euroreef skimmer questions.

yakfishin · 02/19/2007, 09:05 AM

I have a euroreef skimmer that is giving me trouble. My first pump with the skimmer was working great, but I found out it was causing stray voltage so I returned it under warranty for a new one. The new pump has been giving me other troubles. It seems to be hard to fine tune, and when I do have it set good, it needs to be retuned if the pump is turned off and then back on. Is this normal? My other question deals with the air flow vavle. The directions to the skimmer says to tune the skimmer for producing the desired skimmate, you move the riser up or down. Nothing is mentioned about adjusting the air valve, but I would assume that there might be a reason to do so as it is adjustable. Does the air valve allow for fine tuning? Should I just leave the air valve wide open?

db_triggerfish · 02/19/2007, 09:41 AM

tagging along just purchased rs80.

sjm817 · 02/19/2007, 09:47 AM

Which skimmer?
In general, air wide open should be fine.
If you turn the pump off and then back on, it may take a short time for things to "settle back in". You should not need to readjust the water level.

CMcNeil · 02/19/2007, 09:51 AM

the best thing you can do to a euroreef is drop the riser pipe and add a gate valve.i did it to mine and it makes it very easy to adjust the water in the skimmer.the air i run wide open.

schneijt · 02/19/2007, 11:26 AM

On my promo RS-80, I took off the air valve completely. There is no need for it, since you want as much air going in there as possible. I'm not quite sure why they even put one on there, because closing off the air valve does nothing except raise the water level inside the skimmer and decrease performance because less air is being mixed with the water.

I also put a gate valve kit on mine, which makes it about a thousand times easier to adjust. The "wedge pipe" isn't hard to work with, but you'll never get as precise an adjustment as you will with the gate valve mod. It's well worth the $45 or so. However, beware the RS-80 does not properly fit the 1.25" gate valve kit from ER. It will require several wraps of plumbers tape around the outlet of the RS-80 to make a snug fit inside the PVC of the 1.25" kit. Must be a different grade/quality of PVC on the RS skimmers maybe? Either way performance is the same, you just need to do some DIY work to make the pvc parts fit together snugly.

-Joe

yakfishin · 02/19/2007, 11:31 AM

Thanks for the information guys, I think I will remove my air valve, I didn't see any reason for it as well, but the directions with the skimmer made not mention of it. I'll look into the gate valve kit, sounds like it's worth the investment.

xenon · 02/19/2007, 12:54 PM

I had the same issues with my RS135. All my problems were solved after I did the gatevalve mod.

I love my skimmer now.

yakfishin · 02/19/2007, 04:50 PM

Euroreef didn't have much information on the gate valve replacement kit. Does it give the skimmer a larger footprint- thus requiring more room in the sump. My skimmer fits exactly as it is currently, so I probably can't do the modification if it requires a larger space.

yakfishin · 02/19/2007, 08:55 PM

Anyone know if I'll need a larger skimmer chamber in my sump if I go with this gate valve??

02/19/2007, 09:05 AM	#1
yakfishin Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 696	euroreef skimmer questions. I have a euroreef skimmer that is giving me trouble. My first pump with the skimmer was working great, but I found out it was causing stray voltage so I returned it under warranty for a new one. The new pump has been giving me other troubles. It seems to be hard to fine tune, and when I do have it set good, it needs to be retuned if the pump is turned off and then back on. Is this normal? My other question deals with the air flow vavle. The directions to the skimmer says to tune the skimmer for producing the desired skimmate, you move the riser up or down. Nothing is mentioned about adjusting the air valve, but I would assume that there might be a reason to do so as it is adjustable. Does the air valve allow for fine tuning? Should I just leave the air valve wide open?

02/19/2007, 09:41 AM	#2
db_triggerfish Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: South Florida Posts: 1,127	tagging along just purchased rs80. __________________ FMAS - Florida Marine Aquarium Society Member . Current Tank Info: AGA 75g RR 6 x 54w T5 overdriven (510w) with 2 x Icecap 660, DAS EX-1 Skimmer, OR 2500, Reefkeeper II

02/19/2007, 09:47 AM	#3
sjm817 On Yer left! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 18,777	Which skimmer? In general, air wide open should be fine. If you turn the pump off and then back on, it may take a short time for things to "settle back in". You should not need to readjust the water level. __________________ - Scott

02/19/2007, 09:51 AM	#4
CMcNeil Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: St.Petersburg,Florida Posts: 7,368	the best thing you can do to a euroreef is drop the riser pipe and add a gate valve.i did it to mine and it makes it very easy to adjust the water in the skimmer.the air i run wide open. __________________ Deep Blue 28g rimless, AI Prime LED,Vortech MP-10,SCA-301 skimmer, Tunze 1073.04 return pump,Tunze nano osmolator, 10g glass sump,Ehiem 100w heater,RK Lite. SPS dominant reef

02/19/2007, 11:26 AM	#5
schneijt Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: West Des Moines, IA Posts: 497	On my promo RS-80, I took off the air valve completely. There is no need for it, since you want as much air going in there as possible. I'm not quite sure why they even put one on there, because closing off the air valve does nothing except raise the water level inside the skimmer and decrease performance because less air is being mixed with the water. I also put a gate valve kit on mine, which makes it about a thousand times easier to adjust. The "wedge pipe" isn't hard to work with, but you'll never get as precise an adjustment as you will with the gate valve mod. It's well worth the $45 or so. However, beware the RS-80 does not properly fit the 1.25" gate valve kit from ER. It will require several wraps of plumbers tape around the outlet of the RS-80 to make a snug fit inside the PVC of the 1.25" kit. Must be a different grade/quality of PVC on the RS skimmers maybe? Either way performance is the same, you just need to do some DIY work to make the pvc parts fit together snugly. -Joe

02/19/2007, 11:31 AM	#6
yakfishin Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 696	Thanks for the information guys, I think I will remove my air valve, I didn't see any reason for it as well, but the directions with the skimmer made not mention of it. I'll look into the gate valve kit, sounds like it's worth the investment.

02/19/2007, 12:54 PM	#7
xenon Owner of Canada Corals Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Mississauga, Canada Posts: 3,148	I had the same issues with my RS135. All my problems were solved after I did the gatevalve mod. I love my skimmer now.

02/19/2007, 04:50 PM	#8
yakfishin Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 696	Euroreef didn't have much information on the gate valve replacement kit. Does it give the skimmer a larger footprint- thus requiring more room in the sump. My skimmer fits exactly as it is currently, so I probably can't do the modification if it requires a larger space.

02/19/2007, 08:55 PM	#9
yakfishin Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 696	Anyone know if I'll need a larger skimmer chamber in my sump if I go with this gate valve??