Anyone run an EV120 skimmer?

[mbierzyc]

I've had my setup going for a couple months now, and one thing that I can't seem to get tweaked right is my skimmer.

It's the AquaC EV120. I have it powered by a mag7, water valve all the way open, and the air has to be nearly closed for it to not just gush water.

Is the pump too strong? I don't have anything less powerful. I heard that this skimmer takes a while to break in. Should I just keep the water fully opened, and the air basically closed and wait for skimmate to build up?

The way I have it now (just a little bit of air) produces brown/green, but really wet skimmate.


Thanks.

Matt

 

[NewSchool04]

I could never get mine working, constantly adjusting, tweaking, etc. I bought a Euro-Reef and in the first day that skimmer produced more than the EV120 did in two months.

 

[Rod Buehler]

Ive had a few aqua C skimmers. every one of them has been traded for something different. I could never get any of the to skime very well.

 

[mbierzyc]

That's bad news. I read good reviews of them before buying mine used. I suppose I should look for something new.

Rod, you've seen my setup; if you remember it at all, can you think of a good skimmer for me? (You came to fix a leak in Bartlett. My sump is below the tank in the stand, and the skimmer section of the sump is 9.5 x 12.5" and 19" of height is available. I would really prefer an in-sump skimmer, but due to my size constraint I'm not sure what would be best.)

 

[softbal4]

I use the aqua c 180 and never had a problem. I would make sure your air flow is open fully. then with the cup off...slowly tweak the water gate until the pressure inside the skimmer is bubbling the water about an inch from the top of the box. once you find that spot, that is where your gate should sit. tweak the gate slowly (just a bit at a time) because it will seem as if nothing is happening and then all of a sudden the water will be too high.
once you figure it out, you will be fine. I really like these skimmers.

as for the pump, a mag 7 is fine. when i used a 120 model I used a mag 7. also, this skimmer can be used in or out of the sump.

 

[mbierzyc]

I have my gate valve all the way open, and my air all the way open, and the level of the bubbling water is 1.5" above the box part, and into the tube, and 2" below the top of the tube. This is all with the cup off.

So, when you said "box" did you literally mean the black box of the skimmer? Because I don't think I can get my water that low.

 

[mark_diablo]

I run an EV180, if that helps

I run an EV180, if that helps

Mike,

I assume an EV180 is close enough to an EV120 to help.

First, it takes two solid days to break in the skimmer (I was pretty frustrated at first too). It's very, VERY important to empty the runoff tube into the sump (or tank, if need be) during the break-in period, because the EV's are prone to pumping out a lot of water during the break-in (and as you stumble through the adjustment period). Unlike other skimmers that only have two input variables (pump speed and air input), the EV's have three (the 3rd being the adjustable internal water level which is a GREAT feature as described below).

After a couple of days, it works GREAT. The adjustment is done principally at the water output (which determines the level of water in the skimmer). I keep the air input wide open and adjust the water level through the spigot (one variable is a lot easier to control than two). It does take a minute or two for the skimmer to react to adjustments so you need to be a little patient.

I don't work for AquaC and have only owned mine for a week, but they are GREAT skimmers. The reason I bought mine is that I have a rather low stand on my 180G reef tank and my sump is pretty shallow (I use a 40 gallon breeder tank as the sump pit). Other skimmers need a higher water level to operate effectively. The best feature of the EVs is that they can operate at a much lower water depth than other skimmers because you can control the level of the water IN the skimmer (I know this makes little sense unless you have seen an EV). I hadn't seen that before.

Oh, and I am using a RIO 3100 to power the skimmer (it is rated at 900GPH and I'm supposed to use a 700-800GPH pump, but it works fine). My only complaint is that the EVs are pricey (I bought mine on-line for $300). However, with the low sump, I had no choice.

Mark

 

[mark_diablo]

Mike,

I just saw your 8:55 post. Your problem is that you have the water gate open all the way....you need to restrict it a bit so that the water level rises in the black (actually transluscent) box (with a flashlight, you can see the internal water level). After the water gate is cranked all the way open, slowly close it (by slowly I mean close it a rotation than wait a few seconds) let the water level (and bubbles) adjust then close it a little more until you get the desired foam.

