AquaC CLUB!

[djtodd]

Silly question, but I'll ask anyway. I'm trying to adjust my EV180 to give slightly wetter skimmate. I've got the air valve cranked all the way open, and I've closed the gate valve about 1.5 turns.

I assume that slowly closing the gate valve a bit at a time over the next few days will eventually get me to where I want to be?

I know a number of people have reccomended moving to a MAG 9, but I'd like to try adjusting before upgrading.

 

[delusions]

Just a friendly little reminder to all the AquaC users, clean your spray-injection nozzle (disassemble and clean) AND air control JG fitting (clogs with salt creep) regularly. I just did and man, does it help.

 

[CaptainCoral]

djtodd.... You could also try removing the air valve completely, leaving a larger hole and getting in more air.

 

[Dr. Chek]

delusions: which skimmer you using?

 

[djtodd]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6880571#post6880571 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by CaptainCoral
djtodd.... You could also try removing the air valve completely, leaving a larger hole and getting in more air.

It's just a little confusing. In a previous post someone describes closing off the air valve (to an undescribed degree) to create finer bubbles.

I mean, it's skimming, but I'd like to find that sweet spot. Get the skimmate a little wetter.

 

[CaptainCoral]

A ev180 driven with a mag7 has no "sweet" spot.
There are different sweet spots for dry skimming and wet skimming.
The mag7 really doesn't have enough force to skim well (on the ev180) wet or dry, so in theory, more air should help wet skim.

Any time anyone is successful skimming with an AquaC ev model with the air choked (to a spot defined by their results), they are using a pump powerfull enough to pull in more air than the skimmer can handle (without overflowing all over the place) with the air valve open full.

I also like to choke the air back, because I skim dry.

 

[djtodd]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6882180#post6882180 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by CaptainCoral
A ev180 driven with a mag7 has no "sweet" spot.
There are different sweet spots for dry skimming and wet skimming.
The mag7 really doesn't have enough force to skim well (on the ev180) wet or dry, so in theory, more air should help wet skim.

Any time anyone is successful skimming with an AquaC ev model with the air choked (to a spot defined by their results), they are using a pump powerfull enough to pull in more air than the skimmer can handle (without overflowing all over the place) with the air valve open full.

I also like to choke the air back, because I skim dry.

I do find it quite hilarious that people seem to constantly bash the EV180 with a MAG7. Works fine for me. I'd like to get a bit more out, but it's skimming quite well. I may upgrade to something slightly larger just to see what happens though.

I see, so less air = dryer and more = wetter. I'll just leave it wide open then. I'd take the valve off altogether, but it's rather noisy if you do.

 

[exo]

I dont have a 180 but suspect that the setup is the same for a 240, the air inlet valve being open all the way up or removed makes a violent action in the lower part of the bubble chamber that seems to hinder skimming. I turn the valve down to half way and raise the water up in the chamber to get a wetter skim. There is a verable of motor power to consider which I can't equate to on your skimmer but the principles should be the same. I have the bubbles set at or just under the top of the collection cup plate flange. " this is after everything settles and your hands and feeding have passed for several hrs.

 

[CaptainCoral]

I do acknowledge that it works with the mag7, however I have used the ev 180 with both the mag 7 and mag9, and there is no comparison! I really don't mean to come across as "bashing" the companys rated pump (the mag7) IMO, the smaller ev models are being rated for use with underpowered pumps to appear "on paper" as energy efficent skimmers. The reason that everyone is suggesting the mag9 with the ev180 is from their own discovery of this, and to attempt to save folks (especially here in the aquaC fan forum) from the same headaches. We are trying to help.

Works fine for me. I'd like to get a bit more out

This is what we all also found out the hard way. IMO, there is a difference between working "fine" and working "well". If it really worked "well", you wouldn't want to get more out, you'd be happy!

djtodd....I'm still wishing you luck, BTW.

