DAS skimmer club

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11424020#post11424020 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GuySmilie
What's going to happen if a snail or hunk of vegetation gets lodged in your skimmer input path?
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Excellent point! I may place the skimmer in a "dry" compartment in my sump or add a safety "T" to the overflow drain. Currently, a controller cuts off the return pump when the water level in the return compartment drops below a certain point. Nevertheless, unless there is a clog in the line, I'd like all of the overflow to reach the skimmer first. Any idea as to what the EX-1 flow rate is?
 
Like I said earlier, I think the recommended rate is 1 1/2 times the volume of your water column.
If you're referring to how much water can physically pass thru your EX-1, then that would be determined by the ID of the skimmer's input/output plumbing.
 
About every 2 days I check on my skimmer and its the skimmer cup is compeltely overflowed with clear water. I clean it out and reset it and its running perfect for a couple days then bam skimmer cup full of water. What could be going on?
 
mj1200, i notice that the water level is going up and down...so I'm sure thats what it is. Would that have to be a shotty valve that came with it, a shotty mj...or would having the skimmer return actually in the water with a fluctuating sump level of an inch through out teh day cause it?
 
wassup evryone....finally get to post in RC!!

question is....i have a octopus recirc 150 with slight mods and looking to give the DAS ex-1 a try......thinking about keeping this one external ,outside the stand like the octopus......but i read through the thread and some of you have problems with the o-ring leaking....can some silicone grease actually solve my worries...?

i am also building a new sump and thought of just throwing it in the sump but i only have 32"x16" to work with...with the planned fuge/baffles/eheim return section.....not sure if i have room for the skimmer....
 
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<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11465508#post11465508 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by USC-fan
I submerged half of it, this stop the water fall noise from output.
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Do you have an auto top off? I'm trying to figure out why mine randomly over flows. Whenever I plug in the recircs it overflows too.
 
It's the O-ring for the skimmer cup that can leak. The O-ring tends to stretch from frictiondue to the on and off removing the cup for cleaning regularly. Mine never leaked and I used a teflon/silicone lubricant on it about every other time I too it off for cleaning. The O-ring is silicone ( i think) and a bad choice for applications where it is frequently being disturbed. The lubricant, IME, helps a lot.

May as well post a reminder here ... I still have some extra O-rings for the 1 and 2 that are better suited for the application than the one the DAS uses and should last longer. I picked these up when I bought some spares for myself to have when the need arises.
I have them available for any DAS ex1 or ex2 owners who need a a replacement or want a couple of spares for the future.
$3.25 (paypal) for a pair of O-rings ... covers the O-rings and my expenses for shipping, materials and the small paypal fee they charge me.
 
well today I turned off the recirc pumps and filled up my tank and the water level didn't change inside the skimmer body at all. So I don't think it's the return being submerged and the water level in the sump changing.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11466671#post11466671 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DarG
It's the O-ring for the skimmer cup that can leak. The O-ring tends to stretch from frictiondue to the on and off removing the cup for cleaning regularly. Mine never leaked and I used a teflon/silicone lubricant on it about every other time I too it off for cleaning. The O-ring is silicone ( i think) and a bad choice for applications where it is frequently being disturbed. The lubricant, IME, helps a lot.

May as well post a reminder here ... I still have some extra O-rings for the 1 and 2 that are better suited for the application than the one the DAS uses and should last longer. I picked these up when I bought some spares for myself to have when the need arises.
I have them available for any DAS ex1 or ex2 owners who need a a replacement or want a couple of spares for the future.
$3.25 (paypal) for a pair of O-rings ... covers the O-rings and my expenses for shipping, materials and the small paypal fee they charge me.
Click to expand...

Wow I have had my skimmers running since June and never once had to lubricate the o-rings.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11472627#post11472627 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by KEstep
Wow I have had my skimmers running since June and never once had to lubricate the o-rings.
Click to expand...

I never "had" to lubricate mine either bit I do. It can help. There are a lot of reefers in the DAS thread who have had problems with leaking due to the O-ring in a very short time after getting their skimmers. I think it's probably a matter of the differences in how tightly (and frequently) every one tightens down the skimmer cup after cleaning. Seems that the O-rings stretch pretty easily and quickly for many of the DAS owners. The lubricant should help by reducing friction so the O-ring doesnt "bite" and get pulled and stretching when twisting on and off the skimmer cup.
 
Unfortunately I don't own a digi cam :( I have a crappy 1.3 mp camera phone I can try. Better than nothing if you guys can glean anything and help me out.

After cleaning it last night and doing my succesful test by filling up the sump with RO/DI for top and verified that is not changing the water level inside the reactor I put the cup back on and fired up the recirc pumps. It overflowed about an inch into the cup before settling down. The bubble breaking point is exactly where it is described a few pages back..about half way up the internal tube of the cup. This morning before going to work I checked on it and the whole cup is filled with tank water again. I turned off the recirc pumps before going to work today and the water level is exactly the same as I set it last night. I'm so perplexed it must be something simple.
 
Where is the water level in the skimmer with the recirc pump off?

I would move the bubble breaking level down a 1/2 inch and see if that helps. If it starts to overflow when the recirc pump is on, you must have the bubble breaking level too high.
 
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