Precision Marine ES-100 Driving Me Crazy

DustinB · 05/06/2010, 08:07 AM

So I've had my 90 gallon tank running for a week with my coralife 65 skimmer. I just picked up a precision marine es-100 skimmer and a mag 9.5 pump to drive it. I have the skimmer about 12" above the sump draining through a 1" ID vinyl hose into the sump. The hose is not under water. There's a gate valve on the skimmer to control the level.

Last night I was having trouble getting the level set so I left it at about 2" below the top of the large main chamber. All seemed stable but I put a large bucket under the skimmer cup hose just in case. So I wake up this morning and everything is fine, still the same level. A couple hours later while I'm here at work my girlfriend calls and says the thing is overflowing a bunch.

Nothing changed. Is this a problem with these skimmers? Anyone know why? I had it set a lot lower than even the recommended break-in level. It's a used skimmer, looks almost new.

Any ideas would be great. I don't want this thing overflowing while no one is home.

E.intheC · 05/06/2010, 10:27 AM

Do you use any water conditioners or any supplements? I had this similar problem with another skimmer and added a ton of carbon, and almost overnight the problem was fixed...

DustinB · 05/06/2010, 10:44 AM

No, no supplements, conditioners, etc... The only thing I did was install the herbie overflow setup I made last night to replace my oceanic durso(this thing really is silent btw, herbie that is). I had decided to setup the skimmer the same time.

I just find it really strange that it overflowed considering I didn't even have it up to the cup, I was still 2-3" from the top of the main chamber. It stayed at this level all night, then after I get to work I get a call saying it was overflowing. The water had to rise at least 5-8" to overflow. I thought the return hose may have dropped in the water, but the girlfriend looked in the cabinet and the hose was still where I had it last night above the water.

Could my mag 9.5 be too powerful to be stable? I was thinking about stopping on the way home and getting an inline ball valve for the pump flow(there's of course a gate valve on the return).

I just don't understand how the level could all of the sudden change 5-8" after being stable all night and nothing changing.

r-balljunkie · 05/06/2010, 02:15 PM

pm, venturi style skimmers are hard to dial in. Hate to give you a solution that involves spending more money, but you may want to consider a needle wheel or pin wheel skimmer.

They use much less electricity, and you will find your payback is quick, so it’s easy to justify. That mag 9.5 uses a whopping 93 watts of electricity 24X7X365, verses a good needlewheel sicce or aquabee @ 20 watts.

GL

C

DustinB · 05/06/2010, 02:24 PM

Well I got this skimmer for $70 in near perfect condition. I don't really want to have to try and sell it, then spend $200+ on another skimmer. This really is pretty ridiculous. My supposedly "crappy" coralife 65 skimmer performs flawlessly and this crazy expensive once "top of the line" skimmer runs like crap.

05/06/2010, 08:07 AM	#1
DustinB Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 1,532	Precision Marine ES-100 Driving Me Crazy So I've had my 90 gallon tank running for a week with my coralife 65 skimmer. I just picked up a precision marine es-100 skimmer and a mag 9.5 pump to drive it. I have the skimmer about 12" above the sump draining through a 1" ID vinyl hose into the sump. The hose is not under water. There's a gate valve on the skimmer to control the level. Last night I was having trouble getting the level set so I left it at about 2" below the top of the large main chamber. All seemed stable but I put a large bucket under the skimmer cup hose just in case. So I wake up this morning and everything is fine, still the same level. A couple hours later while I'm here at work my girlfriend calls and says the thing is overflowing a bunch. Nothing changed. Is this a problem with these skimmers? Anyone know why? I had it set a lot lower than even the recommended break-in level. It's a used skimmer, looks almost new. Any ideas would be great. I don't want this thing overflowing while no one is home.

05/06/2010, 10:27 AM	#2
E.intheC Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 5,373	Do you use any water conditioners or any supplements? I had this similar problem with another skimmer and added a ton of carbon, and almost overnight the problem was fixed... __________________ -Eric

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05/06/2010, 10:44 AM	#3
DustinB Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 1,532	No, no supplements, conditioners, etc... The only thing I did was install the herbie overflow setup I made last night to replace my oceanic durso(this thing really is silent btw, herbie that is). I had decided to setup the skimmer the same time. I just find it really strange that it overflowed considering I didn't even have it up to the cup, I was still 2-3" from the top of the main chamber. It stayed at this level all night, then after I get to work I get a call saying it was overflowing. The water had to rise at least 5-8" to overflow. I thought the return hose may have dropped in the water, but the girlfriend looked in the cabinet and the hose was still where I had it last night above the water. Could my mag 9.5 be too powerful to be stable? I was thinking about stopping on the way home and getting an inline ball valve for the pump flow(there's of course a gate valve on the return). I just don't understand how the level could all of the sudden change 5-8" after being stable all night and nothing changing.

05/06/2010, 02:15 PM	#4
r-balljunkie Registered Reefer Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Doha, Qatar Posts: 2,059	pm, venturi style skimmers are hard to dial in. Hate to give you a solution that involves spending more money, but you may want to consider a needle wheel or pin wheel skimmer. They use much less electricity, and you will find your payback is quick, so it’s easy to justify. That mag 9.5 uses a whopping 93 watts of electricity 24X7X365, verses a good needlewheel sicce or aquabee @ 20 watts. GL C

05/06/2010, 02:24 PM	#5
DustinB Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 1,532	Well I got this skimmer for $70 in near perfect condition. I don't really want to have to try and sell it, then spend $200+ on another skimmer. This really is pretty ridiculous. My supposedly "crappy" coralife 65 skimmer performs flawlessly and this crazy expensive once "top of the line" skimmer runs like crap.