AquaC CLUB!
- Thread starter JohnL
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ScottL4619
New member
Hmm, maybe I'll order one from Aqua C and try it out. For $10, it can't hurt.
I have a EV-150 w/ a Mag 9.5 on it. I noticed a while ago that if you install a 3/4 threaded fitting onto the end with a 1" hose fitting on the other end and then reduce the hose size down at the skimmer there will be an increase in the flow volume and the unit skims better. I've ordered the "gcarroll" fitting and will give it a try as soon as I get it. For $10, I'm not out much if it doesn't help. I'll let you know the outcome.
BTW - Try using the head loss calculator here on RC. 1' of 1" pipe using a Mag 9.5 with a 90 degree elbow (for the skimmer connection) has 1.17' of head pressure and a flow rate of 925 GPM. With 3/4" pipe, the head pressure goes up to 2.88' and the flow is reduced to 865 GPM. That is for only 1' of pipe with an elbow. That's a flow loss of 60 GPM by the time it enters the skimmer. Since the actual elbows for a 3/4" and 1" hose connections are even smaller, the difference in losses would be even greater. I know that the numbers are skewed since the calculation doesn't account for the spray injector and so forth, but you can still see that there should be some benefit to the switch.
ScottL4619
New member
Pogodzib, thanks for the info. Let me know how that new injector works out.
ScottL4619
New member
Rene, did you have problems with it, or are you just not using it?
Waxxiemann
New member
Hey,
You guys know what size threaded fitting the air valve is? I think I'm going to replace mine with a gate valve instead of the ball valve for more control.
Cheers,
Waxx
You guys know what size threaded fitting the air valve is? I think I'm going to replace mine with a gate valve instead of the ball valve for more control.
Cheers,
Waxx
ScottL4619
New member
I had an interesting experience with my EV150 this weekend that I thought I would share in case anyone else has the same thing happen to them. My tank is between the kitchen and family room and my skimmer sits outside of the stand. Well, we cooked some bacon on the stove and stupid me forgot to turn the skimmer off to keep it from ingesting all that greasy air. 5 minutes into cooking, the foam collapsed down to nothing. I figured it wasn't a big deal, it would start foaming again soon. 12 hours later, still no foam building. I've read threads about oils in the air, cigarette smoke, etc, but nothing regarding bacon specifically. I guess bacon is a little bit greasier (or maybe we burned a couple pieces) than other foods cooked near a skimmer. Here's what I did and I suspect this will work for all EV models if you encounter this problem. Turned the skimmer off and let the water drain down. Took some paper towels and dunked them in the tank water still in the bottom of the mixing box. Wiped off every part of the interior that I could reach (underneath the injector hole, the baffle, all sides of the mixing box, under the lip of the riser, and of course, the riser itself). I did this twice since I figured after a while with the first paper towel I was just spreading it further. After two wipe downs (power still off), I turned it back on and wham, foam immediately (30 seconds). It was back to running normally within minutes. Just a little FYI for anyone with a similar issue.
I hooked the "gcarroll" injector up to my EV-150 last night and I was amazed at how much more flow was being pushed through the skimmer. I had to open up the skimmer valve about 1 1/2-2 full turns more than with the old injector. It was almost as if I upgraded to a larger pump. For the first couple hours after putting the new injector on, I got absolutely no foam in the riser tube, but then the foam started gradually rising. This morning there was some skimmate in the collection cup, but not quit as much as there would have been with the old injector. My guess is that along with the new injector and my messing around with cleaning the skimmer, there was additional oils in the tank so it won't be until tonight before I start seeing the benefits to the new injector. I'm sure that I'll also need to do a little fine tuning on the skimmer water level tonight as well. Now I just need to sit back and wait to see if the skimmate amount improves, of which I'm sure it will.
ScottL4619
New member
Pogodzib, please let me know how this turns out for you and what type of hookup you used (where you changed to 1 inch and what you used to do it) because I'm seriously considering doing this with my EV150 with Mag pump. Also, do you ever have issues with foam shutting down after adding fresh makeup water? I added 2 gallons of RODI water last night with calcium additive mixed for a day or two and the foaming has been stopped for 12-14 hours and is not rebounding as of yet.
