aqua c ev180 + eheim 1262 = not working

B

bgcook

New member
hoping someone could help me with my current problem. i have a 120 gal mix reef AGA with a 30 gal sump. i was running my ev180 with the mag 7; however felt that my skimmate production was inconsistent. after reading many threads regarding this skimmer - i upgraded to the eheim 1262. initially it was too much for the skimmer, making it overflow. i placed a ball valve to cut back on it a bit. i feel that the water level is correct (just below the black top), but it is not producing skimmate even as well as the mag 7 did. before i ran the pump wide open (air valve). i also have the jg fitting, which was open. currently i have closed the jg fitting, and the air valve is wide open. does anyone have any suggestions on how i can get the great results i've read about. i would appreciate any suggestions.

thanks

greg
 
how do you dial in an ev180 and 1262

how do you dial in an ev180 and 1262

does anyone have any advice??? i know that i have read alot about this combination on this site, so someone has to have had a similar problem. PLEASE HELP! i haven't had good skimmate in over a week.
 
Take the air valve off and clean it and clean the injector as well.
 
You can't get the water level right without throttling the pump? Even with the gate valve completely open? That is odd. The Eheim pump isn't THAT powerful....

Most important: The gate valve is above the level of the water in the sump, right? The water coming out of the skimmer MUST be free to fall DOWN from the skimmer, otherwise adjustment will be difficult or impossible.

Also, if you have pipe connected to the gate valve, the lines must be vented (much like your home's septic system) to prevent a "vapor lock." On my EV240, I use a "T" with one end pointed up and left open, rather than an "L" to achieve this.
 
thanks for replying.

my skimmer sits above my water level in my sump. nothing is attached to the gate valve, so water flows freely. initially, after installing the pump, the water overflowed the collection cup without a ball valve. after installing the valve, i had to cut it back approx 10-20% to keep the water level below the black box. now i can full throttle the pump (likey because of resistance from valve) and the water level is mid-chamber (too high by product instructions). the only possibililty, i can come up with is that i used the 3/4 inch attachment at the outflow of the eheim, so that i could attach it easier the injection port. the eheim came with a 1/2", should i have used that? i was considering taking off the gate valve to see if that allowed for more flow, but i just don't think that would make that big of a difference since it is free to flow.

what is everyone elses experience with the ev180 and eheim 1262???

thanks
 
Do you let the skimmer sit for 24 hours before making you next minor adjustment?
I would do it like this.
Open the gate all the way, and use the pump ball valve to get you right above the black plate. leave the air wide open for 24 hours and observe. If the skim is to wet, make a very very minor adjustment to the air and leave it for 24 hours. Do this untill its what you want for skim. If your not using the O2 port then go out and buy a 3/8 pvc plug. It might take you a week to get the skimmate you want, but once you have it dialed in its stays that way. Patience is key.
 
It almost sounds like either the gate valve or the internal pipe is clogged in some way. There is no way that the water should be in the reaction chamber (clear tube) with the valve fully open. Not even with a much larger pump than you have.

Take off the gate valve and ensure that the pipe down to the bottom of the box is free of obstructions. Also visually confirm that the gate valve is opening correctly and fully.
 
will do, thanks for all the suggestions. a few more questions.
1. the ideal water level is it at the top of the black top or the internal platform. the instructions are kind of confusing. by the picture it seems like it should be at the internal platform, by the wording the black box. seems to me the internal platform would be the best place since the collection tube seems to start there.
2. on the eheim output, i realized that i used the 1 inch hose barb adaptor (suppose to be for the intake). is it possible that by increasing the diameter of the output, i increase the flow to a point where it is too much for the skimmer. trying to remember that dumb physics flow equation from college.

thanks, appreciate the advice. will check the gate valve and internal pipe tomorrow morning. i am also going to switch out the 1 inch barb for the 3/4, just in case.
 
yes, i turn the air injector off to adjust the water level. i just am not 100% sure if I am placing the level at the best spot. I basically adjust it by turning off the level, then raising the water level into the reaction chamber, then lowering it until it is below the top of the skimmer box. should the level be just below the outer shell of the skimmer or just below the internal platform?

