AquaC CLUB!

[Matt Rise]

I put a Mag 5 back on the EV120, no matter what I do, it seems that the water level is always above the box. I shut the air off completely, and the water was about a half inch above the box with the gate wide open. When I open the air halfway, it drops the water down to about 1/8" above the box.

This is making me a little crazy.

[CaptainCoral]

I wonder if the long exit pipe is causing back pressure. I've never run externally, but I suspect that could be suspect. You shouldn't have that high of water using a mag5.

[joedirt54]

I used to be a big fan of aqua-c, but my remora has become a big piece of **** latey and seldom skimms....I don't feed any meaty foods and my tank is clear of alae...but the skimmer is skimming 1 day out 7.

[chris4869]

Originally posted by Matt Rise
I put a Mag 5 back on the EV120, no matter what I do, it seems that the water level is always above the box. I shut the air off completely, and the water was about a half inch above the box with the gate wide open. When I open the air halfway, it drops the water down to about 1/8" above the box.

This is making me a little crazy.

Matt,
I have the same setup as yours. I have the bigger EV180 with an Eheim 1262 (upgraded from a Mag7), and my protein skimmer sits outside of my refugium. I "T" off my return line (gate valve) to reduce the splashing, but it was making gurgling noises too. My pump is too much for the skimmer, and my waterline would always be 3+ inches above the black box even when the gate valve is fully open. I thought I was going to get a flood with the way it was.

I installed a valve to throttle back the water from my pump (it's suggested in the manual). I solved the water level problem and the protein skimmer was working great, but I still have that annoying gurgling sound though. I use a pvc cap and capped the open end of the "T". I know the folks from AquaC are against it, and I know why with their recommeded pumps, but it did wonders for me. I was surprised to see the water line dropped below the top of the black box in the protein skimmer. I didn't need to throttle back the water from my pump anymore. The gurgling noise also went away as well. The water level is perfectly at the top of the black box. I've been getting really fine bubbles in the foam tower now and I couldn't be any happier.

[chris4869]

Originally posted by joedirt54
I used to be a big fan of aqua-c, but my remora has become a big piece of **** latey and seldom skimms....I don't feed any meaty foods and my tank is clear of alae...but the skimmer is skimming 1 day out 7.

Hey joedirt54,
If your tank is clear of algae then I think that "big piece of ****" is doing it's job.

I think you should play it safe and check the amonia, nitrate, etc.. levels in your water to make sure if your protein skimmer is working or needs replacing. Keep in mind that if there is nothing to skim in your water, then your skimmer has nothing to skim.

[Matt Rise]

Thanx Chris, I'm getting some drier foam today, but the bubbles are still huge. The air is choked back about 60% now.

[Matt Rise]

Anyone want to buy an EV120 with a Mag5? Used for two weeks. I've had it with this thing.

[eztiger]

Hi,
I've read this whole thread (even the first half).
I have a AquaC EV240 in my 55 gallon sump for a 180 gallon display tank.

Believe me, I've read the instructions for the skimmer at least 10 times and this thread at least twice.

I'm pretty sure I'm doing everything right. The skimmer is sitting on a stand in my sump. The sump water level is steady at 12" and the stand is approx 6". Which means the return is approx. 2" above the sump water level.

The return is pointing towards my aquarium return pump and not the pump supplying the water to the skimmer.

The JG is plugged with RO tubing, the injector and skimmer tower is cleaned weekly (even though it really doesn't need it).

The pump I'm using is a mag 12 (the only pump that was recommended by the AquaC site when I first purchased the skimmer 1.5 years ago).

The mag 12 is plumbed to the skimmer with 3/4 tubing with the shortest piece possible (less than 18 inches) without kinking or bending it, so not to restrict the water flow.

Now for the problem: ITs NOT SKIMMING
Not true.........it 's skimming very little .......I dream of the day that I wake up and see that my EV 240 is skimming like some of these people that owe this skimmer.