 

[djtodd]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6882447#post6882447 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by CaptainCoral
I do acknowledge that it works with the mag7, however I have used the ev 180 with both the mag 7 and mag9, and there is no comparison! I really don't mean to come across as "bashing" the companys rated pump (the mag7) IMO, the smaller ev models are being rated for use with underpowered pumps to appear "on paper" as energy efficent skimmers. The reason that everyone is suggesting the mag9 with the ev180 is from their own discovery of this, and to attempt to save folks (especially here in the aquaC fan forum) from the same headaches. We are trying to help.



This is what we all also found out the hard way. IMO, there is a difference between working "fine" and working "well". If it really worked "well", you wouldn't want to get more out, you'd be happy!

djtodd....I'm still wishing you luck, BTW.

Heh. It does work well, but we all want our skimmer to work *better* ... You should see the lengths that we went to in the ASM club. I modded my G2 to heck and back. It always worked well, but it worked better after doing x, y, and z. It wasn't your comment, I beleive it was someone else who said that it didn't skim worth beans with the Mag7.

At any rate, Here's a question about the whole Mag thing. The 7 has a 3/4" outlet, same as the intake on the skimmer. The Mag 9 has a 1" outlet. How do you connect one to the other?

I just find it amusing that the pdf instructions on Aqua-C's site subtly warn against using a Mag9. That gives me pause.

 

[CaptainCoral]

I just took these shots of my ev400.

This is the wettest that I run it at. I can choke the air even more and get bb sized bubbles at the top, but skimming dry then becomes a comprimise of what you can pull out.

but we all want our skimmer to work *better*

:lol: .....aaaaaa I see your point. You should find some "content" customers over here.

PS, I'm not suprized by any lengths made to get asm's to work well! :rollface: We have result's like this out of the box over here!

 

[delusions]

Dr. Chek - I'm using a EV180 w/ Mag7

That being said, i was convinced that running a Mag 9.5 on it would drastically improve preformance, so i bought one. However, after taking off my Mag 7 i also cleaned my spray-injector and found out that my air valve was 40% clogged with salt creep. I cleaned everything out and then put on the Mag 9.5. I left the gate and air valve completely open and it immediately overfilled my collection cup with water. I completely closed the air valve and the water level was still about an inch above the top plate and visable in the riser. I opened the air valve half way and I left it alone for 24 hours and took a look again. The collection cup was again over-filled so i decided to take the Mag 9 off and put the Mag 7 back on. Its worked well ever since.
I'm curious, what distance are people running back their 9.5's? Are you throttling the pump back with the air valve full open?

 

[djtodd]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6882828#post6882828 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by delusions
Dr. Chek - I'm using a EV180 w/ Mag7

That being said, i was convinced that running a Mag 9.5 on it would drastically improve preformance, so i bought one. However, after taking off my Mag 7 i also cleaned my spray-injector and found out that my air valve was 40% clogged with salt creep. I cleaned everything out and then put on the Mag 9.5. I left the gate and air valve completely open and it immediately overfilled my collection cup with water. I completely closed the air valve and the water level was still about an inch above the top plate and visable in the riser. I opened the air valve half way and I left it alone for 24 hours and took a look again. The collection cup was again over-filled so i decided to take the Mag 9 off and put the Mag 7 back on. Its worked well ever since.
I'm curious, what distance are people running back their 9.5's? Are you throttling the pump back with the air valve full open?

See, now this is making me pause as well.

 

[CaptainCoral]

See, now this is making me pause as well.

That's good djtodd. I remember you saying earlier, that you weren't in any hurry. For example, I ran my ev180 for a year or so with the mag7, before I threw on the mag 9 (because it was available after shutting down a prop system). You may be among the folks happy with the mag7. After all, everyones system is different. Adding a mag 9 probably will become a nagging theme, if you're looking for more out of it. Ask Greg for advise in the Wet skimming department, I believe it was him who I saw in a post about an awesome wet skimming arrangement. (and great way to set it)

IME, the best improvement given from a slightly more powerfull pump, is greater flexability in tinkering control. (for instance... you can skim wet or dry with small bubbles at the top because there is so much force at the air intake)

Now, I would be a liar if I said that I never wondered what mine would skim like with a better pump or larger less restricted injector, but it was brief, and went away before (the current combo with the Mak4 genx) was a week old. I have never been content with a skimmer like this one. I can say that I'm happy!

