AquaC CLUB!

[evoracer]

Can Anyone give any input on this?

For those who run Urchins-
I am planning a 60g build, with 20g for a sump. I am doing this build using only equipment I already own. I have an Urchin and an EV-240 at my disposal. I plan on using the Urchin for this tank, along with a large refugium with chaeto and GFO/GAC reactors. I estimate less than the 75g rated capacity of the skimmer in water volume in this system, buy have no experience with this skimmer over about 25g (but it was on a heavily-packed frag tank). Anyone happy with the Urchin performance on a system this size? I really don't want to run the EV on this one, trying to stay more energy efficient.
Thanks.

 

[saltydog64]

thanks for the great suggestions, yes the skimmer is getting unfiltered water right from the tank. Its about 6 months old.. I had to change the design of the sump but before i was using it i never had it dialed in and finally decided to do somthing about it. the feed line to the skimmer is about 18 inches and the drain is 18 inch 1 inch pvc to the skimmer horizontal or slightly downward. heres a pic of it after letting it sit for a day....

07.........

I think you her..........u the man. The foam being produced in the pics looks like your're on your way....

To those who down play these skimmer's either don't know how to tune one or they just don't get it....but not you !!! once again good job and have a safe and happy New Year !!!:bounce1::bounce1:

Dick

 

[07mz3]

thanks!..yea it takes some adjustment but there great once you get them dialed in..... This one actually started to leak :eek1: so thanks again to steve he's sending me a replacement one, whoot

 

[saltydog64]

thanks!..yea it takes some adjustment but there great once you get them dialed in..... This one actually started to leak :eek1: so thanks again to steve he's sending me a replacement one, whoot

07....

You're very welcome..........leak...man I'm glad you caught that....not good to mess up momma's floor:bounce2:.

Steve and those guys and gals out there are the best.....which is the main reason in the first place that I bought one, to bad more folks don't realize the importance of GOOD cust. service..... continued good luck !!

 

[LouZ]

Can Anyone give any input on this?

I run a remora pro on my sump ....but I think the key is a larger pump(I run a mag 5) and the extended collector allows for dryer skimmate. Marinedepot has the extended collector. IMO it made a big difference.

 

[chuckreef]

EV 240 and PS3 (poseidon)

EV 240 and PS3 (poseidon)

Has anyone tried this combination?
I noticed this pump has the same head as the Iwaki RLT 55 and I'm thinking I could get simialr performance without the hum (fan noise). Has anyone tried it? If so, how did it work (or not)?

 

[ackee]

I think the performance and foam head on my modified EV180 with the Eheim 1103 is better than the pics above.

 

[MatthewLaw]

i run a mag5 on my remora pro and it has been excellent from day 1!!

i also run an ev-120 on the other end of my sump and it has admittiedly taken a good period of time to get it tuned in. I use a mag 9.5 with a ball valve so that adds another moneky wrench to the situation. getting proper flow, height in the column and air mixture was a test in patience but it has paid off. with the trusty remora pro on the other side of the sump, i was confident that i always getting more than adequate protein skimming.

interestingly when i put my hand in the tank, the height and skimmate in the ev-120 drops for about an hour (oils in hand, i get it), BUT the Remora Pro does not seem to be affected!

 

[wis_fishing_guy]

I have a 240 lined up with a mag 18 for my 75.

Do you guys think that is too much of a skimmer? I am not really worried about it over skimming. More that it will not skim at all.

 

[sabbath]

I had a EV120 with a mag 5 and it worked great. Fell trap to all the hype of the needles wheels, and my new octopus extreme 200 does not make nearly as much as the EV120 did in my heavly stocked 75g.

 

[wis_fishing_guy]

Any other in put?

 

[3djedi]

I have a 240 lined up with a mag 18 for my 75.

Do you guys think that is too much of a skimmer? I am not really worried about it over skimming. More that it will not skim at all.

i think you are asking for headaches with this combo. i just don't think you can get enough of a bioload from a 75g for the ev240 to function properly. no stable fom head or whatever.I have a 75 with the ev180 and am having lots of difficulty getting good foam. I think I should have gone with the 120.....

