Reef Octopus Classic 202 - Too Loud - Silencer replacement

[Ashish Patel]

My question is regarding my new skimmer: Reef octopus classic 202-S 8

The noise created by the air is louder than any other skimmer I've used causing me to have to turn it off at night! I am considering purchasing a Skimzz air silencer that seems more suited for this kind of skimmer. It obvious RO designed a great skimmer but slapped on the Air silencer that is not tested for this skimmer.

Has anyone done something about the noise?

 

[Ty Hamatake]

I don't have any experience with that skimmer, but my Skimz silencer works miracles. If it's out of sight (or you dont mind it being out in the open) you could try to DIY one out of a small airtight bottle, pill bottles work well, some 1/4 tubing, and a valve to control air flow!

 

[Ashish Patel]

I don't have any experience with that skimmer, but my Skimz silencer works miracles. If it's out of sight (or you dont mind it being out in the open) you could try to DIY one out of a small airtight bottle, pill bottles work well, some 1/4 tubing, and a valve to control air flow!

Thanks, I like the DIY idea. BRS sells SKIMZ replacement parts at reasonable price so will give them a try if my DIY does not work.

 

[Ty Hamatake]

Thanks, I like the DIY idea. BRS sells SKIMZ replacement parts at reasonable price so will give them a try if my DIY does not work.

Make sure you post pictures! I thoroughly enjoy a good DIY, no matter how small.

 

[Ashish Patel]

Since you like DIY here some of mine
I did calcutta laminate over the plywood with a miter edge. However, a day before install I did not like how it was not 100% level. Now that i have it installed on a plywood I realize I probably should have used it

 

[Ashish Patel]

I Build the stand, did the plumbing and still doing the electrical.

 

[Ashish Patel]

I've been in the hobby long enough to know once your setup is done you'll likely never go back and fix your plumbing or electrical - even when it needs it. So I used these amazing PVC duct which I feel all reefers can use.

 

[Ty Hamatake]

I love your sump... like a lot. What is that blue 'float?' in the sock with 1/4" line running to it?

 

[Ty Hamatake]

I've been in the hobby long enough to know once your setup is done you'll likely never go back and fix your plumbing or electrical - even when it needs it. So I used these amazing PVC duct which I feel all reefers can use.

Absolutely beautiful.

 

[Ashish Patel]

I love your sump... like a lot. What is that blue 'float?' in the sock with 1/4" line running to it?

Thank! regarding the blue thing - I developed a bacteria bloom in the RODI water after 5 days of filling and monitoring. So i attached some DI resin to the return for 24 hr in hopes of clearing it out. The tanks cycled few days ago and its clearing slightly but Im looking for an inexpensive UV filter that I can use as needed.

 

[Gil03]

My question is regarding my new skimmer: Reef octopus classic 202-S 8

The noise created by the air is louder than any other skimmer I've used causing me to have to turn it off at night! I am considering purchasing a Skimzz air silencer that seems more suited for this kind of skimmer. It obvious RO designed a great skimmer but slapped on the Air silencer that is not tested for this skimmer.

Has anyone done something about the noise?

Did you ever get your noisy skimmer issue resolved? I recently purchased a Reef Octopus 202-s myself and like you said its ridiculously loud, turns out they have a new venturi air intake that they are putting on them now to fix the noise issue. I found this out the other day when I was in my LFS and bumped into another individual that also bought the same skimmer about a month after I did. He asked me prior to his purchase how I liked the skimmer to which I responded that it was a beast BUT it's too dang loud. He went ahead and purchased anyway and when he got his it came with a Red Venturi instead of a clear one. I verified with coralvue that indeed they are using more silent intakes now and that they could send me one. I should be getting it at the end of the week but according to my buddy it's very silent now.

 

[Ashish Patel]

Did you ever get your noisy skimmer issue resolved? I recently purchased a Reef Octopus 202-s myself and like you said its ridiculously loud, turns out they have a new venturi air intake that they are putting on them now to fix the noise issue. I found this out the other day when I was in my LFS and bumped into another individual that also bought the same skimmer about a month after I did. He asked me prior to his purchase how I liked the skimmer to which I responded that it was a beast BUT it's too dang loud. He went ahead and purchased anyway and when he got his it came with a Red Venturi instead of a clear one. I verified with coralvue that indeed they are using more silent intakes now and that they could send me one. I should be getting it at the end of the week but according to my buddy it's very silent now.

LOL - I ordered a Skimz "silencer" and it got delivered today. Once I get home I will let you know!

The skimmer is a complete beast. I started running the skim line .5" under the cup line because my nutrients where going to 0. Now I can control my nutrient with a simple twist of a valve. The skimmers noise is the only thing that is loud on my tank so its annoying.. Hopefully the skimz silencer works.

