ETSS 400(?) Setup

[tokemoke]

I've never used a skimmer before and having a terrible time finding any information on what I think is an E.T.S.S 400. Who has used one before and does anyone know where I can find any info on it since the manufacturer is out of business.

 

[tokemoke]

Heard it called a Reef Devil 40 too...

 

[mcarroll]

I don't think the square body version if the Reef Devil.....the RD was a cylinder shaped skimmer.

I think this is about the same size or one size up though.

Setup would be more like an ETSS 1100 or 1400 (the super-sized models) - this is just a mini-version.

Not sure what questions you have, so here's the basic basics:

1. The pump connects to the hose that connects to the "tower". (ETSS = Environmental Tower Something Something )
2. The tower should be somewhere between 1/2 and 4/5 of the way full, depending on the pump you're using with it. (Experiment only as needed....the default load usually works well enough.)
3. The outlet with the gate valve needs to be either barely in the water or completely out of the water for no back pressure and ideal performance.
4. Once it's running at a basic level and not overflowing, only make fine tuning adjustments once per day.
5. Try to make fine tuning adjustments at the same time of day each time.
6. Make fine tuning adjustments only based on the previous 24 hours' skimmate production.
7. DO NOT make fine tuning adjustments based on the skimmer's current performance.

That should help, but let us know if you have other questions!

 

[tokemoke]

I was looking for a user manual/other reefer's instruction on how to get this sump running. It has two chambers and a tube putting the skimmer output back into the first chamber. I'm where do i put the return pump?

 

[mcarroll]

Sorry, I can't help with the manual.

Do you have a pic of the pumps? (One of your pics is a dead link....maybe the pumps were in there?)

A better pic of the sump would help too!

 

[tokemoke]

Sorry, I can't help with the manual.

Do you have a pic of the pumps? (One of your pics is a dead link....maybe the pumps were in there?)

A better pic of the sump would help too!

Pumps are a Rio2500 running the skimmer and a Rio 1700 return pump. There's three pics in my last comment. Are they working?

 

[tokemoke]

I don't think the square body version if the Reef Devil.....the RD was a cylinder shaped skimmer.

I think this is about the same size or one size up though.

Setup would be more like an ETSS 1100 or 1400 (the super-sized models) - this is just a mini-version.

Not sure what questions you have, so here's the basic basics:

1. The pump connects to the hose that connects to the "tower". (ETSS = Environmental Tower Something Something )
2. The tower should be somewhere between 1/2 and 4/5 of the way full, depending on the pump you're using with it. (Experiment only as needed....the default load usually works well enough.)
3. The outlet with the gate valve needs to be either barely in the water or completely out of the water for no back pressure and ideal performance.
4. Once it's running at a basic level and not overflowing, only make fine tuning adjustments once per day.
5. Try to make fine tuning adjustments at the same time of day each time.
6. Make fine tuning adjustments only based on the previous 24 hours' skimmate production.
7. DO NOT make fine tuning adjustments based on the skimmer's current performance.

That should help, but let us know if you have other questions!

Thank's for all this!

 

[mcarroll]

Interesting - those pics weren't there at all the first time I read and replied!

Yes, those pics are perfect!

• Can you tell if that's a homemade sump (those handles! ) or if it has a brand name on it?
• All the pumps stay in the sump vs being external.
• That drain arrangement for the skimmer through the sump looks comical, but it should work.
• No need to change it or worry about it, but the plumbing arrangement for the skimmer pump through the wall of the sump is also comical....save the cost of the hole in the sump, a sch80 bulkhead, sch80 reducer and two barb fittings and just run the tubing over the top of the sump. All those parts probably cost more than the pump that runs the skimmer. (I know, it was for the lids...)
• The return pump would go in the larger compartment to deliver already-skimmed water up to the display tank.

 

[mcarroll]

BTW, these skimmers are known for being a bit touchy during setup....so review my tuning advice in post #3 when you get started and follow it closely.

 

[tokemoke]

Interesting - those pics weren't there at all the first time I read and replied!

Yes, those pics are perfect!

• Can you tell if that's a homemade sump (those handles! ) or if it has a brand name on it?
• All the pumps stay in the sump vs being external.
• That drain arrangement for the skimmer through the sump looks comical, but it should work.
• No need to change it or worry about it, but the plumbing arrangement for the skimmer pump through the wall of the sump is also comical....save the cost of the hole in the sump, a sch80 bulkhead, sch80 reducer and two barb fittings and just run the tubing over the top of the sump. All those parts probably cost more than the pump that runs the skimmer. (I know, it was for the lids...)
• The return pump would go in the larger compartment to deliver already-skimmed water up to the display tank.

It was custom made by a pro for himself.

The water enters the sump and exits the skimmer in the same chamber. (Pretty peculiar so i sent the previous owner a text.)

 

[tokemoke]

His reply for the acrylic tube makes sense especially when you think of the system as one body of water where it doesnt matter if you mix input and output.

"So the reason for the skimmed water going back was to keep the micro bubbles from being such a problem for the intake pump which basically just sat next to the
other skimmer pump. Also the skimmed water kept good movement around the rocks to keep detritus from building up. I'm a big advocate for having some kind of
auxiliary pump to keep nutrient sinks forming around live rocks. Or keeping debris from settling on live rock"