AquaC CLUB!

[CaptainCoral]

They'll offer slightly different advise than that you'll find here. You want to keep your water line at the top of the box with the gate valve, and use the air valve for desired skimmate.

If you follow their advise, you have to sacrifice the ideal water height for foam.

 

[atlfishes]

Would you say the pump is overdriving or not? Do you think I can get optimal performance from it? With the air valve closed I want the water at the top of the black box and then adjust the air valve. Sorry if I'm being dense. Thanks

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14619956#post14619956 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by CaptainCoral
They'll offer slightly different advise than that you'll find here. You want to keep your water line at the top of the box with the gate valve, and use the air valve for desired skimmate.

If you follow their advise, you have to sacrifice the ideal water height for foam.

 

[Hal]

Should I upgrade my pump?

I'm running an EV-240 with an Iwaki WMD-30RLT (540gph at 4 ft head). I see that AquaC has changed their recommended pump to the 40RLT (750 gph at 4 ft head).

Has anyone made the switch from the 30RLT to the 40RLT? If so, how much of a difference did it make? The 40RLT is about $290, so the upgrade is substantial to my wallet.

Because of my setup, I need an external pump.

I see that the Gen-X PCX-40 (Mak 4) is also a recommended pump, and it's only about $164. Is this a better option? Noise is also a consideration, and this pump gets bad reviews on that aspect.

In no particular order, my concerns are: performance, cost, noise, and power usage.

Is there a better solution?

I have the 1 inch injector.


P.S. I have one other option. I have an Iwaki 100RLT for my return pump. It's way too much flow for my 2 return nozzles, so I've T'd it off and route the T back into my sump. I use a gate-valve to control how much flow goes to my display tank, with the balance going back to my sump.

I wonder if I have enough flow to divert that arm of the T to drive my skimmer? I'll only be able to eyeball the flow coming out of my T and compare it to the flow coming out of my 30RLT, so my comparison will be rough at best.

 

[CaptainCoral]

atlfishes... It's probably a good pump match because of the 16' of head pumping ability and not so much flow that would back up the exit plumbing. (like my mag9 does)
The water line moves up and down depending on how much air is being drawn in. Because of this, the exit gate and air valve need to be adjusted together. A good starting point for you would be to set the air valve like the pic below. Then raise the water line (with gate) until water crests are seen in the foam tower, and then slowly open the gate until you can't see the water crests in the foam tower. From there, adjustments can be made to the air valve and gate valve to fine tune. (together, keeping the water line just out of sight in the tower)

Hal... The GenX PCX40 is strong enough to run a EV400, but with a gate valve on it, it could be toned down to optimum performance for the ev240. It is what I would consider to be a loud pump, but probably similar to other external pumps strong enough to drive your skimmer. Lot's of users have matched the 1" injector, mag18 and ev240 with good results. Your Iwaki is a very strong pump indeed. It seems likely to me that you could drive the skimmer with it and bleed off the excess to the display. It could be a very good solution for you. Let us know how it works out.

 

[ari5736]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14618399#post14618399 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by CaptainCoral

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.

Also IME. So my question is that I have a Mag 18 running a EV 240, and the pump is the limiting factor. What pump can I step up to?

 

[atlfishes]

I've taken my exit gate off to avoid back pressure. It was my understanding I wouldn't need it since the pump is plenty powerful? My water level adjustments have been made using the gate after the pump. Thanks

 

[CaptainCoral]

It's a good question there ari. Pumps made to handle pressure are going to always be the best pumps (for max performance) for models EV240 and up. I think that they are also less forgiving with electrical consumption when working with head pressure than other pumps (which drop electrical use considerably with head pressure). I'd consider this pump, the Iwaki equivalent or Mak4. Take note of the top review on the link page.



I'm posting some pics to help explain why I don't follow AquaC's tuning instructions. The air was opened up full to show how water height alone effected bubble size which in turn effects turbulence in the foam tower. It is an ev400 with Mak4 currently not in use.

First one...this is with the water line just out of view in the foam tower.

This is with the gate valve opened up all of the way.

This is the foam head having a hard time overcoming the turbulent large bubbles.

This is the foam head forming with the water back where it should stay....IMO.

Lastly...here it is all dialed in and ready to leave alone for a couple days.

