AquaC CLUB!

[Mistamurray]

Ive got a Aqua C Remora Pro with a mag 3 pump, its been 4 months now and it pulls light tea colour skimmate, but its really loud! I just tryed the wet paper towel trick from a few posts ago, i was wondering if anyone else has any more ideas.
I don't have much experence with any other equipment, are neddle wheel driven skimmers as loud as this spray injection?
I keep the collection cup clean, could the noise be a simptom of other problems? should i clean out the entire skimmer? could something be busted from the factory?

thanks for any info

Aaron

 

[PVsPlayHouse]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=5425244#post5425244 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Fatboy
Actually, AquaC considers the use of some bigger pumps in the Remora Pro and Urchin Pro.

Some quotes from Christine (by the way, great customer service):

"Some people do like to use more powerful pumps with the Remora Pro and this can lead to an increase in performance. We generally recommend using the Mag Drive 5 as an upgraded pump and this usually works really well for customers."

"Some customers do use the Mag Drive 7 with good results. This will not hurt the skimmer but you may get a great amount of watery foam which would be too much for the standard cup that comes with the skimmer to handle. We do offer a high rise collection cup for customers who use the Mag Drive 7 or an equally powerful pump."

"The total height of the high rise collection cup, including the riser tube, is 8" and the height of the cup itself is 5-3/4". There is a 30% increase when using the Mag Drive 7 compared to using the Mag Drive 5 and there is a 30% increase when using the Mag Drive 5 compared to using the Mag Drive 3. We can send you the high rise collection cup direct and it is $24.00 without the drain or $29.00 with the drain. "

"You can still use the high rise cup, just not the one with the drain fitting. The high rise collection cup is 2" taller than the standard cup so the total height would be 24" with the cup in the lowest position and 26" with the cup in the highest position."

This is what I did. I had the pro custom made so I can run it with my main pump. I also have the larger cup on the unit. Worked great on my 120. I like the aquaC so much that I just upgraded to a EV 240 and this would be my third time I have upgraded my skimmer and I went back each time.
So far the 240 is not working out as well but it has only been a week. Im running it with my Dart pump just like I ran my Pro. But the returns are turned down a lot with the EV 240 so it gets more pressure. Im starting to think that Im getting enough out of my Dart for this to run right. Can anyone help me out on this. Im also selling my Pro if anyone is interested. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=987334

 

[PVsPlayHouse]

I was looking at the panworld as well. You think a gen x 40 would work as well? I have one laying around my house.
Thanks

 

[timrandlerv10]

HEY...I am looking at buying a used ev-120 that doesnt have the airvalve on it. it will be used as a stand alone skimmer.

yes or no?

thanks.

tim

 

[mnestroy]

I've had my Remora Pro w/mag3 on my 40 Breede for about 9 months now, this was my first skimmer purchase and this is my first salt water tank, but I also have very mixed views on this skimmer.

I first had it hanging in the tank and the micro bubbles where crazy, I purchased the skimmer box and it helped a lot... Still getting tons of micro bubbles. I made a sump out of a 20L and moved it down there. I made a few baffles/fuge etc and the bubbles are now under control.

As far as the performance I have nothing else to compare it to, but I'd be willing to trade this skimmer in for pretty much anything

Positives:
-Easy to install
-Very little tweaking you have to do (or can do)
-Easy to clean
-Support from the manufacturer is incredible

Cons:
-Very loud
-Makes tons of bubbles
-Results very way to much (either people hate them or love them)
-Can not intergate ozone like other skimmers

 

[Steve 926]

aqua c urchin sump model

aqua c urchin sump model

Hi folks.
Just received a new urchin (not the pro ) sump model minus the pump.
The standard is the mJ1200 for the urchin, however I read that an up grade to a 350gph. may be better. Skimmer will be used in a 40 gal. Any advice on a pump for this skimmer ?

Thanks for a reply!

 

[dmack]

I would like to quiet down my EV180. Can I make the sump level just above the outlet of the skimmer without decreasing performance?

 

[CapnKick]

AquaC says not to, that it will negatively affect performance. I don't remember the rationale, check the directions from the AquaC website.

 

[oosurfin]

well ive read through all of this thread and i havent seen anything close to being able to answer one of my questions. few relavent things that ill throw out there. i picked up a used ev-180 and got a 1262 since thats what everyone says this is THE pump to get for this skimmer. its running on a 135g tank with a high bio-load and a sump-a-fuge with ~10-20 gallons in it(run low to compensate for backflow in a power outage). the skimmer is still breaking in but im already getting very good results. im sure it will take a little more time before i get my ev180 dialed in like others here. ok now for the situation at hand(maybe a little off topic but still has to do with our lovely AquaC's). i run a korallin 1502 calcium reactor and my ev180 came with a JG fitting. i have a stable ph on my reactor so i went a head and put the output right in to the skimmers JG fitting as a short term solution. i need to figure out a way to feed my effluent into the skimmer while still being able to use my SMS122 controller so i dont have any kind of mishaps and melt my media and or tank. so what is everyone else doing to let them monitor effluent output and having effluent fed into the skimmer? any ideas you can give me would be awesome, or links to what others have done would work.

