Volcano club

[dascharisma]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13360365#post13360365 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dascharisma
I am running the 4ft Volcano, and I haven't been happy with the results. I have had to run the water level almost all the way to the top of the neck, because the skimmer won't produce a good foam head. So, to try to fix the problem, I ordered an Alita 40. It arrived today and I just hooked it up.

To determine if this pump is a good fix, I am taking pictures of 1 weeks worth of skimmate before adding the pump and then the following week with the air pump.


Here are the results from last week without the pump.

So far I can say that the Alita 40 doesn't seem to be properly sized for this skimmer. Unless I bleed off a substantial amount of air, there are giant bubbles that make it out of the bubble plate. They are so large that the surface is radically turbulent. With bleeding off air, I can reduce the bubble size to being reasonable. While I won't know for sure until next week's results, I am guessing that the skimmer is just improperly equipped (whether it be the dart, or the neck size, or the height, etc. is beyond my knowledge.)


I'm crossing my fingers...


Brad

Even though it hasn't been long enough for me to post my comparison shots, I wanted to give everyone an update.


When I first added the air pump, I had problems with too much air. I spent some time adjusting it, and I am very happy with the results thus far. I used a ball valve to bleed off air and even though I could get rid of the giant bubbles, it didn't seem like the foam head was what it should be, and the neck was too turbulent.

So, in the process of making adjustments, I removed the ball valve I had on the airline tube that was connected to my ozone port (leaving no restriction on the airline tubing). Suddenly the skimmer really came to life. It quickly started producing a good foam head, and has stayed that way ever since. Essentially it was a matter of bleeding off enough air from the Alita 40. The air mixture just needed to be tuned correctly.

If anyone used the Alita 40 on the 4ft Volcano, and wasn't impressed, I strongly advise you to try working with it a little more. When you get the air mixture right, the skimmer seems to really work. I have no way of knowing if it is ideal, but it works for me very well.



Here is how it is set up.

Here is the foam head.

Brad

 

[Reefaquariumnut]

Nothing is happening with my skimmer. Scott is MIA for the last time in my book. Actually this next week will be the last week that skimmer is hooked up to my tank. I will be doing some comparisons after i get the new skimmer hooked up. After a week or so of that I will take the volcano offline and send it to have various modifications and testing done. I am done dealing with deadbeat companies and junk products.

 

[GSMguy]

its a tough business, not that im making any apologies for anybody but i understand. I purchased a skimmer a month ago and by the time it got to me they were out of business, now if i need replacement parts im in trouble.

 

[Reefaquariumnut]

They try to run these businesses with as little overhead and cash injection as possible (sometimes using the next skimmer deposit to pay for the previous skimmer). One small error and its game over.

 

[JCTewks]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13392405#post13392405 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GSMguy
its a tough business, not that im making any apologies for anybody but i understand. I purchased a skimmer a month ago and by the time it got to me they were out of business, now if i need replacement parts im in trouble.

Which Co was that? CnC?

 

[GSMguy]

ya

 

[yeniraki]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13391987#post13391987 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reefaquariumnut
Nothing is happening with my skimmer. Scott is MIA for the last time in my book. Actually this next week will be the last week that skimmer is hooked up to my tank. I will be doing some comparisons after i get the new skimmer hooked up. After a week or so of that I will take the volcano offline and send it to have various modifications and testing done. I am done dealing with deadbeat companies and junk products.

I am wondering, what will you do, when volcano (with alita) beats your new skimmer on side by side comparison?

 

[mavgi]

again i am sorry i hijack the volcano thread but i just want to help....


James :

Laguna 2400 with good volute will let your skimmer work excellent , you can also run it with 4 Sicce but the laguna will cost less compare to 4 Sicce and less watt to.... (try to send you PM but your mail box full....)

if you want i can send you my 2400 for test with my other flow meter to (the one you have not big enough to this pump and i send it to you to test yours...) but give me some time since i mod some volute to for friends and i may have one for you to ..... on this pump you also will need my other flow meter .

again i need sometime and if you can be patient i am sure your skimmer will work like you never see it before , i just need to test my other toy to ..... and also to busy at work but when i will be ready i can help and prove you that i am not wrong...

regards
Michael

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13386148#post13386148 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Mr James
I am not waiting for Hahn or anyone else to try it out first. I am going to try some stuff with the skimmer I have. Hahn said my skimmer isn't really a Volcano and I really shouldn't be posting here, but I am going to anyway. Spazz said it was a Volcano, so I guess it is, since he built it. It sounds like the current Volcano models have the body and the pump. Both are in question as to their capabilities.

My skimmer has a 12" diameter and is 25.5" tall. I have 4 x OR3700's on it now. I am going to try a Laguna pump with a special volute. Another member has let me borrow his flow meter. I plan to test alopng thew way. (***If you need it back, just PM me and I will get it back to you.***) And/or, I may try between 1 and 4 separate Sicce pumps. We'll see.

