ETSS 800 Skimmer Help

[Patrick™]

LOL! We warned ya!

[ChuckG]

The wife is pissed. Apparently the water is all underneath the bedroom carpet as well.

[ricosuave]

What a bummer. You should give yiur wife one of those Spa weekends. Might take her mind off of it. Or just buy her some corals....

[ChuckG]

How bout some SPAghetti worms?

Back to the skimmer:

When it overflowed the outlet was wide open and the pump was wide open. Obviously this tells me that using the dart I am going to have to fine tune it with the pump valve. However, that ball valve is the one that sticks and making fine adjustments is impossible at the present time. I have to take a wrench to the thing just to get it to move and then when it does move it moves way too much. I definately have to replumb this thing which I was going to anyway so that's not a big deal. Now the question is to go with a gate valve on the pump outlet or go with a smaller pump?

Air Adjustment: I haven't hooked up any to make air adjustments and don't see that it would do anything if I did. I can place my thumbs over the two air intakes and it does not change the level or the amount/size of the bubbles within the skimmer. The top of the two down pipes is not a sealed unit (and can't be). The only thing I can think of is that it is able to suck just as much air from around the fittings that it can through the actual air intakes. Maybe because the pump I'm using is oversized for the skimmer?

[ChuckG]

The damage:



At least the wife will see that I'm trying to do something about it. The carpet really isn't that bad. I'll dry it out and replace that section of padding. The real problem is that behind that wall is a walk-in closet that runs the length of the wall and it is finished out with pergo wood flooring. While the flooring could come up in theory. In practicality I'm not sure I'm willing to do it. Emptying the closet would be a major feat alone. Taking up the flooring would be the easy part.

[ChuckG]

It seems to me that one of these is a MUST for this type of skimmer.

Waste Containers

However, I don't understand how it works. I haven't been able to get in touch with Tech Support yet either to ask them how it works.

I can certainly understand how the ball will stop the skimmate from entering the container when the container is full but I do not understand how this will stop the skimmer or stop a flood. Basically all the ball will do is plug up the port of entry into the waist container. This would be the same as putting your finger over the outlet hose from the skimmer. Air does come through an unobstructed outlet hose. Placing your finger over the hose does stop the air but it is then merely transfered to the holes in the lid of the collection cup and more air goes out that hole without making any changes to the water/bubble level within the skimmer. It seems to me that instead of overflowing your waist container that it will simply overflow the skimmer itself.

What am I missing?

[Gecko]

Chuck,
Sorry to see the horrible spill. I would get a bunch of fans over the pergo floors. They will probably buckle in a few days but should settle back down when they fully dry.

Also I think there is something designed into the waste container that will stop the water tension which would stop it from foaming but its hard to tell from that photo.

On a side note I had no problems getting in touch with them; I believe the guys name was Gary. I found him to be very nice and knowledgeable.

[ChuckG]

I got in touch with the guy as well and found out why my experiment of simply sticking my thumb on the skimmer cup outlet hose didn't change anything within the skimmer.

Some KNUCKLEHEAD drilled four air holes in the lid of this skimmer. They are not supposed to be there. I stuck some fingers over those holes and then plugged the outlet hose and wham - the skimmer stops like immediately. Still not exactly sure how it works, but it definately works. I ordered a waist container from AE Tech and filled the air holes with some silicone.

[ChuckG]

Despite all the problems

I GOT SOME HEAD !!

Video of I got Head - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

[ricosuave]

So why do you think the "Knucklehead" drilled holes in the lid? Does it make any difference(besides affecting the waste container function). Could these holes have attributed to your overflow?