AquaC EV-180 Help!!

I have an AquaC EV-180 that I bought used from somone and I cant seem to get this thing tuned right. It has been setup for two weeks now and I cant get the bubbles in the first section at the right height. The bubbles seem to get half way up the foam tower and pop and only a small amount make it to the collection cup. What should the height of the bubbles actually be? Should the bubbles be full in the foam tower? If anyone has one with pictures or video of it running it would help me a ton.

 

i don't have one but you only want a few bubbles to make it in the cup of the skimmer. they should be darker near the cup. you should end up with more or less a sludge in the collection cup.

 

How I adjust mine is this...
I completely close off the air so I can see where the water level is. If you don't see the water at all, close off the water output gate valve until it reaches the reaction neck/cylinder. Get the water level to the point where it is where the neck and the smoked acrylic body meet. Then let it sit there for about 30mins without adding air into the skimmer. That will allow the water level to stabilize in the skimmer. If it stays at the area described above, open the air about 80-90% open and let it run. If the water is not at the join, then make SMALL adjustments to the gate valve until it gets to that point. Again, let it sit to stabilize. Make sure the gate valve is not under water, it should flow freely. If your sump level is high and the output is submerged, your skimmer will need to sit on a stand to raise the output. Look at my pics to see what I mean if needed. Let me know if you need anymore help with this.

 

Couldnt have said it better. Great advice. Luna

 

Thanks for the awesome info tigermike Ill give this a try tonight and let you guys know!

 

Well it seems I may have messed up the skimmer as it ran all night and day and now has not produced any skimate at all. I am going to try it again according to your instructions in case I messed something up. Any other suggestions? I have cleaned the injector and the air valve already.

 

With my Aqua-C 180 & mag5 pump, as long as the water level stays adjusted as Tigermike describes, then I run with my air valve full open and get a good skimate...

Not the best of pics but....doesn't really show the water level in the skimmer...but you can see that it is working well....

 

Since getting the skimmer, have you cleaned the pump? The impeller shaft and the impeller. Luna

 

No I have not yet cleaned the impeller or shaft, they do not seem to be dirty by the looks but I will try that and see if it helps. Grubs, how high do the bubbles usually sit in the first chamber in your skimmer?

 

My bubbles start right where the tinted plexiglass meets the clear plexiglass. What pump does your skimmer have? Luna