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Unread 02/08/2010, 11:00 PM   #651
rigleautomotive
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hunnicuttz View Post
Ok I have dialed it back. Where should the water level be? Should I have the water level below the tube?
even with it would be a good starting point


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Dan Rigle
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Coral Magazine Sept/Oct 2012

Current Tank Info: 180 gal SPS dominated display, 3 X 250 watt Radiums , lumenarc III minis , with VHO actinics, ETS downdraft skimmers, closed loops and 2 Tunze 6105 & 7095 controller,DIY calcium reactors DIY custom built sumps,since 1992
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Unread 02/08/2010, 11:03 PM   #652
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Ok I have set it there I will post my results tomorrow. Thanks for your quick help!!!


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Unread 02/08/2010, 11:21 PM   #653
rigleautomotive
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no problem,glad to help


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Dan Rigle
President,
* Reef Conservation Society
TOTM December 2010
Coral Magazine Sept/Oct 2012

Current Tank Info: 180 gal SPS dominated display, 3 X 250 watt Radiums , lumenarc III minis , with VHO actinics, ETS downdraft skimmers, closed loops and 2 Tunze 6105 & 7095 controller,DIY calcium reactors DIY custom built sumps,since 1992
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Unread 02/09/2010, 02:51 PM   #654
hunnicuttz
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Ok I have dialed it back and this is what it looks like now http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0z_Sl5wq1B8

Does this look about right? I not sure I like the sumpbuddy 40 so far...


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Unread 02/09/2010, 02:57 PM   #655
rigleautomotive
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yea that looks better,it will start working soon,seems like you possibly got some oils in the water from your hands or the equiptment and these skimmers are sensitive to this.dont feed and keep your hands out of the water and it willl start forming a stable head


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Dan Rigle
President,
* Reef Conservation Society
TOTM December 2010
Coral Magazine Sept/Oct 2012

Current Tank Info: 180 gal SPS dominated display, 3 X 250 watt Radiums , lumenarc III minis , with VHO actinics, ETS downdraft skimmers, closed loops and 2 Tunze 6105 & 7095 controller,DIY calcium reactors DIY custom built sumps,since 1992
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Unread 02/09/2010, 03:08 PM   #656
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yeah that could be the problem. I have had my hands in the tank arranging live rock. Thanks for all your help!


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Unread 02/09/2010, 04:28 PM   #657
rigleautomotive
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your welcome


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Dan Rigle
President,
* Reef Conservation Society
TOTM December 2010
Coral Magazine Sept/Oct 2012

Current Tank Info: 180 gal SPS dominated display, 3 X 250 watt Radiums , lumenarc III minis , with VHO actinics, ETS downdraft skimmers, closed loops and 2 Tunze 6105 & 7095 controller,DIY calcium reactors DIY custom built sumps,since 1992
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Unread 02/10/2010, 10:04 AM   #658
Jamesurq
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Looking to sell my ETSS 800 with a mag 12 pump - Needing something smaller to fit in the setup in my new place. Comes with both of the add on's (input filter and output container/filter)

PM me if you're interested.


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Unread 02/10/2010, 10:09 AM   #659
ostrow
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James! Haven't seen you in these parts in a while!


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Unread 02/10/2010, 10:34 PM   #660
hunnicuttz
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rigleautomotive View Post
yea that looks better,it will start working soon,seems like you possibly got some oils in the water from your hands or the equiptment and these skimmers are sensitive to this.dont feed and keep your hands out of the water and it willl start forming a stable head
Its starting to form now. Do you think i'm skimming too wet or does it look ok?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZQCch89AEM


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Unread 02/10/2010, 11:35 PM   #661
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okay so i have an ETTS evolution downdraft skimmer and it has pretty much stopped producing skimmate .i have heard that you need to replace the bioballs from time to time and mine are 8 years old ,could this be the reason that its not working correctly ? it seems so far fetched that plastic balls could "wear out"but i have no where to point fingers at . i heard this a few years back and just cant get myself to believe it ,any one ?


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Current Tank Info: 40 freshwater,25saltwater 2000 gallons ,enough tanks for an army ?
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Unread 02/10/2010, 11:40 PM   #662
jjk_reef00
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When mine stopped skimming I had to pull the bio-balls out because they were clogged in the downdraft tube. After 8 years I would say it was time to replace the bio balls...


