dialing in aquaC 120?

[matts125]

This is a new skimmer to me (AquaC 120) and I am having a hard time dialing it in. I can not get it to skim at all. I am using a mag 7 pump on it but it seems to maybe not be enuff. when I start to close off the valve to raise the water level in the skimmer it quits blowing bubbles so I cant get anything out of it.
maybe I need to use a different pump or maybe I am doing something else wrong any ways any help would be great!!!!


Thanks
Matt

 

[Krish]

I had the same skimmer and it was a bit of a pain to dial in, but once I did, it skimmed really well. I used the mag5 that was reccommended though...Never tried anything bigger. Do you have the injector set wide open? Raising the water level shouldn't stop you from producing any bubbles. Could be a bad or clogged injector. Also, is the skimmer brand new? If so, then you can twiddle your thumbs a bit because sometimes they take a while to start working properly...

 

[MCary]

Like Krish said, it needs to break in.

Did you get one with a guest attachment for ozone or calcium reactor? If you did you need to plug that hole. If your not using the hole, the best way to plug it is with a short length of tubing and a John Guest ball valve. Then just shut it off.

You did good to upgrade the pump. The Mag 7 is recommended for the EV180 but I found you need one larger, like the mag 9.5. I use an Eheim 1262. I have heard people who say to put a ball valve in the larger pump and throttle it down. I disagree. I run mine wide open and then adjust with the air valve.

Mike

 

[matts125]

well I thought I would do good by upgrading the pump but I dont seem to be able to get enuff air, I cant raise the level in the skimmer because the bubbles stop. I am really starting to get frustrated.
its like mine hase too much back pressure so when I close the valve a little to raise the level in the skimmer I lose the bubble reaction.
I cant get the wate level in the skimmer within even 3 inches of the cup with out it losing the bubbles...

Botton line ( this skimmer has been running for over a week, the water in my tank is almost green! and it hasnt skimmed a drop yet!!!!)

Matt

 

[Krish]

Maybe you have a bad injector or if you're thinking the pump may be too much, put a ball valve on it and turn it down some. Also, I've never tried this before and not sure if it will work with an injecctor (but I know with the little valves they use on the airline tubing for some skimmer pumps venturi style) but maybe try removing the whole injector altogether and see how it foams then with raising the water level. See if that helps you keep the bubbles going at a higher level? Like i said, not sure what will happen, but i had to remove the whole valve on the airline tubing one time on another skimmer to get it to foam. The valve wide open was not enough which let me know my venturi was bad, which in your case may tell you if you have a bad injector (given it will work this way) Just a thought...

 

[matts125]

Well I got this thing to work finally, I thought it was an EV 120 but it was infact a EV 180 so I was under driving it with the Mag 7 they say that is the pump to use on it but it isnt enuff, I am running it on a Genx pcx 30 and it seems to be working well..

thanks for the help guys...

Matt

 

[Krish]

Sounds great man

 

[MCary]

Yep, a mag 7 just didn't cut it with my EV180.

 

[Brenden]

Glad you figured it out. I was reading through the thread and had all my ideas ready and then at the end you found the problem. I run a AquaC EV1000 on my tank.

 

[matts125]

well after dialing this skimmer in it skimmed out 3 gallons of thick green skimmate over one night!!
THis is indeed a great skimmer!!!!

Matt

 

[burning2nd]

i plan on geting the 180, (i think)