AquaC CLUB!

[laud]

It's funny, I've had my Ev-240 for about a year and thought it was all going well. Recently I checked back here and realized it wasn't working very well. I redirected more flow to the skimmer, with less for the tank return and cut back the air a bit and the thing looks like milk. It is working much better and more efficient.

Thanks again.

 

[sdheath]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13300646#post13300646 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jtma508
I don't understand the negative comments on the AquaC EV series. I've been using a 180 powered by a Mag 9.5 and it just couldn't work any better.

What he said.

 

[chase33]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13300646#post13300646 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jtma508
I don't understand the negative comments on the AquaC EV series. I've been using a 180 powered by a Mag 9.5 and it just couldn't work any better. This sucker rocks and I've never had any problems with it --- ever. My injector stay clear and it pulls out some nasty crud. A couple of small pieces of eggcrate broke off and got sucked-up by the Mag 9.5 and ended up in the injector of the skimmer. The damn thing STILL worked!

This thread is over 30 pages long so there are many that are having or have had issues. How large is your tank and how many fish do you have (size of bio-load)?

 

[sdheath]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13302554#post13302554 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chase33
This thread is over 30 pages long so there are many that are having or have had issues. How large is your tank and how many fish do you have (size of bio-load)?

My EV-180/Mag9.5 is on a lightly stocked 125 with a 40 gal. sump/refugium. I have about 75 lbs. of live rock and 100 lbs. of sand. Fish are only a tiny yellow tang, a flame angel, a 4" wrasse, a damsel and a green chromis. I have a few soft corals in there too.

My skimmer has the stock 3/4" injector and is mounted externally, with a 2" section of spa flex for the drain to the sump. That was my one problem getting started - I initially had an elbow on the drain which caused too much back pressure. Changing to a piece of gently curved spa flex took care of it.

I'll admit that it took a little while to get everything dialed in, but now that everything is set the skimmer really rocks. I would recommend that you start by going back to the factory suggested setting; with the air valve closed, use the gate valve to set the water level to the top of the black box. Then open the air valve (make sure it's clean) a little bit and give it a day to settle in. Any adjustments from there should be small, and wait a day between them. WIth this skimmer, you are rewarded for patience and punished if you try to rush things. If you still have problems, call or email AquaC customer service. They are very helpful.

 

[chris4869]

Sorry if I came across as being negative. I was just stating that my EV-180 do require some maintenance. It's currently soaking in a vinegar bath.

Chase, your Mag9.5 is more than adequate. It took me a year to get mine working, so don't loose hope.

 

[chase33]

That's my point Chris. It took you a year. Look at all the people who've had issues with this skimmer in this thread. I hear what you're saying but you shouldn't have to wait that long, a year. I don't have a choice because I cannot afford to spend for another at this time so I have to keep hope. For all of you guys that have it tuned in correctly consider yourselves lucky

 

[pelochas]

lucky your Jets have B R E T T

 

[chris4869]

Chase, I posted this a while back. I thought maybe it'll help you keep your air valve clean.

I use a 1" PVC cap drilled with holes, a piece of 1" PVC pipe, and a 1" to 3/4" PVC elbow. I just shove some cotton at the bottom, fill the 1" PVC pipe with carbon, and cap it. I use a piece of vinyl tube to connect the thing to the skimmer. It filters the air and keeps the air valve from clogging.

 

[pelochas]

chris
thats a great idea. i had an idea like that in mind but instead i was thinking of removing the air valve, then screw in a threaded pvc coupler and then a 12 inch piece of pvc to a female threaded coupler then put the air valve there. basically moving the the air valve from down there of the skimmer body to up higher and away from being clogged by salty water.

btw the way, for those who still have no luck in this skimmer, i forgot to clean my skimmer cup after 4 days of skimming and it was nasty. some skimmate was oozing out and hanging off the cup

here is a pic

 

[chris4869]

We think alike. I originally was going to do that too, but I had a hard time finding the threaded connection at the local warehouse store, so I opted for that design.

My tank is really close to the kitchen. I find that greasy air and cigarette smoke can collapse the foam in my skimmer. My 15 minutes mod fixed all that (for less than a buck of material).

 

[jtma508]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13302554#post13302554 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chase33
This thread is over 30 pages long so there are many that are having or have had issues. How large is your tank and how many fish do you have (size of bio-load)?

I have a 90gal bowfront and 25gal sump, 120lbs LR, 13 fish, med sized CUC, 20 or so corals, etc. I over-feed cause I'm a newb and they're spolied. I run a Ca Reactor and ozone into the skimmer and GFO/GAC filters.

My EV-180 has run flawlessly since the day I set it up and again --- I'm a newb. IME, most of the people with posts related to EV problems have overlooked proper setup. Most common is water level relative to the skimmer. IMO, that is critical. Mine doesn't crash. When I feed it goes on 'standby' for an hour. When it comes back on it goes right back to skimming.

There's nothing weird or unusual about my setup so I can't see why I have such good luck and others have complaints. I honestly believe it's in the setup. Things are being overlooked or their importance discounted.

 

[chris4869]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13320249#post13320249 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jtma508
Mine doesn't crash. When I feed it goes on 'standby' for an hour. When it comes back on it goes right back to skimming.

I think you're missing the point.

Don't put it on 'standby' after you feed and see what happens. Don't get me wrong, because the EVs are good skimmers if you get them dialed in. Mine required a couple of mods and a larger pump.

 

[ScottL4619]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13329335#post13329335 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chris4869
I think you're missing the point.

Don't put it on 'standby' after you feed and see what happens. Don't get me wrong, because the EVs are good skimmers if you get them dialed in. Mine required a couple of mods and a larger pump.

I don't put mine in "standby" and yes the foam does collapse. But, it returns within an hour or two, depending on the food used.

 

[pelochas]

i dont know from what other skimmers can do but i bet that all the skimmers have their foaming tower collapse when something is added to the tank especially food since it has oils and other ingrediants that will break the sticky bubbling action.
i have the same effect when i feed the tank, the tower collapse and but then it returns pretty quick which is about an hour or so.

 

[chris4869]

I heard the majority of the skimmers do that. I know my EV-180 does it for sure, but fortunately mine recovers fairly quickly. My other skimmer doesn't do that, so I know there are a few exceptions.

Off topic... pelochas, have you considered converting some of your MaxiJet 1200 with a Sure Flow mod? You only need 2 for your tank, and you can retire the other 2. Saves a lot of space in the tank.

 

[cj hill]

can anyone tell me what skimmer i have the black box is 11 inches tall by 9 inches long by 51/2 and the neck is 5 inchs tall 5 inches acrosed is it a 120 240 or some thing eles the overall hieght is 20 1/2

 

[jtma508]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13381176#post13381176 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cj hill
can anyone tell me what skimmer i have the black box is 11 inches tall by 9 inches long by 51/2 and the neck is 5 inchs tall 5 inches acrosed is it a 120 240 or some thing eles the overall hieght is 20 1/2

Sounds like a EV180. My dimensions are exactly that. With the collection cup installed the column is 9 1/2" tall.

 

[cj hill]

will a mag 18 run a ev 180 and is that to small for a 240g tank

 

[ScottL4619]

Could be a bit small for that tank.

A Mag 18 will be way overkill for that skimmer. Your water level will be in the collection cup. Mag 9 or Eheim 1262 will be perfect.

 

[cj hill]

well i did hook it up with a ball valve had to turn it down some and the air valve only a 1/4 open and there is more fome coming out of this thing than i thought you could make a year if it keeps this up i will be verry happy