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Unread 02/10/2010, 11:54 PM   #663
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okay ,i have taken them out dozens of times and cleaned them so i know they are not clogged thats my problem with this whole thing . i will however replace them and post on this tread if it makes a difference .thanks for your input.


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Current Tank Info: 40 freshwater,25saltwater 2000 gallons ,enough tanks for an army ?
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Unread 02/11/2010, 12:23 AM   #664
jjk_reef00
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How long has it stopped producing? How old is the pump, if it is going bad it may not be able to create the force required to generate enough foam?
The only other thing I could think of could be the air intake is clogged up. Either at the top of the downdraft tube or out at in the collection cup dumps the skimmate out.


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Unread 02/11/2010, 12:35 AM   #665
iamwrasseman
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#1 it hasnt produced for a couple of years
#2 the pump is seven years old /mag12 throttled back and can easily overflow the unit with both water and plenty of foam
#3 air intake open at it can be 100%
it seems to make some "scum" on the inside of the upper tube but only overflows at night when I'm not there to see and the skimmate is clear as ro water in color .it will overflow a gallon every night .i have throttled it back and forth so many times and it just baffles me .it used to work like a monster as it is hooked up to 12 20 gallon tanks . the only thing that has changed is i have less bioload on the system .300 gallons and five Morey eels and a couple of triggers and i feed about 1/4lb cocktail shrimp per week so it seems it should be going crazy .
get this nitrates 160 +++


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This hobby certainly can put you in some weird positions !

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Current Tank Info: 40 freshwater,25saltwater 2000 gallons ,enough tanks for an army ?
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Unread 02/11/2010, 01:28 AM   #666
jjk_reef00
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How often do you feed? If you feed all the time it may be down because of that. Mine will lose the foam head for quite a while after I feed. The fact that it overflows at night makes me think something you are putting into the tank is causing it to lose the foam head (even your hand can do that).

IMO, the fact that you throttle back the pump, and it overflows is an indicator that it may not be tuned right. When people say theirs isn't producing it is usually because they cannot get enough foam. If you can in fact get enough foam to overflow it then you just need to dial it in.

Gradually turn it down the gate valve output of the skimmer until it doesn't overflow (a little every day). Eventually it will not overflow and you will have some skimmate. If it gets to the point that it doesn't overflow and you don't have any skimmate then close the value on the output of the skimmer a little more. There is a sweet spot there, you just have to dial it in. Also when doing these adjustments you should try to keep your pump dialed in to the same position. It will be very hard to dial it in if you are adjusting both the pump and the gate valve on the skimmer.

The gate valve adjustments can be very sensitive, so go slow. If I turn my gate valve as little as possible about 1/8 of an inch, and I can notice slightly wetter/dryer skim. I do have mine tuned just the way I want it.

If you are turning 1/2 turn to try to adjust it, that may be too much. Go 1/4 of a turn or 1/8 of a turn and see what that gives you. I've also noticed mine doesn't work quite as well when the neck gets dirty so I try to clean mine once a week.

Hopefully new bioballs and fine tuning will get it working for you.


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Current Tank Info: 375 FOWLR

Last edited by jjk_reef00; 02/11/2010 at 01:34 AM.
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Unread 02/11/2010, 06:52 AM   #667
rigleautomotive
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hunnicuttz View Post
Its starting to form now. Do you think i'm skimming too wet or does it look ok?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZQCch89AEM

looks good,i would leave it alone for now


Quote:
Originally Posted by iamwrasseman View Post
okay so i have an ETTS evolution downdraft skimmer and it has pretty much stopped producing skimmate .i have heard that you need to replace the bioballs from time to time and mine are 8 years old ,could this be the reason that its not working correctly ? it seems so far fetched that plastic balls could "wear out"but i have no where to point fingers at . i heard this a few years back and just cant get myself to believe it ,any one ?

new Bio balls always make these skimmers work much better and should be changed about every 6 months to a year.Once water runs over them so long it wears the surfaces smooth much like water running over rocks in a creek bed and they become less efficient.make sure your pump,air intake and hose going from the collection cup to the storage vessel are clear and unobstructed


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Dan Rigle
President,
* Reef Conservation Society
TOTM December 2010
Coral Magazine Sept/Oct 2012

