DAS skimmer club
- Thread starter JohnL
- Start date
Well, our individual perceptions of what is noisy are obviously very different but I found the pumps to be fairly quiet out of the box. They did seem to quiet down further after they ran for a while. I think anyway, hopefully it wasnt just my tolerance to the sound. But the skimmer I had just before the DAS was a dual pump Octopus. It had dual Octo 2000 pumps. Now those were loud pumps. The Aquabees are very quiet compared to the octo's
Was it 3/16" ID tubing?
Was it 3/16" ID tubing?
I would use that time to break in the skimmer by filling up the skimmer with a bottle of vinegar/water in a tub or bucket. And just let the skimmer run in the bucket over night. This will help remove anything left in the skimmer from manufacturing.<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12056821#post12056821 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jerryz
My Ex1 arrived this afternoon. Only problem is my sump re-engineering effort is behind schedule so I'm not ready to hook it up yet. At least another day
Yup i bought 5/16 X 3/16 tubing and it worked fine ... The skimmer is running and already producing a foam head. I did run it in warm water and vinegar for about 4 hours.
The only thing is that i dont have the air valves. They are sending them to me, but will i be ok running without for a few days?
ok, i am trying to tune my ex-2 and have a question.
With the pumps off i am closing the input valve until my water level is just where the bayonet starts as suggested. When meassuring the gph, i am only at 102gph. I have a 125, so i should be pushing 250 gph through there.
When i open the valve to allow for higher flow, obviously the level rises. What gives?
With the pumps off i am closing the input valve until my water level is just where the bayonet starts as suggested. When meassuring the gph, i am only at 102gph. I have a 125, so i should be pushing 250 gph through there.
When i open the valve to allow for higher flow, obviously the level rises. What gives?
Platax ... you are quickly seeing the benefit of the output gate valve 
You see the limitations of only being able to control flow with an input valve. When you get the air valves you will have some more control. You can decrease air and then increase input flow. Or you can decrease input flow and then increase air. Those are the two ways to adjust the skimmer and you are still within a pretty small range of flow rates through the skimmer.
There is no "rule" saying that you ahve to have 2X system volume through the skimmer. I think most recircs. recommend between 1x - 2.5X or something like that. Anyway, the output gate valve is the only way to have that type of flexibility, that much of a range. You can adjust the flow rate with an ouput valve on the pump of the input valve on the skimmer and then just open or close the output gate valve to set the water level in the skimmer. Remember, if you do it, you need to lower the "T" on the output so that the top of the T is a couple of inches below where the black abs "cone" meets the top of the clear main skimmer body.
But wait until you get the air valves and see if having air adjustments as well gets you where you want to be in terms of flow. I run my EX-2 so that I get just below two times my tank volume per hour ... maybe 1.8 X system volume per hour.
You see the limitations of only being able to control flow with an input valve. When you get the air valves you will have some more control. You can decrease air and then increase input flow. Or you can decrease input flow and then increase air. Those are the two ways to adjust the skimmer and you are still within a pretty small range of flow rates through the skimmer.
There is no "rule" saying that you ahve to have 2X system volume through the skimmer. I think most recircs. recommend between 1x - 2.5X or something like that. Anyway, the output gate valve is the only way to have that type of flexibility, that much of a range. You can adjust the flow rate with an ouput valve on the pump of the input valve on the skimmer and then just open or close the output gate valve to set the water level in the skimmer. Remember, if you do it, you need to lower the "T" on the output so that the top of the T is a couple of inches below where the black abs "cone" meets the top of the clear main skimmer body.
But wait until you get the air valves and see if having air adjustments as well gets you where you want to be in terms of flow. I run my EX-2 so that I get just below two times my tank volume per hour ... maybe 1.8 X system volume per hour.
Yup, im starting to see what you mean, i was trying to avoid the gatevalve, because that would mean that i would have to raise up the skimmer some, to clear the sump ... because of cutting down the return.
I went to home depot and found some jg valves so i have it tuned down a bit and getting a pretty nice foam head and at 1X turnover.
I have some questions for you if you dont mind.
1. I noticed you used a 1/14 gate valve? Whay did you do this if the return is standard 1"... i have one laying around so i might bite the bullet and add it.
2. Since i feed straight from the overflow i get some bubbles coming in to the skimmer. Do you think this disturbs the foam, since they are bigger and i can only assume that they would float up instantly?
Thanks for all your help!
I went to home depot and found some jg valves so i have it tuned down a bit and getting a pretty nice foam head and at 1X turnover.
I have some questions for you if you dont mind.
1. I noticed you used a 1/14 gate valve? Whay did you do this if the return is standard 1"... i have one laying around so i might bite the bullet and add it.
2. Since i feed straight from the overflow i get some bubbles coming in to the skimmer. Do you think this disturbs the foam, since they are bigger and i can only assume that they would float up instantly?
Thanks for all your help!
I used a 1 1/4 and reduced the in and out ports of the valve to accept the 1" pipe. I did this because the pass through of the 1" gate valve is actually a little smaller than the id of the 1" pipe. Using a 1 1/4" valve, there is no restriction because the center of the valve is actually the same size or larger than the 1" diamter pipe. It didnt turn out to make much of a difference. I also built one with a 1" gate valve and it worked fine as well. Probably would allow a little more flow with the 1 1/4" but Id never run that much anyway. The key is lowering that T, just remember that. Also, you can buy spears unions and build the valved output from 1/2 a spears union outward and you will be able to return the skimmer exactly back to stock. That's what I did. Just built a new output with valve starting with a Spears brand union and screwed it directly to the Union on the stock output.
Direct feeding the skimmer from the overflow is supposed to be best. I imagine some bubbles would be inherent in doing that so it shouldnt hurt beyond whatever benefits are gained. Ive never done it myself.
Direct feeding the skimmer from the overflow is supposed to be best. I imagine some bubbles would be inherent in doing that so it shouldnt hurt beyond whatever benefits are gained. Ive never done it myself.
Thaks again man!
Well it seems like i cant run over 128 gph and stay at the bottom of the bayonet without adding the gate valve which i really dont want to do. Lifting the skimmer will make it very unconfortable in my stand and i would have to do that to clear the sump.
My tank is a 125gal so do you think 1X turnover will still be ok? Remember i feed direct from the overflow.
Has anyone else experienced problems keeping the level below the bayonet while running higher flow?
Yes, I have. Salvaged the fitting and gasket from an old Top Fathom. You can just drill and tap the cup for a small threaded 90 degree barb. Or, find a nylon/plastic nut and use a threaded barb, o-ring or gasket and the nut. That's how I did mine. The fittings from the Top Fathom had the barb with a stop and a nut and gasket. I used this rather than tapping the cup because it is kinda thin.
db_triggerfish
Premium Member
i was going to do that, but i noticed that my waste production rate drops 3 days after cleaning it, it stills removes waste but more dry and darker. on average i get DAY ONE- 1'' DAY TWO - 3/4" DAY THREE 1/2" etc so if it drained into bucket my production would be very dry by the end of the week and TOO smelly to live with. My tank is in the living room. If you do it please post pictures. Thanks,
