ETSS Skimmer Club!

[jkeeton]

I am still hanging in there, this thing is frustrating

 

[jjk_reef00]

It shouldn't be hard to use these skimmers if you have the right pump on it. The only problem I had was the bio-balls were clogged in the downdraft tubes. I had to knock them loose with a broomstick, and my skimmer was upside down.

I would call ETSS and ask what flow rate at what head pressure the skimmer needs to operate at. They will give you x gallons at y head (in ft or psi). Then look at flowcharts of your pumps to see what you are getting.

These are great skimmers once you have them setup correctly. Good luck, and happy holidays.

 

[jjk_reef00]

Here is my ETSS 5000 next to my tank. The gf hasn't moved in yet so I can make a big mess :rollface:

I was thinking about getting the extension neck just to see what kind of difference it makes.

 

[CryptoFusion]

Cool setup jjk. Thanks for posting the pic!

 

[polywise]

side question about ETSS1000
Can these sucessfully be run being fed from the return line (gravity feed )from a aquarium?

Water will be coming from tank on main floor to skimmer in basement

 

[diverdick]

I would bet not

 

[rigleautomotive]

side question about ETSS1000
Can these sucessfully be run being fed from the return line (gravity feed )from a aquarium?

Water will be coming from tank on main floor to skimmer in basement

No ,they need to be fed by a pressure rated pump for the injector to work properly.

 

[CryptoFusion]

From my understanding they need to be force fed via pressure to create the foam, so i don't think anything gravity fed will work.

 

[polywise]

OK -- I figured it needed preasure through the fitting to create the down draft, and was hoping to get away from using a extra pump to power the skimmer.

thanks.

 

[TomToro]

anyone running the etss 1400 where are you running your water level in the tube to get propper skimming. I have tried it in several different spots but cant seem to find that sweet spot. Also you have a problem with it shutting down at times?

I just cant seem to get mine set up right, and its been running for about 3 weeks now and I am getting very little out of it.

thanks

I'm running my 1400 with a Panworld 250, with the level about an inch below the top of the mixing box. Within a minute or two, it starts foaming up the tower. When I first got this skimmer, I tried putting the water level at 1" above the mixing box and into the first tower. The skimmer didn't start working until I adjusted the level to below the mixing box top.

I also incorporate a 1" vertical pipe between the skimmer outlet and the tank. This increased my foam production in all three of my etss'. I also have gate valves on this vertical pipe because I need to throttle it down to keep the foam drier.

I have a 350 gal system with a huge bioload (lots of large tangs) and this skimmer puts out about 2.5gal per week of black gunk. hth

 

[diverdick]

I'm running my 1400 with a Panworld 250, with the level about an inch below the top of the mixing box. Within a minute or two, it starts foaming up the tower. When I first got this skimmer, I tried putting the water level at 1" above the mixing box and into the first tower. The skimmer didn't start working until I adjusted the level to below the mixing box top.

I also incorporate a 1" vertical pipe between the skimmer outlet and the tank. This increased my foam production in all three of my etss'. I also have gate valves on this vertical pipe because I need to throttle it down to keep the foam drier.

I have a 350 gal system with a huge bioload (lots of large tangs) and this skimmer puts out about 2.5gal per week of black gunk. hth

Can you include a picture of this added valving? I think I can picture it but would rather see it live and nationwide.

 

[TomToro]

Hey Rich,
Here's a couple. I hope it shows enough of the vent pipe.

This is the 800 on my 135, with an Iwaki 55. I've since added another one with an Iwaki 70 that kicks butt. In the future if I see a 1400 for sale, I'll sell these two and buy a 1400 with an Iwaki 100 or equivalent.

Here's the 1400 on my 240g with a Panworld. KInd of hard to see the vent pipe, but it's got a red handled ball valve on the top of it behind the fan. Notice the foam rubber in the air intakes? I had to do that initially to keep the foam out of the cup until I replaced the ball valve with a gate valve that can be adjusted better. I also added 3 bioballs to each tower to keep the foam denser and now I don't use the foam rubber to slow the air intake.

That's 2 days after cleaning that beast. Best skimmer I've ever owned and I've owned a lot of 'em.

 

[diverdick]

I like the 1400 too, always looking for better set up approaches though. I am curious on the vent piping ball valve. What is its purpose again? Do you restrict air into the drain?

 

[rigleautomotive]

I believe that would be to stop the siphoning effect.if it siphons it will drain the mixing box at times and become very unstable,in essence a durso stand pipe

 

[diverdick]

I see, the installation pictured has no gate valve on the return flow. I see now. I use the OEM gate supplied valve and achieve the same affect on flow control.

<a href="http://pets.webshots.com/photo/2438302520066075355ZPrMVB"><img src="http://thumb15.webshots.net/t/71/71/3/2/52/2438302520066075355ZPrMVB_th.jpg" alt="skimmer drain"></a>

 

[TomToro]

I believe that would be to stop the siphoning effect.if it siphons it will drain the mixing box at times and become very unstable,in essence a durso stand pipe

I agree with you. It does make some noise in that pipe like the durso in my overflows, but much louder. All I know is I can drastically reduce the foam production if I cap this pipe completely and can adjust the foam more effectively (using the gate valve on it) than by using the gate valve that comes with the skimmer. Not to mention, I pretty much run my skimmers wide open any way.

 

[llebcire]

Don't ever power your etss with a mag, because mags are not pressure rated! Contact ETSS to find the target water flow at a specific head.

I beg to differ...at least on the smaller skimmers.

ETSS suggests a Mag7 for the Reef Devil, and while the Iwaki 20 RLT or Blue Line 20HD may be superior pumps, I wouldn't think it would be good for business for ETSS to suggest a pump that prevents the skimmer from operating.

In my situation, I don't have room for an external pump so I'm limited to the Mag7.

Here's my skimmer driven by a Mag7. This is about 5 days production and I clean the mud from the neck every 7-10 days and loosen the bioballs at the same time:

-Eric

 

[TomToro]

Wow, I stand corrected. That's really working well for you. I guess I personally wouldn't use anything but a pressure rated pump for the size skimmers I have. I'm really surprised a mag can run an etss. Proof is in the pics, though.


ETSS suggests a Mag7 for the Reef Devil, and while the Iwaki 20 RLT or Blue Line 20HD may be superior pumps, I wouldn't think it would be good for business for ETSS to suggest a pump that prevents the skimmer from operating.

In my situation, I don't have room for an external pump so I'm limited to the Mag7.

Here's my skimmer driven by a Mag7. This is about 5 days production and I clean the mud from the neck every 7-10 days and loosen the bioballs at the same time:

-Eric[/QUOTE]

 

[llebcire]

Wow, I stand corrected. That's really working well for you. I guess I personally wouldn't use anything but a pressure rated pump for the size skimmers I have. I'm really surprised a mag can run an etss. Proof is in the pics, though.

No reason to stand corrected - ETSS does suggest a Mag pump, but only in the smaller models...most of the discussion in this thread has been for the larger skimmers.

-Eric

 

[TomToro]

Thanks for the support, Eric.