AquaC Ev 180 issue

[Djplus1]

Not sure if someone can help me out with diagnosing an issue with my skimmer. It is powered by a Eheim 1262. I have been having weird issues where the water in the chamber will be bubbling away like normal and producing swimmate into the cup and out of nowhere I'll check it a couple hours later and the foam level will drop to nothing without me doing anything to the tank, no hands or feedings or whatever. Then later, I'll come back and the foam will be at the normal level again. 

 

Of course, I sometimes decide to turn the adjustment knob when the level is low.... and in the middle of the night I'll hear my float switch going crazy on my waste collector because the stupid skimmer decided to go crazy and just start pumping out water.

 

I've had the skimmer running without cleaning the Eheim for maybe 6 months. Is that possibly it? Or is it something else?

[gmerek2]

Check the spray agitatior or whatever the technical name is. Check air intake. I had one at one point. Not a fan of it.

[Djplus1]

Isn't the spray agitator inaccessible though? ie, inside the black casing? Air intake is fine, that's what I thought it was to begin with.

[gmerek2]

No I got mine apart somehow to clean it. I think I remember it being on top if the skimmer. Right where the hose from pump connects

[John Ford]

There's a 90* elbow that feeds into the skimmer. That's the injector. I'd check that and the air valve.

 

I have one fed from a mag 9.5 and I do like it but it's finaky as can be... It's hard to dial it in when everything is clean. Mine is at a perfect level in the sump so the water just rolls out of it. I don't have a gate valve exiting the skimmer. You may want to check that as well if you have one

[Djplus1]

I have a gate valve, but that's fine. If it's all the way open, I don't get foam. If I shut it too much the skimmer cup (in theory) over flows into the waste collector.

[John Ford]

You want to keep the water level just at the top of the box before it enters the neck. It seems to work the best for me there. I also have the john guest fitting Which don't use so I've sealed of a 1/4 tube and put it in the JG fitting so it's not sucking air in as well

[Djplus1]

You want to keep the water level just at the top of the box before it enters the neck. It seems to work the best for me there. I also have the john guest fitting Which don't use so I've sealed of a 1/4 tube and put it in the JG fitting so it's not sucking air in as well

That's where I set my water too (when all is working fine) so the foam "just" crests into the cup. I also plug my JG fitting.

[sam75]

I've had an ev 120 for many years. Here are several tips I've learned after several frustrating years... Some of these were already mentioned.

 

1. Keep the water level consistent ( set it to the bottom of the neck as mentioned and leave it).

 

2. The goal is higher pressure and less water turn over through the skimmer. Wedge something in the injector to increase pressure an reduce water volume. I used a (cut) plastic screw anchor jammed in the middle of the injector to create 3 separate smaller streams.

 

3. Use a filter sock on system. Larger particles reduce foam production.

 

4. Take 2 pieces of eggcrate, cut them in a circle so they fit at the bottom of the skimmer neck. There is a small lip they will set on. Stack them an turn them slightly so the holes are off set.(think bubble diffuser - this reduces turbulence where the bubbles begin forming.

 

5. Clean your pump and impeller to make sure you are getting peak performance. A lot of folks go up a pump size to get better pressure.

 

6. Clean the air intake valve every few day. It clogs with salt creap rather fast.

 

7. Try and keep hands out of the tank. Selcon and alike will kill foam for an hour or more. Feeding can too.

 

Do these things and I promise you will see a difference!