The skimmer can run for a week and collect only a little over a 1/4 inch of skim mate. About the bio load in the display tank I would consider it medium to heavy with 260 lbs of Live rock, lots of coral and fish.......

I started doing research on the EV 240 because my nitrates in my display were rising and fast (50 plus .........so, most recommendation were get a better skimmer and skim aggressively). Then I saw the results that other people were getting with this skimmer and would like to get the same but it's not happening.

I just seems that the skimmate has problems reaching the collection cup. I even purchased a waste container which never needs cleaning because the only thing that gets there is condensation.

The water level is right below or equal to the top of the box, like recommend on this thread and on the AquaC site.

Can anyone out there help me out ....or give me any suggestions.
Thanks a million

If more information is needed please let me know.....

[bureau13]

I have some trouble with the foam tower consistently reaching the collection cup as well...although after a few days I always seem to have a thick layer of nasty gunk in there anyway, so I guess it gets in there when I'm not looking. Still...I would prefer to skim a bit wetter.

I'm using a Mag 18, and most people seem to think the lower end of "recommended pumps" are significantly inferior. The other thing I'm in the process of doing is putting in a 1" spray injector and using 1" tubing from my pump to the skimmer. I haven't done that yet so I can't say how effective it will be for me, but when I contacted AquaC about getting the replacements injector based on comments here, they told me they were considering using that bigger injector as the standard going forward. So hopefully there is something to that!

jds

[Matt Rise]

eztiger, I have been in touch with Keith at Aqua C and he has been very helpful. Try emailing him through their website www.proteinskimmer.com Thanx to his help, I might hang onto this thing after all.

[eztiger]

Thanks Matt Rise and Bureau

Hey Bureau
Please keep me posted about the 1" tubing and injector thing goes. Do you have any idea when you will be doing the modifications?

The only thing was that I wasn't planning on change my mag 12 but now it seems that I wouldn't have much of a choice.

Matt Rise
I'm presently in contact with Keith at AquaC but I figured I had nothing to loose with trying other peoples experiences or suggestions.....Thank for the info.

[eztiger]

Does anyone else have the same problem or similar.....would like to hear from others and any suggestions that they might have.

Thanks to all

[KAiNE]

Originally posted by eztiger
Does anyone else have the same problem or similar.....would like to hear from others and any suggestions that they might have.

Thanks to all

I got my 240 about 1.5 years ago and went with the recommended Iwaki pump. Mine is external, about 3.5' above the sump (and pump). You would think that the added head pressure would reduce performance but it doesn't as far as i can tell.
If I have the airvalve all the way open and the gate valve all the way open after i clean it, It will fill the collection cup and half of a gallon container with fairly dark foamy skimmate.
Couple of questions...
1) has it ever skimmed better than it is now?
2) how many turns on the gate valve does it take to get the water to the bottom of the platform?
3) what is the bubble size?
4) when you check it in the morning (before any kind of feeding) is it skimming?

[eztiger]

Hi there Kaine

To answer your questions

1 - The skimmer never skimmed better than the performance I'm getting presently.

2 - I would have to check and count the number of turns (I'll get back to you on that one....but when I look through the water return, the gate is approx half way down or less).

3 - The bubbles are small at the bottom and get larger (1/3 way up the riser they increase in size) . The small bubbles, are far from being micro-bubbles( more like boiling water).

