ETSS Skimmer Club!

[joegoersch]

I just bought a used skimmer--I think is an ETSS Reef Devil. When I look on the ETSS website, http://www.superskimmer.com/RD.htm, it seems like it comes with a Mag 7 or a Catalina 2200. I don't understand why if it only processes 300-400 gph a mag 3 or a maybe a mag 5 is not enough.

I have a 29 gallon tank and a 29 gallon fuge--seems strange that the skimmer should use more juice than the return pump from my sump--a mag 3.

Is there anything I can do with the outflow from the Reef Devil to make use of all that flow ?

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=...ed=0CBoQ9QEwAQ

[gchaney]

Originally Posted by joegoersch

I just bought a used skimmer--I think is an ETSS Reef Devil. When I look on the ETSS website, http://www.superskimmer.com/RD.htm, it seems like it comes with a Mag 7 or a Catalina 2200. I don't understand why if it only processes 300-400 gph a mag 3 or a maybe a mag 5 is not enough.

I have a 29 gallon tank and a 29 gallon fuge--seems strange that the skimmer should use more juice than the return pump from my sump--a mag 3.

Is there anything I can do with the outflow from the Reef Devil to make use of all that flow ?

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=...ed=0CBoQ9QEwAQ

when I first got my etss 800 I played the same game trying to figure out why they wanted such a big pump. I have since come to understand that the downdraft skimmer bases its action more on pressure then water volume. So any pump you put on it is running at a vary high head ratting. I recommend using the pump they recommend or equivalent.

[gchaney]

Is anyone out there running any type of CO2 scrubber on there etss? such as this one http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/...raises-ph.html
i will like DIY one I know the chemical in them is just soda lime which you can get from air gas, and a canister filter housing with a refillable DI can.

[diverdick]

I just ordered the 12" extensions for my 1400. Has anyone else tried these extensions? If so, do tell about the behavior/performance.

Regards,

--Rich

[Alex T.]

I had a 12" extension on my ETSS 600XR, making it roughly a 900xr. In short, yes they work. The added height with enough pump equals more contact time for organics to become fully saturated which in turn creates more foam, and darker foam at that.

[joegoersch]

Originally Posted by gchaney

when I first got my etss 800 I played the same game trying to figure out why they wanted such a big pump. I have since come to understand that the downdraft skimmer bases its action more on pressure then water volume. So any pump you put on it is running at a vary high head ratting. I recommend using the pump they recommend or equivalent.

Thanks. Sounds like a losing game--I won't play that game, I'll take your advice.

[diverdick]

Originally Posted by Alex T.

I had a 12" extension on my ETSS 600XR, making it roughly a 900xr. In short, yes they work. The added height with enough pump equals more contact time for organics to become fully saturated which in turn creates more foam, and darker foam at that.

Sweet! Thanks for the re: I checked their site and from the sizing description, I will be at the ETSS 2000 range. Looks like I need more water! LMAO

[joegoersch]

Hey guys, I a noobie, so go easy on me if this is a stupid question.

I have an old second hand Reef Devil Skimmer and the instructions say there should only be like a half inch of foam in the riser tube. I adjusted the outlet valve for that. Now after running the skimmer for 3 days, there is about an inch an a half of foam in the riser tube, but nothing has reached the cup yet. Am I doing something wrong, or could it be because there isn't much to skim? I have a 29 gallon tank and 29 gallon fuge which has been running a month with a CPR bak-pak skimmer which I just replaced with the Red Devil when I added the fuge. I haven't added any fish yet, they need a couple more weeks in quarantine.

Should I close the valve until the foam makes it to the cup ?

Thanks.

[aculross]

Originally Posted by joegoersch

Hey guys, I a noobie, so go easy on me if this is a stupid question.

I have an old second hand Reef Devil Skimmer and the instructions say there should only be like a half inch of foam in the riser tube. I adjusted the outlet valve for that. Now after running the skimmer for 3 days, there is about an inch an a half of foam in the riser tube, but nothing has reached the cup yet. Am I doing something wrong, or could it be because there isn't much to skim? I have a 29 gallon tank and 29 gallon fuge which has been running a month with a CPR bak-pak skimmer which I just replaced with the Red Devil when I added the fuge. I haven't added any fish yet, they need a couple more weeks in quarantine.

Should I close the valve until the foam makes it to the cup ?

Thanks.

The superskimmer site has instructions for adjusting your skimmer. I assume you mean you have a 1/2" of water in the riser tube and foam on top of that, yeah? I does take some time for it to break in and is dependant on your bio-load. What is the bio-load? I'd give it a bit more time if indeed you have about 1/2 of water in the riser tube

[joegoersch]

Originally Posted by aculross

The superskimmer site has instructions for adjusting your skimmer. I assume you mean you have a 1/2" of water in the riser tube and foam on top of that, yeah? I does take some time for it to break in and is dependant on your bio-load. What is the bio-load? I'd give it a bit more time if indeed you have about 1/2 of water in the riser tube

Sorry if I wasn't clear. The instructions seem to say you should have NO water in the riser tube and to adjust it so that there is (initially) only a half inch of foam in there. That's what I started with. Now there is more foam than initially--1.5 inches of foam, but none has made it to the top.

Not much bioload yet, just 50 lbs or so of live rock and 30 lbs of sand. I'm just getting the system all set up while I'm quarantining the fish in my QT.

The superskimmer instructions are not that clear. I'm wondering if you follow their instructions and just have a little foam in the riser tube, how it might make its way up to the top.

Thanks.

[aculross]

Originally Posted by joegoersch

Sorry if I wasn't clear. The instructions seem to say you should have NO water in the riser tube and to adjust it so that there is (initially) only a half inch of foam in there. That's what I started with. Now there is more foam than initially--1.5 inches of foam, but none has made it to the top.

