Please help w/ wet foam from skimmer!

Kluver · 08/17/2006, 12:54 AM

Hi,
I have a ETSS evolution 500 skimmer in my sump. I am constantly having to turn down the mag 9.5 (rec pump for this skimmer) to almost 1/2 to 3/4 down w/ ball valve in order to prevent wet foam. When I mean wet foam, I mean its literally oozing out water. I have raised the skimmer up and used the reccomended # of bioballs as rec by ETSS. If I turn the ball valve open, I have to open the gate valve on the skimmer wide-open in order to prevent this wet foam. I've changed my water 3 times in the last month in hopes of removing any inorganics. In addition, I have since added only carbon to my phosban reactor; again in hopes of getting rid of whatever inogranics I may have. Any ideas as to why I'm having this wet foam problem?

My tank specs:

My new tank has been setup for about 1 month now (20gal old moved to 40g new w/ 20gal sump for total of 60g system water). Since that time, I have changed my water 3 times (15-20% each time). All my levels: ammon, nitrites, nitrates, phos, alk and calcium has been in the "normal" range. I feed my tank w/ brine shrimp, photoplex and ESV part A & B 4 times a week. I add strom and iodine once a week. I have 6 very small fish.

Kluver · 08/17/2006, 01:01 AM

oh, forgot to mention my salinity is 1.024-1.025.

Kluver · 08/17/2006, 01:24 AM

I also forgot to mentioned what I think is wrong. Could the water moving through my sump be too slow, causing the skimmer to re-skim the water? The water from the tank is provided by a strainer drilled in the left corner of tank. I noticed that I also have to turn the mag 7 return pump to almost half down in order to provide balance in the sump. The head is about 3' high. Sump is divided into 3 compartments, with fuge in the middle, skimmer in first and return in last. Just a thought.

BradL. · 08/17/2006, 05:03 AM

You need to get more air into the skimmer. Your air input is probably obstructed at the pump.

army67romeo · 08/17/2006, 09:56 AM

an ETSS doesnt use air at the pump ... it has a injector and the tower thats just a 90 .... does you outlet of your etss have a tee? you need one to brake the siphen .. you ball valve on the etss should start out open and the pump should be wide open at all times ... then you close the skimer ball valve down you water in the towwer should only be 1in into the towwer...

you need to check the highth out the water it should be at the top of the ruber out the outlet pipe on the side of the etss maybe 1/4in pass the top of the ruber ...

army67romeo · 08/17/2006, 09:57 AM

you dont have much bio load right now ....
i have my old etss it only makes dry skim can get to to skim wet

DC321 · 08/17/2006, 10:27 AM

You can open the gate valve all the way. This is not a problem.

army67romeo · 08/17/2006, 12:21 PM

i just called etss they say open bottom valve up open pump valve up.. adjust bottom valve to make wetter foam .. if it still makes wet foam add 3 bio balls to skimer to detune it it will make dryer foam ..

Kluver · 08/17/2006, 08:03 PM

so, its this correct: raise the skimmer so that water in the skimmer should be about 1/4" on top of the rubber on the outlet, open all the valves and add 3 bioballs?

army67romeo · 08/17/2006, 09:24 PM

ya they said the higher you raise the skimmer the better he told me

i would if it was mine open all the valves and try it .. if it does make foam then close the valve 1/4 turn at a time and see what happens ...if its still wet i would raise the skimmer or add 3 bio balls ...

i had to remove bio balls form mine to day

Kluver · 08/17/2006, 09:44 PM

update: ok did everything above w/ the same result...too much wet foam. I give up. I'm just gonna have to turn down the pump. Does anyone have any other suggestions?

army67romeo · 08/17/2006, 09:47 PM

where you live?

HotHotHot · 08/18/2006, 07:48 AM

How much did you raise the skimmer?

I had mine (which might now be yours

) on a 6"-7" stand.