I also want to add here, that AquaC has different opinions about how the skimmer should be run than lots of their customers. For instance, They like having large burping bubbles flying up the riser and feel it's ok. Their recommended water height settings are on the low side of their scale also. I was happy with my skimmer set up like that also once. I have since bought into the "Tim Taylor philosophy" and am happy here also. I personally like to have small consistant bubbles, and do give biased (I guess) advise on settings. Please take this to heart, if you're taking advise from the manufacturer, than you should use their recommended settings. Remember, they recommend to find the "sweet spot" with the gate valve, choke the water input if it's too strong, and run the air wide open. Many people here like consistant small bubbles and therefore recommend to find the sweet spot with a powerfull pump, max water height setting, and a choked air setting.

That's all I have to say on this matter. Good luck with your skimmers folks!

 

[joedirt54]

IMHO, it seems funny, years back everyone was trashing the CPR. Now, it seems that the same HOB skimmer everyone wanted is now garbage. IMO, the Remora and the CPR are both good HOB skimmers for small systems.

A few years back I purchased a turobflotor for my 75gal. I put it in my sump with the rio 2100 and it didn't really knock my socks off. I cut down the flow a bit and used a air pump to feed the needle wheel and the thing skimmed like crazy. That's probably another example of a "popular skimmer of the day" that is now another piece of junk.

IMHO, Skimmers are like speakers. You can't just spend $1000 on one and think it'll work the best for you. All high end equipment needs "tuned" or it wouldn't be high end.

Anyone with a 180 that is junk, and can't skim , let me know.

~Dirt

 

[robsmith32]

DJTODD, this might ease your concern with larger pump..
THis is from Steve Prince @ AquaC
I would say that the Eheim will give you the best performance, but it will need to be used in conjunction with a valve to regulate flow, since it is a stronger pump that handles pressure very well. This way you would be able to fine tune the flow to give you the highest possible performance. I don't know the actual psi needed, but I would suggest a 700-900 gph pump, depending on how well it handles pressure, which is important with our spray injection skimmers. In order of performance: Iwaki 30 RLT, Eheim 1262, Mag 9, and Mag 7. We haven't tested the Oceanrunner, so I can't give you any personal experience on how that performs. Remember, that some of the larger pumps will need to be regulated. Thanks, and let me know if you have any other questions!

currently i'm attempting a quiet one4000, kind of regretting not getting the eheim like i planned initially. Caveat, i think i know why quiet one has a problem with restarting, but that is another topic.

 

[CaptainCoral]

IMHO, it seems funny, years back everyone was trashing the CPR. Now, it seems that the same HOB skimmer everyone wanted is now garbage. IMO, the Remora and the CPR are both good HOB skimmers for small systems.

Hehe, yeah, I remember that too, and I couldn't agree with you more. Not only are people quick to jump on a bandwagon, they're quick to jump off. I have noticed that anyone jumping off of the aquaC bandwagon, have not tried uping the pump. They really arn't finicky when driven right.

RobSmith....great input!

PS, I want to note that in my pics on the previous page, I found a 1/4" strombus snail in the injector and it was skimming for 2 days.

 

[exo]

Just a reinneration on my pump experiences on the Aqua C 240 unit.

The first pump I was using was a RLT 30 pump, this worked ok but was border line of good or ok skimming.

I changed to an RLT 40 Jap. pump and this unit has a whole new range of ajustments. I can go to wide range of wet skimming by opening up the air valve, then I can close the valve and get some cotten candy foam ( but not pink) in the collection cup...The biggest problem is the intake screen becomming restriced from debris, this has a HUGE affect on skimming performance.

 

[djtodd]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6897017#post6897017 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by robsmith32
DJTODD, this might ease your concern with larger pump..

Well I broke down last night and ordered a MAG9. I just couldn't resist.

 

[moumda]

Mag 9 on my EV-180 for a year and am very happy with it. When I have to open my air valve all the way open to skim medium wet I take it apart and clean the injection nozzle. Clean the skimmer every other day and clean the air valve every week or so.