Water depth for Octo Extreme 300

[tas5tas]

JR...

Mike told me to open a forum so everyone would know the optimum water depth to run the Octo Extreme 300 in. I need to build a stand out of acrylic for mine b/c the depth of my skimmer section is going to run about 12"-12.5" not sure yet...haven't leak tested the sump, but the baffle is at 12". I've seen some people running the 200 in 7.5" of water, but know you run the 160 in about 8.25". What would you consider optimum??

[JRaquatics]

7.5"- 8" depth is optimal for the Extreme skimmers. Will you see a large difference at 8 or 9" not really. But if your trying to get the very best in airpull number try for the 7.5-8" mark. I would make your baffles higher and place the skimmer on a stand so you can be able to adjust the water height.

[tas5tas]

I hope your not saying to make my baffles higher than 12" , because that ship already sailed if ya know what I mean. I will start on a stand in the coming days to put the skimmer in the 7.5"-8" mark.

As far as the output from the skimmer....should I have it exit back into the skimmer section??....I designed a probe/maxijet section right after the skimmer section and before the bubble traps that I had planned on letting it exit into.

[JRaquatics]

I would have the output enter a separate chamber like the probe/maxijet section.

[tas5tas]

Cool...that's what I thought. I just hope my bubble traps will be able to handle the flow from everything, but I think it should since the tank is only going to drain about 500gph or so.

What do you think the output of the skimmer is??? 1000gph....higher....lower??

[JRaquatics]

I think they pull in right about and estimated 400 US gallons per hour. Tunze rates their Hydrofoamer at about 1,300 l/h (343 USgal./h)

[tas5tas]

Is that per pump...remember the 300 has 2 pumps. So would that be 800gph....if so I'll need to have it exit back into the skimmer section otherwise it will suck it dry only having 500gph draining into it.

[JRaquatics]

Yes per pump.