opinions on AquaC EV120 Skimmer

bdock26 · 02/14/2006, 03:25 PM

i'm looking for a skimmer for a 92g corner tank, does anyone have any experience with these skimmers? I've been looking here and haven't seen much mention of them.
I'm considering this over an ASM G-2 or G-3 so i can mount outside of the sump and have some more room for a refugium.
Thanks to anyone who can provide some info.

dannieboiz · 02/14/2006, 04:27 PM

spend a little extra and get the EV-180 an up the pump to a mag 9.5 or comparable. I think the EV-120 just lack a little umph

lakee911 · 02/14/2006, 05:54 PM

I have one and I love it, but I agree buy the most you can even its for a bigger tank than you have.

bdock26 · 02/14/2006, 07:29 PM

thanks for the replies, how is the maintenance on these? relatively simple?

i think i'm going to go with the 120 because of the smaller dimensions, should have built a bigger stand. i'm thinking of putting it on a stand high enough so the water will drain over the sump wall. do you see any issues with that? do you really only need 1/4" to remove the collection cup?

Joxer · 02/14/2006, 07:42 PM

yes, a 1/4 inch is enough....just enough. It's a GOOD skimmer.

dannieboiz · 02/14/2006, 08:17 PM

yes that's all you need to remove the cup. Why don't you run it external? I'm running mine external and have absolutely no problem. My bro in law has the 120 and I have the 180 trust me, I'm so glad I got the 180. Or make a dedicate skimmer chamber and keep the water level there low enough so that you don't have to put the skimmer on stand. Unless your stand is only 25" tall..

chrisc615 · 02/14/2006, 08:19 PM

The EVs are a PITA to get fine tuned, but once you do they work very well. I ended up with a Rio 20HF(2 pump sizes higher) on my EV 180 and I'm pretty happy with it now. If you get the 120 I'd recommend a mag 9.5 with a ball valve for it. Also watch for a used one. I picked up my 180 for $160 here on RC.

tonym10 · 02/14/2006, 08:37 PM

Get an ASM needle wheel. I had a EV120 on my 75g for almost 2 years, it is a constant adjustment one day overkimming 1 quart every 10 minutes, then no skimm for 24 hours, then skimm good for a day. Finally got fed up and got GEO needle wheel and now I have a very constant skimm , aprox 1 cup of dark tea color skimmate/day, everyday no fidgetting.
My Ev120 was in sump, and my sump level never changes.

Ti · 02/14/2006, 08:55 PM

not worth it

tonym10 · 02/14/2006, 08:58 PM

I just read you want an external skimme. Get a Geo.

bdock26 · 02/14/2006, 10:57 PM

now i'm thinking i might be best off going with an in-sump, pretty new to this and want to keep things as simple as possible. But with the G-2 i would only have room left for a small refugium, maybe 4"x12". Would a refugium this small even be worth it? Or are there similar performing skimmers with a smaller footprint?

HappyReefer2 · 02/15/2006, 12:57 AM

if your budget permits, go with the Deltec AP600 (8.5" x 11") or H&S A110-F2000 (6" x 13")... well worth every dollar for performance.

wjhuie · 02/15/2006, 01:47 AM

Go with a Geo.

bdock26 · 02/15/2006, 05:27 PM

is there a website where you can see the GEO skimmers?

tonym10 · 02/15/2006, 06:45 PM

Heres one link, he has a newer skimmer external, maybe you can make this one external too, ask him.
Geo web page

LowKey · 02/17/2006, 10:04 AM

I have a 120 in sump! It pulls a pile of sludge out of my 100 gal set-up on a daily basis. A+ skimmer

Just break it in, than adjust to the type of skim you want. Wet or Dry.

I LOVE IT!

One thing. The return must be free of obstruction and above the water line. NO BACKPREASURE!

Set it up correctly and you wont be sorry

dannieboiz · 02/17/2006, 10:29 AM

Not to mention, the EV skimmers put virtually no microbubbles back into the sump. My Skimmer return is plumbed into the same chamber as my return line and there is absolutely zero microbubbles

02/14/2006, 03:25 PM	#1
bdock26 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: new jersey Posts: 21	opinions on AquaC EV120 Skimmer i'm looking for a skimmer for a 92g corner tank, does anyone have any experience with these skimmers? I've been looking here and haven't seen much mention of them. I'm considering this over an ASM G-2 or G-3 so i can mount outside of the sump and have some more room for a refugium. Thanks to anyone who can provide some info.