Scott - I've been running 1" tubing from a Mag 9.5 pump to the old 3/4" injector for a few months already. When I changed to the 1" tubing from the 3/4" tubing, I had to open the exit valve about 1/2 turn. I use a 3/4" FTP x FTP valve connected to the pump, followed by a 3/4" MTP x 1" hose adaptor, 1" tubing, and then the new 1" injector. Previously at the injector, I slipped the 3/4" injector inside a small 3/4" hose section which was then slipped inside of the 1" hose.
My skimmer can shut down for brief periods to time after cleaning the skimmer, during feedings or water changes, but it is usually producing some skimmate after a couple hours. My topoff water is added constantly throughout the day using a float valve.
How large are your air bubbles in your riser tube? Mine are fairly large and my next mod that I was thinking about doing was sealing up the air gap around the riser tube and adding a ball valve so I can control the air input better. Controlling the air should allow me to make my bubble size smaller and get a wetter skimmate. I/m hoping that I can get my skimmate back up to the 3-5 cups of dark skimmate that I produced right after I started using ozone. Right now, I'm producing about 1/3-1/2 cup per day of thick (and really really stinky) skimmate.
My skimmer can shut down for brief periods to time after cleaning the skimmer, during feedings or water changes, but it is usually producing some skimmate after a couple hours. My topoff water is added constantly throughout the day using a float valve.
How large are your air bubbles in your riser tube? Mine are fairly large and my next mod that I was thinking about doing was sealing up the air gap around the riser tube and adding a ball valve so I can control the air input better. Controlling the air should allow me to make my bubble size smaller and get a wetter skimmate. I/m hoping that I can get my skimmate back up to the 3-5 cups of dark skimmate that I produced right after I started using ozone. Right now, I'm producing about 1/3-1/2 cup per day of thick (and really really stinky) skimmate.
ScottL4619
New member
Well, after looking at my water level again following a 12 no foam period, it appears that the water level has risen for some reason. I have the pump in a constant level compartment, so I'm assuming that perhaps by adding my topoff water, I changed the salinity enough to affect the skimmer settings. Does this sound remotely possible?
I'm curious to see what happens with that 1 inch injector because I'll get one if it seems to work for you.
As for my bubbles, I have the air turned down (and I suppose the exit valve closed further) to create small bubbles that rise up about 1/2 way until they turn into larger bubbles and burst.
I'm curious to see what happens with that 1 inch injector because I'll get one if it seems to work for you.
As for my bubbles, I have the air turned down (and I suppose the exit valve closed further) to create small bubbles that rise up about 1/2 way until they turn into larger bubbles and burst.
When I got home last night, there was only a trace of skimmate in the collection cup. I adjusted it a couple of times in the evening until I got it to where I thought that was adjusted for optimal performance prior to changing out the injector. Overnight, the skimmer only produced about 1/4" of skimmate which would be less than or, at best, equal to how much skimmate I was producing before the change. So far, I like seeing the increased flow rate through the skimmer, but it is not producing the results that I am looking for. Hopefully it is just that I don't have it adjusted quit right yet or that there is a new break in period with swapping out the injector. I'll keep adjusting it over the next few days to try to get some increased skimmate production.
ScottL4619
New member
So, it sounds like the 1" injector isn't creating the necessary foam? I'm having a heck of a time getting mine to produce consistently. Just when I have it cranking out the foam and skimmate, I turn the skimmer pump off for something. Turn it back on, and the foam head just refuses to start building again. This is the second night in a row that in 12 hours, no foam head, just breaking bubbles at the water level. Yesterday it sat for 24 hours with no rising foam (after it had been working great the night before). No new chemicals, last night when I got it working, all I did was pull the overflow drain out of the skimmer sump compartment and put it back in. Didn't change it's placement, flow, etc. This is boggling my mind.
You can order the 1" injector from AquaC for any of the EV models. The 1" injector is now standard on their larger EV models. I have noticed a large increase in flow through my EV-150 with the new injector, but have yet to really get an improvement in skimmate with the larger injector, but it has only been installed for a few days. Last night, I thought that I found the sweet spot because the skimmer went crazy for a little while, but by the time I got up this morning it was back to its old self. My guess is that if you are using one of AquaC's recommended pumps, the new injector should help because it will increase the flow rate through the unit, but if you have already upsized your pump, the increased flow may not help.
BTW - The 1" injector has the same size of clover leaf type fitting on it as the 3/4" injector, the only difference is that it has a 1" hose connection.
BTW - The 1" injector has the same size of clover leaf type fitting on it as the 3/4" injector, the only difference is that it has a 1" hose connection.
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