Skimmer dry foam

all-apologies · 09/13/2006, 11:04 PM

Ive got an older ETSS reef devil running on a via aqua 3300. The stuff it pulls out is so wet i can see through it. I dunno if im putting to much water though it or what.

Anyone know how i can get drier foam on this thing? Its pulling out super wet skimmate everyday (like a gallon), too wet for me. I have the gate walve wide open and the pump throttled back just a tiny bit.

thanks,

boxfishpooalot · 09/13/2006, 11:28 PM

you have to reduce the speed of the pump, or reduce the air it sucks in somehow.

Or if it has a ball valve(or gate) just open it more. That will get you drier skimmate.

all-apologies · 09/13/2006, 11:39 PM

will it take a while to become more dry?

I mean, thats what i figure cus right when i turn down the pump a bit and open the gate valve(from skimmer) it lowers the water level like 3/4 of and inch and justs sits there.

jsc4354 · 09/14/2006, 08:10 AM

I recently purchased a reef devil and am currently still tweaking to get it just right.Anyway, I was constantly opening and closing the gate valve and couldn't figure out why it would not pull any skimmate out. Then I went out of town for a couple days and guess what I had a quarter cup of skimmate. So, whatever changes you make let it sit there for a couple days.

DrBDC · 09/14/2006, 09:26 AM

On the larger model etss skimmers, adding an additional bioball in the downdraft tube will dry the skimmate out and the opposite by removing some.

boxfishpooalot · 09/15/2006, 12:24 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by all-apologies
will it take a while to become more dry?

I mean, thats what i figure cus right when i turn down the pump a bit and open the gate valve(from skimmer) it lowers the water level like 3/4 of and inch and justs sits there.

Yes as skimmate builds up as a foam, the foam will travel up the neck and flow into the cup. It may take a day to get kicken.

Fwiw, some people think skimming wet actually removes more organics. As the water from the foam drains back, it can contain more nitrate too. As bacteria break down the waste. So imo, wet skimming is fine, so long as you dont effect salinity too much.

Cosmo^Kramer · 09/15/2006, 03:36 AM

I had a reef devil and found these instructions very helpful.These are from the AE tech website.

http://www.superskimmer.com/SRD%20on_a_90.htm

09/13/2006, 11:04 PM	#1
all-apologies Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: The left coast CA Posts: 294	Skimmer dry foam Ive got an older ETSS reef devil running on a via aqua 3300. The stuff it pulls out is so wet i can see through it. I dunno if im putting to much water though it or what. Anyone know how i can get drier foam on this thing? Its pulling out super wet skimmate everyday (like a gallon), too wet for me. I have the gate walve wide open and the pump throttled back just a tiny bit. thanks,

09/13/2006, 11:28 PM	#2
boxfishpooalot Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: canada, Grande Praire, Ab Posts: 5,824	you have to reduce the speed of the pump, or reduce the air it sucks in somehow. Or if it has a ball valve(or gate) just open it more. That will get you drier skimmate. __________________ Its a good idea to have a refrence sample for alk test kits. 1.1350 grams of baking soda in 1gallon of distilled water=10dkh. Check your alkalinity test kit! Algae is Mother Natures phosphate remover Current Tank Info: 220 galon mixed reef.

09/14/2006, 09:26 AM	#5
DrBDC Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Ballwin, Missouri Posts: 10,358	On the larger model etss skimmers, adding an additional bioball in the downdraft tube will dry the skimmate out and the opposite by removing some. __________________ Some drink at the fountain of knowledge, some just gargle, but most are rabid. Current Tank Info: 180g sps+75 softy/lps on one system tunze's, seio's, mjmods, aquacontroller w/add ons, 2X400 XM10000 and 3X160 vho actinic, 110g sump, 110 frag tank, Geo Beckett and other stuff

09/15/2006, 03:36 AM	#7
Cosmo^Kramer Registered Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Westchester,NY Posts: 1,370	I had a reef devil and found these instructions very helpful.These are from the AE tech website. http://www.superskimmer.com/SRD%20on_a_90.htm __________________ If you choke a smurf,what color does he turn? The Police never think it's as funny as you do Current Tank Info: Starting up a Cadlights signature series.

09/13/2006, 11:39 PM	#3
all-apologies Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: The left coast CA Posts: 294	will it take a while to become more dry? I mean, thats what i figure cus right when i turn down the pump a bit and open the gate valve(from skimmer) it lowers the water level like 3/4 of and inch and justs sits there.

09/14/2006, 08:10 AM	#4
jsc4354 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Boynton Beach, FL Posts: 170	I recently purchased a reef devil and am currently still tweaking to get it just right.Anyway, I was constantly opening and closing the gate valve and couldn't figure out why it would not pull any skimmate out. Then I went out of town for a couple days and guess what I had a quarter cup of skimmate. So, whatever changes you make let it sit there for a couple days.