i know that skimmer production varies with bioload, but how does everyones ev180 produce skimmate. Is it consistent or does it "cycle." when i was running the mag 7, i got very dark, smelly skimmate. it just would never produce enough that it would spill through the drain much. it always seemed to produce enough to the level of the drain, then it would just stop. no matter how long i waited, no more skimmate. i upgraded to the 1262 because i thought the skimmer should be producing more skimmate for longer periods of time. is this dumb to think this?? my past experience with the small coralife skimmer (on a 55 gal) was that if i didn't empty the cup it would overflow, it would produce dark green crud consistently all the time. i guess what i am trying to get to is this - did the coralife produce 24/7 because it was not as efficient and that perhaps the 180ev is better at "skimming" so it pulls out as much as it can, then stops. i am just wondering if my expectation for my ev180 are unrealistic and it was working fine with the mag7? i guess i am just doubting my new $130 pump and that doesn't seem to agree with my skimmer.

anyhow, i will check some of the things suggested today in the morning.

lost and confused.
 
i just got this skimmer combo myself. its working great for me. some things that i do for my skimmer. i took the gate off the out put totally. i have no throttle or gate on the pump. does your skimmer have a JG fitting? if it does you should have it plugged. the air on the skimmer will have to be choked back at least 1/2 way. you have to remember that your new pump will have to break in as well just like your skimmer had to when you got it. new plumbing has to build a slime coat so it will effect the skimmer for a while. if you have any other questions just send me a pm. HTH
 
It sounds like when you were runing the mag 7, you might had it set to dry, and the skimmer neck was to dirty to continue skimming, When i hit the sweetspot it started flowing over. That neck needed to be wiped down weekly or sometimes twice a week. When i ran it dry it needed a whipe daily. For me, the EV180 was one of the easiest skimmers to set up that i have owned. I recently got a new skimmer, the ev wasnt large enough for my system.

IMG_5873.jpg


IMG_5893.jpg
 
wow, that is incredible. that is what i would like to see. what pump where you using. it seems that your skimmer was up out of the water and that perhaps you air valve was not connected? also approx where is your water level on that picture? is it to the top of the outer casing or is it at the black platform?

thanks
 
That was on a mag 7, you can see it in the sump. I was experementing at the time with the wide open air, it was too noisy for me so i put it back.The water level was just above the black plate on the inside of the skimmer.
 
well after a frustrating day with the eheim, i have gone back to the mag 7. at least with the mag, i did get skimmate. no matter how i adjusted the eheim today i could not get the water level out of the reaction chamber (with injector off). after installing another ball valve, the pressure just didn't seem very good. i few members have remarked on the good results with a mag 7, perhaps i wasn't patient enought initially. took the skimmer apart, everything seems open and free of debris. anyhow, it seems like it is going through another break in period, with me messing with it so much. so i am going to set, leave it alone and make small adjustments everyother day. i am talking with aqua c via email, trying to work out we the eheim overpowered the skimmer so much. i agree with the above, that pump isn't that powerful the gate valve (or today without a gate valve) should of been able to handle the flow. well i will give it some time and see what happens.

thanks everyone for your help.
 
well, i first want to thank everyone for their help. after installing the eheim 1262, reinstalling the mag7 and now reinstalling the eheim 1262. the skimmer is producing that crazy. oddly it looks like the above picture, except the overflowing the lid thing. hasn't quite produced that much yet.

i don't know what happened really. i have been talking with steve at aqua c. bottom line they feel the eheim pump is the best for this skimmer. so when i got home today, i decided to reinstall it and see if i could make it work. after turning the pump on (and of course placing a ball valve) the water level in the skimmer was perfect - with the ball valve wide open. i have no idea what i did different, considering when i installed the same tubing, same ball valve, in the same way - the water was above the black box 1-2 inches a few days ago. i just figured today (as well as aqua c) the eheim was a better pump, even if it was cute back a bit. well, you know what i don't care what i did different, i am going to go with it. the stress is gone, for at least until the next thing.

so thanks for everyones help. i appreciated it especially when i was going crazy. i guess sometimes all you need is luck!!

take care

greg
 
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