aquamaxx ConeS CO 1 skimmer review

[adtravels]

32 watts is what the normal syncra pump with the original impeller would draw not with the pinwheel. Best way to check what the wattage is to get a P3 meter. You will see it draw far less than the 32 on the pump HTH.

Interesting, makes sense too, the skimmer is in a large bucket of water, about 8 gallons and the water is not significantly warmer. Is it possible that one of the changes Aquamaxx makes is to change the wattage sticker after testing the pump with the needle wheel impeller?

 

[MedRed]

disregard

 

[MedRed]

reeftivo has been a great help trying to get my skimmer adjusted, and pretty much tried setting at this level over a week ago. Seemed it only wound collecting crud inside the skimmer neck and skimmer side of the collection cup.

I have trouble distinguishing the water line from the bottom of the foam. Maybe the video will help.

http://youtu.be/6bQKhBw2grI


Silencer doesn't have any water in it, but does have some salt-creep residue. Tank is 7 months old.

I just saw this post. How open is your standpipe in this video?

 

[andy01748]

I just saw this post. How open is your standpipe in this video?

I can turn the adjustment knob 2-1/4 full turns clockwise until it stops.

 

[adtravels]

My pump also has a shark sticker on it that states 16 watt, i just could not see it as it was in a bucket of water. Apologies for the confusion.

 

[adtravels]

Medred, how deep is yours running?, it is difficult to tell from the video.

 

[MedRed]

I have the water line just under the silencer and flange. It should be about 9.25" or so. Maybe a little more.

 

[MedRed]

I can turn the adjustment knob 2-1/4 full turns clockwise until it stops.

measuring in turns may not be an accurate way of optimizing skimmers for individuals. Water composition will play a big role in how much or little you will need to open your stand pipe.

I'm not sure by turns how much my standpipe is open/closed. I let it settle out and then turned it until the water/bubble level was at the perfect height. I will more than likely have to open the pipe a little bit once it fully breaks in as the level might rise on its own.

For you, I would turn the knob until that break is at the top of the collar. you may need to reduce it from there if the skim is too wet. I also wonder if there's not enough stuff in your water for it to properly skim or if something is being introduced into your water that is breaking the tension.

 

[ksed]

That's the one. :thumbsup:

My pump also has a shark sticker on it that states 16 watt, i just could not see it as it was in a bucket of water. Apologies for the confusion.

 

[reeftivo]

I can turn the adjustment knob 2-1/4 full turns clockwise until it stops.

Hi Andy01748

sorry you are having a rough time with the CO1.

I looked at the video in post 431 and the air water line is way too high.

I see your air/water line in the zone above the collar that the cup attaches to and the bottom of the collection cup.

click me (-;




I would suggest to open the standpipe slowly until you see that line drop to an inch below the collar the cup twists onto. If you can see the line there after you adjust it, then leave it there and don't adjust it for at least a day or two.

Hope that helps and let us know how it goes.

Tivo

 

[MedRed]

video of skimmer (don't know how to post a youtube video directly in post!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axtnZWaY1Ro&feature=youtu.be

Hi Andy01748

sorry you are having a rough time with the CO1.

I looked at the video in post 431 and the air water line is way too high.

I see your air/water line in the zone above the collar that the cup attaches to and the bottom of the collection cup.

click me (-;
View attachment 277774



I would suggest to open the standpipe slowly until you see that line drop to an inch below the collar the cup twists onto. If you can see the line there after you adjust it, then leave it there and don't adjust it for at least a day or two.

Hope that helps and let us know how it goes.

Tivo

Look at the latest video. I think his issue may be something breaking the surface tension or not enough nutrients to create a good head. That may be why the best results you have had were a gunky neck. I think you were closer to being on the right track around that time.

 

[reeftivo]

thanks MedRed. missed that one.

Too much turbulence to see an air water line in that video.

 

[reeftivo]

reeftivo has been a great help trying to get my skimmer adjusted, and pretty much tried setting at this level over a week ago. Seemed it only wound collecting crud inside the skimmer neck and skimmer side of the collection cup.

