Is this normal for an AquaC

[Dave A]

Thanks guys...............with the gate valve fully open the water level in the box is just touching the bottom of the internal platform on the injector end and about 1/8" below the platform on the gate valve end. Does this mean I should just leave everything fully open and wait some more? The reason I ask is because everything was as stated above since yesterday and this morning not much was happening.

Dave

 

[vinstr]

Yes, that sounds good- I would just leave it- Another way to think of it is this: If you can see any actual water sloshing around in the bottom of the clear riser area (as opposed to just foam air bubbles) your water level is too high. So as long as all you see is foam throughout the riser area, just leave it
Also, once you fixed the Mag impeller did you check that no brokern parts of it are stuck in the skimmer? You can unscrew the black intake on the top of the skimmer (the first part of the skimmer water contacts after leaving the Mag pump)-and clean it out- its very easy to do and takes only about a minute- this is where I had parts stuck and cutting off my intake.

 

[Dave A]

Thanks again, I know this thread has been going for a really long time and I truly appreciate all the help.

Just re-checked the injector and it's all clear.

This is the skimmer just 5 minutes ago with everything fully open.

If this looks OK I'll leave it until tomorrow morning then post another picture.

Dave

P.S. I have an elbow on the Mag 5 then about 14" of tubing, should that be a problem?

 

[Dave A]

Just took these pictures also of the pump set-up. Does it look OK and is the elbow on the Mag 5 OK?

Dave

 

[vinstr]

Dave-
Looking at that picture, I am not too sure about that elbow- I think it could be reducing flow a bit- I'll bet it the water is shooting out so fast into the elbow that a good bit of it is bouncing straight back into the pump- the problems you are having does sound like its coming from reduced flow. Can you remove the elbow and rotate the pump 1/4 turn so the outlet is pointing up. Then reconnect the tubing directly to the pump- If you don't have the proper hose connection, its ok to squeeeze the tube onto the threaded outlet- It does not need to be 100% water tight since its submerged in the sump (I have mine connected directly to the mag and even though its a threaded connection it is a pretty tight fit-you just have to fight to get it on. That is exactly the way mine is set up.

The more I think about it and look at that picture- I really think thats it! That elbow, I believe is reducing the flow!
Let me know how it works without it on-Vince

 

[pnosko]

I agree, just rotate the pump 90 and go without an elbow.

Dry Rot, I have to give you due credit. You're going above the call of duty to get this working to your satisfaction. Many others would've given up long ago (even though you ordered another).

BTW, my mag5 is hooked up externally. But I suspended my Mag7 return just off the base of the sump with a cable tie to eliminate noise from vibration. I didn't both connecting the base plate.

 

[Dave A]

Thanks vinstr & pnosko, I've been working on these problems so long now that I have to see them to the end even though the ER will be here next week. I hope this thread can help out others in the future.

I'm going to take out that elbow right now. I'll be back!

Dave

 

[SPC]

Also, those look like metal hose clamps you are using, I know I know, they are SS , but believe me, they will rust.
Steve

 

[Dave A]

Also, those look like metal hose clamps you are using, I know I know, they are SS , but believe me, they will rust.
Steve

I wasn't overly happy with using them but didn't know what else to use. Plastic ones don't do much and I'm afraid of a blow-off causing a fountain in my sump. They are SS but any suggestions?

Thanks,
Dave

 

[SPC]

I wasn't overly happy with using them but didn't know what else to use. Plastic ones don't do much and I'm afraid of a blow-off causing a fountain in my sump. They are SS but any suggestions?

Thanks,
Dave

I have used the plastic (ratchet type) for years without any problems. I know that many places on line sell them, but I purchase mine at a local Farm Supply.
Steve

 

[89GTA]

jumping in late here. ive had an EV120 for 2 years and had the same issues at first. Nothing i tried helped.

Unscrew the blue air intake piece. Mine had crusty epoxy gumming up the passage right at the 90 bend. i had to chizzle it out with an eyeglass screwdriver. I emailed Jason at Aqua C and he was very interested and curious. I know it was a manufacturing defect ... how else does epoxy/superglue get coated in the I.D. of this elbow???? He said he would double check his assembly process because that shouldnt happen.
After the chizzle session, i turned my V6 into a ram air V8 if you get my drift. Everyone keeps mentioning the H2O intake (which does clog up w/snails occasionally) but you also gotta check out that air intake elbow. Let me know. Good Luck, i know how frustrated you are right about now... I WAS THERE!!

 

[Dave A]

89GTA.............just checked it, all clear. Thanks

Dave

 

[vinstr]

Were you able to remove the elbow and hook it up again?

 

[Dave A]

Were you able to remove the elbow and hook it up again?

Yes the elbow is gone and it's been running for over an hour now. It hadn't developed a head of foam yet so I just fed the fish some frozen krill which reduced the swishing turbulent water to just below the top of the box and clear riser tube. Before this feeding it was about 1 1/4" up the clear tube.

Dave

 

[vinstr]

Oh, if you can see turbulant water in the clear riser tube , that's too high and it will soon be up there again once the oils from feeding are gone.
You are getting much more flow from the pump and its filling the skimmer much better! That is very good! I do believe that elbow was your problem.
Now, If the gate valve is not open all the way, open it up all the way. If it is open all the way and the water level was still too high, you can do one of two things: The best is to raise the skimmer up higher but that might not be possible. The next thing you can do is turn the air intake down a bit until the turbulant water is again below the clear riser tube. Then let it be.
Ideally, you want to run it with the air intake wide open. But after a few weeks of not skimming, your water quality has probably suffered (this is what happened to me and when I fixed it I had to turn the air intake down because the water was coming up too high even with the gate valve fully open, just like yours). It will start skimming like this and then after a few weeks you can start to fully open the air intake and eventually your water quality will improve to the point where you will have to start to close the gate valve to keep the water level high enough inside the skimmer.
Again, this is EXACTLY what I experience: Once I fixed the pump (like you have) the water was up too high and the only way I could keep it below the riser tube was to lower the air intake and as the water quality improved I was able to opwn it up fully.
You are very close! Hang in there!

 

[vinstr]

This is what it should look like:

 

[Dave A]

Wow thanks Vincent, your working harder at this than I am. I just turned the air flow down about 1/3 as the turbulent water level was already just entering the clear riser tube as it starts to recover from the feeding. So as it starts making foam I don't want to see any whitish water bouncing around in the bottom of the clear riser tube?

Dave

 

[vinstr]

Right, just bubbles and foam in the riser tube- if you see water, that means the water level is too high.

 

[IBASSFSH]

Water level

Water level

I do not agree with Vinstr on the water level height. You should close down your gate valve until you have turbulent water at least 1/2 way up or a little more in the clear reaction tube.. Then your foam head should push up to the top. The elbow coming off of your mag 5 was clearly a problem, no close the valve down to the water height comes up and you should be in business.

 

[IBASSFSH]

photo of ev-120

photo of ev-120

Here is a photo of mine just taken. I cleaned it up three hours ago and it has already skimmed this much stuff. I cleaned the collection cup and the reaction tube also the injector. I do this approx once a month.