AquaC EV-150 skimmer setup questions

[Rob]

Thanks, Scott, for those links. I have a lot of research to do...

What I'd like to find out is if anybody has an EV-150 and can give me some pointers on setup. Some specifics would be great, because the vendor doesn't mention them... such as optimal height of the skimmer in the sump with respect to the water level, and how the setting of the exit valve works.

The main difference between the very minimal manual and the skimmer itself is that there doesn't seem to be a discrete water level to set. The skimmer aerates so powerfully that there seems to be bubbles everywhere. With the exit valve fully open, the bubbles reach almost to the bottom of the big riser tube. As I slowly close the valve, the bubble level rises inside the riser tube maybe a couple of inches, until bubble production stops, and there's just water.

A fair amount of gunk is deposited on the inside of this riser tube, which I wipe out as often as possible.

Have tried a Mag 7 as well as the Rio that came with the skimmer. the vendor seems to have some association with the Rio company, in that they'll only tell you that you must use this Rio brand pump, but won't tell what gph pump is required. Annoying, considering the steep price of their skimmers...

The rest is as I posted in the other thread:

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The skimmer performs poorly, no matter what I try. The highest that the tiny amount of foam will go is about 2cm up the tower. If I raise the water level any higher than recommended, foam production stops altogether. Am using the Rio pump that came with the skimmer. Tried both a stronger and a weaker pump from my collection, no luck. Tried raising the level of the skimmer in the sump (which is rather deep), no luck. eMailed the vendor, no responce yet...

Ideas?

[Ninong]

PerryinCA uses that skimmer.

Ninong

[Aragorn]

Rob,

Before I went w/ a refugium, I ran the 150 in my 135g. In fact, I still have it setup...just in case. Anyway, I use it externally to the sump. The skimmer sits outside and is attached via a bulkhead. I have the skimmer situated so the it is higher than the water level in the sump. The water level just reaches the bottom of the water outlet of the skimmer. Additionally, I run with a Mag9 and have a ball valve on it so I can "throttle back" if need be. This setup, at least for me, works fabulously. HTH.

[CAreefer]

Here is a picture of my EV 150 powered by a mag 7.

As you can see the water level is just at the bottom of the outlet pipe. The end of the elbow is actually under the water level of the skimmer. Skimmer works well but seems to require constant "tweaking". Either too much foam or none at all. With the Mag 7 water level within the skimmer is about 1/2 inch below shelf inside skimmer, light from refuge allows me to see water level within skimmer. After feeding, foam production stops for a few hours.

HTH
Marshal;)

[Rob]

Thanks guys!

I'll give it a try.

[ljj]

arn't you supposed to set the foam max. ht 1" below the inside pl?
you sight it it with a flashlight..
also have constant water level or raise the output out of water.

[Rob]

LJJ asked:
arn't you supposed to set the foam max. ht 1" below the inside pl?
you sight it it with a flashlight..
also have constant water level or raise the output out of water.

Supposed.

In reality, even with a strong flashlight, it is impossible to see the difference between the bubbly water and the foam.

However, I have discovered one thing, and that's after the vendor responded to my eMail. There's a sweet spot that occurs when the sump water is one level and one level ONLY, and the gate valve is adjusted to one particular setting.

If the sump water rises above this level or sinks below by as much as a CENTIMETER, foam production ceases.

But in that configuration, I not only produced foam, but got it to rise all the way into the cup !! Quite an achievement for this $400+ piece of plastic so far.

But here's the rub: in a sump, water level changes. When I get up in the morning or come home at night, I add some RO/DI water to keep the level about right. I'm not going to set up some drip feeder and more complicated and fussy gizmos to try and keep the sump water at the same height.

I thought about it, and came up with a simple solution. I lowered the water level in the sump, and moved the skimmer into the first big chamber. The partition AFTER the keeps the water level in the second chamber constant, no matter what. I lose about a third of my sump capacity this way, but then again the sump is enormous to start with, and in my basement under the tank anyway, so there's nobody will laugh at me for having an enormous sump 30% empty ;)

Hope this works!