I don't believe the (body) conical body is the answer. Or may not totally be the answer. I bet it has something to do with the engine (pump).

Anyone remember much of what Bill Wann tried on his skimmers?? I'm going to wade through the posts regarding the early stages of these skimmers and see what I can dig up.

 

[Cristina_j]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13393508#post13393508 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JCTewks
Which Co was that? CnC?

www.cncmarinesupply.com ... these guys are out of business?
Dawn II, one of our local friends said she ordered one of their skimmers a few weeks back. We've been so busy with going to MACNA, organizing some local club events & other stuff that Neither marco nor I have had a chance to talk to her about the skimmer.

 

[Mr James]

by mavgi
again i am sorry i hijack the volcano thread but i just want to help.... ...Michael

You aren't hijacking as long as you are suggesting solutions for the Volcano.

.....unlike Ms ChristinaJ who could have sent a PM....

by Cristina_j
www.cncmarinesupply.com ... these guys are out of business?
Dawn II, one of our local friends said she ordered one of their skimmers a few weeks back. We've been so busy with going to MACNA, organizing some local club events & other stuff that Neither marco nor I have had a chance to talk to her about the skimmer.

 

[Reefaquariumnut]

I did some modifications to the alita pump input (bleeding)...I also adjusted the three gate valves until I started to get a decent foam head. The waterline in the neck of the skimmer is still considerably high and the bubbles seem turbulent as they reach the base of neck.

I will keep these setting for a few days and see how much skimmate I can get.

 

[Mr James]

Reefaquariumnut, thanks for paving the way, no matter what the cost. Resources and time are at a premium, I am certain of that. I'll be following your actions and helping where I can.

 

[Reefaquariumnut]

That was about 5 days worth of foam and the liquid in the collection cup was due to an accident...I hooked up the alita 40 full blast (no bleeding) and it flowed over kinda like pasta cooking in boiling pot of water. Before that there was hardly anything, if anything at all, in the collection cup.

I am posting a cleaned neck and collection cup so we know exactly what results we get in the next few days. The pictures were taken about an hour after cleaning. Pictures are from today.

 

[GSMguy]

looks better, i assume on a system as large as yours you could skim wet and be ok.

 

[saleencobra]

Nut do you have a full pic of your skimmer?you said 3 gate valves and I have 2 just wanted to see the difference. One second question, how high do you think your lid is from the top of the riser? I think mine is too close and not allowing the foam to spill over.

 

[GSMguy]

actually i think the foam is pushed out best when its close to the top of the cup because the air cant escape without pushing the foam out with it.

 

[Reefaquariumnut]

my other gate valve is on the back side...the input water from the overflows. The lid is around 1.5 inches from the lid. I have removed the lid to see if that helps out.

In regards to the water level in the neck v performance...If I compare it to the DAS EX-1 i have on the frag tank, the DAS has the water line starting below the collection cup and it creates an awesome foam head and pulls dark skimmate. The one frag tank has one fish and no coral and its pulling lots of skimmate. I want to run a side by side comparison to see if its the Volcano or if my water is just really clean or if i don't have a big enough bioload to feed the Volcano.

 

[subshop]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13396351#post13396351 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reefaquariumnut
my other gate valve is on the back side...the input water from the overflows. The lid is around 1.5 inches from the lid. I have removed the lid to see if that helps out.

In regards to the water level in the neck v performance...If I compare it to the DAS EX-1 i have on the frag tank, the DAS has the water line starting below the collection cup and it creates an awesome foam head and pulls dark skimmate. The one frag tank has one fish and no coral and its pulling lots of skimmate. I want to run a side by side comparison to see if its the Volcano or if my water is just really clean or if i don't have a big enough bioload to feed the Volcano.

Reefaquariumnut, With regards to the third valve on the Volcano, is that something that Scott installed or is that something you did. I just got my 1850 and there is no valve there. Scott explained that the overflow is supposed to flow unrestricted into the volcano. Also where is your sump in relation to the skimmer ie: distance and height between the two? Neil

 

[Reefaquariumnut]

I restricted the flow from the overflow to the skimmer via a gate valve. That was installed and not included. The volcano sits right next to my sump (something like 3-4"). The skimmer and sump sit on the floor and the sump is around 18" tall with a 9" water level.

The overflows (dual) have 2" drains that are 29" off the floor. The one overflow drain ties into the second. I have an 8' tank so the one drain has to travel around 8'+ to get to the skimmer. The overflow plumbing joins together and then rises around 19" before it goes into the skimmer. I am really doing everything trial and error. I don't have a good skimmate production yet, so I am not sure what the right settings are yet.

 

[subshop]

the reason i asked is that i told Scott i was building a 500 gallon tank system w/ an overflow w/ 2- 2" drains from the overflows and he said to connect them directly to the Volcano w/o any restriction. I will be using a Hammerhead pump (5500 GPH) and Scott said the 1850 would be able to handle the flow. I'll have to wait till i get the tank to see. Will keep you posted. neil