AquaC CLUB!

[joelsaxton]

That is my experience as well. The needle-wheels consistently out skim the injection skimmers with far less power and adjustment.

Argh. Wish I'd spent more time on RC before buying! So does that mean needlewheels are the best design of all skimmer designs?

 

[Illusion]

I dont know.. My New AquaC Ev400 Is doing pretty good so far... The Deltec Ap1003 stopped pulling junk out and the Ev400 is still pulling stuff out... The Deltec has now been returned and the AquaC is on like day 2 of the break in period..

James

 

[joelsaxton]

I dont know.. My New AquaC Ev400 Is doing pretty good so far... The Deltec Ap1003 stopped pulling junk out and the Ev400 is still pulling stuff out... The Deltec has now been returned and the AquaC is on like day 2 of the break in period..

James

Good luck!

 

[Dr. Chek]

anyone on here have the Urchin in-sump AquaC??
if so, how has it performed???

 

[moumda]

I have both a Euroreef cs-5 and a Aqua-c EV-180. I use a mag 9 on the Aqua (1 size bigger pump than reccommended). The Aqua-c seems to require more adjustment but pulls out much more particlulates thean the euroreef. I think my tank is better off with both running than with either one on it's own.

 

[Reefvet]

I replaced my ASM G3 with an Aqua C EV-400. Here are the ORP readings I recorded:

ASM G3 (with Sedra ~500gph pump): 340-360mV
Aqua C (with Mag 2400 pump, seems like too much pump): 320-340mV

Both units are running 50 mg/hr O3. Both produce slightly tan ozonized wet skimmate. The tank is a 240g with 11 fish and soft/lps corals.

How is this possible? MarineDepot packaged the EV-400 with a Mag 2400 pump (their recommened pump) with is about 5x stronger than the Sedra on the G3. The ASM is rated for a maximum tank size of 240g and the EV-400 is 400g. I don't get it.

Ideas?

If only hobbyist level ORP probes and monitors were accurate enough for your comparison to be valid, unfortunately they're not.

But let's say you had a true laboratory grade ORP monitor and had calibrated it just before taking your readings. You would then of course have to measure other parameters that would affect those readings, at the very least temperature, pH, SG and dissolved oxygen.

You would then have an opportunity to compare your accurately recorded log of other influences, the amount of food fed at exactly the same time, photosynthetic period, temp fluctuation and changes in the bio load on the tank by something being added or dying. Even something as basic as a shrimp molting will change ORP dramatically.

After all of that you could then speculate as to why you measured different ORP values and speculation is all it would be because ORP is a pretty subjective value.

You might also want to read this thread in Anthony's forum for some clues about optimizing your skimmer's ability. Be forewarned, he state's that an Aqua-C is a superior skimmer, though he also uses ERs. That's also been my experience having used them both since they came on the market.

 

[joelsaxton]

If only hobbyist level ORP probes and monitors were accurate enough for your comparison to be valid, unfortunately they're not.

But let's say you had a true laboratory grade ORP monitor and had calibrated it just before taking your readings. You would then of course have to measure other parameters that would affect those readings, at the very least temperature, pH, SG and dissolved oxygen.

You would then have an opportunity to compare your accurately recorded log of other influences, the amount of food fed at exactly the same time, photosynthetic period, temp fluctuation and changes in the bio load on the tank by something being added or dying. Even something as basic as a shrimp molting will change ORP dramatically.

After all of that you could then speculate as to why you measured different ORP values and speculation is all it would be because ORP is a pretty subjective value.

You might also want to read this thread in Anthony's forum for some clues about optimizing your skimmer's ability. Be forewarned, he state's that an Aqua-C is a superior skimmer, though he also uses ERs. That's also been my experience having used them both since they came on the market.

Since it is the same tank with the same livestock, and since the only thing I changed was the skimmer, I think my findings are valid. Even if the ORP meter was inaccurate, I am still getting higher readings with the G3. The other think I dislike about the Aqua C is the fact that it stops working when I feed my fish. Some people here on RC report that it stops working for up to 12 hours after feeding. Is this also due to being improperly tuned? Or is this something common to all injection skimmers?

