First Post - ETSS Help and Experience

caribfan · 09/17/2012, 01:21 PM

Hello All,

This is my first post on reef central, I'm really looking forward to this forum.

I have a ETSS 1000 skimmer on my 120 gallon FOWLR tank. The tank has a 75 gallon sump in my basement, and a 5 gallon RDSB. I would guess that the total water volume with the piping and sump is close to 170 gallons. I know the skimmer is rated for much more than that.

I've had the skimmer up and running for several months now, and just haven't been able to dial it in. I am running a blueline 100 to power the skimmer and have the recommended number of bio balls on the mixing chamber.

I find that I can produce a dry foam, but very little skimmate volume. I have a gate valve on both the outlet of the skimmer and on the outlet of the pump. I have the valve on the pump completely open and use the valve on the skimmer to control skimmate production / level in the skimmer.

I've noticed a couple things with the skimmer adjustments and operation:

1. Foam production seems to cycle. What I mean by this is that the foam in the uppper part of the mixing chamber will build, purge and then drop back down. I am assuming this has something to do with the surface tension of the water being altered as the foam builds over time.

2. Secondly, once I am able to make dry foam consistently, if I close the gate valve (even 1/16th of a turn), the foam goes from extremely dry to very wet.

I know a lot of people swear by these skimmers and I'd really like to make this thing work. If any of you have experience with these or know of any tricks, i'd really appreciate it.

I have spent time going over the ETSS website and guides that they have put out, but haven't been able to dial this piece of equipment in as of yet. I have a list of tank inhabitants below.

Tank inhabitants:

2 purple tilefish
1 Juvinile Queen Angel - 3.5"
1 Blue Throat Trigger- 4.5"
5 Green Chromis
1 Eibli Angel - 3"
1 Moorish Idol - 3.5"
1 Diamond Goby - 3.5"

Soon to be added - Golden Butterfly, in its third week of quarantine, 3 more to go.

The tank is fed two to three times a day with a combination of Sea Veggies, ON Forumla 2, ON Angel Formula, and PE Mysis.

Appreciate the help in advance, for the money I spend on electricity, I'd really like to see this thing work.

Thanks,

Matt

caribfan · 09/18/2012, 05:49 AM

Anyone?

09/17/2012, 01:21 PM	#1
caribfan Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 1,922	First Post - ETSS Help and Experience Hello All, This is my first post on reef central, I'm really looking forward to this forum. I have a ETSS 1000 skimmer on my 120 gallon FOWLR tank. The tank has a 75 gallon sump in my basement, and a 5 gallon RDSB. I would guess that the total water volume with the piping and sump is close to 170 gallons. I know the skimmer is rated for much more than that. I've had the skimmer up and running for several months now, and just haven't been able to dial it in. I am running a blueline 100 to power the skimmer and have the recommended number of bio balls on the mixing chamber. I find that I can produce a dry foam, but very little skimmate volume. I have a gate valve on both the outlet of the skimmer and on the outlet of the pump. I have the valve on the pump completely open and use the valve on the skimmer to control skimmate production / level in the skimmer. I've noticed a couple things with the skimmer adjustments and operation: 1. Foam production seems to cycle. What I mean by this is that the foam in the uppper part of the mixing chamber will build, purge and then drop back down. I am assuming this has something to do with the surface tension of the water being altered as the foam builds over time. 2. Secondly, once I am able to make dry foam consistently, if I close the gate valve (even 1/16th of a turn), the foam goes from extremely dry to very wet. I know a lot of people swear by these skimmers and I'd really like to make this thing work. If any of you have experience with these or know of any tricks, i'd really appreciate it. I have spent time going over the ETSS website and guides that they have put out, but haven't been able to dial this piece of equipment in as of yet. I have a list of tank inhabitants below. Tank inhabitants: 2 purple tilefish 1 Juvinile Queen Angel - 3.5" 1 Blue Throat Trigger- 4.5" 5 Green Chromis 1 Eibli Angel - 3" 1 Moorish Idol - 3.5" 1 Diamond Goby - 3.5" Soon to be added - Golden Butterfly, in its third week of quarantine, 3 more to go. The tank is fed two to three times a day with a combination of Sea Veggies, ON Forumla 2, ON Angel Formula, and PE Mysis. Appreciate the help in advance, for the money I spend on electricity, I'd really like to see this thing work. Thanks, Matt

09/18/2012, 05:49 AM	#2
caribfan Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 1,922	Anyone?