 

[Bernie_Mac]

ev 180 with mag 9.5?

ev 180 with mag 9.5?

hey guys i have an EV-180 on my 46 bow front reef tank with 10 gallon sump i have it hucked up outside the sump i've had the skimmer since Aug. and have'nt been able to get the thing to work right i am all out of ideas it skims good for a day and then wount skim at all for like 3-4 days i have it plumbed with 3/4 hose and 3/4 ball valve before entering the skimmer and a gate valve at the return. Also most of the gunk that it does get out gets stuck in the colum of the skimmer and just builds up there any suggestions would be awesome please HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Hal]

hey guys i have an EV-180 on my 46 bow front reef tank with 10 gallon sump i have it hucked up outside the sump i've had the skimmer since Aug. and have'nt been able to get the thing to work right i am all out of ideas it skims good for a day and then wount skim at all for like 3-4 days i have it plumbed with 3/4 hose and 3/4 ball valve before entering the skimmer and a gate valve at the return. Also most of the gunk that it does get out gets stuck in the colum of the skimmer and just builds up there any suggestions would be awesome please HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, first of all, an EV-180 is probably overkill for a 46 gal tank. It may be skimming everything out in day one and then the waste has to build up to a certain point before it can skim again. Don't quote me on the physics/chemistry behind this, but know that this is not unheard of for oversized skimmers. The fact that the gunk gets caught in the skimmer's neck reinforces this likelihood.

You could raise the water level in the neck of the skimmer. That will force more gunk into the collection cup. Essentially what you have is that the bubbles are breaking too low in the skimmer's neck. Raising the water level so the bubbles have less distance to rise will give them less time to break before they are into the collection cup.

I assume that you check the injection nozzle and air inlets to make sure that they aren't clogged. You could also run some tests on days that it isn't skimming by adding a large amount of food. If the skimmer kicks in, then it probably didn't have anything to skim.

 

[Bernie_Mac]

thanks Hale for the info i will try to raise the water level in the skimmer to see if that help as for it getting all the skim out in a day i wish i have alot of detritus in my tank and fuge that the skimmer is not getting.....

 

[evoracer]

When I had my temporary 50G I used my EV240 on it, and it never performed. Like said above it would skim real well for a day or so, then nothing for a week. I put it on a timer, on for 36 hours, off for 48, with a cleaning while off. It still didn't do much, but there just isn't alot for a skimmer that large to remove out of that few gallons.

 

[MatthewLaw]

I have a question on proper height of the bubbles in the chamber. I am using an EV-120 and my water level is just at the bottom of the clear chamber, so basically bubbles go all the way up the clear chamber, up the collection cup tube and out. I am starting to develop a good amount of gunk in the clear chamber.

It took me about a month to finally tune the ball valve, air mixture and height of water in the skimmer's body.

Do you suggest raising the water level in the clear chamber? I know this will affect how wet the skimate is, BUT this will decrease the gunk buildup in the chamber. If I do this will I need to change the ball valve and air mixture?

Also on a separate but related note, what air intake level do you suggest? Should I have the air valve (blue lever) completely parallel (horizontal) to the skimmer body or perpendicular (blue lever straight down). Right now the lever is in the middle and everything is working fine. I know, I know, why mess with it if it ain't broke??

Thanks for your help!!

 

[ethank77]

I run my air at about 1/3 to 1/2 way on using the bubbles at the bottom of the reaction chamber as a mesuring device I like the small with as little turbulance as possible but still as much air as is allowed and still keep these factors. I produce about two full cups a week off black skimmate.

 

[MatthewLaw]

thanks for your response. so basically your bubbles start at the 'bottom' of the clear chamber? do you have that gunk build up in the clear chamber after the skimmer has been going for a few weeks?

 

[sabbath]

I have a question on proper height of the bubbles in the chamber. I am using an EV-120 and my water level is just at the bottom of the clear chamber, so basically bubbles go all the way up the clear chamber, up the collection cup tube and out. I am starting to develop a good amount of gunk in the clear chamber.

It took me about a month to finally tune the ball valve, air mixture and height of water in the skimmer's body.

Do you suggest raising the water level in the clear chamber? I know this will affect how wet the skimate is, BUT this will decrease the gunk buildup in the chamber. If I do this will I need to change the ball valve and air mixture?

Also on a separate but related note, what air intake level do you suggest? Should I have the air valve (blue lever) completely parallel (horizontal) to the skimmer body or perpendicular (blue lever straight down). Right now the lever is in the middle and everything is working fine. I know, I know, why mess with it if it ain't broke??

Thanks for your help!!

I ran mine with the water line right where i could just start to see it touching the round cylinder going out from the top of the box.

Then adjust the air from there. Easy.