 

[Reefvet]

Since it is the same tank with the same livestock, and since the only thing I changed was the skimmer, I think my findings are valid.

I see. So presented with proven scientific fact you choose to still arrive at your own conclusion disregarding known physics and chemistry. Given that, with all due respect, I see no point in pursuing this discussion with you.

I still suggest that you read Anthony's thread and keep any open mind.

 

[joelsaxton]

I see. So presented with proven scientific fact you choose to still arrive at your own conclusion disregarding known physics and chemistry. Given that, with all due respect, I see no point in pursuing this discussion with you.

I still suggest that you read Anthony's thread and keep any open mind.

I tend to notice that higher amounts of dissolved organics lowers the ORP. I also notice that higher pH values lower the ORP readings. Since the pH has remained fairly steady at about 8.1, my best hypothesis would be that there are more dissolved organics in the water with the Aqua C than with the G3. Perhaps I am disregarding science with such a conclusion. Perhaps the Aqua C needs a few more days to be fully broken in. I will wait and see if the ORP bounces back.

Anthony's thread is 32 pages, but if I have time I will look at it - and I will try to keep an open mind. Do you know if they discuss why the Aqua C stops working when you feed? I would like to know what I need to do to correct this problem.

 

[Reefvet]

Anthony's thread is 32 pages, but if I have time I will look at it - and I will try to keep an open mind. Do you know if they discuss why the Aqua C stops working when you feed? I would like to know what I need to do to correct this problem.

Yes this is discussed. Read and learn.

 

[fishykidd916]

aqua C vs. asm/euroreef

aqua C vs. asm/euroreef

i bought a used aqua C ev 150 w/ pump for $120 hoping that it would pull out alot of skimmate which is what most people raved about. After purchasing my skimmer, i had alot of difficulty operating and adjusting it. It took me 2 weeks to finally figure out how to function the aqua C because directions were not helpful at all. When i finally got it working, i was very impressed with the amount of bubbles it was producing. I have read forums where people say that they pull out a cup of skimmate a week in compared to two cups of skimmate a week for euro reef and asm. After reading these comparison, i thought that my aqua C did not meet my expectations because i was expecting a skimmer that is top of the line. WHen my buddy bought a brand new Asm skimmer, ive noticed that the amount of skimmate it produced was more than what my aqua C was capable of pulling out. The difference was that the skimmate my aqua C produced was black and the asm skimmate was light green. The euroreef from the local fish store also produce skimmate that was light green.
so here is my conclusion:
although euroreef and asm produce more skimmate, Aqua C was capable of producing darker more concentrated skimmate. If i adjust the aqua C to wet skimming, i was albe to produce the more skimmate than euroreef or asm and the color of the skimmate is slightly darker. THe aqua C skimmer is a fine product and IMO, is just as good or even better than that euroreef/asm skimmers. It all depends on how you adjust the aqua C skimmer.
I can adjust the aqua C skimmer to produce wet skimmate that fill up the cup in about 12 hr but the colors is slightly green. I can also adjust the aqua C skimmer to produce black thick skimmate but will take a week to fill up the cup.!!!!!deltec, euroreef and asm skimmers are all the same skimmers just by looking at the design and the way they used needle wheel pumps.

 

[joelsaxton]