Not much bioload yet, just 50 lbs or so of live rock and 30 lbs of sand. I'm just getting the system all set up while I'm quarantining the fish in my QT.

The superskimmer instructions are not that clear. I'm wondering if you follow their instructions and just have a little foam in the riser tube, how it might make its way up to the top.

Thanks.

Gotcha - I have about 1/2 inch of water in my riser tube - I think you can adjust the water level upwards - One piece of advice - do it slowly - perhaps a 1/4 turn a day.

[joegoersch]

Originally Posted by aculross

Gotcha - I have about 1/2 inch of water in my riser tube - I think you can adjust the water level upwards - One piece of advice - do it slowly - perhaps a 1/4 turn a day.

So will the foam column just grow and make its way to the top ?

Could the problem be too little bioload (50 lbs of live rock that has been skimmed for a month)?

Thanks.

[aculross]

Originally Posted by joegoersch

So will the foam column just grow and make its way to the top ?

Could the problem be too little bioload (50 lbs of live rock that has been skimmed for a month)?

Thanks.

Yep, the foam column should make it's way up the riser and into the collection cup. The bioload could be low - are you using a big enough pump?

[joegoersch]

Originally Posted by aculross

Yep, the foam column should make it's way up the riser and into the collection cup. The bioload could be low - are you using a big enough pump?

the person who sold it to me had been using a Mag 3; but I'm using Mag 5. Think that'll do it?

[vitodog]

Call Gary over at AE Tech (845 227-2812). Mon-Fri, 8 am - 4:30 pm EST. I'm sure he will tell you the right pump for that skimmer.

[diverdick]

Originally Posted by vitodog

Call Gary over at AE Tech (845 227-2812). Mon-Fri, 8 am - 4:30 pm EST. I'm sure he will tell you the right pump for that skimmer.

+1 on the phone call. I have had several discussions with him. He will guide you well grasshopper.

[joegoersch]

thanks guys ! will do !

[joegoersch]

Originally Posted by diverdick

+1 on the phone call. I have had several discussions with him. He will guide you well grasshopper.

I called Gary, but I'm still a little confused. Gary told me to remove the elbow that comes out of the sump and is connected to a short piece of pvc and then the gate valve and then another piece of pvc. He said the gate valve should just be connected to the body of the sump via a short piece of pvc and shoud drain into the water. He referred me to the tuning guide on the superskimmer web site for clarification and to look at the quick start guide. http://www.superskimmer.com/Manuals_...nstrQstart.pdf and the fine tuning guide http://www.superskimmer.com/Manuals_...anceTuning.pdf are both not clear about this. In fact, they indicate the water should be discharged about the sump water level.

Can anyone with a Reef Devil comment on this/helf me out ???

thanks !

[jrmx635]

just wanted to pipe in about pumps.
I have a etss 800 and can't stand loud pumps.
So I tried a velocity/blueline T-3 and it works well.
dead silent pump and runs up to 28' head pressure.
definately a great fix for those of us that don't want our tanks sounding like an airport

[jonnyu]

Joegoersch, did you get it tunned in? I have a Reef Devil 750 ( I think)

All I can get it to do is make bubbles in my tank. I am on clear on how to adjust the Skimmer. I was running it with a mag 9.5 then gary told me put a Mag 18 on it. So I put the mag 18 and got more foam but its really wet foam.
With the Valve wide open on the pump and outlet. I get this

So I have to cut the pump back a little. Now its hard to tell where the Water ends and the bubble begins. So Do I cut the pump back till the till the bubbles are 1/2" up the riser? How do I control some of the bubbles that are going to my tank? I have the water pass through 2 sponges. Does the micro bubbles slow down after it breaks in? Thanks for the help.

[jonnyu]

Here is another look at it with pump wide open and outlet valve wide open

[llebcire]

Originally Posted by jonnyu

Here is another look at it with pump wide open and outlet valve wide open

Your video didn't work. Clicking the image will load the video from your photobucket album.

[jonnyu]

So can anyone help getting this thing running and slowing down the micro-bubbles back into the tank? Thanks

[aculross]

Have you tried dumping the output of the skimmer onto a piece of foam? That's how I have my ETS output.

(Oops - I think you mentioned that you have 2 sponges so perhaps this is not very helpful)

[rigleautomotive]

Originally Posted by jonnyu

Joegoersch, did you get it tunned in? I have a Reef Devil 750 ( I think)

All I can get it to do is make bubbles in my tank. I am on clear on how to adjust the Skimmer. I was running it with a mag 9.5 then gary told me put a Mag 18 on it. So I put the mag 18 and got more foam but its really wet foam.
With the Valve wide open on the pump and outlet. I get this

So I have to cut the pump back a little. Now its hard to tell where the Water ends and the bubble begins. So Do I cut the pump back till the till the bubbles are 1/2" up the riser? How do I control some of the bubbles that are going to my tank? I have the water pass through 2 sponges. Does the micro bubbles slow down after it breaks in? Thanks for the help.

The video clearly shows you have it turned up to high.cut back on the valve on the pump until the bubbles are cracking about 6 or 7 inches from the top of the reaction tube.then do not touch it again until the next day.Take a pic and post it and I will tell you what way to go on the valve.It will take a day (minium) to form a stable foam head and start working correctly.Only then can I help you dial it in.This will be a good starting point

as far as micro bubbles,you will need a sump designed like an etss sump or a actual etss sump.It will need constant 6 to 7 inches of water on the skimmer side(needs to be constant and this is done with a damm of the proper height) and several bubble traps before entering the chamber where your return pump draws from.This ensures no micro bubbles.