AquaC Head Aches

chevegan · #1 08/04/2005, 04:52 AM

Guys I'm no noob, but I am so frustrated with this skimmer. I've had it now for about 5 months and I am not happy. To be honest my Lees skimmer pulled out WAY more dark thick smelly skimate, the aquaC? I havn't ever had to empty it more than 2wice a month. Although I always do and clean out the chamber. I don't know what to do with this thing. It's set to the lowest setting and nothing, nearly. MarineDepot said it's their best seller. Also EVERYONE that has one seems to be very happy with it.

here are my stats.
it's the Mj1200 version
20g BB tank with 3 1.5in fish. I feed just enough twice a day.
skimmer is hanging off of the sump below. I cleaned it out completely 4 days ago so I figure it's going through a small break in, but either way. It's been like this since day one.

I'm wondering if all it's skimming is all there is in the tank. I also grow Calurpa in the sump. Tell me what you think

RustySnail · #2 08/04/2005, 06:12 AM

Is it the Remora or RemoraPro? I'm assuming it's a Remora. Have you checked/cleaned the injector nozzle with the bottlebrush? If you look in the top you will see a white plug on the PVC elbow above the injector. You need to carefully remove the plug and scrub the injector with a long 1/4" bottlebrush (should be supplied with the skimmer).

Otherwise; make sure the MJ1200 is clean; and that the impeller is not old/worn. Another possibility is a faulty injector; If any foregin object is in the injector or if the injector is defective the skimmer wont work properly. On the in-sump models you can easily remove the injector to check/clean but on the Remoras it's less obvious.

What are you feeding? Sometimes flake foods can heavily inhibit skimmate formation.

bluelabradore1 · #3 08/04/2005, 12:07 PM

I stupidly bought one and got the skimmer box and nothing I did worked.

It now sits in the basement collecting dust. it was a complete waste of money last count around $190. I do have a euro reef in my main tank and that is a real skimmer. The aqua c may be Md's best seller but it is not the best skimmer IMO.

dirtyreefer · #4 08/04/2005, 12:12 PM

Yup, I think the RPs true long term performance is coming out. When I first got mine, it pulled out some nice stuff but a couple months later it pulled out hardly anything. I had to wet skim to get anything, and this was mostly clear-tea colored skimmate at most.

I think the CSS will soon takeover the affordable HOB skimmer market since the Remora has been getting such bad reviews lately.

beerguy · #5 08/04/2005, 12:14 PM

Bi-weekly cleaning is really important with the remoras. The gunk that collects on the inside of the collection tube IS skimmate that's being removed.

Squidman · #6 08/04/2005, 12:41 PM

I ran the urchin on an MJ 1200 for 3 years and had great results. All I did on the skimmer was run the cleaning rod through the hole where the plug is once every month or two, and i cleaned the throat of the collection cup each time i emptied it. The bigger issue was keeping the MJ running well. I love MJ's, but when they are powering a skimmer they are usually right near the bottom of the sump collecting junk etc. and need to be cleaned often. Not sure how your setup is since yours in a hang on, but that was my experience. I would buy another urchin in a heartbeat. Mine was super simple, reliable and very effective.

chevegan · #7 08/04/2005, 01:03 PM

I went through the entire thing and cleaned it few days ago....but I forgot about the injector. thing is even if it's dirty now it doesn't explain why it's never worked for my tank. I'll try the injector cleaning now and see what happens. I wish now that I spen the 70 buck extra and got the Euro Reef.

aquaman67 · #8 08/04/2005, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bluelabradore1
I stupidly bought one and got the skimmer box and nothing I did worked.

It now sits in the basement collecting dust. it was a complete waste of money last count around $190. I do have a euro reef in my main tank and that is a real skimmer. The aqua c may be Md's best seller but it is not the best skimmer IMO.

You could advertise that on the selling forum and it would be sold in a few minutes.

jaybuc · #9 08/04/2005, 01:35 PM

I'll buy it how much?? PM me if you want to sell

aquaman67 · #10 08/04/2005, 01:47 PM

4 minutes...see?

tjay · #11 08/04/2005, 01:53 PM

I love mine for sure. Very little to do to keep it going. I have the pro with a mag 3 on a 90 gallon.
I understand all I have to do if I want more is move up to a mag 5.

It did take mine almost a month to really start working right and use the skimmer box that most people hate.

I do understand if your having problems that the remora support is great, have you tried contacting them? I never had to and hope I never do.

AquariumPerson · #12 08/04/2005, 02:38 PM

mine died after a year for some reason...just did not get anything out.

chevegan · #13 08/05/2005, 02:58 PM

ok I cleaned out the injector and it seems to be doing a LITTLE better. One thing that i didn't check on till yesterday was my salinity. It's funny how laziness sets it as the years go by in this hobby. Anyway, I used my brand new Refractameter after making sure it was dead on with distilled water and low and behold, just over 1.020. Now that could deffinatly be a reason why I'm not getting foam. Seems that the redsea manual hydrometer is 3 off. tisk tisk. if you don't have one yet there is a Refractameter for $38 on sale at drsfosterandsmith.com JUMP on it because that's cheap. Good quality too. So I put salt in my top off container so it'll add slowly as it tops off. We'll see if i get more foam.