HTH
Ed

Kluver · 08/18/2006, 10:42 PM

Army, I live at central and camelback. Hott, my skimmer is only raised 4". I guess I need to raise it up more.
A quick update: I added the three bioballs (total 23) and although the foam is still coming out strong, if I turn the pump down I'm able to make a drier foam. I just hate having to buy a pump that's strong when I really didn't need it.

army67romeo · 08/19/2006, 01:50 PM

had you read etss site? is the bottom valve wiide open? is there anything after the valve? sreen a tee ?anything my cell is 602 628 6029 i have to go that way some time today or sunday manybe i need to go look at it.. you maybe missing some thing

glassguy · 08/19/2006, 05:55 PM

If I remember correctly, you raise the water in the skimmer to get less foam, usually the otherway around on other skimmers not etss. Close the outlet valve and raise the water level in the box and there will be less foam. Do it very slowly so you don't over flow the cup, etss can be very touchy.
Good luck!

08/17/2006, 12:54 AM	#1
Kluver Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 250	Please help w/ wet foam from skimmer! Hi, I have a ETSS evolution 500 skimmer in my sump. I am constantly having to turn down the mag 9.5 (rec pump for this skimmer) to almost 1/2 to 3/4 down w/ ball valve in order to prevent wet foam. When I mean wet foam, I mean its literally oozing out water. I have raised the skimmer up and used the reccomended # of bioballs as rec by ETSS. If I turn the ball valve open, I have to open the gate valve on the skimmer wide-open in order to prevent this wet foam. I've changed my water 3 times in the last month in hopes of removing any inorganics. In addition, I have since added only carbon to my phosban reactor; again in hopes of getting rid of whatever inogranics I may have. Any ideas as to why I'm having this wet foam problem? My tank specs: My new tank has been setup for about 1 month now (20gal old moved to 40g new w/ 20gal sump for total of 60g system water). Since that time, I have changed my water 3 times (15-20% each time). All my levels: ammon, nitrites, nitrates, phos, alk and calcium has been in the "normal" range. I feed my tank w/ brine shrimp, photoplex and ESV part A & B 4 times a week. I add strom and iodine once a week. I have 6 very small fish.

08/17/2006, 05:03 AM	#4
BradL. Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Illinois Posts: 991	You need to get more air into the skimmer. Your air input is probably obstructed at the pump. __________________ Put the most exotic creatures in the world in their rightful place---your living room.

08/17/2006, 09:56 AM	#5
army67romeo Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Glendale AZ Posts: 690	an ETSS doesnt use air at the pump ... it has a injector and the tower thats just a 90 .... does you outlet of your etss have a tee? you need one to brake the siphen .. you ball valve on the etss should start out open and the pump should be wide open at all times ... then you close the skimer ball valve down you water in the towwer should only be 1in into the towwer... you need to check the highth out the water it should be at the top of the ruber out the outlet pipe on the side of the etss maybe 1/4in pass the top of the ruber ... __________________ Glendale and 75ave Current Tank Info: 150 peninsula lee-Mar 35gal fuge with G4 ASM 2x175se MH's. Tank 2 40 gal cube with a 250watt Mh phx bulb. Tank 3 120 two 250DE hqi with 4 t-5s and kent skimmer...

08/17/2006, 09:57 AM	#6
army67romeo Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Glendale AZ Posts: 690	you dont have much bio load right now .... i have my old etss it only makes dry skim can get to to skim wet __________________ Glendale and 75ave Current Tank Info: 150 peninsula lee-Mar 35gal fuge with G4 ASM 2x175se MH's. Tank 2 40 gal cube with a 250watt Mh phx bulb. Tank 3 120 two 250DE hqi with 4 t-5s and kent skimmer...

08/17/2006, 10:27 AM	#7
DC321 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL Posts: 685	You can open the gate valve all the way. This is not a problem. __________________ There is an island of opportunity in the middle of every difficulty. Miss that and you are doomed. Current Tank Info: 180 SPS Reef

08/17/2006, 01:01 AM	#2
Kluver Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 250	oh, forgot to mention my salinity is 1.024-1.025.