02/14/2006, 08:55 PM	#9
Ti Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 7,927	not worth it __________________ Hair algae is my Macro algae.

02/14/2006, 04:27 PM	#2
dannieboiz Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: NorCal Posts: 2,514	spend a little extra and get the EV-180 an up the pump to a mag 9.5 or comparable. I think the EV-120 just lack a little umph

02/14/2006, 05:54 PM	#3
lakee911 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 1,988	I have one and I love it, but I agree buy the most you can even its for a bigger tank than you have.

02/14/2006, 07:29 PM	#4
bdock26 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: new jersey Posts: 21	thanks for the replies, how is the maintenance on these? relatively simple? i think i'm going to go with the 120 because of the smaller dimensions, should have built a bigger stand. i'm thinking of putting it on a stand high enough so the water will drain over the sump wall. do you see any issues with that? do you really only need 1/4" to remove the collection cup?

02/14/2006, 07:42 PM	#5
Joxer Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Rochester Posts: 108	yes, a 1/4 inch is enough....just enough. It's a GOOD skimmer.

02/14/2006, 08:17 PM	#6
dannieboiz Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: NorCal Posts: 2,514	yes that's all you need to remove the cup. Why don't you run it external? I'm running mine external and have absolutely no problem. My bro in law has the 120 and I have the 180 trust me, I'm so glad I got the 180. Or make a dedicate skimmer chamber and keep the water level there low enough so that you don't have to put the skimmer on stand. Unless your stand is only 25" tall..

02/14/2006, 08:19 PM	#7
chrisc615 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Utah Posts: 138	The EVs are a PITA to get fine tuned, but once you do they work very well. I ended up with a Rio 20HF(2 pump sizes higher) on my EV 180 and I'm pretty happy with it now. If you get the 120 I'd recommend a mag 9.5 with a ball valve for it. Also watch for a used one. I picked up my 180 for $160 here on RC.

02/14/2006, 08:37 PM	#8
tonym10 Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: NE PA Posts: 2,078	Get an ASM needle wheel. I had a EV120 on my 75g for almost 2 years, it is a constant adjustment one day overkimming 1 quart every 10 minutes, then no skimm for 24 hours, then skimm good for a day. Finally got fed up and got GEO needle wheel and now I have a very constant skimm , aprox 1 cup of dark tea color skimmate/day, everyday no fidgetting. My Ev120 was in sump, and my sump level never changes.

02/14/2006, 08:58 PM	#10
tonym10 Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: NE PA Posts: 2,078	I just read you want an external skimme. Get a Geo.

02/14/2006, 10:57 PM	#11
bdock26 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: new jersey Posts: 21	now i'm thinking i might be best off going with an in-sump, pretty new to this and want to keep things as simple as possible. But with the G-2 i would only have room left for a small refugium, maybe 4"x12". Would a refugium this small even be worth it? Or are there similar performing skimmers with a smaller footprint?

02/15/2006, 12:57 AM	#12
HappyReefer2 Moved On Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Mt View CA Posts: 157	if your budget permits, go with the Deltec AP600 (8.5" x 11") or H&S A110-F2000 (6" x 13")... well worth every dollar for performance.

02/15/2006, 01:47 AM	#13
wjhuie Moved On Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: dyersburg Tn Posts: 764	Go with a Geo.

02/15/2006, 05:27 PM	#14
bdock26 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: new jersey Posts: 21	is there a website where you can see the GEO skimmers?

02/15/2006, 06:45 PM	#15
tonym10 Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: NE PA Posts: 2,078	Heres one link, he has a newer skimmer external, maybe you can make this one external too, ask him. Geo web page

02/17/2006, 10:04 AM	#16
LowKey Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 57	I have a 120 in sump! It pulls a pile of sludge out of my 100 gal set-up on a daily basis. A+ skimmer Just break it in, than adjust to the type of skim you want. Wet or Dry. I LOVE IT! One thing. The return must be free of obstruction and above the water line. NO BACKPREASURE! Set it up correctly and you wont be sorry

02/17/2006, 10:29 AM	#17
dannieboiz Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: NorCal Posts: 2,514	Not to mention, the EV skimmers put virtually no microbubbles back into the sump. My Skimmer return is plumbed into the same chamber as my return line and there is absolutely zero microbubbles