Acqua c ev-180 unstable foam column

deepgreen · 05-22-2008, 10:15 AM

I purchased the acqua c ev-180 skimmer four days back for my 70g. It started producing foam into the cup after a few hours (faster then what the manual suggests) but then the foam column broke down after an hour or so. It took about 12 hours to restart (no fish feeding, hands in water) and then again collapsed after say 4 hours. Its being doing this cycle of waiting from 6 to 12 hours with no foam column and then collapsing after a few hours when it appears. The effective skimmate collected is practically nill, but when producing foam in the column it looks dirty (but no collected foam since the foam column breaks down). The tank is new, running about 6 weeks, with bio-load for about 2 weeks.

Perhaps this is due to the skimmer breaking in (although the manual suggests its broken in when it produces foam). I adjusted the skimmer according to the instructions.

Thanks, any help very welcome.

omard · 05-22-2008, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deepgreen

I purchased the acqua c ev-180 skimmer four days back for my 70g. It started producing foam into the cup after a few hours (faster then what the manual suggests) but then the foam column broke down after an hour or so. It took about 12 hours to restart (no fish feeding, hands in water) and then again collapsed after say 4 hours. Its being doing this cycle of waiting from 6 to 12 hours with no foam column and then collapsing after a few hours when it appears. The effective skimmate collected is practically nill, but when producing foam in the column it looks dirty (but no collected foam since the foam column breaks down). The tank is new, running about 6 weeks, with bio-load for about 2 weeks.

Perhaps this is due to the skimmer breaking in (although the manual suggests its broken in when it produces foam). I adjusted the skimmer according to the instructions.

Thanks, any help very welcome.

Yep...just break in...

Foam will have high/low outputs at different times...

Won't take long for it to skim all tank water if you have a good pump...

Good skimmer choice...

Congrats.

May yours work as well for you, as mine does for me...

wildreef · 05-22-2008, 10:22 AM

I have the very same skimmer you can lower the colum by opening the valve more , or make water rise in the first colum by closeing down the valve .

trick is to get it right , ( i messed with mine quite abit to get it just right )

might like to add i tun a 950gph on mine to get good head pressure and i leave the air pilot on to
aquire a "fine bubble pattern" .
it's also great for wet skimming as well.

OH' if it seems air isint building or diluting well in the main chamber , chances are that the inlet nozzle has got a clog/obstruction in the little plastic piece.
just spin it out and make sure that inner plastic nozzle is clear.

jtReef · 05-22-2008, 10:26 AM

That does not seem all that abnormal to me either. On my ev-300 after I clean the skimmer it takes a few hours before I get any substantial foam. I actually never get any foam in the collection cup as I clean it every 2 weeks when the tower turns virtually black. Check your water parameters. You may just have such a small bio load that you’re running very clean.

omard · 05-22-2008, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wildreef

I have the very same skimmer you can lower the colum by opening the valve more , or make water rise in the first colum by closeing down the valve .

trick is to get it right , ( i messed with mine quite abit to get it just right )

Agree with wildreef...will take couple of weeks to get water level adjusted right in lower chamber as gets broken in...

For more concentrated foam cut back on air valve.

Experiment...you will work out...then won't have to touch again for years...

PS: Remember to pull water jet port (unscrew on top) every month or so to make sure completely clean. Even the slightest restriction will drastically afftect foam production.

Might want to consider doing right away as could have picked up some serious gunk/particles on initial skimmer startup.

deepgreen · 05-22-2008, 11:04 AM

Great advice and reassuring to hear from real users. I shall make the adjustments to the water level in the foam column, but give it more time.

Actually the LFS store from where I bought the skimmer said that I should have got another type (a needle valve) and the skimmer was at fault not so reassuring to a newbie with a big hole in the wallet. But now I know where to put that advice.

Thanks, I am confident this is will work out really good.

jtReef · 05-22-2008, 02:02 PM

Keep us updated and if you ever want to trade for the big ev-400 that wont fit under my stand just let me know :-)

Tangster · 05-22-2008, 02:15 PM

What pump are you using on it ? and how is it plumbed from pump to inlet of skimmer ? But like Ormard said also might take a week to clean out the oils and break it in.. And make sure the cup vent is clear and open .. back pressure will cause them to go flat also..Also with the age of the tank there may not be much of anything to skim unless it was filled with L /rock

To adjust the water level cut off all the air in the injector and adjust the valve to run about 1/2 to 1inch of water in the first reactor riser above the black base . then cut the air inlet valve so its at 1/2 open then let it go thats where you want to start then if its still flat increase the air inlet by opening the handle on the air control a little but about 1/2 to 3/4 open is average for them.. if that does not fix it the pump is to weak.

grubbsj · 05-22-2008, 02:50 PM

I have been running the EV-120 for about 6 months. During the first 2 - 3 days there was not much production. It has taken a few days of adjusting to "dial in" the operating level and tune the performance.

Then it pulled about a gallon/week of medium dark fluid for the next month. Since then it has continually dropped off in production as well as lightened up in color.

The skimmer is not in an easily accessed position, so this weekend I think I'll break into it and clean the jet and see if any thing changes. I'd just assumed it was just catching up on cleaning as it replaced a SeaClone on a 100g system.

On a side note: I'd seen an outbreak of nuisance macro algae (introduced on a recent live rock addition) beginning in the tank. Research said that this algae will not grow if nitrates can be brought to 0. Thus the reason that the SeaClone went in the trash. All of this algae has now died off and been cleaned from the tank.... Excellent skimmer.

deepgreen · 05-22-2008, 06:21 PM

Quick update.

After several adjustments (particularly to water level), plus another 12 hours, the skimmer is performing well. Just had to take more care.

Using a mag 7.

Will update with production levels, perhaps a pic.