 

[Ashish Patel]

Did you ever get your noisy skimmer issue resolved? I recently purchased a Reef Octopus 202-s myself and like you said its ridiculously loud, turns out they have a new venturi air intake that they are putting on them now to fix the noise issue. I found this out the other day when I was in my LFS and bumped into another individual that also bought the same skimmer about a month after I did. He asked me prior to his purchase how I liked the skimmer to which I responded that it was a beast BUT it's too dang loud. He went ahead and purchased anyway and when he got his it came with a Red Venturi instead of a clear one. I verified with coralvue that indeed they are using more silent intakes now and that they could send me one. I should be getting it at the end of the week but according to my buddy it's very silent now.

I waited 8 months to finally get the skimz silencer (since I was skeptical) and now you tell me RO is making a new one . I don't know why RO took so long to update a simple solution. Anyways I just installed the skimz silencer and it reduced the noise by 90%. However, If you let too much air in it will make the same amount of noise but honestly on my size tank it is already too efficient so I am fine with less air/ bubble. RO plastic silencer made noise anyway you used it even with a rigged air valve..With the skimz even with the adjustment I can tell its still going to pull out the same amount skimmate since its frosting up nicely and seem to have better contact time. So SKIMZ silencers for $14 was a success..

 

[Gil03]

I waited 8 months to finally get the skimz silencer (since I was skeptical) and now you tell me RO is making a new one . I don't know why RO took so long to update a simple solution. Anyways I just installed the skimz silencer and it reduced the noise by 90%. However, If you let too much air in it will make the same amount of noise but honestly on my size tank it is already too efficient so I am fine with less air/ bubble. RO plastic silencer made noise anyway you used it even with a rigged air valve..With the skimz even with the adjustment I can tell its still going to pull out the same amount skimmate since its frosting up nicely and seem to have better contact time. So SKIMZ silencers for $14 was a success..

Thanks, I'll keep that option in mind in case Carlos from coralvue gives me the runaround in sending me the RO version. You're right though RO should've addressed the noise issue a long time ago and there's no excuse that during R&D of the skimmer no one noticed that this skimmer is unnecessarily loud. Having said that I've already had a faulty gyre controller straight out of the box from them and they sent me another faulty controller as a replacement that I have yet to have time to deal with yet so I don't think there's much quality control nor attention to detail going on with the company.

 

[Ashish Patel]

Yeah definitely go for the Skimz if you can't wait! I will try and take a video of the noise.

 

[Gil03]

I received the new reef octopus venturi silencer for my RO 202-s and installed it last night and as advertised it did significantly lower the amount of noise compared to the original. I wouldn't say the skimmer is dead quiet now but I can now live with it no problem.

 

[Ashish Patel]

Thats great news! Let me update on my Skimz silencer.

Since my phosphates tend to be on the lower side I decided to just run the skimmer line high and reduce the air intake on the skimz silencer so I could barely hear it (the skimmate production was reduced significantly). I've been testing my Phosphates daily since i've notice them fluctuate to 0 as of late from 0.03 range and after adding the skimz silencer in 2 days Phopshates shot up over .10 (35-40PPB). This prompted me to run the skimmz with similar air/water as I did with the loud RO silencer and now my nutrients dropped back down to at lower range. However, its pretty much the same noise level as original. The last 3 days my phoshpates have tested at 6PPB, 8 PPB, and 10 PPB. Once stabilized I will adjust the air intake. I removed about 90% of my cheato during this time will definitely did not help my cause. Few corals started bleaching from the base when the phosphates went to 0 but are starting to come back to life fairly quickly.

Best advice I can give is if you have acros test your nutrients when replacing this air intake you'll be shocked at how fast your phosphates will rise when adjustments are made to your skimmer to keep it quiet. I think with this skimmer its good to make a DIY outlet for the outtake of the skimmer so air flows more efficiently. Something i've seen a local reefer do on his RO diablo skimmer - which was silent

 

[Ashish Patel]

This is the DIY outlet silencer I was referring to. Sam from basking ridge NJ had something like this on his RO Diablo and it ran very quiet.
Has anyone had success quieting this air noise with this?

 

[Ashish Patel]

Regarding my previous post, after some research I guess this DIY device would only help with the water noise, not the air sound. The water noise is not the problem with this skimmer so guess not worth it unless for the older models.

 

[Ashish Patel]

I received the new reef octopus venturi silencer for my RO 202-s and installed it last night and as advertised it did significantly lower the amount of noise compared to the original. I wouldn't say the skimmer is dead quiet now but I can now live with it no problem.

Can you post a picture of the silencer? How much is this silencer how where do I get it from?