Help with Remora AquaC Skimmer!

[magellan007]

Hey everyone,

I have a 67gal reef tank with a Wave 2K wavemaker and a Remora Aqua C protein skimmer (not the pro). Here's my problem: My skimmer seems to be working fine, but I get hardly anything in the collection cup! I know that this cannot be, especially since I always see tiny particles constantly within the water column, but I have done everything the manual said to do for installation. Please help me figure out why it's not performing correctly!

Thanks~

[Fish_wiz2]

Could be low bio-load
Give us specs on your tank

[marduc]

There should be an o ring around the collection cup, have you raised this o ring so that the cup sits lower in the bubble tower? This is how you can adjust the quantity and quality of skimmate collected.

Also If it is a new skimmer it requires a break-in period before it starts running at peak efficiency.

What pump are you using with it?

[magellan007]

I just did a water change over the weekend, but everytime I check my parameters are perfect: Nitrate=0, Nitrite=>5, pH=8.2, SG=1.025, Ammonia=0
Cleanup crew includes 2 margarite snails, 4 turban snails, ±13 redtip hermits, 1 tuxedo urchin, 1 large brittle starfish, and a handful of stomatellas.
Fish include one of the following: med/large maroon clownfish, large dusky jawfish, med/large one-spot foxface rabbitfish, med/large banded goby, small/med sixline wrasse. Also have one big rbta that just split over the weekend.

Let me know if you need anything else. Thanks.

[magellan007]

I've had it running since early December, and I've cleaned it out twice since then, but both times there was only about 3/4" of buildup. I've since lowered the cup and don't have anything in it. I've recently added coral and I'd like it to be doing its job.

[Norward]

contact Remora tech support: support@proteinskimmer.com

[Percula9]

They are not good skimmers. Is this an in sump skimmer? I would just spend the money and get a Euroreef rated double your tank size and you will be happy.

[magellan007]

it's an HOB skimmer... I've heard that they're rated decent. (and I don't have the money to just go and upgrade)

[kiknchikn]

Their customer service is EXCELLENT and they will be more than willing to help you troubleshoot the problem. Definitely contact them.

[TwentyTwenty]

I have the same Remora as you. Mine has been running for 2 years. The first year with the same results as you. Never a lot of skimmate and only a lite tea color. About a year ago I found a brush that is the same diameter as the cups neck. Now I clean the neck daily and the cup fills up in about 2 or 3 days. The skimmate is still lite in color. But, there is much more of it. I have the cup about 1/4 inch from as low as it can go. Our tanks are close in size. I'm not sure of your bio-load, mine is lite and I've heard these skimmers do not produce much in liter bio-load situations. Hopes this help.

[magellan007]

so it needs daily cleaning? that sucks... So when you say brush, do you mean like a pipe cleaner brush?
Thanks for the input!

(I've emailed CS this morning; we'll see what they say)

[TwentyTwenty]

Yes, a pipe cleaning brush. If I remember correctly, they do recomend frequent cleaning of the neck.

[Aquarist007]

I am running the same skimmer on my 30 gal with a decent skimmate.
what pump are you running with it--I believe the pump sits in the internal overflow if it like mine. Mine has a maxijet-295 gph which is ok

[bigmc66]

TwentyTwenty is correct. I had similar issues with my remora. Definetly clean the spray nozzle. Also, I find that the neck to the collection cup has to be cleaned at least every other day. I've found that if I change powerhead flow or create "too much" current in my tank, the skimmer stops producing skimmate. Mine really needs a lower flow area in the tank to pull a lot of skimmate. However, I find it works well with very frequent maintenance and these other conditions met. Contact Aqua C...the brush to clean the spray nozzle should have been included with the unit if you bought it new

[magellan007]

I'm using the maxijet 1200 I believe--that was one of the ones approved for the skimmer. So is a rule of thumb to get a skimmer that's rated for twice the size of the tank? (I often see people do that, but I also think that it's because they've overpopulated their tank and need the extra filtration.) My coral is growing nicely with no brown-outs, and my anemone of two months just split with no inducement; so I gotta be doing something right.

[magellan007]

Ah.. that may be it, too.. My wavemaker produces a LOT of water movement. I've turned down my wavemaker, but there's still quite a bit of flow in the tank.
I guess I'll just have to grit my teeth and clean the nozzle & neck every other day.

Thanks, guys!

[bigmc66]

Could be... Aqua C told me that flow is unlikely the problem, but whenever the flow is decreased, the skimmer starts working really well.

take care.

[Percula9]

The flow should not affect skimmer performance that I know of. You might try moving up to a mag drive pump with a higher rating than the maxijet.

[kevin2000]

Mu 02

I have a couple of Aqua C's on one of my tanks ... and they are impacted by how I direct the PH's in the tank ... you might consider tweaking that.

You should also note that Aqua C's are very temperamental when water conditions are changed ... simply putting your hand in the tank, adding additives and even feeding certain food will put them out of commission for a while. Lastly ... any skimmer will only skim whats available .. if your bio load is light then your skim will be light.

Good luck.

[VengefulNemesis]

I had the Remora with the Maxijet 1200 on it on a 29 gal for two years, and it worked okay. If yours was like mine there is a plastic screw you have to remove to clean out the injector. Be VERY CAREFUL loosening the screw, mine stripped out the third or fourth time removing it. I contacted Aqua C for replacements and they never sent them. Now I have the Octopus HOB and it cost around a $110.00 and works much better than the Remora did.