does any one own a D.A.S EX 1-2 or 3

[afernandez]

i am interesting on how you set it up i just got mine and i am planing to change stuff around any ways .....but i am looking for ideas...thanks

[painkiller1009]

You might want to check out the DAS skimmer club thread .
Lots of good info there.
Btw which DAS did ya get?

[glassbox-design]

We run an EX-2.

Painkiller did you get yours set up?

[afernandez]

i got the ex 1 for my soon to be 55g reef

[painkiller1009]

Originally posted by glassbox-design
We run an EX-2.

Painkiller did you get yours set up?

Yep all set up. I redid my overflow to feed it
I seem to be getting surges right now. Not to major but noticeable. Its hard to get the level set where I want it. It should be right below the top of the black neck where the cup should be right?
I ran it with vinegar for 24hrs to help it out.
I think its because I only have a mag 5 for my return going into a squid cutting down flow. I have a mag 7 impeller coming in the mail, I hope this helps.
I'm running it on my tank with no fish at all right now. There in a QT in hypo.
How big of a tank are you running your EX-2 on glassbox-design?

[glassbox-design]

90g +15g sump fed direct from the overflow.

If you scroll down here you can see how it's plumbed.

We are using an eheim 1250 and no surging.

[USC-fan]

Here a little guide for setting them up.

Originally posted by USC-fan


There are 3 controls on the skimmer:

1. INPUT controlled by gravity feed from overflow with ball or gate valve "or" pump feed with a correctly rated pump

2. OUTPUT controlled by ball or gate valve at skimmer's drain

3. AIRFLOW controlled by air valve


To set your skimmer correctly:

1. first you must be sure the water flow through rate is matched to your skimmer. most of the time, for gravity feed, one would need to tailor the rate back by ball or gate valve in control #1 as the water turnover rate is usually much stronger than your skimmer can accept. or you can feed skimmer with a correctly rated pump or powerhead.


2. next, with the water flow through rate adjusted correctly, the water level within the skimmer must be at the right level for the skimmer to perform optimally. water level should just at the bottom edge of the bayonet connection between the collection cup and skimmer body. the highest water level you should have is no higher than the top edge of the bayonet top edge and the lowest is no lower than 3/4" below the bayonet connection. i like the skimmer water level on the high side, so even when the water flow through rate is correct, the water level is too low for me. so, in order to tailor back the outflow from the skimmer drain and to raise the water level within the skimmer, i use a ball valve or gate valve on the output, which is control #2, and the drain does terminate underwater in my sump. so, the comment that the outflow should not be underwater is a preferred situation, but works great even if you terminate underwater (unless with the correct water flow through rate, the water level in your skimmer is already at the top edge of the bayonet). all that happens when the exhaust terminates underwater is puts a little backpressure on the system, but that just increases the water level in the skimmer, which in my situation is on the low side when the water flow through rate adjusted correctly. the benefit of having the drain terminate underwater is no splashing noise at all, but your sump water level must remain constant or the change can put variable backpressure on the exhaust. i found that the best sump water level is within an inch below the exhaust T-fitting.


3. adjust the air valve for maximum foaming with control #3. on both my Deltec and H&S skimmers that i own, it is tailored back approximately 1/4 - 1/3 which gives me the finest bubbles and good foaming head. if the bubble breaking level isn't correct, close down the exhaust valve a little to raise or open up to lower.


HTH, this is just one example of how it can work. many others have different ways that they setup their skimmers.

[painkiller1009]

USC-fan thats what I linked afernandez to in the das club. lol
Thats also what I followed to get my skimmer set properly. Its just hard to get my level up that high seems like. and if it is up that high it want to surg a little, because I have to throttle back my ball valve on my sump return to much.
The problem is I have 3-4ft of hose that the overflow water has to travel through horizontally to get to the skimmer. So I'm hoping by uping the return gph it will help.

Afernandez whats ur plans on changing things up? Any ideas yet

[USC-fan]

painkiller1009- You might want to look into doing the gate mod. It really easy to do and would help you get the water level higher without needing more gph from you return.

A lot of info in the DAS thread about that mod. or just PM DarG and he should be able to tell you want you need.

[painkiller1009]

Well I just added a 1in ball valve to the output of the skimmer right before it empties into the sump. Seems to have fixed my problem. Now the mag7 impeller will just up my return flow through my sump and fuge.
I didn't do the gate valve mod because lowes and menards doesn't carry any around here. I was worried about water coming up to high in the stand pipe with the ball valve after it. So I made sure to stick my finger in there to see if I could feel water.
I'll keep an eye on it all and make sure its working properly.