ETSS 800 mod?

[guyduquette]

I was thinking of inserting (not gluing) a thin bubble plate at the base of my riser tube, just so slightly above the black mixing box.

The purpose would be to settle down the chaotic crashing bubble/water mixture right there.

When the skimmer is producing waste, this line formed between the water and bubbles is dead calm and straight. However, when I do anything to the tank like feeding this line goes crazy. Just trying to keep this skimmer producing 24/7!!

Thanks for any opinions,

Guy

 

[guyduquette]

bump

 

[jrmx635]

etss800

you won't keep it 24/7.
A bubbleplate will decrease the production of a downdraft skimmer greatly.
your thoughts are for needlewheels that used small bubbles to gently raise the junk to the neck.
the downdrafts use that violent foam to throw the junk out of the top of the foam neck.
Also the downdraft uses pressure to produce the foam and if you use a bubble plate you will restrict the flow into the neck causing more backpressure and you will probably get lots of micro bubbles into the sump.
The evolution 500 and 750 actually use a bubble type plate but the holes are pretty large on them so it doesn't restrict it.
You should just try it as an experiment.
but use large holes.
whats there to lose,just try not to make it permenant.

What pump are you running?
if it is powerfull enough you can add more bioballs to make finer bubbles.
you can also run ball valves on the air intake of that skimmer to fine tune with the same results.
you can also do a beckett mod to each tower but then you are making a low maintenance skimmer a medium maintenence skimmer