Aqua C Ev-150 help

[Tangy1]

I have an ev-150 powered by a rio 3100. The rio is 3 years old and has recently produced sporadic performance. Sometimes the flow rate reduces so much that the level of water in the skimmer drops 2 inches. After I clean the pump it works fine. Im uncertain if the cleaning helps or if the time unplugged helps more. The impellor is never dirty or clogged.

I know the ev-150 isnt the high end of skimmers but I purchased it before I discovered reef boards. I want to replace the rio instead of buying a whole new skimmer. What is a good replacement pump. Also does anyone drive their skimmer and their tank return off the same pump. I have an iwaki 70 that may be a bit too pwerful for my 110 display tank...

thanks

 

[tazdevil]

Well, your skimmer is an older model, so I'm not sure if this will work. I have a new ev120 that is driven by a mag5. The performance, from what I have read, is supposed to be superior. I don't know if a mag5 would drive the 150, as that was before they made some changes to the skimmer. You could always use a higher rated pump (than the curretn RIO your using), and add a gate valve to control the water level in the skimmer. I thought, though, that aquac's ev series is a high end skimmer, at least the current one's. Good luck.

 

[danmhippo]

I used to hook up a Mag 9.5 with EV150. Mag 9.5 is also a bit overpowering the EV150, so I put a pvc valve on it to throttle it down. If you do not want to buy a new pump and want to utilize what you have on hand, you can also put a PVC valve on it to reduce the flow.

 

[SPC]

Same as Dan except I use a Sen 900 on my 150 and throttle back.

Posted by Tanzy:

I know the ev-150 isnt the high end of skimmers

-The Aqua Cs are indeed considered hich end skimmers.
Steve

 

[Tangy1]

thanks for the advice. I think I am leaning toward getting a new pump as suggested. Im still toying with the idea of "wye" ing off part of the return to power the skimmer. This might help cut down heat in the tank from a sub pump and the cost of running one.

I really didnt mean to offend anyone with the aquac comment. Mine has worked fine with NO complaints. The pump has given me the recent problems. I just have noticed lots of reeferes here like beckett injected skimmers.

anyone see any problems with running the skimmer off the return iwaki 70?

 

[newkie]

thanks for the advice. I think I am leaning toward getting a new pump as suggested. Im still toying with the idea of "wye" ing off part of the return to power the skimmer. This might help cut down heat in the tank from a sub pump and the cost of running one.

anyone see any problems with running the skimmer off the return iwaki 70?

The ev-150 (what I have) is prone to very sporadic performance if the sump level varies or the incoming flow varies. For that reason you are best with a dedicated pump (and a float switch to maintain water level or raise the skimmer above the sump water level). I've run my 150 with a littlegiant 3 and a iwaki 4... with both a removed the gatevalve from the output and used it on the pump to scale them back instead. Generally I consider adjusting this skimmer a pain in the arse. I think something in the 600-700gph range would be best suited... you could then leave the gatevale on the skimmer and raise/lower the water level like your supposed to.

 

[mariner]

I use a mag 7 on my ev-150 and it works great. I get about 1.5 inches of army green juice in it per week and I have a very lightly stocked 90(75 lbs of rock, about 10 small corals and 2 fish). I just havn't had the time to be really in the hobby like I used to. Summers are long hard hours for me and winters are lazy lay off. During the summer I just maintain and in the winter I'll get more into it.