AquaC CLUB!
- Thread starter JohnL
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CaptainCoral
New member
Hello all my fellow AquaC users.
I haven't posted in the thread in a while, but I'm still a member and wanted to share my updates.
Some time ago, I added a 4.75" extension to the foam tower of my ev180 which resulted in it's needing a mag12 to run, kind of defeating my reasoning for modifying the skimmer. I was looking for maximum performance with less air valve sensitivity with the use of a mag9.
The skimmer spent some time in my closet after that and my ev400 was used during that time.
Having missed the difference in noise between the two (aquarium is in my bedroom), I adjusted the height of the foam tower on the ev180 again. The foam tower is now 6" high.
I'm also still using the needle valve. It's been so much nicer and easier to dial in and the level of precision is impossible without it.
I also have the mag9 on a very short hose direct to the injector. This caused the water line to be too high, even with the gate removed from the exit pipe. I made my own exit plumbing which I can turn up or down and drop the water line in the box even with the plumbing overloaded.
I haven't posted in the thread in a while, but I'm still a member and wanted to share my updates.
Some time ago, I added a 4.75" extension to the foam tower of my ev180 which resulted in it's needing a mag12 to run, kind of defeating my reasoning for modifying the skimmer. I was looking for maximum performance with less air valve sensitivity with the use of a mag9.
The skimmer spent some time in my closet after that and my ev400 was used during that time.
Having missed the difference in noise between the two (aquarium is in my bedroom), I adjusted the height of the foam tower on the ev180 again. The foam tower is now 6" high.
I'm also still using the needle valve. It's been so much nicer and easier to dial in and the level of precision is impossible without it.
I also have the mag9 on a very short hose direct to the injector. This caused the water line to be too high, even with the gate removed from the exit pipe. I made my own exit plumbing which I can turn up or down and drop the water line in the box even with the plumbing overloaded.
Last edited:
saltydog64
New member
Capt............
Nice job on the EV-180.....I just added a Mag 7 to my EV-120 whew what a improvement.....for now I'm not using a valve between the pump and skimmer but have one and might add it later.
A couple of ??? on your mod(s) first, where did you get the added foam tower and how did you change it's length, and on you air intake side could you explain the arrangment and how the needle valve works in there and it looks like the orginal air valve is apart of this whole deal..... and thanks for your update...
Nice job on the EV-180.....I just added a Mag 7 to my EV-120 whew what a improvement.....for now I'm not using a valve between the pump and skimmer but have one and might add it later.
A couple of ??? on your mod(s) first, where did you get the added foam tower and how did you change it's length, and on you air intake side could you explain the arrangment and how the needle valve works in there and it looks like the orginal air valve is apart of this whole deal..... and thanks for your update...
CaptainCoral
New member
saltydog64.....
It was so long ago that I had originally cut her up, that I couldn't even remember when I had done it.
I did find the page after some digging where I started documenting it here.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=594995&perpage=25&pagenumber=33
I just did the same thing after picking the new place to cut.
Adjusting the air can sometimes be difficult and has been widely complained about. At some point I had just decided to start looking for a replacement air valve that could give me the precision I was looking for. This was not an easy search, and that I'm aware of, no proper sized valve has been discovered that can do the job on it's own. I bought the largest valve of the three offered and discovered it has an enormous range, but fully open wasn't enough. If I were to buy one now, I'd have gotten a John Guest version which would be easier to remove to plunge out the calcium build up and look a little more tidy on the box. So, using both valves became the solution for me. I can set the original in the ballpark and then use the needle valve for fine tuning. That's really all you're looking at there is a "T" on the box's air hole with both valves on it. The other tubing is just to re-join the lines to connect to a flexible pvc hose which is connected at the other end to a hole in a board in my window. I do smoke cigarettes, so I have to get clean air to the skimmer for it to operate, and it also provides the benefit of better oxygenation and ph stability in the tank. Any noise from the air valves is also only heard on the outside of the window resulting in a very quiet skimmer.
The bottom of this page is when I first ordered the valve.
My favorite pic from after the first mod....
A valve that didn't make the cut....
:idea:
This is kind of a fun stroll down memory lane for me I hope I'm not boring everyone.
One more.
It was so long ago that I had originally cut her up, that I couldn't even remember when I had done it.
I did find the page after some digging where I started documenting it here.http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=594995&perpage=25&pagenumber=33
I just did the same thing after picking the new place to cut.
