Mesh Mod?

Is it for your Reef Octopus? If so I would not worry about doing it. They are notorious for burning up pumps after doing the mod.

 

Basicly it causes it to pull more air and chops it up into finer bubbles. If you decide to try it I have the stuff and have done it a few times. I would be happy to do it for you or I could give you the stuff.

 

Posted By Gered on 10/17/2010 10:52 PM
Is it for your Reef Octopus? If so I would not worry about doing it. They are notorious for burning up pumps after doing the mod. Realy never herd that before. I have done it to two different octo skimmers asnd never had a problem. The first one I did it to has the same pump as kylies and has been going strong for over 2 years. It's still in use my beckerj3 as we speak.

 

I was also considering this but decided against it since the potential to burn up pumps. It makes sense, I suppose. I know that in a centrifuge it is pretty important to have things well balanced before giving it a spin. I imagine the same rules apply for something like this and it would be pretty difficult to get things balanced out by hand. That, and you essentially end up sacrificing your impeller. What would be nice is if they sold an aftermarket impeller that does the same thing but is actually tested to be appropriate and "safe" for these pumps.

 

If you do a search on Nanoreefs it seems to be a 50/50 argument about it making pumps lasting less. But it makes since how it will hurt a pump, with the mesh on there it will make the impeller have more resistance which means fiction which generates heat and causes problems. I would say pass on the mesh mod, and just get the skimmer dialed in right, alot of people are using those skimmers and not mesh modding them and having awesome results.

 

You guys have completely missed the point. Cookies!!!

 

Posted By vikubz on 10/18/2010 07:45 AM
You guys have completely missed the point. Cookies!!!
That what i'm talking about!

 

I don't think we have completely missed the point.  The point is that it sounds like a good idea, but there are a ton of people that make them work without a mesh mod.  Gered has the same skimmer pretty much and the same tank pretty much and his is not mesh modded and it works perfect.  My guess is that there is something wrong pump wise.  Like there maybe is a seal that has gone bad.  I would personally try those things before risking a couple hundred dollar pump.  They are ment to work without a mesh mod, so is reality there should be no need for them, so doing the mesh mod to cover up a problem will most likely just compound the problem.

 

Posted By Matt on 10/18/2010 12:14 PM

Posted By vikubz on 10/18/2010 07:45 AM
You guys have completely missed the point. Cookies!!!
 I would personally try those things before risking a couple hundred dollar pump. 
Uhh this pump is $45 and if it were a seal her floor would be verry wet as she has it plumbed externaly.

 

Okay still, im just saying that basically they work fine without it and if she is having problems with it, then maybe there is something else wrong. 

 

Posted By Matt on 10/18/2010 01:43 PM
Okay still, im just saying that basically they work fine without it and if she is having problems with it, then maybe there is something else wrong. 
I'm going over there saterday and I will check all the bases before I do the mod as you are probably right.

 

Couple things:
I run two octopus skimmers. They are bigger than Kylies for sure. But they produce so much freakin finely chopped air that I don't need the mesh mod.

That being said, my newer skimmer came from the manufacturer with a mesh mod wheel and mesh in case I wanted to do a modification. There were even instructions on how to do it.

IMO the mesh looks like it will get clogged up easy. Also, it seems logically that if you stick a bunch of mesh to your propeller it is going to hinder it. So I am going to stay away from it.

I would imagine that if you can't make awesome bubbles, Kylie, that your pump is not working right. Sometimes my skimmers will produce less than adequate bubbles and when that happens my pump is at fault somehow. Either the pump itself is dirty, or the connections between the pump and skimmer are weak.

 

Before you attach the mesh you remove the blades from the impeller. I made a disc from plexiglass and attached the mesh to it with fishing line. I have had no problems with the pump getting hot or the impeller being unbalanced. It was really pretty easy, and while I don't know how much better it would be than a needle wheel impeller, it is a huge improvement over the original impeller. That being said, I agree that it sounds like there may be another issue.