ETSS skimmer question

[biggyclops]

Anyone done a beckett mod for a down draft skimmer? i have heard of a beckett mod.. just looking for some direction for a diy..

 

[JohnK]

I Once modded a reef devil into a beckett. IIRC it fit right in so the mod was easy, but it worked about the same as if I had never modded it.

Downdrafts work fine, I wouldn't bother modding it.

 

[biggyclops]

thanks for the info!

 

[Chuck Spyropulos]

Etss

thanks for the info!

I had an ETSS and found that adding mini-ball valves to the air intakes allowed me to fine tune the air intake. Controlling the air intake allows you to get finer bubbles and more foamy effluent. I remember I did not run the air intake full open so the valves will allow you to experiment so that you can optimize the skimmer's performance.

 

[biggyclops]

what were you running as a pump? i am running it stuffed with bioballs.. with a mag 12

 

[Chuck Spyropulos]

Pump

what were you running as a pump? i am running it stuffed with bioballs.. with a mag 12

I was running an Iwaki 100MDRLT but the skimmer was larger. One other thing is to periodically remove the bioballs and replace them. I thought I had done that but found later when I sold it that half of the bioballs remained in the towers caked with calcium ...they were tough to get out. I had to "chop" them loose with a long piece of plastic driveway reflector rod.

Forgot to mention that you might want to add/remove bioballs to fine tune the skimmer as well as air and water adjustments. Add/remove the bioballs one at a time. A difference of only one ball from each tower changes things a lot.

 

[biggyclops]

thats true!... i had it under the tank.. which was a squeeze.. but since i have a remote fuge setup it should be a lot easier.. what would be an easy way to remove the bioballs without taking it out of the sump?

 

[Chuck Spyropulos]

Bioballs

thats true!... i had it under the tank.. which was a squeeze.. but since i have a remote fuge setup it should be a lot easier.. what would be an easy way to remove the bioballs without taking it out of the sump?

You might try a long pair of surgical tongs that many people use for coral frags.