What’s up people. So I just wanted to do a spotlight/review of a product I just received from @Bulk Reef Supply . It’s the protein skimmer delay timer made by Reef Octopus. I feel like this thing is totally unknown by most of the reefing community and the fact is that it adds a HUGE amount of redundancy to your tank. Even more interestingly, I cannot find any other company that has produced a device even somewhat similar, excluding apex and other computer systems. I’ve searched all over the internet and as far as I can find this is the only delay timer that exists for this function.
The product is basically a single outlet box (well constructed) that you plug your protein skimmer into. Any time that power is cut from the skimmer/outlet and then restored, the outlet will automatically wait 5 full minutes before delivering power back to the skimmer. The idea is that this will prevent your skimmer from overflowing when your tank’s power is restored, which is a common problem as your sump fills up with water and takes time for the return pump to bring the sump level back down.
Normally when we are doing tank maintenance, this is something that we control ourselves by waiting a few minutes of the return pump working before turning the skimmer back on. But if the power to your home ever turns off and back on again while you’re not there, you could be looking at a potential tank disaster without this simple device. Only a few minutes of an overflowing skimmer is enough to drain some tanks, ruin your floors, and cause ATO’s to start pumping massive amounts of freshwater into your tank. This is especially the case the external skimmers. This device also can help prevent certain devices from running dry.
Moving onto the topic of price, well it’s not the cheapest but it’s also not very expensive. With it being the only one of its kind on the market (that I can find), I’m surprised they didn’t make it even more expensive than it is. For around fifty bucks you can save your marriage as well as thousands of dollars in floor damage.
Recently I’ve become obsessed with tank redundancy. I feel like showcasing your multiple back-up plans for equipment and power failure has become a fun hobby on its own. This delay timer needs more recognition!
The product is basically a single outlet box (well constructed) that you plug your protein skimmer into. Any time that power is cut from the skimmer/outlet and then restored, the outlet will automatically wait 5 full minutes before delivering power back to the skimmer. The idea is that this will prevent your skimmer from overflowing when your tank’s power is restored, which is a common problem as your sump fills up with water and takes time for the return pump to bring the sump level back down.
Normally when we are doing tank maintenance, this is something that we control ourselves by waiting a few minutes of the return pump working before turning the skimmer back on. But if the power to your home ever turns off and back on again while you’re not there, you could be looking at a potential tank disaster without this simple device. Only a few minutes of an overflowing skimmer is enough to drain some tanks, ruin your floors, and cause ATO’s to start pumping massive amounts of freshwater into your tank. This is especially the case the external skimmers. This device also can help prevent certain devices from running dry.
Moving onto the topic of price, well it’s not the cheapest but it’s also not very expensive. With it being the only one of its kind on the market (that I can find), I’m surprised they didn’t make it even more expensive than it is. For around fifty bucks you can save your marriage as well as thousands of dollars in floor damage.
Recently I’ve become obsessed with tank redundancy. I feel like showcasing your multiple back-up plans for equipment and power failure has become a fun hobby on its own. This delay timer needs more recognition!
im compiling and editing a video on that right now on how to make one. Very simple to do DIY too 
