Is this normal for an AquaC

[YYZ_125G]

How I did it was in the bathtub with the bucket with my pump under the running faucet. Then I timed how long to fill another bucket. The feed bucket wonââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t go dry as it is being filled by faucet and you get a good read. Run three tests if you get similar numbers average them for your flow rate.

You should use the same setup you are using for your skimmer. Try it with and with out your injector. Then you will know if it is the pump flow or pressure rating.

Daniel

 

[vinstr]

Vincerama -I can say that I love my EV120- I've never had these kinds of problems and I get good thick skimmate each day...
I can't wait til Dave figures this out so we know what the problem was...

 

[Vincerama2]

I sure hope it's good! Mine is showing up tomorrow! I called Marindepot and they had already shipped the skimmer! I've heard good things about it ... so I hope these guys can figure out their troubles too!

Returning the EV-120 in favour of a Euroreef CS5-3 just doesn't seem worth the hassle ... unless the EV-120 turns out to be a months worth of trouble!

However, I have to give it a chance, I mean, unlike the Prizm, AquaC has a GOOD reputation, right?! (And my Prizm actually skimmed until the pump broke...but it didn't skim enough to keep the cyano at bay!)

V

 

[Dave A]

I sure hope it's good! Mine is showing up tomorrow!
V

Vincerama2, I'm sure you will love your AquaC. My huge problem is not the norm and I also did research to find a good skimmer and the AquaC's are up there in the top few best skimmers available. It may just turn out to be that I'm an idiot and the skimmer is fine.

You presumably have a little more head than you would have in running to your skimmer, so you may pump slightly more to the skimmer than that. That sounds right on to me. I'd look for another culprit.

A agree Ron, the flow seems about right. I have another new impeller coming from the place where I purchased the skimmer and pump. They wanted to make sure I have the right impeller in the pump.

Dave, good luck in getting your skimmer to work. Mine is at least working better.

Thanks Omar, glad to hear your well on your way to happy skimming. I'm quite jealous.

You should use the same setup you are using for your skimmer. Try it with and with out your injector. Then you will know if it is the pump flow or pressure rating.

YYZ_125G, i'm not 100% sure I know what you mean, but then I've already shown I couldn't get a skimmer working if my life depended on it. Are you saying it should move the same volume of water with or without the injector nozzle on? If so at this point I'm willing to try anything.

 

[YYZ_125G]

The EV120 is rated for a flowrate through the skimmer of 225gph. Your Mag5 is is delivering 500gph at zero head. If there is a pressure related problem you won't reach 225gph through your injector.

I don't really think this is a pump problem if you can get your water level in the skimmer as high as you reported in earlier posts.

I looked back at your pictures. Is your skimmer output above or right at the water line of your sump? It is hard to tell. If your sump water is right up to your skimmer output, you may wan't to try raising your skimmer.

Daniel

 

[Dave A]

YYZ_125G.............for most of the time the sump water level was just touching the bottom of the gate valve. Just the plastic, not the water coming out. The last few days I've raised the skimmer up a little so now the water is about 2" below the gate valve. This didn't make any difference in the internal water level. Do you think I should measure the gph being pumped through the injector? Do you think it might help us understand what is going on here? I'm game if you think it is worth it.

Dave

 

[Dave A]

I just ran the same flow test as last night but with the injector on the end of the hose. Same test but took 45 sec. to pump the same amount of water. I did the math as best I can using the same numbers from last night and I get 308 gph. If this is correct the flow rate would be too high thus causing the very turbulent water I can see in the bottom of the clear lift tube. To me it seems too turbulent to form a stable head of foam.\

Dave


:lol: :lol: :lol: I just realized something. By now I must know everything there is to know about an EV-120, everything except how to get it to skim.:eek1:

Dave

 

[YYZ_125G]

Personally I would think more flow rate is better, and would have been more concerned if your flow was around 150 gph through injector. The turbulence may cause the bubble column not to form, I donââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t know. My skimmer looks like yours just after it is started. Why my foam will build and yours wonââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t is a mystery.

I do wish my skimmer was more consistant. Hope my injector mod helps with that. I tested my water again on Sunday, still no signs of Nitrate.

Have you heard back from Aquac? Daniel

 

[Vincerama2]

Hey DaveA, your tank must be pretty loaded by now. I'd run that prizm on it for a few days! Also, that way you can sort of confirm that your water is skimmable. Yes, I know that pretty much all salt water is skimmable, even with a tiny bioload...but there are certain conditions that make water MORE skimmable, like a higher ph and higher (I think) salinity.

My tank has been skimmerless for a week since my Prizm (non-pro, non-deluxe) pump died (I will actually get a new pump, even though my new EV-120 is in the mail...so I can use it on a q-tank or a prop/grow out tank in the future)...the water is FILTHY! I did a water change last night to keep up with the filth.