08/17/2006, 01:24 AM	#3
Kluver Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 250	I also forgot to mentioned what I think is wrong. Could the water moving through my sump be too slow, causing the skimmer to re-skim the water? The water from the tank is provided by a strainer drilled in the left corner of tank. I noticed that I also have to turn the mag 7 return pump to almost half down in order to provide balance in the sump. The head is about 3' high. Sump is divided into 3 compartments, with fuge in the middle, skimmer in first and return in last. Just a thought.

08/17/2006, 12:21 PM	#8
army67romeo Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Glendale AZ Posts: 690	i just called etss they say open bottom valve up open pump valve up.. adjust bottom valve to make wetter foam .. if it still makes wet foam add 3 bio balls to skimer to detune it it will make dryer foam .. __________________ Glendale and 75ave Current Tank Info: 150 peninsula lee-Mar 35gal fuge with G4 ASM 2x175se MH's. Tank 2 40 gal cube with a 250watt Mh phx bulb. Tank 3 120 two 250DE hqi with 4 t-5s and kent skimmer...

08/17/2006, 08:03 PM	#9
Kluver Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 250	so, its this correct: raise the skimmer so that water in the skimmer should be about 1/4" on top of the rubber on the outlet, open all the valves and add 3 bioballs?

08/17/2006, 09:24 PM	#10
army67romeo Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Glendale AZ Posts: 690	ya they said the higher you raise the skimmer the better he told me i would if it was mine open all the valves and try it .. if it does make foam then close the valve 1/4 turn at a time and see what happens ...if its still wet i would raise the skimmer or add 3 bio balls ... i had to remove bio balls form mine to day __________________ Glendale and 75ave Current Tank Info: 150 peninsula lee-Mar 35gal fuge with G4 ASM 2x175se MH's. Tank 2 40 gal cube with a 250watt Mh phx bulb. Tank 3 120 two 250DE hqi with 4 t-5s and kent skimmer...

08/17/2006, 09:44 PM	#11
Kluver Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 250	update: ok did everything above w/ the same result...too much wet foam. I give up. I'm just gonna have to turn down the pump. Does anyone have any other suggestions?

08/17/2006, 09:47 PM	#12
army67romeo Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Glendale AZ Posts: 690	where you live? __________________ Glendale and 75ave Current Tank Info: 150 peninsula lee-Mar 35gal fuge with G4 ASM 2x175se MH's. Tank 2 40 gal cube with a 250watt Mh phx bulb. Tank 3 120 two 250DE hqi with 4 t-5s and kent skimmer...

08/18/2006, 07:48 AM	#13
HotHotHot Obligate Coral Killer Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 643	How much did you raise the skimmer? I had mine (which might now be yours ) on a 6"-7" stand. HTH Ed __________________ It is NOT a dry heat! Click the little red house to read my 225 thread. Current Tank Info: 200gal NWV, 34ppt, 6" DSB, 750W MH, XM 20K, 220W VHO, CL, MP40W X2, chiller, GAC, Starting NeoZeo 7/18/09

08/18/2006, 10:42 PM	#14
Kluver Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 250	Army, I live at central and camelback. Hott, my skimmer is only raised 4". I guess I need to raise it up more. A quick update: I added the three bioballs (total 23) and although the foam is still coming out strong, if I turn the pump down I'm able to make a drier foam. I just hate having to buy a pump that's strong when I really didn't need it.

08/19/2006, 01:50 PM	#15
army67romeo Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Glendale AZ Posts: 690	had you read etss site? is the bottom valve wiide open? is there anything after the valve? sreen a tee ?anything my cell is 602 628 6029 i have to go that way some time today or sunday manybe i need to go look at it.. you maybe missing some thing __________________ Glendale and 75ave Current Tank Info: 150 peninsula lee-Mar 35gal fuge with G4 ASM 2x175se MH's. Tank 2 40 gal cube with a 250watt Mh phx bulb. Tank 3 120 two 250DE hqi with 4 t-5s and kent skimmer...

08/19/2006, 05:55 PM	#16
glassguy Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: gilbert, Az Posts: 156	If I remember correctly, you raise the water in the skimmer to get less foam, usually the otherway around on other skimmers not etss. Close the outlet valve and raise the water level in the box and there will be less foam. Do it very slowly so you don't over flow the cup, etss can be very touchy. Good luck!