I have trouble distinguishing the water line from the bottom of the foam. Maybe the video will help.

http://youtu.be/6bQKhBw2grI


Silencer doesn't have any water in it, but does have some salt-creep residue. Tank is 7 months old.

Hi andy01748

Sorry, I missed this video!

1st question is how long have you had it running at it's current level in the video without adjusting it?

2nd is can you lower the skimmer so the outer water level is just above the flange where the silencer sits?

3rd is have you inspected the hose nipple and the venturi for salt/carbonate build up? It looks like you have sufficient air draw, but a slight blockage is not out of the realm of possibility.

The turbulence I see in the video is what I would expect to see with a skimmer that has just seen water and needs to break in. I know you have had it for some time now so I feel your pain!

I'll wait for your reply before I suggest anything else, then we can go from there.

Tivo

 

[reeftivo]

Did you see the video I linked in post #431? Is this turbulence normal? Other videos of this skimmer seem to have smaller bubbles that rise straight up.

My box may not be elegant, but it functions the exact same as a baffle, as the skimmer sits in exactly 9" 24/7 regardless on any evaporation or if I shut the return pump off.

I have a FOWLR with a glass cover because I'm not worried about CO2 and air exchange at night. This helps minimize water loss, and I evaporate at max a quart of water a day that I need to top off. This loss has no measurable impact on the S.G. in my 72 gallon tank (the S.G. stays a constant 1.025). I would have to lose over a gallon for the S.G. to bump to 1.026.

I reoriented the skimmer so its not discharging into the open and not close to the wall. No change in skimmer foam (or lack of foam) production.

what are your pH swings from morning to night? I ask because you have a glass cover. I ran a covered set up and I had trouble keeping pH up because of the excess CO2. I used to compensate by dosing carbonate but that always fouled my skimmer by loading up the air intake venturi.

Just trying eliminate potential suspects :thumbsup:

 

[kellerexpress]

Would this skimmer be good on a 93g cube?

 

[andy01748]

what are your pH swings from morning to night? I ask because you have a glass cover. I ran a covered set up and I had trouble keeping pH up because of the excess CO2. I used to compensate by dosing carbonate but that always fouled my skimmer by loading up the air intake venturi.

Just trying eliminate potential suspects :thumbsup:

I haven't tried to test the difference in pH. I don't have any photosynthetics (except a baseball size ball of chaeto I added about a month ago) so I wouldn't expect any large CO2 swings between day and night. I don't have a pH probe, just a pH test kit, and I would think getting a sample, adding to vial, adding test drops, and shaking to mix to get a reading would affect the dissolved CO2 level between what is in the tank and what is in the vial, so I probably would not be able to accurately measure the pH due caused by slight differences in dissolved CO2.

Before you started dosing and were having the pH swings, did you see a difference in skimmer performance between day and night?

 

[reeftivo]

Not like yours seems to be doing. My skimmate was never great on my 80 gal. It was always wet, however I attribute that to the skimmer I had back then and the constant cleaning I had to do on the venturi. My alk and calcium in that tank were around 10 and 450 respectively.

 

[reeftivo]

Would this skimmer be good on a 93g cube?

Yes, but if you plan to eventually have a high bio load then the CO 2 would be a better option.

 

[SoFloReefer]

My CO1 came in today. It's really an incredible skimmer and I can see the $270 value in it. The quality is very good and every piece looks like it was made and assembled with care. It doesn't take up a lot of space and it started pulling skim out of the water within an hour. I can tell it's a winner. If you need a good skimmer I highly recommend it. It is light years ahead of the Reef Octopus I used to used a few years ago.

 

[reeftivo]

My CO1 came in today. It's really an incredible skimmer and I can see the $270 value in it. The quality is very good and every piece looks like it was made and assembled with care. It doesn't take up a lot of space and it started pulling skim out of the water within an hour. I can tell it's a winner. If you need a good skimmer I highly recommend it. It is light years ahead of the Reef Octopus I used to used a few years ago.

Glad we have another convert:beer:
just wait until it breaks in. Then you'll really be happy