Equipment - Skimmer

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Skimmer

Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Specialized Discussion
Forum Name: Equipment
Forum Description: This is the place to ask question about reef equipment.
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=26041
Printed Date: July 26 2025 at 6:57pm
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Topic: Skimmer

Posted By: kdinkel
Subject: Skimmer
Date Posted: May 28 2008 at 3:47pm

I have an ETSS 800 XR downdraft skimmer. I have the necessary bioballs and have it raised slightly above the level of my sump as suggested in the manual. The downside is I don't make much skimace with it. I have seen other ETSS skimmers running and they have far more micro bubbles in the water. I am guessing I need a more powerful pump? (I believe I have a mag7 running it now, but the is about 4' of tubing between the pump and the skimmer). It handles 600-900 gph and I am wondering if I should increase my flow?

Replies:

Posted By: Andreason
Date Posted: May 29 2008 at 11:27am

You may know more about this than I do, but what I did was take the bioballs out. I think they do better on FW systems and can cause nitrate issues in SW. I am not familiar with that skimmer but that is a monster pump for a skimmer. How big is your tank? I have a ASM G-2 with sedra 350 mod for my 90g and it works great. I then have an ASM G-3 with sedra 500 w/o mod on another 90g and it works great. You want it to pull tons of skimage out of the water, if I underestand your post correctly you are not wanting it to? As far as the micro bubbles you may want to investigate doing a mod. I found that it made a huge difference, several people here have done mods and there is a thread on how to do them as well.

Wendy

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Andreason's

Posted By: kdinkel
Date Posted: May 29 2008 at 11:42am

Sorry, crappy post. I want a ton of skimace, but right now I am not makeing much. The problem I think is I don't have many microbubbles. As for bio balls, I am not sure on that, but I thought downdrafts needed them. As for tank size, I have a 150. The skimmer is designed for 600-900 gph, but I think I maybe on the lower end of that and might need to upgrade. I was at Jay's Jungle and he has a etss on his coral tank and is producing a ton of skimace, but his flow looks higher than mine.

Posted By: kdinkel
Date Posted: May 29 2008 at 11:45am

I would love a mod, but the only mod I have found for a downdraft is a durso and the articles I have read seem to think it doesn't help much.

Posted By: Andreason
Date Posted: May 29 2008 at 11:55am

If you want you can come look at mine. The smaller skimmer with the mod (350 gph) has smaller bubbles than the larger skimmer (500 gph) does. I would be interested to see if more flow helped the bubbles or was just necessary for tank size so if you upgrade your pump let me know how that effects your bubbles. I haven't heard that down draft skimmers need the bioballs. Interesting.

Wendy

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Andreason's

Posted By: dew2loud1
Date Posted: May 31 2008 at 9:03am

The downdraft has to have the bioballs they are what breaks up the air, If you are running 4' of feedline to the skimmer and its smaller diameter you are greatly reducing its output, if its rated at 600-900 and you are pushing a mag 7 up four feet through restricted tubing you are lucky if you are even at 500 gph or so, they aren't particulary good at head pressure. First thing I would do is use larger diameter hose going from the pump to the skimmer, and try to cut down the distance if at all possibly, that should make a huge improvement. OTherwise stay on the lookout for a mag 9 or equivelant. Downdrafts are pretty simple, pressurized water, simple venturi and bioballs to break up the bubbles.

Posted By: pa_reptileman_4
Date Posted: May 31 2008 at 1:39pm

i had the same problem with my berlin it skimmed for the first few days and then that was it, i took it off for 2 weeks and then put it back on and its skimming like a champ, i would say that the problem is there isnt anything for it to skim really try turning it off for a few days to a week and then turn it back on and it will start skimming alot.

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pitiful guppy tank.
shane

Posted By: MrViper
Date Posted: May 31 2008 at 10:14pm

I took the bio balls out of mine on advice of others in the group. My skimmer is working much better now and I have to dump the collection cup once a week. It is pretty gross what comes out of it.

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Vipers look cool at a distant, but be careful of the bite..its a killer!

Still to many cool stuff not enough money

Posted By: faviasteve
Date Posted: June 01 2008 at 11:28pm

The way to really increase performance is to add a beckett or two and use an Iwaki 55 or similar.

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Steve Burton

Logan, Utah

Posted By: pa_reptileman_4
Date Posted: June 02 2008 at 1:37am

well here is another question...not to hijack the post or anything. but i have had a skimmer on my 90 since the day i set it up, well i have had a skimmer in my water since feb...i have moved tanks several times. but anyway it skimmed for the first few days and then hasnt skimmed anything since, i recently took it off cause i was considering mod it but decided not to anyway it was off for about 2 weeks then put back on and is skimming decent right now as for the past week, i feel that it will stop skimming here in the next few days as it is slowing down. so is my skimmer to big for my tank or do i not have enough stuff in it to dirty the water fast enough for the skimmer?

i have

3 tangs

coral beauty

clown

3 chromis

lawnmower blennie

soldierfish

i think thats it and my skimmer is a berlin

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+4392+4428&pcatid=4428 - http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+4392+4428&pcatid=4428

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pitiful guppy tank.
shane