That's why I don't open the gate to get dry skim, the bubbles get too big, too much turbulence in the tower and it struggles to make foam. As long as your pump has what it takes, the skimmer will still pull plenty of air with the valve choked back some to adjust the skimmate, keeping your water line correct all the while. Keeping the water line consistently at the top of the box makes for a stable foam head.

 

[CaptainCoral]

atlfishes...The only model I've ever seen folks have to remove the gate valve on is the ev180. This is from using a pump with too much flow for the exit plumbing to handle with the gate installed. I would only take it off if the water line won't drop out of sight in the foam tower with the air valve open and with the gate all the way open. I was hoping your set up wouldn't warrant such a thing. I recommend to put it back on and do the test. If the box's exit plumbing can handle the flow with the use of air, there is no reason to choke back the pump, let her rip.

 

[mech]

I did some mods to my remora, to keep electricity usage down i skipped having a dedicated pump and I plumbed 1" pvc directly out of the remora(got rid of tiny 5/8 inch barb) to a mag 5 in the refugium/sump, it works really well for me, I can post pics if anybody wants to see

 

[CaptainCoral]

mech... I like it, don't hold back with the pics. HOB skimmers can do such a thing with style. It can become an esthetic issue for ev users but not impossible for those looking to reduce electricity usage.

 

[mech]

here ya go

in tank:

from the side:

 

[fourzero]

No offense, but I couldn't stand that PVC loop in my display under any circumstances. Why can't you hang the Remora on the sump and run it down there?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14624518#post14624518 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mech
here ya go

 

[mech]

now I only use one mag 5 to run the skimmer and the loop, it was for simplification and conservation of electricity, when the PVC gets covered in coraline it will be fine with me, also at least there not a huge pump hanging off the front of a remora anymore, that was way more aesthetically displeasing

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14627230#post14627230 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by fourzero
No offense, but I couldn't stand that PVC loop in my display under any circumstances. Why can't you hang the Remora on the sump and run it down there?

 

[CaptainCoral]

I think it's fantastic mech, and I agree, a little coralline and it's osta by by. To me, it's less of an eye sore than my tunze streams and maxi mods.

 

[erc]

hello there,

thanks for this great post,

I have the ev 180, and it finally seems like I will get some good skimmate.

I tried running the skimmer a while back with a mag 9 and ball valve, could never get the flow right. I took the pump from the Ded Sea berlin skimmer that the ev 180 replaced. The pump was made by Hydor for Ded Sea, I believe it is the equivalent to the Hydor Seltz model L 40. The Ded Sea pump is 3 more watts than the seltz (55w) and had the venturi which has been removed. The mag 9 is 93w, I notice no difference in the water height of the skimmer between the two pumps.

So, I closed the air valve and the water level was 1" +- above the top of the box. I then removed the gate vale and the water level dropped 1/2"+- below the top of the box. Used a 1" close nipple in a 1 1/2 X 1 bushing into a 1 1/2 tee , for the drain piping and the water level was just below the top of the box. Cracked the air valve open and voila , nice foam.

Wish I had found this thread earlier, setting up a 150 gallon reef, and would have designed the sump where I could have just dumped the skimmer ,without piping.

Do you think the ev 180 producing good skimmate will be enought on a 150 gallon reef, with a handfull of fish?

thanks again

.

 

[jim.l]

I'm running my 150 with a EV180 / eheim 162 combo and a 1" injector. Works fine. The cup fills to the drain hole every 2 days and I have a fairly low load in the tank.

 

[CaptainCoral]

It's good to see you found the club and are getting good foam now erc. I think your skimmer is fine for your tank.

 

[ari5736]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14623737#post14623737 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mech
I did some mods to my remora, to keep electricity usage down i skipped having a dedicated pump and I plumbed 1" pvc directly out of the remora(got rid of tiny 5/8 inch barb) to a mag 5 in the refugium/sump, it works really well for me, I can post pics if anybody wants to see

How did you plumb the 1" pvc to the remora? Cool idea.

 

[YoitsArson]

So after reading thru the thread a bit I think the problem I am having with my ev120 is that the mag7 I have running it is causing to much turbulance for a good foam to form. So today I am going to put a valve on the pump and see if I can tune it in that way. Wish me luck.

 

[MatthewLaw]

i use a mag5 with my ev120 without any issues.

granted the skimmer has only been in the tank for about a week so i assume it is skimming well...