I'll post the evolution of my skimmer as well, though it will be way over-rated for my overkill tank. (It's a 10g nano with a 10g sump, plus calcium reactor, plus kalkwasser reactor! And soon will have an overkill skimmer!)

V

 

[Dave A]

Have you heard back from Aquac? Daniel

Yes, Jason called my home yesterday. He couldn't add much to what I have tried so far, so he's sending me another injector nozzle just in case. He also said he would do whatever it takes to make me happy. A whole new unit or a refund, whatever I wanted. I told him I will try the new injector then decide. Can't ask for more than that.

Dave

 

[Dave A]

Hey DaveA, your tank must be pretty loaded by now. I'd run that prizm on it for a few days! V

You bet, nitrates have gone from a steady 6 to 15 now. All in the last month. Just did a 15gal. water change on Monday. My old Prizm Pro Deluxe was sold as soon as the AquaC arrived. Sounds like the Euro-Reef CS8-2 will be here on Friday.

Dave

 

[cecilturtle]

FWIW Dave,

To me, the Euro and the EV's run pretty close but it's the service that sets Aqua C apart. When the Euro gets in let us know how it does and if it does well then I would send the EV back to Jason so he can check it out. He can fix it or replace it then you have a choice of selling or keeping it.

 

[Dave A]

FWIW Dave,

To me, the Euro and the EV's run pretty close but it's the service that sets Aqua C apart. When the Euro gets in let us know how it does and if it does well then I would send the EV back to Jason so he can check it out. He can fix it or replace it then you have a choice of selling or keeping it.

Hi cecilturtle, actually that's an option I was considering. I'm sure Jason would like to have the unit back to get a chance to test it himself. I will probably ask him if the new injector doesn't help.

Dave

 

[crab0000]

You will love the ER. Just curious, why didn't you go with the ES version.
Steve

 

[Dave A]

You will love the ER. Just curious, why didn't you go with the ES version.
Steve

There are only a couple ER vender's in Canada and this is what was available right after christmas in the size I wanted. The CS was about $200 more than the ES for the 8-2 model here in Canada. As long as the ER works I'll be happy and I'll join the club

Dave

 

[crab0000]

Sorry, I didn't even notice you were in Canada. Guess that's what I get for assuming everyone is from the US. Welcome to the club, you have made the right decision.
Steve

 

[bice0004]

I'm having a similar problem to Dave's. I've had the ev180 since christmas, with really no consistant skimming. I've tried pretty much everything that everyone here has suggested, and it hasn't worked for me either. However, the one difference is that my skimmer has worked very briefly ( a couple weeks ago). I have gotten about 1/4 cup of thick skimmate over the last 3 weeks. It just isn't consistant. Last night I was tweaking it before I went to bed, and I was getting foam to rise up the column (hurray). I even woke up in the middle of the night and checked and it looked to still be working, it wasn't overflowing with foam yet, but getting close. then I woke up this morning and the foam was gone and back down to a level of about 1 inch. I don't get it. I'm starting to think about getting another brand also. But after spending $400 on a skimmer and pump just three weeks ago, I would like to get this to work. BTW, prior to my upgrade to the EV180, I was using a remora pro and it was working great. It would fill the collection cup of filthy stuff every 3-4 days. I am interested in getting to the bottom of this problem. The only thing i can think of is that the sand is getting stirred by the tank inhabitants which causes the skimmer to shut down. Since this happens quite a bit in my tank that might be the reason. Any other thoughts?

Bice

 

[Vincerama2]

Bice0004, Maybe you just don't have enough stuff to skim? (A wild guess). Seems like these types of skimmers are very sensitive to any slight change whatsoever! Howeve, I just installed my EV120 last night, so I really hope it works! Well, actually, having paid $300 + a pump, I DEMAND that it works! (though the skimmer might not co-operate no matter how loudly and vigously I yell at it!)

Anyway, I set mine up last night and tried to adjust the water level to the recommended 1/2" below the "platform".

I must say that it is really hard to tell where the actual water level is, thorugh all the bubbles and turbulence! This morning (about 8-10 hours after setup) there was some clean foam in the collection column, though not as high as the bottom of the collection cup level) I am really hoping that it will work!

Dave A...any updates on your situation?

V

 

[Dave A]

Well..........going on six weeks and the cup is empty. I've tried about everything imaginable with the good help of everyone here. I've pretty much given up and haven't touched the skimmer at all in the last few days..........and don't intend to. If the new injector gets here quick enough I'll give it a try but that will be it. Otherwise the ER will be in the sump and I'm not sure I will feel like taking it out just to put the EV-120 back in for a few days.

Dave

 

[Vincerama2]

Too bad. But there is a limit to how much you should have to try and make any product work! Send it back to wherever you got it and get your money back!

If you have a friend with a reef (or salt) tank, it would be interesting to see if the skimmer works in his/her tank!

Incidentally, I find that the EV-120 is EVEN LOUDER than my prizm skimmer! I think I'm going to have to run a line from the air intake into some kind of muffler or something!

V