SKIMZ Emergency Skimmer...Aquamaxx STOP Working

jphilip813 · Oct 25, 2020

So I currently have a Aquamaxx Cone DCQ-2, (purchased in May 2020). As of three days ago, an Error Code (ERR1) pops up on the controller...and basically the skimmer shuts off within 30 seconds of turning on. I have it plugged into the Neptune aquabus... I am not too sure what the issue is...(I cleaned the body, tubes, pump...no calcium build-up/debris)..Also unfortunately, Aquamaxx instructions does not address any of the codes (at least online or in the manual provided). So I had to pull out my old Skimz 161 yesterday (Saturday)...ANyone know what the heck that ERROR Code 1 is? Will also be reaching out to Aquamaxx (slow customer service response

) and @MarineDepot for some help...

Flippers4pups · Oct 26, 2020

jphilip813 · Oct 27, 2020

Flippers4pups said:
Bump

Thanks for the bump...still waiting on @MarineDepot to get back with me...they are working with Aquamaxx to determine what the error code means...in the meantime...the rep. suggested that the skimmer should not be plugged into the Energy bar.

HD_Reefer · Jan 26, 2021

jphilip813 said:
So I currently have a Aquamaxx Cone DCQ-2, (purchased in May 2020). As of three days ago, an Error Code (ERR1) pops up on the controller...and basically the skimmer shuts off within 30 seconds of turning on. I have it plugged into the Neptune aquabus... I am not too sure what the issue is...(I cleaned the body, tubes, pump...no calcium build-up/debris)..Also unfortunately, Aquamaxx instructions does not address any of the codes (at least online or in the manual provided). So I had to pull out my old Skimz 161 yesterday (Saturday)...ANyone know what the heck that ERROR Code 1 is? Will also be reaching out to Aquamaxx (slow customer service response ) and @MarineDepot for some help...

Did you hear back from MD on this? Just turned mine on for the first time and get the same error. If I back the power down 1 level, it doesn't give the error. Curious to what they had to say about it.

jphilip813 · Jan 26, 2021

HD_Reefer said:
Did you hear back from MD on this? Just turned mine on for the first time and get the same error. If I back the power down 1 level, it doesn't give the error. Curious to what they had to say about it.

Actually they did get back with me...so the trick for me when I spoke with them via telephone is to keep my Skimmer in about 9.25inches of water and I turned the power down to about 3250RPM on the control panel (the video has it on full). The trick is the amount of water it sits in; despite what the manufacture's manual states according to MD. It has worked wonders since then...Pulling out the nasty stuff

RonSwanson · Feb 13, 2021

I have exactly the same DCQ2 skimmer. This water level sounds like a bunch of BS. Increasing water level let’s you run at lower power. I’ve had the same water level for the last 6 months and could run the skimmer up to 100% with 8 inch water level with no issues. Yesterday I started to get the error code. Right now I get that error code when I turn this above 6watts... it’s really sound like the pump is taking a dump. It’s just a matter of time before it starts giving you the code again. My tank is new and spanking clean with very few coral and def no calcium buildup.

jphilip813 · Feb 14, 2021

HD_Reefer said:
Did you hear back from MD on this? Just turned mine on for the first time and get the same error. If I back the power down 1 level, it doesn't give the error. Curious to what they had to say about it.

Did it work for you?

jphilip813 · Feb 14, 2021

RonSwanson said:
I have exactly the same DCQ2 skimmer. This water level sounds like a bunch of BS. Increasing water level let’s you run at lower power. I’ve had the same water level for the last 6 months and could run the skimmer up to 100% with 8 inch water level with no issues. Yesterday I started to get the error code. Right now I get that error code when I turn this above 6watts... it’s really sound like the pump is taking a dump. It’s just a matter of time before it starts giving you the code again. My tank is new and spanking clean with very few coral and def no calcium buildup.

Sorry to hear that brother... It did work for me and still is up to this day.

HD_Reefer · Feb 15, 2021

jphilip813 said:
Did it work for you?

I’m in the middle of cycling, so will have to tell you in a few days.

jphilip813 · Feb 15, 2021

HD_Reefer said:
I’m in the middle of cycling, so will have to tell you in a few days.

