Protein Skimmer ETSS EVOLUTION 500 - Is it working correctly? eas

[EdinPlanoTX]

I have a 215 reef, sand substr, t-5 lights (Sunlight Supply Tek T-5 Lights,
8 X 36" X 39W I LOVE THEM).

Using ETSS Protein skimmer EVOLUTION 500 driven by RIO 3100

The effluent that ends up in the collections jug is pretty 'clean' and
light, and the volume is low.
I'm convinced the flow rate is correct, with foam going up the chamber
nicely.

The real 'muck' is left behind in the chamber , and I get lots of really
thick slimy slime when I clean it.

Question: Is that normal? SHould I expect to be removing the majority of
the, well, crap, to be blunt, during the breakdown and cleaning of the
skimmer chamber? Am I naive to think the 'crap'should end up in the
collection jug?

---------------------------------------------
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[skozzy]

I'm not 100% sure here, but the general setting for a skimmer pulls gunk off
that makes a **** colour to the water, if the setting of the skimmer is too
high (bubble starting too high) then you will pull much the same but with an
excess level of water, thus making it look clearer. In my opinion, more is
better then less.

If I adjust mine so the bubble start high up the neck I get mostly clear
water with a slight discolouration, if I set the bubbles down low I get a
very sour colour to the **** in the cup, but there is a much lower volume of
liquid in it.

For me I like to be on the safe side and get extra out then not enough.


"EdinPlanoTX" > wrote in message
...
> I have a 215 reef, sand substr, t-5 lights (Sunlight Supply Tek T-5
Lights,
> 8 X 36" X 39W I LOVE THEM).
>
> Using ETSS Protein skimmer EVOLUTION 500 driven by RIO 3100
>
> The effluent that ends up in the collections jug is pretty 'clean' and
> light, and the volume is low.
> I'm convinced the flow rate is correct, with foam going up the chamber
> nicely.
>
> The real 'muck' is left behind in the chamber , and I get lots of really
> thick slimy slime when I clean it.
>
> Question: Is that normal? SHould I expect to be removing the majority of
> the, well, crap, to be blunt, during the breakdown and cleaning of the
> skimmer chamber? Am I naive to think the 'crap'should end up in the
> collection jug?
>
> ---------------------------------------------
> Remove NOSPAM to reply
>
>
>

[Raymond]

"EdinPlanoTX" > wrote in message >...
> I have a 215 reef, sand substr, t-5 lights (Sunlight Supply Tek T-5 Lights,
> 8 X 36" X 39W I LOVE THEM).
>
> Using ETSS Protein skimmer EVOLUTION 500 driven by RIO 3100
>
> The effluent that ends up in the collections jug is pretty 'clean' and
> light, and the volume is low.
> I'm convinced the flow rate is correct, with foam going up the chamber
> nicely.
>
> The real 'muck' is left behind in the chamber , and I get lots of really
> thick slimy slime when I clean it.
>
> Question: Is that normal? SHould I expect to be removing the majority of
> the, well, crap, to be blunt, during the breakdown and cleaning of the
> skimmer chamber? Am I naive to think the 'crap'should end up in the
> collection jug?
>
> ---------------------------------------------
> Remove NOSPAM to reply
>

How long does it take to fill the collection cup?
What size tank?
How many fish and or corals?
How much do you feed?

If you just have an empty tank then the skimmer can't pull anything
out....

Assuming you have a tank producing waste then the next thing would be
that you could have the water level in the skimmer way to low. If the
water in the collection cup is clear and it takes it a looong time to
fill, it may just be condensation. You should be shooting for "strong
tea" colored water in the collection cup. It could also be that the
pump isn't doing its job. If the bubble volume is to low then the foam
head may not be able to push the sludge up and out the neck into the
collection cup. Make sure the output of the pump isn't restricted.

[Marc Levenson]

The reaction chamber of my skimmer gets dirty too, I wipe it out every 3 to 4
days.

