Fine tuning my ETSS

I just got my skimmer hooked up. It is an old style ETSS. I have a Mag 9 running it. I did install a valve between the Mag and my skimmer. Now, I have two problems.

The first is fine tuning it. Right now, I have the overflow going to a five gallon bucket. I don't trust the one gallon milk jug. There is too much skimmate coming out of the tank. It is on the clear side.....not too dark. Is there a difference between adjusting the power of the mag and the backflow? I have a feeling there is.

I am also having a problem with microbubbles. I also have a feeling this is a common thang with skimmers. To solve the problem, I added a filter sock to the end of the outlet. This caused a backflow and I had to dial down the Mag a bit more.

So my settings are the Mag is dialed down about 20 percent and the control valve on the outlet is wide open.

A pic of the bubble level is below. Where is optimum?

TIA.......John.

 

To me it looks like the water level in the skimmer is set too high and that is why you are getting a lot of light colored skimmate.

Microbubbles are common on new skimmers and will die down.

 

We use the exact same skimmer in the green house at the shop...You dont need to valve the mag 9. What you should do is adjust the water level via the gate valve on the drain...To limit the bubbles in the sump what we do is put a 90 degree elbow off the gate so the water exits the skimmer facing up towards the ceiling. Then we take a filter mat and slice a whole in the middle of it and place it around the drain on the skimmer.