aqua c remora questions

[krazekajin]

I have an aqua C remora with a brand new maxijet 1200 on it. I bought the system used and the orginall maxijet was broke. I had to buy some new tubing to connect the maxijet to the skimmer. I wanted to hide the pump behind some of my rock so my pump has to pump up about a foot in order for water to enter the skimmer.
I have noticed that this skimmer does not produce a lot of skimmed material in the collection cup. It does sometimes, but not on a regular basis.
I also noticed that on a new aqua c the tube from pump to skimmer is only like three inches. Could I have placed my maxijet 1200 too far down and decreased its power so that it can not produce the foam needed?

 

[tizzo]

Yes...sorta...
The protein you are trying to skim, is on the surface. It is automatically drawn to the surface, so since you are skimming halfway down the tank and that is not where the protein is attracted to, then you will not get the skimmage. Zis making sence??
You want the pump as close to the top of the tank as possible, not just for pressure but because that's where the skimmate is...

 

[krazekajin]

thank you. I love it when the answer is so simple. I will rectify that as soon as possible.

 

[krazekajin]

okay, here is the deal.
I took Tizzo's advice and plumbed my maxijet1200 to about 5 inches below the surface. I could not go any higher.
I am getting no bubbles whatsoever. The unit is basically providing a water fall. I am getting no froth, even down into the unit itself. For example, when I take off the black lid from the rectangular collection cup, I can look down into the vshaped neck and I see a perfectly smooth water. There is no agitation going on.
What do I need to do. I have tried to make sure that this unit is level, but surely that can not be the real problem.

 

[gen1dustin]

Putting it higher will not necessarily make you produce skimate. Actually protien is one of the things skimmers take out the least of. Though there is a lot of stuff on the top that is skimmed out.
I would try to attach it without using any extra pipe, this can take away from pressure. The Aqua C Remora needs this since it is not Venturi drive, instead "Spray Injected". If you look down into the cup & there isn't any choppy water then we have a problem. Your best bet is to give Aqua C a call & tell them your problem. I would think they would be willing to help you out. Their site is protienskimmer.com

 

[krazekajin]

Originally Posted by Gen1Dustin
Putting it higher will not necessarily make you produce skimate. Actually protien is one of the things skimmers take out the least of. Though there is a lot of stuff on the top that is skimmed out.
I would try to attach it without using any extra pipe, this can take away from pressure. The Aqua C Remora needs this since it is not Venturi drive, instead "Spray Injected". If you look down into the cup & there isn't any choppy water then we have a problem. Your best bet is to give Aqua C a call & tell them your problem. I would think they would be willing to help you out. Their site is protienskimmer.com

Thank you, I sent them an email. I am waiting for the answer.

 

[f14peter]

Just a WAG, but since the unit is used, might want to check that the injector is clean.
This is from the AquaC site regarding the Remora unit . . .
The spray injector that powers your skimmer is designed to be maintenance free. In the unlikely event that a piece of algae or debris becomes clogged in the assembly, you can easily access the injector by unscrewing the small, white Injector Access Screw (see diagram below). Be sure and unplug the water pump before performing injector maintenance! Use a standard head screwdriver and remove the small screw by turning it counterclockwise – try not to let the screw fall into the skimmer once it is loose. Once removed, use the special injector brush to vigorously scrub the inside of the injector and spray port.
IMPORTANT!! When replacing the Injector Access Screw DO NOT thread the screw so far that it will fall into the injector. Only thread it deep enough so that it seals the hole. It is normal for a small amount of water to drip out of the sealed hole during operation, and this shouldn’t be cause for concern.
I'll also agree with putting the pump as close to the unit as possible. Putting it too low creates two problems . . . the water going in isn't the surface water that needs to be skimmed, and you'll lose some pressure due to headloss. As there are no moving parts, I think the Remora needs as much pressure as the MJ can provide.
There is a box you could buy that attaches (Literally) to the pump that allows only surface water to enter the skimmer. Besides improving your skimming, I think it's a tad more aesthetic than a pump dangling down into your tank as the box is black and rectangular, and will eventually get covered by algea/coralline and blend in better. A dark/black background also goes a long way in camoflaging stuff in your tank . . . my overflow and heater are really hard to see against the black.

 

[helpme74]

i had the same problem my injector was clogged

 

[daninct]

Mine was very temperamental. It worked when it wanted and only when it wanted. I tried the overflow box, different pumps, different hights. I gave up and went back to a venturi model. Live and learn and go with what you know. Good luck.

 

[krazekajin]

I found the problem to my skimmer.
The injector was clean. But because I had bought a used skimmer, I was not aware that there is not supposed to be a block of foam where the water returns into the tank. The foam was clogged so that the water level raised to the point that the injection was not working. Took out the sponge and voila, instant foam. Yea.

 

[krazekajin]

can anybody tell me how I can plumb an aqua C Remora for an overflow (meaning how can I get the skim to drop into a larger container like a milk jug or so?

 

[gen1dustin]

Originally Posted by KrazeKajin
can anybody tell me how I can plumb an aqua C Remora for an overflow (meaning how can I get the skim to drop into a larger container like a milk jug or so?
You mean where any excess waste in the collection cup falls into? I would probally just drill a small about half way up on the side of the collection cup & put a small bulkhead or some type of elbow in there with a little tube leading to a container for excess overflow.

 

[krazekajin]

thank you. I also found that I can buy a new container for my skimmer that already has that outlet for a collection cup.

 

[bawood]

The models with the collection cup drilled on the side have a slot on the side of the skimmer took, I don't think the base models do.
Also, how often are you finding you fill the cup, I hardly ever get more than 1/2" a week unless I adjust it way down and get water...

 

[fatcats]

i have an aqua c remora with a maxijet 3 and i can see foam in the skimmer but the collection cup just has water in it an i empty it 3 times a day.
What is going on?

 

[bawood]

Slide the rubber band down the collection cup so the cup sits higher. You can adjust the units to produce drier and wetter skim and it sounds like you're adjust for to wet of skim.