Adjusting the air can sometimes be difficult and has been widely complained about. At some point I had just decided to start looking for a replacement air valve that could give me the precision I was looking for. This was not an easy search, and that I'm aware of, no proper sized valve has been discovered that can do the job on it's own. I bought the largest valve of the three offered and discovered it has an enormous range, but fully open wasn't enough. If I were to buy one now, I'd have gotten a John Guest version which would be easier to remove to plunge out the calcium build up and look a little more tidy on the box. So, using both valves became the solution for me. I can set the original in the ballpark and then use the needle valve for fine tuning. That's really all you're looking at there is a "T" on the box's air hole with both valves on it. The other tubing is just to re-join the lines to connect to a flexible pvc hose which is connected at the other end to a hole in a board in my window. I do smoke cigarettes, so I have to get clean air to the skimmer for it to operate, and it also provides the benefit of better oxygenation and ph stability in the tank. Any noise from the air valves is also only heard on the outside of the window resulting in a very quiet skimmer.
The bottom of this page is when I first ordered the valve.
My favorite pic from after the first mod....
A valve that didn't make the cut....
:idea:
This is kind of a fun stroll down memory lane for me I hope I'm not boring everyone.
One more.
Last edited:
Teddy Ballgame
New member
I have an Aqua-C ev-180 with a MAG 9.5 full throttle, air at about halfway. I get loads of foam but can't get my collection cup to fill up and empty automatically down the drain tube. I have the drain hooked up to a drain in the floor and even created an air hole at the elbow where it connects to the collection cup to allow for an air break. Anyone have any ideas or do I just have to manually empty the cup daily...PITA...?
CaptainCoral
New member
If the elbow is clean (I jam a pipe brush through mine every cup cleaning), the escaping air, foam, and skimmate must leave through that elbow and down the hose to the collection container.
If there is a hole for air to escape in your elbow, there will be less air pressure in the cup drain line and it likely won't work. Put a drain fitting on the cup that has only one hole, the hose barb.
If there is a hole for air to escape in your elbow, there will be less air pressure in the cup drain line and it likely won't work. Put a drain fitting on the cup that has only one hole, the hose barb.
Teddy Ballgame
New member
fortunately its a pin sized hole that i can plug with a toothpick...which I will do. Still, somewhere in this thread I read that the drain cannot have negative air pressure, hence why I created the hole...
ScottL4619
New member
I run an EV-150 on my 125 and it does a great job. I would assume that an EV-240 would be ok on a 215 gallon.
CaptainCoral
New member
While reading up on various skimmer threads all over the web, I noticed that there is a tendency to compare skimmer watt usages.
I often see a mesh or needle wheel skimmer watts posted after running on a kill-a-watt meter, and then compare to an EV 180 with a mag9 without the kill-a-watt reading.
I just wanted to remind everyone in the club and those browsing the web that the injector adds a lot of head pressure, and lowers the watt use from that listed on the pump.
For instance... My EV180/mag9 combo uses 60-61 watts. (not 93w)
My EV400/Mak4 uses 88 watts. (not 110w)
If you are restricting the pump with a gate or ball valve, your wattage will go down even more.
Our skimmers are still on the power hungry side, but not as bad as often reported.
I often see a mesh or needle wheel skimmer watts posted after running on a kill-a-watt meter, and then compare to an EV 180 with a mag9 without the kill-a-watt reading.
I just wanted to remind everyone in the club and those browsing the web that the injector adds a lot of head pressure, and lowers the watt use from that listed on the pump.
For instance... My EV180/mag9 combo uses 60-61 watts. (not 93w)
My EV400/Mak4 uses 88 watts. (not 110w)
If you are restricting the pump with a gate or ball valve, your wattage will go down even more.
Our skimmers are still on the power hungry side, but not as bad as often reported.
CaptainCoral
New member
It's probably not over driven with a panworld 50px-- 590 gph @ 0 head. It's got some head capabilities though that should make up for lack of flow.
Can you tell us where that water level is now with your gate valve open full and air closed?
The real test is does it draw air well with the water near the top of the box, gated if need be. How open does the air valve have to be (with water line just under the top of the box) to get skimmate?
IME, if the air valve needs to be open more than half way to get skimmate, the pump is undersized, or rather, the limiting factor in the skimmers performance.
Can you tell us where that water level is now with your gate valve open full and air closed?
The real test is does it draw air well with the water near the top of the box, gated if need be. How open does the air valve have to be (with water line just under the top of the box) to get skimmate?
IME, if the air valve needs to be open more than half way to get skimmate, the pump is undersized, or rather, the limiting factor in the skimmers performance.
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