Tuning an ev120

I'm new to my 120, but it really wasn't this hard. I adjusted water level with my mag5. I can see in mine, but what has been said works. I ran too much air through and had wet skimate. I didn't really know what was wet and dry. I turned my air down a tad, runs perfect.

My gate valve is not fully open, but the gate is above the out flow so it isn't regulating any more. My air valve is about 7 o'clock. It will stop working after feeding and water changes. Never had to wait 12 hours to see results.

Right now, I would just try to get it to make foam, even if it is very watery. I ran with my air valve wide open for the first month of having it. Get your water level right and open the air valve and clean your tank. Even if you have to dump some water and put the overflow under your drain. I had to empty my skimmer every day. At least you will be cleaning your tank, the skimmer will break in, and then you just cut back on the air a bit when you are happy.

 

I use 3/4 on mine. That is what fits. For a given flow rate, a larger ID will result in less head loss.

 

Nothing as of this AM. there is an inch of dry foam in the large chamber, but nothing is getting pushed up into the small chamber. It (the dry foam) was at the same level this AM as it was last night, so no new accumulation. This is with the air valve at about 8 o'clock (with a range of 6 to 9, 9 being closed).

I just opened it up a bit, call it 7:30. We will see how it does by tonight, but after that and with this much time with no skimming I am going back to my old skimmer for the sake of tank health if I don't get something by tonight. At least it did something.

 

Okay, try to shut the air off and adjust the outlet valve to get the water level right at where the clear tube starts. Then slowly turn the air on and get a some foam started. I think your water level is not high enough. I run my Bullet 3 a little higher them PM recommends so I can turn the air down a little and get finer bubbles.

 

It might be worth checking the cylinder before the collection cup to make sure its clean. I have to clean that area about as often as the collection cup as some of the gunk collects in there and causes the bubbles to break early.

 

I just used some Mela Fix to clear up some fin rot. Used it as directed with no skimmer for a week. The LFS warned me about when I turned it back on . Holy Cow!!!

Between 8 and 9 o'clock, the ball in the air valve is just opening up. Ball valves are not very good for flow control. Even tried looking at how I could add a globe or gate valve to it.

My point is that as soon as I cracked the ball valve off the seat, it was like a volcano. Anything less and it was closed. I had no choice, I had to open the valve a bit and just let it go. I literally put about 10 gallons of very wet foam out the first day. I had to get it out.

You are at the same point, at 8 o'clock. You are trying to get dry foam, but it is too little air. Open it up and just make some foam. Right now, the condition of your tank, you should make plenty.Just get the tank clean and the skimmer making wet foam, then you can adjust it back from there.

Just for reference, when my air valve was wide open, I emptied my cup everyday. Sometimes more, of yellowish water. After adjusting the air valve back, no more than 7 o'clock closed, I get very dark skimate and have to empty the cup every 3-4 days. My "collection zone" is at the top of the cylinder, and it will rarely push into the top cylinder and overflow. My LFS uses Aquac's and I went by their example.

Wait one, I'm taking pics.

 

Just a quick note. I took a good look, and although my gate isn't really in the outflow, it is still regulating. My water level was actually about 1/2 inch into the cylinder. I put it at 1/4 inch just because it has been working well and I thought I would go by what Otty said.

Here is the skimmer before cleaning. See how it is mainly in the top of the first chamber. Not any real foam in the top cylinder. The level of skimmate is since Sunday noon. (I had a dead fish too)


Here is where my air valve is.



This is after cleaning. Not much foam, but I know it works.



And one more to try and show internal level. You can see the baffle. My level is actually about 1/4 inch into cylinder.




Also, I just don't get why you can't see the water level. I can get my head in to see the front of the skimmer like yours is sitting. I don't even need to get my head in at all. I just put my light on the side of my sump like the photos and it is plain as day. I really apologize if I'm telling you what you already know, but don't shine the light at the skimmer. Put it up to the side and it will illuminate the inside.

 

I am putting my old skimmer back in today. I will clean up the ev120 and try again in a week or two after I get the water cleaned up some. I have had the ev since beginning of sept and I would estimate probably 1/4 cup skimmate out since then. In that 2 and 1/2 months I am SURE i have tried every possible combination of gate valve/water level and air setting and I can only conclude something is wrong with my unit. I probably will send it back to the manufacturer and see what they say.

Powerman; the ev sets in a 10g glass aquarium in a bathroom sink cabinet (small). There is no space behind the 10g for a light, and no room on the inside sump sides for a flashlight. Even when I get light in there somehow all I can 'look at' is the front of the ev through calcium clouded glass with the outflow splashing on it. Maybe if I had brighter light and rigged up some mirrors I might get it, but at this point I am 100% sure I have tried all reasonable levels and it seems that people have the unit working at many different levels anyhow - something should have worked, so something must be broken.

 

Just FYI, I was looking through the instructions (again), I am reminded that there are 2 versions of the ev120 - the difference being where the water level should be set. I know at least in my case this is the cause of some of the confusion.

As you look at the directions you see;
1) A picture (fig 5) showing where the water level should be set by seeing into the dark box
2) a paragraph saying to set the water level by looking at the clear tower with the air wide open
3) a paragraph explaining how to interpret the water level in the dark box.

As best I can tell, #2 is the method that applies to the new versions of the skimmer, and #1 & #3 are left over from the old instructions. So maybe I should not need to see in the dark box anyhow.

 

Sorry to hear that you have to go back....that's a bit of work in a small sump. How much space do you have between the outlet of the gate valve and the side of the sump? Good luck.