Is this normal for an AquaC
- Thread starter Dave A
- Start date
IBASSFSH
New member
Another picture
Another picture
Here is another picture. Like I said its hard to tell but the water level is between the us patent words and the aqua -c words on the clear reaction chamber sticker. Maybe the stickers are put on in different places on the tube though. This is just an idea of the water level.
Another picture
Here is another picture. Like I said its hard to tell but the water level is between the us patent words and the aqua -c words on the clear reaction chamber sticker. Maybe the stickers are put on in different places on the tube though. This is just an idea of the water level.
vinstr
Premium Member
I dont know- it looks like its working for you, but for me, I would be sucking out tons of watery, weak foam like that.
Even the AquaC directions say the water level should only come to about 1/2 inch below the internal platform...
Anyone else keep it that high?
At the level I keep it I get about 1 inch or so of thick heavy foam in the collection cup each morning.
Even the AquaC directions say the water level should only come to about 1/2 inch below the internal platform...
Anyone else keep it that high?
At the level I keep it I get about 1 inch or so of thick heavy foam in the collection cup each morning.
IBASSFSH
New member
Water level
Water level
I agree what ever works the best, but Dry Rot is not getting anything. Thats why I suggest closing the valve letting the water level come up some. Start getting foam and then tune it after a few days of wet stuff. Eventually the foam will thicken up, once it gets all of the easy to skim stuff out of the way.
Water level
I agree what ever works the best, but Dry Rot is not getting anything. Thats why I suggest closing the valve letting the water level come up some. Start getting foam and then tune it after a few days of wet stuff. Eventually the foam will thicken up, once it gets all of the easy to skim stuff out of the way.
cecilturtle
Premium Member
I agree with vinstr on getting it to work best. If water enters the tube then on feedings you most likely will overflow. Optimum setting is where you just leave the skimmer and let it do the work.....I never adjust mine now. For whatever reason, everyone's gate valve will be adjusted differently. When I finally got my skimmer working properly I thought no way, I had to close the gate valve too much I was most likely losing efficiency. But I can't argue with what's in the cup.
Try the flashlight trick. Close the gate until the water level inside the box is at the acrylic level (app. 3/4" to an 1" below the welding of the smoked box with the clear tube) The foam is no indication. If after a few hours you don't get the foam up in the cup close a 1/4 turn more.
Dry Rot: On one of you last pics you show the Mag 5 close to a wall. Might you be getting bubbles into the Mag? Have you tried moving the Mag or placing in a seperate chamber?
Try the flashlight trick. Close the gate until the water level inside the box is at the acrylic level (app. 3/4" to an 1" below the welding of the smoked box with the clear tube) The foam is no indication. If after a few hours you don't get the foam up in the cup close a 1/4 turn more.
Dry Rot: On one of you last pics you show the Mag 5 close to a wall. Might you be getting bubbles into the Mag? Have you tried moving the Mag or placing in a seperate chamber?
Dave A
New member
Thanks guys for all the comments and pictures.
I just let it run overnight with gate fully open and air valve closed a little to keep the white turbulent water just below the top of the box. And this morning I had nothing.
I agree that everyone's set-up will be different depending on tank conditions and thickness of skimmate preferred. I'd settle for even watery skimmate right now because my tank hasn't been skimmed for over a month now. You'd think the skimmer would be going nuts.
IBASSFSH, great pictures. I have a question for everyone. According to IBASSFSH's pictures is that considered water or wet foamy bubbles in his clear tube? I'm just wondering if we are all on the same page as far as what's turbulent water and what's foam bubbles no matter how wet they are.
I checked and no bubbles getting sucked into the Mag 5. Just a few micro bubbles but not alot. The flashlight test shows water in the box just touching the bottom of the internal platform, which according to the book should be OK. Even with gate closed 1 1/2 turns the level in the box is about the same.
I think now I will bring the froth up 1/2 way into the clear tube by closing the gate a little and give it until tonight. Jason at AquaC had told me to be carefull not to close the gate too far as it will eventually cause the injector to get chocked of by water. But with a flashlight I can see the injector working freely. I'll post a picture later today. Thanks everyone
Dave
I just let it run overnight with gate fully open and air valve closed a little to keep the white turbulent water just below the top of the box. And this morning I had nothing.
I agree that everyone's set-up will be different depending on tank conditions and thickness of skimmate preferred. I'd settle for even watery skimmate right now because my tank hasn't been skimmed for over a month now. You'd think the skimmer would be going nuts.
IBASSFSH, great pictures. I have a question for everyone. According to IBASSFSH's pictures is that considered water or wet foamy bubbles in his clear tube? I'm just wondering if we are all on the same page as far as what's turbulent water and what's foam bubbles no matter how wet they are.
I checked and no bubbles getting sucked into the Mag 5. Just a few micro bubbles but not alot. The flashlight test shows water in the box just touching the bottom of the internal platform, which according to the book should be OK. Even with gate closed 1 1/2 turns the level in the box is about the same.
I think now I will bring the froth up 1/2 way into the clear tube by closing the gate a little and give it until tonight. Jason at AquaC had told me to be carefull not to close the gate too far as it will eventually cause the injector to get chocked of by water. But with a flashlight I can see the injector working freely. I'll post a picture later today. Thanks everyone
Dave
vinstr said:
I agree with what you are saying as far as the directions from AquaC, vinstr, but after several years I decided that I wanted a wet foam. Just as a reminder, I do have one of the old model AquaC's, but I think as far as operation goes they are about the same.
What I have done different with mine:
1. Have a pump one size larger than what AquaC recommends (Sen 7) and use a ball valve to adjust the pump flow. I leave the gate valve wide open.