Re: aqua C vs. asm/euroreef

Re: aqua C vs. asm/euroreef

i bought a used aqua C ev 150 w/ pump for $120 hoping that it would pull out alot of skimmate which is what most people raved about. After purchasing my skimmer, i had alot of difficulty operating and adjusting it. It took me 2 weeks to finally figure out how to function the aqua C because directions were not helpful at all. When i finally got it working, i was very impressed with the amount of bubbles it was producing. I have read forums where people say that they pull out a cup of skimmate a week in compared to two cups of skimmate a week for euro reef and asm. After reading these comparison, i thought that my aqua C did not meet my expectations because i was expecting a skimmer that is top of the line. WHen my buddy bought a brand new Asm skimmer, ive noticed that the amount of skimmate it produced was more than what my aqua C was capable of pulling out. The difference was that the skimmate my aqua C produced was black and the asm skimmate was light green. The euroreef from the local fish store also produce skimmate that was light green.
so here is my conclusion:
although euroreef and asm produce more skimmate, Aqua C was capable of producing darker more concentrated skimmate. If i adjust the aqua C to wet skimming, i was albe to produce the more skimmate than euroreef or asm and the color of the skimmate is slightly darker. THe aqua C skimmer is a fine product and IMO, is just as good or even better than that euroreef/asm skimmers. It all depends on how you adjust the aqua C skimmer.
I can adjust the aqua C skimmer to produce wet skimmate that fill up the cup in about 12 hr but the colors is slightly green. I can also adjust the aqua C skimmer to produce black thick skimmate but will take a week to fill up the cup.!!!!!deltec, euroreef and asm skimmers are all the same skimmers just by looking at the design and the way they used needle wheel pumps.

Interesting. Thank you. I am trying to get my new EV400 to run properly. One thing I don't understand is that it stops working when I feed my fish and doesn't start skimming again for a couple hours.

 

[Illusion]

Its because of the oils that It stops working when you feed... Its sensitive to that however usually within an hour its back to skimming like made again... I love my AquaC... I cant complain at all..

James

 

[gussy]

How about some help for a fellow family member. My Remora with Rio pump makes too much noise. Anything I can do to fix this?

 

[Reefvet]

How about some help for a fellow family member. My Remora with Rio pump makes too much noise. Anything I can do to fix this?

Injectors are noisy, that's not going to change. You can however try putting a small piece of sponge over the injector, underneath the collection cup. That will muffle the sound quite a bit.

 

[gussy]

And all the while I thought it was the Rio vibrating.

Thanks!

 

[CaptainCoral]

I've been running an ev180 on my 55 and then my 180 tank w/mag 9.5. I really needed to get a skimmer back onto the 55, (been without one for a year) so I orderd an ev 400 tonite for the 180 tank.

The 55 tanks sump space is limited height wise, and the ev180 just fits. Maybe a little too powerful but thats a good thing IMO.

I cannot wait to see the ev 400 in action!

For me, quiet performance is a major plus of these skimmers because I'm in an apartment (I know three tanks in an apartment, I'm nuts huh )

 

[Reefvet]

I know three tanks in an apartment, I'm nuts huh

Only 3 ?

What about frag grow-out tanks ? :rollface:

You really need to commit to this hobby or we won't call you Captain Coral :rolleye1:

 

[joelsaxton]

I've been running an ev180 on my 55 and then my 180 tank w/mag 9.5. I really needed to get a skimmer back onto the 55, (been without one for a year) so I orderd an ev 400 tonite for the 180 tank.

The 55 tanks sump space is limited height wise, and the ev180 just fits. Maybe a little too powerful but thats a good thing IMO.

I cannot wait to see the ev 400 in action!

For me, quiet performance is a major plus of these skimmers because I'm in an apartment (I know three tanks in an apartment, I'm nuts huh )

I recently bought an EV400 for my 240g. As you know it takes a little time and tuning. I have gotten mine to run very well after about 10 days.

 

[CaptainCoral]

Yeah, I ordered it with the Genx mak4 pump because I didn't want to redo the existing plumbing for the ev180. I hope I don't end up wanting the Iwaki. I'm leaning towards adding ozone now too, since I'll be able to add some more fish and then not have to worry so much about Ich and such. Jumping into the ozone arena is alittle scary for me.

I remember when I got the ev180 (early '03 I believe) It took about 4 days of waiting for foam, and then it became the most powerful skimmer I'd ever used. I remember just staring at it watching thick pancakes of foam rise and get blown into the cup. Then last year I began running it with the mag9 and I wouldn't think of running it with a mag7 again.

You really need to commit to this hobby or we won't call you Captain Coral

Right now, I should be called Captain Dinoflagelletes.:rollface: