Looking for precise air valve for sensitive skimmer

Fmellish

New member
I am overdriving my EV-180 with an Eheim 1262. With this much water entering the skimmer air control is of the utmost importance.

The built in air valve is not precise enough. One hair too much open, The water blows the top off and it floods. One har too little open and no water rises the column.

So I have decided to close off the air valve and attempt to install an air valve in the other intake I have (John Guest fitting that isn't being used).

So I need a precision air valve that would allow me to be more precide in my air adjustments and would give me more latitude in adjusting my skimmer. The (all or nothing)ness of the current situation just blows.

So does anyone know of a precision air valve that I can hook either onto the end of the RO tubing, or directly into the JOhn Guest fitting? And if the valve could have some kind of markings, (or better yet a meter), that would make dialing it in even better.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks
Josh
 
Use the dwyer meter, super accurate and easy to read. It uses FPT connections but you can buy FPT to nipple fittings at almost any hardware store. Then just attach the RO line to nipple and your guest fitting.
 
I use one of these on my calcium reactor instead of a needle valve. It just might work. I added JG fittings on mine.
 
Thank you very much.

Where can I get a "dwyer meter"?

And I was just thinking, it probably makes more sense to leave my JG fitting unused and just replace the main air valve with this "dwyer meter". In that case it wouldn't be JG fitting size, it would be approx 1/2" FPT hole in the top of my skimmer once I unscrew the current air valve.

Thanks
Josh
 
Thanks cooltank.

ghever PMed me and he does not have any left.

He says the model number is "RMA-22 stainless steel"

I'll need to investigate. I can't find any way to order on Dwyer's website.

I suppose I could call, but they are in Michigan.

Thanks
Josh
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7747695#post7747695 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Fmellish
Thanks cooltank.

ghever PMed me and he does not have any left.

He says the model number is "RMA-22 stainless steel"

I'll need to investigate. I can't find any way to order on Dwyer's website.

I suppose I could call, but they are in Michigan.

Thanks
Josh

Their website is hard to use, their staff is suprisingly friendly and helpful, call them.
 
I am overdriving my ev180 with a mag 9.5, and I leave the air valve wide open... maybe just turn the flow down a little bit. They work great with the 9.5 full blast and air valve wide open.
 
I've got the opposite issue. If I let any air into the skimmer it blows the top off, (water rises rapidly and overflows collection jug).

So I need to be able to crank down the air and only allow the smallest amount in. The airvalve it comes with is not precise enough, it tends to be either completely closed or mostly open.

Josh
 
every ev works a little different even if its the same model. I think it has to do with the injector being hand crimped. Josh, are you skimming wet or dry? I found that mine works best when i have the air valve open half way.
 
Well, I'm not using the AquaC airvalve anymore since it was just a ball valve and it was either too open, or too closed.

I have the new airvalve set at 9.5 l/m. This gives me dry sticky bubbles which equates to less skimmate but thicker skimmate. I can open it up to 11 or 12 l/m, but then I get green tea colored skimmate which fills up my collection jug every day. I just don't want to have to change it that much, so I'm going for less of the darker skimmate right now.

Since this valve is new to me i'll spend a few days finding the sweet spot.

Cheers
Josh
 
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