Is this normal for an AquaC
- Thread starter Dave A
- Start date
Dave A
New member
saltykirk said:
I agree there is most likely something at work here other than a bad skimmer. I guess what interests me is that the problem that some are having, including me, doesn't seem very easy to pinpoint. I would hope that a high end quality skimmer would not be effected by small things that seem to prevent it from working at an effective level for long periods of time. It has many people baffled and I must say that I haven't found anyone complaining about long term non-productivity from the Euro-Reef skimmers.
My EV-120 was purchased to replace the Prizm Pro Deluxe I had in my sump. The Prizm wasn't great but at least I could get it to skim, sometimes effectively and sometimes not. From what I had read before I purchased the EV-120 I was looking for a dramatic increase in productivity. That just hasn't happen...........for me.
I know the vast majority of people love their AquaC's and have had no problems getting them to skim tones of smelly skimmate, but when they don't seem to run all that great or not at all why is it so hard to get them performing. I could always get my el-cheapo skimmers to at least pull some skimmate on a regular basis.
My EV-120 has been running for a month now and except for producing some watery skimmate a long time ago this is what it has looked like for the last two weeks.
Dave
vinstr
Premium Member
DryRot
I have an idea:
I cannot tell from the picture, but is the hole on the side of your collection cup blocked up or closed off somehow? You know the little outtake valve about an inch or two off the bottom of the collection cup that you can attach tubing to for overflow? This needs to be open - it creates a suction lifting the foam up. I have mine pointing up and if I put my hand over it you can feel a strong flow of air blowing out of it. I attach tubing to it and have it run into a coke bottle if I am going away for a few days and cannot empty it every day.
If I cover up this hole, I just get foam that doesn't rise up- just like yours looks.
I have an idea:
I cannot tell from the picture, but is the hole on the side of your collection cup blocked up or closed off somehow? You know the little outtake valve about an inch or two off the bottom of the collection cup that you can attach tubing to for overflow? This needs to be open - it creates a suction lifting the foam up. I have mine pointing up and if I put my hand over it you can feel a strong flow of air blowing out of it. I attach tubing to it and have it run into a coke bottle if I am going away for a few days and cannot empty it every day.
If I cover up this hole, I just get foam that doesn't rise up- just like yours looks.
Dry Rot said:
Sorry to read about your problems with the skimmer, Dave, this type of thing would definately be aggravating.
From the picture it sure looks like the skimmer is being run properly, and in fact looks like it is doing everything but produce skimate
. I have been using one of the older model Aqua C's for about 3.5 years now and that is what mine looks like when it is not producing. I have noticed that this generally takes place after I have had my hands in the system, but will also happen at other times (feeding, etc...).Anyway, I look forward to see what Jason has to say (especially if he looks at the picture) and hope all turns out well for you.
Steve
pnosko
New member
vinstr, that hole/fitting does not create suction. It is intended to be connected to a secondary container. You are risking a spill by leaving it open like that.
Dry Rot, I still say you can't judge a skimmer by it's output WITHOUT either knowing the input or basing it on the output of another skimmer on the same tank (each running alone over a period of time). You just don't have enough data to come to any kind of conclusion about the EV-120's performance.
Dry Rot, I still say you can't judge a skimmer by it's output WITHOUT either knowing the input or basing it on the output of another skimmer on the same tank (each running alone over a period of time). You just don't have enough data to come to any kind of conclusion about the EV-120's performance.
Dave A
New member
pnosko said:
Actually I do. I had the Prizm Pro Deluxe running in the same sump under the same conditions. The only thing that has changed is the skimmer. I would think comparing two skimmers on the exact same system would be a decent comparison. The Prizm Pro was aged more at the time but after a month the EV-120 should be killing the Prizm. Am I missing something here? Believe me, I'm very open to any hypotheses.
Dave
vinstr
Premium Member
Pnosko
Yeah, I know I'm risking overflow but I only leave it like that if i know I can check on it and empty it every day- otherwise I connect a tube to it draining into a coke bottle.
And I guess I shouldn't have said it created suction but what I meant was that if the air flow is blocked or impeded the foam will not rise over the top and into the cup (I know this because when I first got this I closed up that hole so I couldn't have a spill- very dumb move)
Yeah, I know I'm risking overflow but I only leave it like that if i know I can check on it and empty it every day- otherwise I connect a tube to it draining into a coke bottle.
And I guess I shouldn't have said it created suction but what I meant was that if the air flow is blocked or impeded the foam will not rise over the top and into the cup (I know this because when I first got this I closed up that hole so I couldn't have a spill- very dumb move)
cecilturtle
Premium Member
Dry Rot,
Have you unscrewed the intake valve to see if any snail is clogging the injector head? Once I got my skimmer dialed in (app. 3-4 days) I have never had to reset it except for a problem with a snail becoming lodged. BTW, I do not run the foam filter on my Mag 5.
My hands, feeding, etc. stops or rather reduces the foam in the column for app. 30 minutes or less.
Also, worth checking is the outlet hose from the skimmer cup. Depending on the length, if it binds it will cause backpressure and reduce foam as well.
Have you unscrewed the intake valve to see if any snail is clogging the injector head? Once I got my skimmer dialed in (app. 3-4 days) I have never had to reset it except for a problem with a snail becoming lodged. BTW, I do not run the foam filter on my Mag 5.
My hands, feeding, etc. stops or rather reduces the foam in the column for app. 30 minutes or less.
Also, worth checking is the outlet hose from the skimmer cup. Depending on the length, if it binds it will cause backpressure and reduce foam as well.
