ETSS skimmer users

fishysteve · 11/20/2007, 10:44 AM

I've been using the 800 model skimmer for about a year. It works great, but I was wondering if it would work even better if I removed the bioballs. What is the point of the bioballs anyway? To break up the bubbles? Do you guys leave the bioballs in the skimmer or do you remove them? How often do you clean them if you leave them in?

stony_corals · 11/20/2007, 11:22 AM

What pump are you using? Well the bioballs help with skimming... you can take out some of the bioballs and you will get more foam. The manufacturer recommends replacement annually. If you've had them for more than a year. I'd take them out and give them a good soaking in a water/vinegar solution to remove calcium deposits on them...

gasman059 · 11/20/2007, 11:26 AM

The Down-draft protein skimmer operates by using a high pressure stream of water injected downward into a column of plastic media, like bio balls, to suck air into the water stream and break the air up into tiny bubbles.

Used them for many many years-needs bb.
hth

fishysteve · 11/20/2007, 04:05 PM

I am using a Mag 18. When I got home from work tonight I cleaned it out and cleaned the bioballs. The balls were pretty clean, just some sponge on a few of them. Works like new now. I guess it just needed a good cleaning.

daytonreefRob · 11/21/2007, 07:41 AM

You would get better performance out of your skimmer if you were to put a pressure rated pump on the skimmer (such as a Pan World or an Iwaki). MAG pumps, while they are good performers, are not pressure rated, they are flow rated. If you think your skimmer performs now, put a pressure rated pump on it. We have four of the ETSS 1000 skimmers in our shop, they are all powered by Pan World PS250 pumps.

You can see the skimmers in the back of this picture.

fishysteve · 11/21/2007, 08:25 AM

The way my sump is set up I have to use a submersible pump.

daytonreefRob · 11/21/2007, 09:21 AM

I am not aware of any pressure-rated submersible pumps.

fishysteve · 11/21/2007, 09:33 AM

That's why I went with the mag 18. That's what the people from ETSS recommended.

gasman059 · 11/21/2007, 09:56 AM

unfortunately u have no other choice.
YES U DO NEED A PRESSURE RATED PUMP for better performance.

I've been a dd fan for many moons-this skimmers simply work!

11/20/2007, 10:44 AM	#1
fishysteve Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 1,804	ETSS skimmer users I've been using the 800 model skimmer for about a year. It works great, but I was wondering if it would work even better if I removed the bioballs. What is the point of the bioballs anyway? To break up the bubbles? Do you guys leave the bioballs in the skimmer or do you remove them? How often do you clean them if you leave them in? __________________ On a break

11/20/2007, 11:26 AM	#3
gasman059 The OG mad scientist Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: SOFLA Posts: 10,308	The Down-draft protein skimmer operates by using a high pressure stream of water injected downward into a column of plastic media, like bio balls, to suck air into the water stream and break the air up into tiny bubbles. Used them for many many years-needs bb. hth __________________ There's a fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness". 1985-present Current Tank Info: Officially lurking!

11/20/2007, 04:05 PM	#4
fishysteve Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 1,804	I am using a Mag 18. When I got home from work tonight I cleaned it out and cleaned the bioballs. The balls were pretty clean, just some sponge on a few of them. Works like new now. I guess it just needed a good cleaning. __________________ On a break

11/21/2007, 07:41 AM	#5
daytonreefRob Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Marine Solutions Posts: 485	You would get better performance out of your skimmer if you were to put a pressure rated pump on the skimmer (such as a Pan World or an Iwaki). MAG pumps, while they are good performers, are not pressure rated, they are flow rated. If you think your skimmer performs now, put a pressure rated pump on it. We have four of the ETSS 1000 skimmers in our shop, they are all powered by Pan World PS250 pumps. You can see the skimmers in the back of this picture. __________________ Rob

11/21/2007, 08:25 AM	#6
fishysteve Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 1,804	The way my sump is set up I have to use a submersible pump. __________________ On a break

11/20/2007, 11:22 AM	#2
stony_corals Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 1,323	What pump are you using? Well the bioballs help with skimming... you can take out some of the bioballs and you will get more foam. The manufacturer recommends replacement annually. If you've had them for more than a year. I'd take them out and give them a good soaking in a water/vinegar solution to remove calcium deposits on them...

11/21/2007, 09:21 AM	#7
daytonreefRob Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Marine Solutions Posts: 485	I am not aware of any pressure-rated submersible pumps. __________________ Rob

11/21/2007, 09:33 AM	#8
fishysteve Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 1,804	That's why I went with the mag 18. That's what the people from ETSS recommended. __________________ On a break

11/21/2007, 09:56 AM	#9
gasman059 The OG mad scientist Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: SOFLA Posts: 10,308	unfortunately u have no other choice. YES U DO NEED A PRESSURE RATED PUMP for better performance. I've been a dd fan for many moons-this skimmers simply work! __________________ There's a fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness". 1985-present Current Tank Info: Officially lurking!