DAS skimmer club

[sjm817]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10161881#post10161881 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by HBtank
....In the end, this this ran just as good out of the box IMO.

Interesting. I had a similar exp with mesh modding an ER RS250. Stock was ~ 18 LPM, mesh was ~ 20 LPM. It used a LOT more power, was much noisier, and I could never get it to skim as well as the stock PW impeller. It seems people have the best success when modifying a pump that is an underperformer to begin with, not a setup that works well.

 

[JRaquatics]

I modified my DAS aquabee pump for my aquaeuro 135 classic. I made a custom venturi with 3/8 tubing. With the stock impeller the the skimmer ran well. With mesh it runs great. I found that inorder to keep the turbulance down and the bubble size smaller for my neck to handle I had to put an air valve on the feed. I am still getting way more air and better skimming results.

the impeller modified. I just stacked the mesh on top of the needles.

2 days of skimming.

 

[ChuckLawson]

I just picked up an EX-1 at a local Pet-O-Rama -- I guess that saved me the traditional shipping damage , but the unit did come without box or instructions.

I got it plumbed in without any problems, and it's even producing some skimmate 12 hours later, but so far it's skimming a bit wet for my taste. I realize it's still got some breaking in to do, but in general, to produce a bit drier skimmate, do I want to restrict the inlet water, or crank the air inlet a little more closed?

Also, does anyone have any suggestions for quieting the air inlet a bit? On my unit it terminates in a nipple just above the valve, and produces a fairly noticeable whistle. I thought about running an airline out the window, but that puts it in line with smoke from the grill, which probably isn't a good tradeoff for a little less noise and CO2...

 

[meschaefer]

The one thing I don't like about these skimmers is the skimpy little air valve that they put on it. I have the EX-2 so that doubles the problem. Not only do they whistle, but they restrict the air intake alot and are easily clogged with salt and who knows what else.

My soloution (wich I have yet to try - so it may not work) is to replace them with somithing akin to the ones put on H&S skimmers, wich act like a clamp that squeezes the airline hose in order to adjust the airflow.

 

[JRaquatics]

The best thing I have found to control noise and keep the venturi from clogging is to place the airline inside top of the collection cup. This way it pulls in moist air and baffles the sound.

 

[meschaefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10163911#post10163911 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JRaquatics
The best thing I have found to control noise and keep the venturi from clogging is to place the airline inside top of the collection cup. This way it pulls in moist air and baffles the sound.

I don't have a problem with the venturi clogging, my problem is that the airvalve itself gets clogged. I have to clean them out evertime I clean out my colletion cup.

 

[JRaquatics]

even so if you keep the valve pulling moist air it will not clog. Look at the new tunze skimmers that the AquaEuro USA classics bodies are based off of. Tunze has the airline attached to the collection cup just for this reason.

 

[HBtank]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10162836#post10162836 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sjm817
Interesting. I had a similar exp with mesh modding an ER RS250. Stock was ~ 18 LPM, mesh was ~ 20 LPM. It used a LOT more power, was much noisier, and I could never get it to skim as well as the stock PW impeller. It seems people have the best success when modifying a pump that is an underperformer to begin with, not a setup that works well.

True..

I am getting great bubbles, though. If the bubbles are better or not than stock is pretty subjective... So I really do not know if the mesh is an advantage or not... Air-wise, it is nice knowing I have that extra power. I have yet to let the skimmer get real gunk filled, so once the neck really gets coated if I let it run for awhile, and the skimmer broken in, it may be a different story.

Unless I get some way to lower the turbulence or get a riser hooked up, the extra power is a novelty. Or maybe the skimmer will start acting different after a couple weeks of use...

At this point, not only does lowering the level not help, but it is also the opposite of what you would want. I would be going well under 100 GPH, which is backwards. In fact I would probably rather get up to 200 GPH with more LPH. AT least this is what I have gathered from my reading...

Here is some pictures of the skimmer in action before I changed the airline and did the 4 layer mesh mod (I had two layers on top of the impeller at this point, no pins cut, pulled the same as stock).

Lol @ break in times. My skimmer has had no time to break in.. I have been messing with it so much with different configurations, I need to just let it run now and see what it can do.

I'll see what it produces today with the final setup. It produced about the same in these pictures overnight.

 

[JRaquatics]

HB tank, Change the valve you have on the airfeed toa john guest valve. Easier to control and its not as restrictive. You will be much happier with the mod once you do.

 

[HBtank]

I was going to ask that, and planned on stopping by Lowes today to find something. That valve is annoying and loud.

Thanks.

 

[JRaquatics]

Once I swaped the air valve for the JG valve and dialed in the bubble size I wanted there was way less turbulance in the neck. There is just too much restriction on the small air valves

 

[HBtank]

Yeh, that valve seems to have a small range where the skimmer runs well and poor adjustment in that range, like 1 to 3 o'clock. Just happens to sound like a tire going flat there as well, great.. lol

I used a JG fitting to adapt larger airline to the venturi intake, so it will be a perfect match and I can also use the dywer meter better with the JG valve and some tubing out the other end...'

Also need to pick up a fitting and smaller tubing to make a drain on the cup. Just to much skimmate to really let the thing run for a couple days and see how the performance changes with buildup.....

Thanks again!

 

[JRaquatics]

I have mine at 2-3 o'clock. I would love to see what you read then with the valve on the meter. I really need to get one.

 

[krzyphsygy]

bump

 

[booker]

Anyone have any info for an online retailer for these things. All I can find is petorama and there site seems to be down.

Thanks

 

[hahnmeister]

That there site seems to be down? Or them their site is down...??? Lol.

 

[lisaFL]

http://www.petorama.net/

<CLICK ON>

VISTIT MY STORE

 

[krzyphsygy]

how do you get incontact with them?

 

[lisaFL]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10173650#post10173650 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by krzyphsygy
how do you get incontact with them?

with who?


Petorama? or D.A.S. ?

If Petorama
Then www.petorama.net - they have phone number listed on thier wensite ... but i don't believe they will sell you a skimmer over the phone ... you have to visit their online store to order the skimmer.

If D.A.S.
Then - you don't. D.A.S. does not retail themself ... they go through retailers .... such as Petorama .... always worth asking your LFS if they are signed up with them & do business ...

 

[krzyphsygy]

thank you