Dave A
New member
cecilturtle said:
cecilturtle, thanks for all the suggestion.
I checked the injector a few days ago, clean as a whistle.
I also don't use the foam filter on the Mag 5.
Skimmate outlet hose is only 12" long and no bends.
This morning I'm getting a small skum line about 2" up the riser tube.
Thanks,
Dave
Dave A
New member
Update ...........been another 3 days and still no skimmate. Jason from AquaC has been in contact with me twice over the last couple days but we still haven't found the problem yet. I made a few small adjustments that Jason recommended 2 days ago.
Over the last month I've tried running the water level inside the skimmer at different levels with no luck. I mean the water level in the lift tube, not the box. The box level never seems to change much even with the gate valve at different settings. I've tried just leaving it and not fiddling with no luck. I think I may try some things with the Mag 5 pump. Maybe I'm getting either too much or too little pressure/flow from the Mag 5. I'm running out of ideas.
Dave
Over the last month I've tried running the water level inside the skimmer at different levels with no luck. I mean the water level in the lift tube, not the box. The box level never seems to change much even with the gate valve at different settings. I've tried just leaving it and not fiddling with no luck. I think I may try some things with the Mag 5 pump. Maybe I'm getting either too much or too little pressure/flow from the Mag 5. I'm running out of ideas.
Dave
cecilturtle
Premium Member
Dry Rot,
It's a shame the skimmer isn't working for you. The only thing left for me to suggest is you open both air valve and gate valve all the way. Have nothing impeding flow from gate including any additional pipe. Hold out on any food additives. In the meantime, slowly close the gate valve until the water inside the box is almost touching the acrylic platform inside (use a flashlight) Then after about 15 minutes or so start closing 1/4 turns until you get the foam rising in the tube. If the foam hits the lid you have gone too far. Just leave it for a while. Then micro adjust till you get the skimmate you want.
If your skimmer is foaming too much then either you gate is closed too much or you have added something to water. If not enough, then either gate is open too much or injector is clogged. If it is foaming fine then your water is not that dirty. IMO this skimmer is foolproof. HTH
It's a shame the skimmer isn't working for you. The only thing left for me to suggest is you open both air valve and gate valve all the way. Have nothing impeding flow from gate including any additional pipe. Hold out on any food additives. In the meantime, slowly close the gate valve until the water inside the box is almost touching the acrylic platform inside (use a flashlight) Then after about 15 minutes or so start closing 1/4 turns until you get the foam rising in the tube. If the foam hits the lid you have gone too far. Just leave it for a while. Then micro adjust till you get the skimmate you want.
If your skimmer is foaming too much then either you gate is closed too much or you have added something to water. If not enough, then either gate is open too much or injector is clogged. If it is foaming fine then your water is not that dirty. IMO this skimmer is foolproof. HTH
Dave A
New member
I'm giving that a try now. Started with air wide open (always has been) and gate valve wide open. Just did that for 1 1/2 hours. Then I closed gate valve 1/2 turn and waited another 1 1/2 hours. I'll continue closing the gate valve 1/2 turn every 90 minutes until internal water level chokes off the injector. If this doesn't work I'll try again with a ball valve on the Mag 5. I'll cut back flow 5 - 10%.
- I haven't use food additives for almost two weeks now.
- I know I have dissolved organics in the water because now the tank hasn't been skimmed for over a month. And the cheaper skimmer was pulling skimmate before the AquaC.
- Not even wet foam being produced
- Nothing added to water
- Checked injector, all clear.
Dave
P.S. Can I please get two bits of information from EV-120 users with it in the sump with no additional plumbing.
1- How much is your gate valve closed?
2- After feedings or anything that causes your skimmer to stop producing foam for awhile, at what level does the turbulent water settle to within the clear riser tube?
Thanks,
Dave
- I haven't use food additives for almost two weeks now.
- I know I have dissolved organics in the water because now the tank hasn't been skimmed for over a month. And the cheaper skimmer was pulling skimmate before the AquaC.
- Not even wet foam being produced
- Nothing added to water
- Checked injector, all clear.
Dave
P.S. Can I please get two bits of information from EV-120 users with it in the sump with no additional plumbing.
1- How much is your gate valve closed?
2- After feedings or anything that causes your skimmer to stop producing foam for awhile, at what level does the turbulent water settle to within the clear riser tube?
Thanks,
Dave
vinstr
Premium Member
Dave
So sorry your still not getting it to work...Its got to something real simple we're all missing...
In answer to your questions:
1-My valve is closed about 1 full turn. If my tank is really bad, for some reason, I need to open it all the way because alot of foam is produced, then I'll slowly close it as the tank improves to my normal position of about 1 full turn shut.
2-When the foam production stops, sometimes the foamy, turbulant water goes down to even below the clear part. Its pretty amazing, and when I see it drop like that I have to fight myself to keep me from adjusting it. I learned to just leave it and within an hour or so, the foam is back up and overflowing.
Good luck
-Vince
So sorry your still not getting it to work...Its got to something real simple we're all missing...
In answer to your questions:
1-My valve is closed about 1 full turn. If my tank is really bad, for some reason, I need to open it all the way because alot of foam is produced, then I'll slowly close it as the tank improves to my normal position of about 1 full turn shut.
2-When the foam production stops, sometimes the foamy, turbulant water goes down to even below the clear part. Its pretty amazing, and when I see it drop like that I have to fight myself to keep me from adjusting it. I learned to just leave it and within an hour or so, the foam is back up and overflowing.
Good luck
-Vince
