- Hey, it's Thomas here,
and today we're gonna be checking out
Octos Protein Skimmer Stand.
If your skimmer keeps overflowing because the water level
in your sump is too deep for that protein skimmer
then this is gonna help solve your problem,
especially if you're sump does not have an adjustable baffle
or if you just prefer to have as much water falling
in your sump as possible for that added dilution.
The vast majority of in-sump protein skimmers
have a recommended operating depth for best performance.
So when selecting a skimmer matching the operating depth
of that skimmer to the sump,
or selecting a sump with an adjustable baffle
for controlling the water height,
is really important if we want the skimmer to work properly
as in not constantly overflow.
The thing is, not all sumps have adjustable water height
and even if your sump does have an adjustable baffle,
you might prefer to keep it as high as possible
for the added water volume or perhaps,
for other equipment that requires it to be higher.
So then what do you do if the water level in your sump
is too deep for the protein skimmer that you already have
or for that dream protein skimmer that's on your wishlist
that requires a lower water level?
That is where the Octo Skimmer Stands come in.
They are a solidly built perforated acrylic platform
with adjustable height and vibration damping rubber feet
to raise your skimmer up to the correct operating depth,
so you can get it skimming the way it's meant to,
even in your deeper sump.
It is a really simple piece of gear,
but Octo did a great job on their version.
So let's get it out of the box
and take a closer look in the box.
In the box you'll find this skimmer platform,
the legs with the rubber feet
and a set of nylon thumb screws.
The Octo Skimmer Stand comes in three sizes
to fit a wide array of skimmer styles and brands.
The ST-1 measures 11 inches by 7 inches
and is likely the model the majority of reefers will use,
especially for compact skimmers with internal pumps,
or smaller models of skimmers with external pumps.
The ST-2 which measures in at 13 inches by 9 inches,
which is gonna be a great fit for smaller
or mid-sized skimmers with external pumps.
And what I'll be using for my Octo ELITE 150-INT,
it is a snug fit but all of the rubber feet
on the skimmer and the pump will be sitting on the platform,
which is perfect.
And the largest model,
the ST-3 measures in at a whopping 17.7 by 11 inches
which will be a great choice for those larger skimmers
that need all the room they can get.
Just make sure while you're in the process
of selecting the right size stand for your skimmer,
you measure not only the footprint of the skimmer itself
but also the skimmer section in your sump
and the clearance available to get it into that section,
just to make sure you can get it in and out easily.
All three models use the same adjustable legs
with nylon thumb screws to lock them in place
and can raise the skimmer either 3 inches, 3.8 inches
or 4.5 inches to help bring it up
to the optimal operating depth for its best performance.
If you do only need to raise your skimmer
maybe one or two inches, you're probably better off
adjusting the water height in your sump if possible,
but for most skimmers in water too deep
for them to operate effectively,
that three inch lift should get them high enough
to function like the foam fractionating machines
they're meant to be.
Each leg has three slots with notches accompanied
by three nylon thumb screws.
Adjusting the height is as simple as a quarter turn
on each thumb screw to loosen the grip
and then sliding the leg to the side,
then sliding it up or down the channel
and then into the next notch.
And then snugging up those thumb screws again.
Once you find the right height,
you probably won't need to adjust it again
unless you change your skimmer or the sump.
Like I mentioned earlier,
the legs on the platform have rubber feet
which are gonna do a great job of damping any vibrations
from this skimmer which will keep things nice and quiet.
Plus they'll add grippiness and prevent the platform
from wanting to slide around in the sump
which I very much appreciate.
And having used other options for this job in the past
that didn't have rubber feet,
let me tell ya, it's not so much fun
when your skimmer is magically walking itself
around the sump or slides like it's on an air hockey table
when you touch,
makes for some pretty messy skimmer cup changes.
Octo also nailed it with the perforated design
of the platform.
Although it might not seem like a big deal,
having a platform with a bunch of five millimeter
or 0.2 inch holes allows water to flow through it,
and not only helps to prevent dead spots below the platform
but also helps prevent it from trapping bubbles and air.
It's a little detail, but I appreciate it.
So if your skimmer needs a lift
and this Octo stand matches your reefing mantra,
you can go ahead and pick one up for yourself
by clicking right here.
(soft music)