Don't know if this is going to be apples to apples or apples to oranges BUT over the next couple of days, I should be picking up an Octopus BH-1000 HOB skimmer (Thanks Jenn)

One thing I'm certain will happen is that the temp in the tank will reduce slighly because the Octopus pump is not in the water column

I'll be comparing eficassy of both skimmers.

I have minimal bioload in a 24 Nano, 2 juve clowns, pair cleaners and fire shrimp

Stay tuned!

I'll take it!!!! PM me your info.

I'll take it!!!! PM me your info.

Did you actually read the post?

Did you actually read the post?I offered the bak-pak in a separate thread... picking up the Octopus today from "Imagine Ocean", let the shootout begin!

I offered the bak-pak in a separate thread... picking up the Octopus today from "Imagine Ocean", let the shootout begin!


Too funny. I was sitting here going ***? It's a product review not a sale thread.

INITIAL LOOK AND FEEL (without seeing them next to each other):
There's no comarison between these skimmers, the Octopus is a work of art and at least twice the physical size of the CPR Bak-Pak.

Octopus Dimensions: 16x3 3/8x9 (excluding pump and collection cup)
Bak-Pak Dimensions: 17x3x7.5 (now that was unexpected, bak-pak being longer BUT it isn't when the Octo has a pump on it)

Collection Cup Octopus : 5.25x3x5.25
Collection Cup Bak-Pak : 4.5x2.5x3

The Octopus *looks* like it's actually got more physicaly water volume than my 110 recirc, then again looking at the 2 together, the both look like they hold more physical water than my 110 recirc

For size comparison, I also included a Coralife SuperSkimmer 65 to the side of these bad boys!!!

I'll get better pics of the HOB's tomorrow in daylight

Octopus: 7.6lb
Bak-Pak: 4.6lb

The amount of water needed to fill the skimmer to the outflow pipe

Octopus : 4.5L
Bak-Pak : 4.0L

Octopus: OTP 1000 : 1000 lph - needlewheel (18W)
Bak-Pak: Accela : 1000 lph (16W)

Thinking about "priming volume".... thats a GALLON!!

USA Gallon = 4L
European (imperial) Gallon... for me and LilRobb = 4.4L

I could have been a little off with measurements BUT really close... honest!

FYI: Coralife Super Skimmer 65 priming volume=2.4L

The Octopus needs breaking in (obviously)
I decided to turn off the main skimmer on my 75 and start these bad boys running next to each other...

1st impressions anyone??? :D

Its like comparing a Honda to an Acura. Should perform well once broken in. I would make sure you hang your venturi above the tank level though. I dont know how those are made, but with the venturi hose hanging like that, if your power goes it, its possible that it could back siphon.

aready know about siphon... haven't plugged in the silencer yet and it was only hanging like that for less than a minute

Thinking about "priming volume".... thats a GALLON!!

USA Gallon = 4L
European (imperial) Gallon... for me and LilRobb = 4.4L

I could have been a little off with measurements BUT really close... honest!


Actually...

1 US gallon = 3.78541178 liter
1 Imperial gallon = 4.54609188 liter (count me in there too...)

If you're going to be scientific about it - get it right :D

Jenn

If you're going to be scientific about it - get it right :D

JennTough crowd! :eek:

There wasn't any protection for the in-spout of the Octopus... managed to suck in Green Goby AND a peppermint

The peppermint was at least moving, helped it back into the tank and the Six-Line immediaely took it out

Pump wasn;t creating bubbles, took the Octopus back to Jenn's place for potential post-mortem, Brian got hold of it and the ****ed thing started working flawlessly!

AFTER the standard RTFM, seems like there may be a piece missing out of the box... CoralVur are sending me the missing piece

In the mean time, I've rigged a protection system for livestock

*SHOULD* be broken in tomorrow evening...

BTW: Pulled some cr*p outta the tank even while breaking in (was light-green) and getting darker

I wish I had an extra deltec mce300 for you to put in the battle!

Jenn's getting me a pump for a Coralife Super Skimmer 65 I'm goin to add to the battle (when it arrives)

Anyone else got a "small" skimmer they want to sell/loan towards the "battle"

I'll throw an "Oceanic Nano Skimmer" into the mix if you guys want to see it in action (bought last week as part of a "deal" but can definitely include into the mix even though it's seriously underpowered in my 75 tank)

AND TIM: I don't mean that monster you have for cheap at your place!!!(sweet deal as it is) UNLESS I buy me a 6ft stand and you help me migrate everything . . . . . ( AND you donate a 90 gallon sump as part of the deal, as long as it fits under a JBJ 24 stand)

Looking at things right now (excepting the fact that the Octopus is a murderer)

1. Octopus : no bubbles appearing in the return column (but is showing bubbles in the tank) - it's still breaking in so can't hold that against it

2. Bak-Pak : showing micro bubbles in the return column, not showing much in the tank itself)

3. Oceanic Nan Skimmer : Being cleaned in readiness, new olive-wood stone at the ready

I have video in the camcorder of the different pumps "in action", yes there is a difference in physical noise betwen the 2 skimmers

as soon as I work out how to get video online, I'll post them up

OK, the Octopus is basically "broken in"

NOW for the tuning, it's currently skimming "wet" and pulling light-green out of the tank.

Anyone got any tips for fine tuning skimmers???

IYO, which skimmer is quiter?

I would immediatey say the Octopus, once I can post video, you'll be able to judge for yourself

The Octopus is now officially on the nano and "tuning"

The wife doesn't hear it which is paramount cause her favorite chair is less than 4ft away from it.

I took the airline and fed it into an AC vent (cheap minimal cooling) AND put a "silent" computer power supply fan over the skimmer return (fits great!!!)

So I'm cooling 2 ways, it's steady at 79 degrees even after 7 hours of 150W halide sat above the glass lid

But think I've gotten it positioned "about right"

Pity the foam head isn't showing up very well

This was definitely an apples to apples test in my mind !
They both work very well :yay:


If you need a HOB skimmer that's capable of 65+ gallons, either of these skimmers will do the job for you

Both have their pros and cons, the biggest con with the Octopus is also a pro (the pump is not directly in the water column therefore doesn't generate any heating factor) BUT if the Octopus pump goes wrong, you've got to empty the whole skimmer (or get wet feet) before you can service it whereas the CPR Bak-Pak pump being physically in the water column can be removed, serviced and replaced easily

IF I had not gone out of my way to buy an Octopus skimmer (because I like the Octopus brand... I have a 110 recirc on my bigger tank) The Bak-Pak would be more than capable of handling my nano AND, with Bak-Pak skimmers commanding $50 or less used, would have saved me some pocket change in the process

You know they sell that tubing in 25ft rolls for like $2 at the store, you could at least not use a piece with the sticker still on it, lol. First thing I do is chop that off.

:d

Good info Andy.

Andy,

did you ever get the video posted? do you still have it? can you email it?

never did get the video uploaded, hope I haven't erased the tape!