2. Run the water level higher than what AquaC recommends (about a 1/2" up in the riser tube). I have found that this gives me a wet skimmate as well as keeping the riser tube from building up as much crap as it did before.
Steve
vinstr
Premium Member
I think Jason at AquaC made the best comment realating to where the water level should be: As long as it is not choking off the air injector, you are OK.
As for what we are talking about regarding froth and such- YYZ's pictures look like he had very frothy water-cleary the air is not being choked off. In my case, when the water level comes up into the riser tube, the air gets choked off and I can clearly see a seperation between the water and what is left of the foam on top (because the air is choked off there is not much foam being produced)- It does not look like YYZ's pictures- He clearly is still getting air. So when I am talking about the water level in the riser, you can definitely see just water
As for what we are talking about regarding froth and such- YYZ's pictures look like he had very frothy water-cleary the air is not being choked off. In my case, when the water level comes up into the riser tube, the air gets choked off and I can clearly see a seperation between the water and what is left of the foam on top (because the air is choked off there is not much foam being produced)- It does not look like YYZ's pictures- He clearly is still getting air. So when I am talking about the water level in the riser, you can definitely see just water
89GTA
New member
From spc-
"Run the water level higher than what AquaC recommends (about a 1/2" up in the riser tube). I have found that this gives me a wet skimmate as well as keeping the riser tube from building up as much crap as it did before."
Yupper to that recomendation. i do the same and it suits me best!!
1/2 way up the cylinder (50%) is NOT the way to go. 1/2'' is the way to go.
"Run the water level higher than what AquaC recommends (about a 1/2" up in the riser tube). I have found that this gives me a wet skimmate as well as keeping the riser tube from building up as much crap as it did before."
Yupper to that recomendation. i do the same and it suits me best!!
1/2 way up the cylinder (50%) is NOT the way to go. 1/2'' is the way to go.
Dave A
New member
Ok fellas, I just took this picture. Air valve fully open, gate valve closed 1 turn. No actual water in the riser tube just lots of white bubbles quickly rising that are anywhere between less than 1/16" in diameter to 1/8". Some much larger bubbles bursting on the surface. Would this be a good point to wait another day and see what happens?
Thanks again to everyone for their time and effort.
Dave
Thanks again to everyone for their time and effort.
Dave
That sure looks good to me, Dry Rot.
While I have some of you guys here who have the newer model I wanted to ask you if you get fine bubbles or a mixture of large and small. The reason I ask is that I know Jason made alot of changes to the new model, and one of them I believe was to try and get a smaller bubble. When I have seen a Euroreef or PM in operation, they have only very small bubbles (most efficient way to skim) but I have always had a mixture (and too much damn turbulence too) of bubbles.
I will be setting up a 400 gallon tank this year and am still trying to decide on a skimmer, but am definitely leaning towards PM bullet.
Steve
While I have some of you guys here who have the newer model I wanted to ask you if you get fine bubbles or a mixture of large and small. The reason I ask is that I know Jason made alot of changes to the new model, and one of them I believe was to try and get a smaller bubble. When I have seen a Euroreef or PM in operation, they have only very small bubbles (most efficient way to skim) but I have always had a mixture (and too much damn turbulence too) of bubbles.
I will be setting up a 400 gallon tank this year and am still trying to decide on a skimmer, but am definitely leaning towards PM bullet.
Steve
H@rry
In Memoriam
I have a DIY knockoff of an AquaC with a beckett nozzle. I noticed that when anyone smoked or we were cooking the foaming just stopped. Only turbulent water in the tube. The tank if right by a window. I cut a piece of wood 1" wide and the width of the window and drilled a 1/4"hole on one end. I put this in the window and shut the window on it. I then got some silicone air line tubing and put one end through the hole and the other end in the air valve. This feeds fresh air and corrects the "air quality" issues. It also cools the tank a little in cold weather. It's still sensitive to putting food in the water or your hands in the water and stops foaming for about an hour.
pnosko
New member
Re: Picture form Jason at Aqua C
Re: Picture form Jason at Aqua C
Re: Picture form Jason at Aqua C
Jason sent you this picture?!? It clearly has that gate valve submerged, and according to the EV-120 Instruction Manual (PDF) (paragraph above figure 2), it saysIBASSFSH said:
What's up with that?
vinstr
Premium Member
Dry Rot
I really think that looks perfect! I would not touch a thing. That is just the way mine looks just before it starts to kick in. If, after another day, the foam is not overflowing, start closing the gate valve 1/4 turn each day until it does....
I really want to see you succeed and that pictue looks very good
I really think that looks perfect! I would not touch a thing. That is just the way mine looks just before it starts to kick in. If, after another day, the foam is not overflowing, start closing the gate valve 1/4 turn each day until it does....
I really want to see you succeed and that pictue looks very good
Dave A
New member
If it doesn't start foaming by tomorrow I have some Flintstones bubble bath that has worked great for me in the tub. With me being around 250lbs. when I'm in the tub I probably use about the same amount of water that's in my skimmer to fill the bath tub. Ya know, sometimes you just gotta go with what works:eek2: :eek2:
Dave
Dave
Dave A
New member
89GTA said:
I've had alot of luck over the years with alot cheaper skimmers on various tanks. I've had a Seaclone 100, Seaclone150, Excaliber, and a big Prizm Pro Deluxe. Even with these less than efficient skimmers I was always able to keep them skimming at an almost acceptable rate. I know this AquaC is way more skimmer than all those other ones, so I'm somewhat dumbfounded as to why I don't seem to have the mental powers to get this thing working. I too can't wait to see what happens once I drop that ER CS8-2 into the same sump.
Well it's looking like it wants to start skimming so we'll see what's in the cup in the morning. Even so this hobby is still fun.
Dave
