ETSS 800 Skimmer Help

ChuckG · #1 (**permalink**) 05-01-2008, 01:39 AM

Anyone know what the inside of one of these looks like?

Is this all there is to where the water enters the skimmer tubes or is something missing?

That piece is circled below.

olsaltybastard · #2 (**permalink**) 05-01-2008, 02:05 AM

Too bad Reef Doctor doesn't come around any more. He is a pro with these things. Let me see if I can email him.

**Patrick™** · #3 (**permalink**) 05-01-2008, 02:06 AM

That is it. The water rushing in draws air in through the elbow. The water and air is then micro bubbled in the bio balls in the tower.

ChuckG · #4 (**permalink**) 05-01-2008, 02:18 AM

Well I don't have the recommended pump for it. An Iwaki 55 RLT is rated at 1080 gph. I had an Eheim 1262 sitting here (900 gph) so I hooked it up just for giggles. I didn't even get a gurgle out of it. If it made any bubbles at all, they stayed in the black inlet tubes and didn't even enter the main body of the skimmer.

Oh well - guess I have to find another pump now.

**DaveK** · #5 (**permalink**) 05-01-2008, 02:23 AM

I own an ETSS 600 which is similar.

The water goes in through the section you are holding. BTW, the connection below the T looks a bit small to handle the two towers on the 800. These skimmers need a lot of flow to work well.

The section you are holding also is not completely installed onto the towers. It is inserted all the way down until you can't see the clear plastic internal ring.

The L fitting on the side is the air intake. nothing is connected to it, but it must be kept clean. Sometimes there can be salt creep blocking it.

Yes, the unit is complete. there is nothing else. The bubbles are made when the water strikes the small bioballs in the tower. It's actually very effective. The bioballs need to be cleaned or replaced every 3-6 months. I made a "special tool" out of a wire coat hanger for removing the bioballs. Simply make the coat hanger one long wire, and bend a J into the end so you can push it under the bioballs, and use it to lift them out.

Hope this helps.

**DaveK** · #6 (**permalink**) 05-01-2008, 02:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChuckG

Well I don't have the recommended pump for it. An Iwaki 55 RLT is rated at 1080 gph. I had an Eheim 1262 sitting here (900 gph) so I hooked it up just for giggles. I didn't even get a gurgle out of it. If it made any bubbles at all, they stayed in the black inlet tubes and didn't even enter the main body of the skimmer.

Oh well - guess I have to find another pump now.

I use an Iwaki 55 on the single tower model I have. You might need something a little larger for an 800. In any case the pump should be pressure rated. The water needs to hit those bioballs with some force.

Additional information - adjustment to the gate valve is critical. A 1/8 to 1/4 turn makes all the difference from skimming effectively, to not working at all, to causing a flood. In addition the output should free flow into the sump at a level at or above the level of water in the sump.

ChuckG · #7 (**permalink**) 05-01-2008, 02:47 AM

According to the AE website a 55 RLT is all I should need for it. The manual also says that the outlet can be submerged if run in sump or right next to it.

Not sure how I'm going to set it up yet.

http://www.superskimmer.com/Manuals_...rETSSTotal.pdf

**DaveK** · #8 (**permalink**) 05-01-2008, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChuckG

According to the AE website a 55 RLT is all I should need for it. The manual also says that the outlet can be submerged if run in sump or right next to it.

Not sure how I'm going to set it up yet.

http://www.superskimmer.com/Manuals_...rETSSTotal.pdf

Yea, I've seen their web page. In my experience, the manual tells a "half truth". The outlet can be submerged, provided that the level in the sump never changes. This occurs if you use an ETSS sump, which has a bubble trap that acts as a level control for the sump. You also need to keep the sump at or slightly below the high water mark indicated on the sump, near the return outlets.

Failure to do this will cause the skimmer to work poorly. With the water level a bit high the skimmer will back up and flood or fill the collection container. Too low and the skimmer will not be effective.

I stand by my original post. The output ot the skimmer should be at or above the water level in the sump.

I solved the problem on my own system by building a small stand for my skimmer. It's about 12" high, which is actually too much. The output of the skimmer is then connected to the sump, at the normal location, by using an L and a T. The Tis at the level of the skimmer and has a "vent stack". The L is used at the level of the sump.

Gecko · #9 (**permalink**) 05-01-2008, 10:29 PM

What tank is going to get this skimmer? I hear good things about them; I almost bought the ETSS 500. Let me know what you think of it.

ChuckG · #10 (**permalink**) 05-02-2008, 01:20 AM

Dave: I'll probably plumb it higher than the sump as well just to be on the safe side.

Gecko: I got the skimmer for a song and a dance. One of those things you just can't pass up ($70). I think I'm going to add it on to my main tank. Yes, the one that has the Deltec on it already. I like to overfeed so I figure that I can't skim too much.