Marc


EdinPlanoTX wrote:

> I have a 215 reef, sand substr, t-5 lights (Sunlight Supply Tek T-5 Lights,
> 8 X 36" X 39W I LOVE THEM).
>
> Using ETSS Protein skimmer EVOLUTION 500 driven by RIO 3100
>
> The effluent that ends up in the collections jug is pretty 'clean' and
> light, and the volume is low.
> I'm convinced the flow rate is correct, with foam going up the chamber
> nicely.
>
> The real 'muck' is left behind in the chamber , and I get lots of really
> thick slimy slime when I clean it.
>
> Question: Is that normal? SHould I expect to be removing the majority of
> the, well, crap, to be blunt, during the breakdown and cleaning of the
> skimmer chamber? Am I naive to think the 'crap'should end up in the
> collection jug?
>
> ---------------------------------------------
> Remove NOSPAM to reply
>

--
Personal Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com

[Jimmy Chen]

> I have a 215 reef, sand substr, t-5 lights (Sunlight Supply Tek T-5
Lights,
> 8 X 36" X 39W I LOVE THEM).
>
> Using ETSS Protein skimmer EVOLUTION 500 driven by RIO 3100

Get a real pump - somthing like Iwaki 30 RLT or Velocity T3, and you will
get plenty of skimmates everyday. The Evo 500 is not meant to be driven by
an in-sump pump as they do not do justice to the skimmer. Your tank is
already too big for the skimmer, lets not make things worst by using a weak
pump.

jc

[Richard Reynolds]

> > Using ETSS Protein skimmer EVOLUTION 500 driven by RIO 3100
> Get a real pump - somthing like Iwaki 30 RLT or Velocity T3, and you will
> get plenty of skimmates everyday. The Evo 500 is not meant to be driven by
> an in-sump pump as they do not do justice to the skimmer. Your tank is
> already too big for the skimmer, lets not make things worst by using a weak
> pump.

I understand the dislike for rio's and I dont own that skimmer, so just from a gph /
heatft side of view it seems like you are saying a lesser pump will do more ??? what am I
missing ??

the 4' rio 3100 is listed at 690gph
the 4' 30 rtl is listed at 510gph
i couldnt quickly find exact gph for the t3 at 4' but i found a graph and it shows it at
about 650 ish +- a few either way.

I dont own a rio 3100 but I do own several others and i have found there estimates to be
about as inacurate as others.

so what am i missing ??

>
> jc

--
Richard Reynolds

[Jimmy Chen]

> the 4' rio 3100 is listed at 690gph
> the 4' 30 rtl is listed at 510gph
> i couldnt quickly find exact gph for the t3 at 4' but i found a graph and
it shows it at
> about 650 ish +- a few either way.
>
> I dont own a rio 3100 but I do own several others and i have found there
estimates to be
> about as inacurate as others.
>
> so what am i missing ??

Flowrate is only *one* of the factor on how to choose the correct pump for a
skimmer, but the other even more important factor that most tends to miss is
PSI. While the RIO has higher flow, it will not have the same PSI compared
to the Iwaki or Velocity.

jc

[OCS]

Just get a new skimmer rated for you tank and sell me yours. I live in
Plano :)

"EdinPlanoTX" > wrote in message
...
> I have a 215 reef, sand substr, t-5 lights (Sunlight Supply Tek T-5
Lights,
> 8 X 36" X 39W I LOVE THEM).
>
> Using ETSS Protein skimmer EVOLUTION 500 driven by RIO 3100
>
> The effluent that ends up in the collections jug is pretty 'clean' and
> light, and the volume is low.
> I'm convinced the flow rate is correct, with foam going up the chamber
> nicely.
>
> The real 'muck' is left behind in the chamber , and I get lots of really
> thick slimy slime when I clean it.
>
> Question: Is that normal? SHould I expect to be removing the majority of
> the, well, crap, to be blunt, during the breakdown and cleaning of the
> skimmer chamber? Am I naive to think the 'crap'should end up in the
> collection jug?
>
> ---------------------------------------------
> Remove NOSPAM to reply
>
>
>