 

[Mental1]

I have an ev120 with a mag 5 return. I have had a hard time callibrating it, even put a mag7 on then put the mag 5 back on becuase I could not fit a valve in the space I have. I have the gate valve wide open with a filter sock to handle microbubbles. The air valve is about 60% open. The problem I have is that I get either very watery skimmate so I shut the air valve down or I move the air valve a minute amount and flood my living room! I did buy it with a JG fitting in case I wanted to do a calcium reactor at some point. I read a review that said make sure the jg fitting is closed if not in use or else you will get very watery skimmate. How do you know if it is closed? Stupid question I know but when I put my finger over the top of it I see no change in the bubbles. If I don't need a valve on the mag7 I will put that back on if I can figure out how to make sure the jg fitting is closed. I am at four months with this baby and still don't think I am doing a great job at skimming to its capacity. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[Mental1]

I did not mean a mag 5 return -- I have a mag 5 on the ev 120 and a mag 7 return. I blame on the pain drugs from the shoulder surgery! (-:

 

[monaca]

I've had mine for about 4 yrs...it runs perfectly for me...I have had to ocasionally clean salt creep from the air valve...I now remove and clean the air valve periodically...other than changing the pump it has ran without any issue's...mine is located in my garage so noise has never been an issue for me...highly recommend the sump model...no experiance with HOB units from Aqua C...

 

[gabe3d]

You will definetely need to close it else you are going to get way too much air in the chamber. What you have to do is buy some air line tubing and a 1/4 valve to close it like my pic. Also changes that you do on the skimmer will take more than 5min to settle in, especially on the gate and air valve.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8820210#post8820210 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Mental1
I have an ev120 with a mag 5 return. I have had a hard time callibrating it, even put a mag7 on then put the mag 5 back on becuase I could not fit a valve in the space I have. I have the gate valve wide open with a filter sock to handle microbubbles. The air valve is about 60% open. The problem I have is that I get either very watery skimmate so I shut the air valve down or I move the air valve a minute amount and flood my living room! I did buy it with a JG fitting in case I wanted to do a calcium reactor at some point. I read a review that said make sure the jg fitting is closed if not in use or else you will get very watery skimmate. How do you know if it is closed? Stupid question I know but when I put my finger over the top of it I see no change in the bubbles. If I don't need a valve on the mag7 I will put that back on if I can figure out how to make sure the jg fitting is closed. I am at four months with this baby and still don't think I am doing a great job at skimming to its capacity. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[gabe3d]

You don't want to restrict the outlet, it will make the skimmer overflow even if you have the gate valve completely open.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8752390#post8752390 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dmack
I would like to quiet down my EV180. Can I make the sump level just above the outlet of the skimmer without decreasing performance?

 

[gabe3d]

Any reason why you are monitoring the effluent as oppose to the tank water? I actually have the exact same setup as yours (EV180 with JG, 1502, SMS122). I have my probe in the sump monitoring the water and set to shut off when the pH goes below my set point of 8.0.

Gabe

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8766259#post8766259 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by oosurfin
well ive read through all of this thread and i havent seen anything close to being able to answer one of my questions. few relavent things that ill throw out there. i picked up a used ev-180 and got a 1262 since thats what everyone says this is THE pump to get for this skimmer. its running on a 135g tank with a high bio-load and a sump-a-fuge with ~10-20 gallons in it(run low to compensate for backflow in a power outage). the skimmer is still breaking in but im already getting very good results. im sure it will take a little more time before i get my ev180 dialed in like others here. ok now for the situation at hand(maybe a little off topic but still has to do with our lovely AquaC's). i run a korallin 1502 calcium reactor and my ev180 came with a JG fitting. i have a stable ph on my reactor so i went a head and put the output right in to the skimmers JG fitting as a short term solution. i need to figure out a way to feed my effluent into the skimmer while still being able to use my SMS122 controller so i dont have any kind of mishaps and melt my media and or tank. so what is everyone else doing to let them monitor effluent output and having effluent fed into the skimmer? any ideas you can give me would be awesome, or links to what others have done would work.

 

[oosurfin]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8827166#post8827166 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gabe3d
Any reason why you are monitoring the effluent as oppose to the tank water? I actually have the exact same setup as yours (EV180 with JG, 1502, SMS122). I have my probe in the sump monitoring the water and set to shut off when the pH goes below my set point of 8.0.

Gabe

to make sure i dont melt the media and that my effluent dpm doesnt drop because of clogging in turn lowering the reactor ph but someone linked me to one of these http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=OP3171

 

[gabe3d]

How are you planning to connect that?

 

[oosurfin]

the plan is to use a 1/2" pvc T with JG fittings on each end with the probe in the center facing up. the chamber would fill with effluent constantly passing it over the probe while keeping air out. this will enable to to continually test while passing the effluent to the skimmer with out adding air.

so it would look something like this

--effluent in--jg[==|P|==]jg--effluent out--

 

[r00onmac]

I need some urching pro help from you guys on here...


i bought an urchin pro used a few months back and after setting the cup where i finally wanted it i was pulling very very dark thick skimmate... one day it pretty much stopped pulling anything and i lowered it all the way to get it kick started again and it started pulling dark dry stuff again but it was almost all the way down...


any tips? it just seems to be pulling almost nothing out... which is possible i suppose since i only have 3 fish and a few corals in about 50 gallons of water volume but i feed pretty heavily - which is why i wanted the skimmer... even since adding it my levels have never hit the fabled 0/0/0 only very close.. like .25/0/5

 

[askolded]

Has anyone tried adding a needle wheel pump to a Remora Pro? I have one with a Mag 3 and was looking for another way to super-charge it besides just getting a larger pump. I figured adding pre-bubbled (is that a word?) water to the skimmer it would help its foam output. I posed this question to their web site and got this response:

Thanks for the message, I can help you out. Because the skimmer works on pressure, adding a needle wheel pump wouldn't really increase performance. If you'd like to increase performance, some of our customers have upgraded pumps to the Mag 5. We usually don't recommend this, except in extreme cases such as larger tanks (120 gal +) or tanks with very high bioload. Thanks again, and let me know if you have any other questions!
- - - - - - - - - - -

Steve Prince
Customer Service Manager

I was going to try a Gen-X 1500 needle wheel pump, 396 GPH.
Any thoughts or first-hand experience?