Current Tank Info: 180 gal SPS dominated display, 3 X 250 watt Radiums , lumenarc III minis , with VHO actinics, ETS downdraft skimmers, closed loops and 2 Tunze 6105 & 7095 controller,DIY calcium reactors DIY custom built sumps,since 1992
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Unread 02/11/2010, 05:40 PM   #668
iamwrasseman
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jjk reef00 yes i do adjust over aperiod od days at 1/16 of a turn or less and have cleaned it all its a sump type and you can use the gate to adjust the level which i do but the pump also can be throttled back if necessary ,thats what i was explaining . i do use the gate valve on the exhaust end .i feed three times a week to the triggers and once a week the eels .about 1/4 of cocktail shrimp total each week and realisticaly its closer to 1/3 lb.also there was a period of time when i could easily adjust the unit now it just seems like its impossable .i also clean my skimmers at least once a week as you stated .

ok rigleautomotive i will order new bioballs as this seems to be my problem .

thanks guys and in a week or two when i get them i will post my response as to how they work out .


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This hobby certainly can put you in some weird positions !

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Current Tank Info: 40 freshwater,25saltwater 2000 gallons ,enough tanks for an army ?
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Unread 02/16/2010, 02:53 PM   #669
popper231
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I just got a used etss800 with an iwaki100rlt. when first turn on, it does foam, but 10-15 seconds later, no more foam nor bubble.. any idea?

thanks


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Unread 02/16/2010, 06:00 PM   #670
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Is the Iwaki 40RT a pressure rated pump? I am trying to find the numbers on the pump but I cant find it anywhere. Also what other kind of pumps are similar. I just bought a 800RX if that helps. Is the Pan World 100PX External Water Pump (- 790gph) similar? Thanks for your help


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Unread 02/16/2010, 08:43 PM   #671
rigleautomotive
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Quote:
Originally Posted by popper231 View Post
I just got a used etss800 with an iwaki100rlt. when first turn on, it does foam, but 10-15 seconds later, no more foam nor bubble.. any idea?

thanks
Is there something possibly blocking the air intake or the collection cup drain


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Dan Rigle
President,
* Reef Conservation Society
TOTM December 2010
Coral Magazine Sept/Oct 2012

Current Tank Info: 180 gal SPS dominated display, 3 X 250 watt Radiums , lumenarc III minis , with VHO actinics, ETS downdraft skimmers, closed loops and 2 Tunze 6105 & 7095 controller,DIY calcium reactors DIY custom built sumps,since 1992
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Unread 02/16/2010, 08:48 PM   #672
rigleautomotive
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Quote:
Originally Posted by btb72 View Post
Is the Iwaki 40RT a pressure rated pump? I am trying to find the numbers on the pump but I cant find it anywhere. Also what other kind of pumps are similar. I just bought a 800RX if that helps. Is the Pan World 100PX External Water Pump (- 790gph) similar? Thanks for your help
The Iwalki 40RT is a pressure rated pump as is the pan world.Basically the same pump with different paint


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Dan Rigle
President,
* Reef Conservation Society
TOTM December 2010
Coral Magazine Sept/Oct 2012

Current Tank Info: 180 gal SPS dominated display, 3 X 250 watt Radiums , lumenarc III minis , with VHO actinics, ETS downdraft skimmers, closed loops and 2 Tunze 6105 & 7095 controller,DIY calcium reactors DIY custom built sumps,since 1992
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Unread 02/16/2010, 09:45 PM   #673
btb72
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ok thanks, then what is the difference in the pan world 100pxx? im not trying to be lazy but i spent a long time trying to find which one is pressure rated and what isnt. Thanks


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Unread 02/16/2010, 10:17 PM   #674
rigleautomotive
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ok thanks, then what is the difference in the pan world 100pxx? im not trying to be lazy but i spent a long time trying to find which one is pressure rated and what isnt. Thanks

no problem,the X model is higher flow less head.the pressure rated pumps(without the X) are high head lower flow.


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Dan Rigle
President,
* Reef Conservation Society
TOTM December 2010
Coral Magazine Sept/Oct 2012

Current Tank Info: 180 gal SPS dominated display, 3 X 250 watt Radiums , lumenarc III minis , with VHO actinics, ETS downdraft skimmers, closed loops and 2 Tunze 6105 & 7095 controller,DIY calcium reactors DIY custom built sumps,since 1992
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Unread 02/17/2010, 08:49 AM   #675
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ok thanks man, I appreciate all the help.


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