ETSS 800 Skimmer Help

[primereefaquatics]

I have built about 5 or 6 in the past. It takes a pressure pump with an open line into the sump. If you run two towers you need twice the pump. Pressure is the key for these to work effectively. As Dave said the bioballs need routine cleaning. I frankly was real annoyed at cleaning the thing. When they first came out they were the best alternative to what was available.
I really agree with
Dave on all points. The inlet is way too small for two towers. You should have a hose barb which fits a 1" OD flexible pipe.

I would use the Dart. It is a flow rated pump but they are a powerful unit which will work for your small towers.

[ChuckG]

A Dart? That's one heck of a lot of water. I do have a spare one here though. So it won't cost me anything to rig it up and see where it pushes the water level in this thing.

Thanks for the advice.

[Gecko]

Nice Chuck, please post some pics when its setuo. I ould lik to see it in action.

[ChuckG]

Originally Posted by primereefaquatics

I have built about 5 or 6 in the past. It takes a pressure pump with an open line into the sump. If you run two towers you need twice the pump. Pressure is the key for these to work effectively. As Dave said the bioballs need routine cleaning. I frankly was real annoyed at cleaning the thing. When they first came out they were the best alternative to what was available.
I really agree with
Dave on all points. The inlet is way too small for two towers. You should have a hose barb which fits a 1" OD flexible pipe.

I would use the Dart. It is a flow rated pump but they are a powerful unit which will work for your small towers.

The PVC manifold is actually 1.25" PVC so I would assume that if I hood the dart up that I should keep it at 1.25? Which this in itself is a restriction on the dart (good thing that darts can be restricted on the outflow).

Originally Posted by Gecko

Nice Chuck, please post some pics when its setuo. I ould lik to see it in action.

Will do. This may take some time. I'm in the considering stage of replumbing almost the entire system.

[Gecko]

What....I really like your setup, its one of best I have ever seen. What don’t you like about it?

[primereefaquatics]

The 1.25 maifold is okay. The small barbed fitting is way too small. Remove this fitting and put a barbed fitting to fit a 1" OD vinyl tube or its equivalent.

[ChuckG]

I got this thing running today. I just went ahead and hard plumbed it for a trial period. You guys were right about a larger pump as well. It's not plumbed effeciently so I am losing some juice but I have to run the dart wide open AND close the gate valve on the outlet of the skimmer to get the bubbles moving up the skimmer body.

First thing I found out is that the outlet from the skimmer back to the sump CAN NOT be submerged. I plumbed it submerged to help with noise. I was tweaking the level within the skimmer when I wondered if removing the submerged drain would change anything.

IT DID - REAL QUICK TOO. Within a couple of seconds the entire skimmer was full and shooting a jets of water out the top. Now that everything is all wet I can't check for minor leaks.

It's bubbling but not creating a foam head yet. Not sure at what level to leave it at intially. I suppose I should run it on the low side till it starts to kick in otherwise I could come home to a foam overflow.



Gecko: Haven't forgot about your replumb question. Will get to it in time. Just don't have any at the moment.

[primereefaquatics]

Here is what happened to me everytime I kicked up a new ETS skimmer. It may take a day or two before dry foam begins to occur. It will be wet. You will have a solid white column of bubbles which will overflow regularly until the break in period is over. Your 5 gal bucket will fill up real quick and overflow if you don't keep an eye on it.
I suggest if you are going to be gone long like at work, for example, I woud lower the water level down just under your first black ring. When you are home and able to observe it turn it up midway into the second riser chamber.
Your adjustment should be made from the outlet valve and not the pump. If your outlet valve is wide open and it still overflows then you can adjust it from the inlet .

Nice job on your plumbing upgrade and you turned your air intake up I see.

[primereefaquatics]

I just noticed in your last picture you have another skimmer running. Are you using it for the same system and are you just playing with this one?

[Gecko]

Chuck,
It looks good so far the entire chamber looks to be full of micro bubbles. I have a feeling it will be plumbed into the system very soon. Let us know how the skimmate looks?

BTW how is the Deltec skimmer treating you, would you mind posting some pics of that thing in action?