AquaC EV 180 Protein Skimmer

[Nick Rose]

I added a AquaC EV 180 skimmer that was laying around in the garage onto the backup/emergency tank we also have in the garage. The skimmer is using a Mag 9.5 which has a gate valve on it. Where should I have the water be in the skimmer? In the video I show it at 2 3/4 turns closed and then all the way open. The gate valve on the return is fully open. How do I stop the gulping of the return water?

 

[Flippers4pups]

Bump

 

[kaxt]

That's the same skimmer I run. You want the water level about a half inch below the top of the box. If you use a flashlight you can see through the dark acrylic to set the water height. Once the water height is adjusted correctly it can take some time for the bubbles to start to rise up the clear tube, so dont be surprised if you dont see anything for the first hour or so.

 

[Nick Rose]

Finally got it to collect foam in the cup. It seems like it runs better with the water level above the box. I had it below the top of the box but it never did anything. Yesterday I raised it above the box and it started to form foam.

 

[joseserrano]

The gate valve you are turning in video one should be fully open. You regulate the level from the drain area. You want to maximize the water coming into that style of skimmer.

 

[Nick Rose]

Well I'm running a Mag 9.5 and read you have to have a gate valve to lesson the flow, so its not too much.

 

[joseserrano]

Well I'm running a Mag 9.5 and read you have to have a gate valve to lesson the flow, so its not too much.

gate valve is typically only used on the out, not in.

 

[Nick Rose]

The manual says to put a gate valve on the output of the pump if it larger then the Mag 7. https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/9131/2445/files/EV-180.pdf?11667489451085625805

 

[joseserrano]

From my experience both using these skimmers and knowing ppl who have as well, they would run a larger pump with no gate valve.

 

[Nick Rose]

How close was the skimmer to the pump? The gate valve on the drain of the skimmer is fully open and when I have the gate valve on the pump fully open it overflows the collection cup. The skimmer is about 1'-1.5' away and 1' or less higher then the pump.

 

[Tank Fan]

That's the same skimmer I run. You want the water level about a half inch below the top of the box. If you use a flashlight you can see through the dark acrylic to set the water height. Once the water height is adjusted correctly it can take some time for the bubbles to start to rise up the clear tube, so dont be surprised if you dont see anything for the first hour or so.

Would love to see photos of your skimmer set up.