Another Protein skimmer question (but this one has been bugging me)..

150reef · 03/29/2010, 09:37 PM

Have a skimmer question that has been bugging me. My skimmer (Aqua C 180) has not been foaming up over the top for quite some time now. Maybe once per day if I am lucky it might burp a few into the skim cup (if I am lucky). I have done a pretty extensive cleaning and replaced the air injector & still getting the same results. I called Aqua C & they said if my tank does not have much protein or nitrifying waste than the skimmer will not foam up to the collection cup. Could this be true?

So an example of this would be a tank filled with RO DI water with nothing else (salinity brought up to 1.025) and you ran a skimmer, it would not foam up to the collection cup? I thought it would foam up but it would just be white colored (not turn brown because the bubbles wont be carrying any waste)...

El Diablo · 03/29/2010, 09:44 PM

I have started many new tanks and every time it creates foam. Like you said it will not create any waste but there is still foam. My 2 cents

150reef · 03/30/2010, 04:57 AM

Thats what I thought..anyone else agree / disagree?

mx270 · 03/30/2010, 05:25 AM

I think it would foam also. Have you checked the pump output? Does it seem to be moving enough water?

150reef · 03/30/2010, 07:54 AM

The water column appears to be high enough in the skimmer but I was thinking the pump could have slowed down a bit. The pump is a mag 7, and I guess this skimmer can be driven by a mag 9 (with a valve on the output to cut it back if needed) so I may try a new pump.

Equipment Junky · 03/30/2010, 08:43 AM

If you've thoroughly cleaned the injector, the pump would be where I'd look next.

username in use · 03/30/2010, 08:51 AM

From what I can tell with the AquaC's the water should not be up in the column above the black box. You will get tons of turbulence that will kill any foam that starts to form. You need to adjust the level down to just below the clear riser tube, that way all of the turbulence is taken care of outside of the tube and the foam can form a stable head. If you have huge air bubbles blasting up and making it wave all over the place you will never get any foam in there.

rbnice1 · 03/30/2010, 09:55 AM

Well 2 things.....

1. A aquaC like any other becket or injection type skimmer, can act eradically when any oil enters the system. Whether thats from food or your hands/arms. The water lvl in a EV series should be roughly 1/8th inch under the top of the black box. I used to adjust mine in the morning cause I knew there was hours with out me being in the tank.

2. It is possible for a pump to weaken over time. However the Mag7 is/was too small for a ev180 to begin with. Mag7's work great with EV120's. I believe they recommend a Mag9 with the EV180.(Someone correct me if Im wrong here...)

150reef · 03/30/2010, 10:02 AM

I do try to keep the water level adjusted just below the black box. With a skimmer of this style how long should it take for the foam to generate again after feeding or adding top off water?

150reef · 03/31/2010, 05:15 AM

I replaced the air injector yesterday and it appears to be working great again. Foamed up pretty quick & is pulling out a ton of crap. I still may try the pump upgrade soon to try and get more out of the skimmer and also reduce the time it takes to foam back up after feeding (not sure if this will help with that)....

mx270 · 03/31/2010, 05:33 AM

Sweet, good to hear it's working. Just another challange that makes the hobby so rewarding.

rbnice1 · 03/31/2010, 09:09 AM

A bigger pump is not going to help it foam faster after feeding. And the amount of time it takes to foam is dependent on how much protein is in the water and how oily the food was.

For example. pellet/flake food only stops my skimmer for 30 - 60 minutes, vs rods stops it for 2-3 hours.

150reef · 03/31/2010, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbnice1

A bigger pump is not going to help it foam faster after feeding. And the amount of time it takes to foam is dependent on how much protein is in the water and how oily the food was.

For example. pellet/flake food only stops my skimmer for 30 - 60 minutes, vs rods stops it for 2-3 hours.

Does this happen with all skimmers? Is there a skimmer that is better than others as far as recovering after feeding?

rbnice1 · 03/31/2010, 12:02 PM

It does it to all skimmers. Some more then others. My new Alpha doesnt seem as finicky as the EV was but even it does it some.

Rich123 · 04/01/2010, 06:38 AM

I currently use an EV-180. The Mag-7 pump is the recomended pump for this model by the company.

I have noticed on mine that once the air valve start to clog with calcium it will slow down or stop producing bubbles. Also if the spray injector is clogged it will slow down on the bubbles. Another problem could be if your sucking in alot of air bubbles into the intake of the pump it will reduce its output and impact your skimmers abilities.