4 - Yes, it is skimming in the morning but I'll never get close to the results you are getting. I can skim for a week or more and get 1/4 inch of skimmate. I have a waste container that is still brand new because the skimmate never gets there

Kaine do think you can post a picture of your EV 240 set-up, I'm very visual.
It seems everyone else is getting better performances with different pumps........mag18 , Iwaki
I was hoping I didn't have to change mine.......Do you suspect the mag12 is not strong enough?.

thanks

Couple of questions...
1) has it ever skimmed better than it is now?
2) how many turns on the gate valve does it take to get the water to the bottom of the platform?
3) what is the bubble size?
4) when you check it in the morning (before any kind of feeding) is it skimming? [/B][/QUOTE]

[KAiNE]

Ok... I've never seen a mag12 running a 240 so i really cant comment there. AquaC does still list the 12 so it must work.
Have you pulled the injector and cleaned it as well as the tube underneath, you may have to come at it from the air valve hole to get to it. I know that it isnt skimming so you wouldnt think it was dirty but ya never know.
Mine gets a snail (chiton or strombus) in the injector about once every two weeks. When this happens it acts very similar to what you describe.
What is your feeding schedule like? The skimmer will collapse for awhile after feeding but it should resume.
How about your air intake? Is it pulling any pollutants like smoke or cooking fumes? These will definitely collapse the column.
I can post some pics when i get home this evening.
One other thing i do is, I plumbed my air intake to draw outside air.

[Waxxiemann]

This may sound drastic, but if you go to a 1" injector and a mag 18, you'll have no problem getting skim. That may not be a route you are willing to take though. I get a full cup (up to overflow fitting) every day.

[gcarroll]

Hey guys, stop calling it the 1" injector. Make sure you call it the "gcarroll injector". Thanks for your time.

[Waxxiemann]

My bad

[eztiger]

Thanks for the replies.....everyone

Yes, I do clean out the injector at least once a week, just for the up keep.
I use brushes to clean it out well and every once in awhile I let sit in white vinegar so it's spotless.
I also clean the tubing right under the injector as well every second week which is not really dirty.

As for the hole you are mentioning that I might have to go through the air intake to clean......I have no idea which hole you are referring to.....can you please specify which hole your taking about.......

The air intake is also cleaned the same time the injector is.

The sump which holds the skimmer is sitting underneath the display cabinet, is it possible that the air intake is not getting the proper air?
But, the cabinet is well ventilated to avoid humidity and to keep water temperature down with two fans to circulate air and the cabinet has a open back so air can get out.

I would love to change to the 1" injector with a mag18 but I really want to try everything before investing more money just to hope to get better results.

I've invested quite a bit with the Ev240 skimmer, AquaC waste container and mag12 just to get very poor skimming results.
I don't want to invest another 200$ for a mag18 just to end up buying another skimmer.

Just want to make sure I'm doing everything right first and exhausting all my possibilities first before investing more money.

Thanks to all of you
Just keep it coming, I'm open to everything at this point.

[Matt Rise]

ez, can you post some pics?

[eztiger]

My apologies to gcarroll
For not referring to the 1" injector as the gcarroll injector..........

To answer the questin about the feeding habits .....I've cut down quite a bit because of my nitrates rising in the tank and not being able to skim aggressively.
Feeding almost every second day and very little until the nitrates drop..........

As for the smoking......There is no smokers the household ..........and I suspect that my wife will not read this thread so I can say this ..........she's not much of a cook but a pro with the microwave, so I don't think the cooking is affecting the skimmer.

Hope I didn't forget anything......

[eztiger]

I'll post some pictures on Saturday, I don't think I have updated pictures on this computer.

But, I might have some pictures I can post now..... this is how it was set up a few weeks ago . ........the skimmer was turned around so that the water return was not pointed towards the mag12 but pointed toward the fuge......so that the mag12 is only receiving unskimmed water from the display.


I'm trying to post the pictures but it's not working....I'll try to but them in my gallery........if it doesn't work tonight .....I'll post them Saturday for sure......

[eztiger]

Tried posting pictures but server says they are too big ......how can I make them smaller .....less than 50kb

[Matt Rise]

I use iphoto on my Mac. If you have photoshop you can use that.

[eztiger]

Picture of the skimmer the way it was set up a week ago........In the picture the skimmer had been running for at least a week.

Looks like I can post only one pic at a time...