Looking FWD to it

RonSwanson · Feb 16, 2021

So I took mine apart. Washed it in vinegar. It was pretty clean. A little of sludge but seems normal. Now the skimmer is breaking in like it’s new. It’s been pumping micro bubbles into DT since Saturday but stopped today. No skimmate yet. My bio load is very light bc I have only 5 fishes and 11 in QT (had velvet so lost most of them).

anyhow, I am not sure but cannot run this skimmer at low power/speed at 8 or 9 inches of water in the sump. If I set it at 8-12 watts, I get that error. 6 watts - no error, 14 watts - no error. Ideally I would like to run at 8-10 watts for how I like the turd to be in the cup. So running right now at 14 watts and it cannot skim anything bc the bubbles pop too quickly and don’t go to the top. No skim since Friday.

So to run the pump slower you need more water in the sump? I tested the bucket at 9.5 inches at 8 watts and it still shuts down. Feels like a Korean product for sure. I can understand it shutting down when running dry or too much head pressure. I just don’t get it.

ksed · Feb 16, 2021

Have you contacted Marine Depot?

jphilip813 · Feb 16, 2021

Also, curious how big is your sump and how much room is the skimmer pump intake is from the wall?

RonSwanson · Feb 17, 2021

jphilip813 said:
Also, curious how big is your sump and how much room is the skimmer pump intake is from the wall?

Well the sump is fairly large. Probably around 45 gal or so. The chamber where the skimmer is also large. But now that you mention it...I installed a 40w pentair UV sterilizer and additional pump that’s syphoning around 800 gph and is very close to the skimmer intake...maybe that’s the problem... I’ll move things around tomorrow and make sure the skimmer intake pump doesn’t have anything close to it.

RonSwanson · Feb 18, 2021

Nah that didn’t fix the problem even after I gave it a ton of space. Can’t run at 8-10 watts. Tried at 7.5 - 9.5 inches of water with 1/2 inch increments. It would be nice to have some troubleshooting docs on this skimmer. Aquamaxx site doesn’t even have DCQ line listed in their manual library. I’ll contact Marine depot and see if they have some sort of documentation. This isn’t super cheap skimmer after all. Works very well when it’s running and tuned properly and if you have a ton of fish. I guess I’ll have to wait til I get more bio load and keep it running at higher power.

TheSeas · Mar 13, 2021

RonSwanson said:
Nah that didn’t fix the problem even after I gave it a ton of space. Can’t run at 8-10 watts. Tried at 7.5 - 9.5 inches of water with 1/2 inch increments. It would be nice to have some troubleshooting docs on this skimmer. Aquamaxx site doesn’t even have DCQ line listed in their manual library. I’ll contact Marine depot and see if they have some sort of documentation. This isn’t super cheap skimmer after all. Works very well when it’s running and tuned properly and if you have a ton of fish. I guess I’ll have to wait til I get more bio load and keep it running at higher power.

Did MD come back to you with a solution?

RonSwanson · Mar 17, 2021

TheSeas said:
Did MD come back to you with a solution?

I didn’t end up contacting. I added more fish and needed to run the skimmer at higher power. The problem isn’t there currently. Do you have that issue?

TheSeas · Mar 17, 2021

RonSwanson said:
I didn’t end up contacting. I added more fish and needed to run the skimmer at higher power. The problem isn’t there currently. Do you have that issue?

No, I am doing a new build with the same skimmer. I am going to use an Apex, so saw a couple of posts on this error and wanted to look into it in case I do encounter it along the way.

RonSwanson · Mar 17, 2021

It skims very good when it’s working and you have a heavy bio load. If I was to do it again, I wouldn’t oversize the skimmer as I did. It’s pretty much useless on tanks below 100G unless you have like 50 fish in it. Mine is around 120. Also, if you can spend more, get a bubble king. They are on sale right now at BRS. That’s what I would do.

bnord · Mar 31, 2021

Just bought a DCQ-2 for a Cade 180 replacing a skimz that I BROKE! And it was doing great.
Set mine up in bucket to clean it out and try it on, it ran for 15 seconds, and controller said OFF and the pump complied. Have tried every turn on/off reset i can and nothing.
Just emailed both MD and AM and will see what they say. Wish i had read the above first and not the 3 glowing comments on the MD web site
Any one have any experience with the OFF message?
Thanks

By the way, if anyone has a Skimz 167 cup for sale.... let me know