nw 150 that was mesh moded when I got it and it has been running for about a year and a half in my possesion with no problems at all. It is a great mod of that there is no doubt in my mind. It is just to much air on this skimmer with both pumps moded.

 

Posted By rc1214b on 06/23/2010 05:15 PM
Mesh mods should only make a HUGE difference if your skimmer was undersized to begin with or you had higher levels of nutrients that weren't removed. With everything thing else being equal a meshed skimmer should level out in skimmate production too after a few days. They are great mods on some skimmers and can help squeeze out more performance for a minimal investment. Like others have said though, they can also cause problems if not done properly. A kill-a-watt is a handy investment if pump modding is something of interest to people.
It is a new skimmer and way oversized for this tank. I just like to chop up parts on my new equipment. Then it truely becomes mine LoL!

 

Can't realy do that rick as the top of the skimmer cup is only about a inch from the bottum of the tank. But I got it worked out I T'd the two air lines together and hooked them to a air line I have runing outside and that restricted the air just enough to get things under control.
-Bill