 

[mbierzyc]

I think I have the initial level set just like you guys recommended. At this point do I just wait until the skimmer breaks in and then begins to foam higher? This is my first skimmer on my first "real" setup. Thanks.

Also, did you guys set up any sort of collection cup for the main one to drain into? If so, what did you use?

 

[kimha]

mbierzyc - Hang on to your ev-120 a bit longer. It is just a matter of time before you find the sweet spot. I did the same thing when I bought my first used ev-180 skimmer.

I did my research and found good feedback on them. But when I used it for the first time, I just couldn't get it to work properly for months. A few months later ( may be 3), and after tweeking and playing around with it so much, I finally learned how to set it the way I like it. Now I have 4 EV skimmers on all 4 of my tanks. I also have a EuroReef skimmer but have not set it up yet. I will compare to see which one works better. But what I like about the AquaC EV series is the ease of maintenance. Another key thing is your tank must have enough dirty stuff for it to skim. If your tank is too clean, you will not see much of the yucky stuff.

 

[mark_diablo]

Mike,

Once you "kind of" get it working (some foam, etc.) just let it sit for a day or so...then it becomes very easy to adjust. Mine varied between foam and water for about a day, then started cranking out foam. With minor tweaking, it works very well.

I had the same frustration. After you get it "kind of" working, also re-read the directions for set-up and use...they become much more meaningful.

Mark

 

[softbal4]

another note that I did not mention with these skimmers is that if you have it outside of the sump or refugium...your skimmer return need to be higher then your sump or refugium. if your skimmer is drilled into the sump or refugium...this does not matter.

 

[little_squid]

somewhere there was a thread of using a eheim 1260 for the ev120 worked the best just food for thought:-/

 

[mbierzyc]

I ran mine a bit closed, and clean water just gushed through the thing, though the chamber was filled with bubbles. i just closed it up a bit, and now the bubble level is really low ... this may take some time.

 

[kimoy]

i just hooked up my new ev180 and is run by an iwaki55rlt with a restrictor on the pumt output it works like a charm. less than 6 hours after running it for the first time(new) i got adry foam already....GREAT SKIMMER..

 

[ppurcell]

Not to redirect the conversation here, but I recently installed an ASM G2 on my 75g. It replaced an ETSS Reef-Devil, which is another down-draft style skimmer. (I think it's called that because it belongs in hell, it certainly made me feel like I was at least...)

The ASM is an outstanding skimmer; it is mind-numbingly simple to setup and it started working within 24 hours. If you decide to part ways with your current skimmer, this would be a safe direction to go.

 

[homebrewdude]

I have a EV-180 with Mag 7
no problems.
pulls near 1/2 gallon of scum per week

 

[mbierzyc]

I think mine is tweaked like everyone recommended, but it's still pushing too much water through it. Kimoy, how did you restrict the pump output? I think that may be necessary for me.

 

[kimoy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8348307#post8348307 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mbierzyc
I think mine is tweaked like everyone recommended, but it's still pushing too much water through it. Kimoy, how did you restrict the pump output? I think that may be necessary for me.

just put a ball valve in between the pump output and the skimmer. run it like your runnir it for the first time with the gate and air valve open 100% and turn your pump on. close the ball valve halfway and start closing the skimmer gatevalve slowly untill the water in side the box is level to the top then slowly open the air valve. you need to find the right air/water level coming into your skimmer according to your preference. an oh it is very important that your skimmer output is level or above your water line.....hope this helps, if not let me know.

 

[Racenrich]

i had one of those skimmers for close to 7 months without any hickups...worked liked a champ....did take about 2 weeks to break in, but after that, it pulled the gunk out.......i run a ER now, but only because it was a killer deal that i coundnt pass up....otherwise it would still be in my sump.

that skimmer requires that the gate value be about 1-2 in above the water line. Is yours setup like that? my gate vavle was open all the way as well...HTH