03/29/2010, 09:37 PM	#1
150reef Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Mass Posts: 598	Another Protein skimmer question (but this one has been bugging me).. Have a skimmer question that has been bugging me. My skimmer (Aqua C 180) has not been foaming up over the top for quite some time now. Maybe once per day if I am lucky it might burp a few into the skim cup (if I am lucky). I have done a pretty extensive cleaning and replaced the air injector & still getting the same results. I called Aqua C & they said if my tank does not have much protein or nitrifying waste than the skimmer will not foam up to the collection cup. Could this be true? So an example of this would be a tank filled with RO DI water with nothing else (salinity brought up to 1.025) and you ran a skimmer, it would not foam up to the collection cup? I thought it would foam up but it would just be white colored (not turn brown because the bubbles wont be carrying any waste)...

03/29/2010, 09:44 PM	#2
El Diablo Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sunset Hills Posts: 2,892	I have started many new tanks and every time it creates foam. Like you said it will not create any waste but there is still foam. My 2 cents __________________ :) :) Hello Thanks Todd ___________________________________________

03/30/2010, 08:51 AM	#7
username in use Sciencing Daily Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 6,560	From what I can tell with the AquaC's the water should not be up in the column above the black box. You will get tons of turbulence that will kill any foam that starts to form. You need to adjust the level down to just below the clear riser tube, that way all of the turbulence is taken care of outside of the tube and the foam can form a stable head. If you have huge air bubbles blasting up and making it wave all over the place you will never get any foam in there. __________________ Joshua "With fronds like these, who needs anemones?" - Albert Einstein Current Tank Info: multiple nano's sprinkled around the house

03/30/2010, 04:57 AM	#3
150reef Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Mass Posts: 598	Thats what I thought..anyone else agree / disagree?

03/30/2010, 05:25 AM	#4
mx270 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: ohio Posts: 80	I think it would foam also. Have you checked the pump output? Does it seem to be moving enough water?

03/30/2010, 07:54 AM	#5
150reef Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Mass Posts: 598	The water column appears to be high enough in the skimmer but I was thinking the pump could have slowed down a bit. The pump is a mag 7, and I guess this skimmer can be driven by a mag 9 (with a valve on the output to cut it back if needed) so I may try a new pump.

03/30/2010, 08:43 AM	#6
Equipment Junky Moved On Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 68	If you've thoroughly cleaned the injector, the pump would be where I'd look next.

03/30/2010, 09:55 AM	#8
rbnice1 Moved On Join Date: May 2008 Location: Cedar Hill Posts: 3,905	Well 2 things..... 1. A aquaC like any other becket or injection type skimmer, can act eradically when any oil enters the system. Whether thats from food or your hands/arms. The water lvl in a EV series should be roughly 1/8th inch under the top of the black box. I used to adjust mine in the morning cause I knew there was hours with out me being in the tank. 2. It is possible for a pump to weaken over time. However the Mag7 is/was too small for a ev180 to begin with. Mag7's work great with EV120's. I believe they recommend a Mag9 with the EV180.(Someone correct me if Im wrong here...)

03/30/2010, 10:02 AM	#9
150reef Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Mass Posts: 598	I do try to keep the water level adjusted just below the black box. With a skimmer of this style how long should it take for the foam to generate again after feeding or adding top off water?

03/31/2010, 05:15 AM	#10
150reef Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Mass Posts: 598	I replaced the air injector yesterday and it appears to be working great again. Foamed up pretty quick & is pulling out a ton of crap. I still may try the pump upgrade soon to try and get more out of the skimmer and also reduce the time it takes to foam back up after feeding (not sure if this will help with that)....

03/31/2010, 05:33 AM	#11
mx270 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: ohio Posts: 80	Sweet, good to hear it's working. Just another challange that makes the hobby so rewarding.

03/31/2010, 09:09 AM	#12
rbnice1 Moved On Join Date: May 2008 Location: Cedar Hill Posts: 3,905	A bigger pump is not going to help it foam faster after feeding. And the amount of time it takes to foam is dependent on how much protein is in the water and how oily the food was. For example. pellet/flake food only stops my skimmer for 30 - 60 minutes, vs rods stops it for 2-3 hours.

03/31/2010, 12:02 PM	#14
rbnice1 Moved On Join Date: May 2008 Location: Cedar Hill Posts: 3,905	It does it to all skimmers. Some more then others. My new Alpha doesnt seem as finicky as the EV was but even it does it some.

04/01/2010, 06:38 AM	#15
Rich123 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: California Posts: 96	I currently use an EV-180. The Mag-7 pump is the recomended pump for this model by the company. I have noticed on mine that once the air valve start to clog with calcium it will slow down or stop producing bubbles. Also if the spray injector is clogged it will slow down on the bubbles. Another problem could be if your sucking in alot of air bubbles into the intake of the pump it will reduce its output and impact your skimmers abilities.