Running a new 4-plate bubble column

[Smokee]

I recently bought a 4-plate bubble column from China. I make all-grain whiskey a couple times a month on my pot still and thought I'd start trying something new so, for $300, what the heck. I ran it last week, stripped 2-6 gallon buckets of my usual AG through the old pot still then ran it through the column slow. My thought was to run water to the deph to load the plates then cut off the water and drop the power, let the plates to their job and see if I get a lighter spirit. Everything was going fine but at around 85% I started smelling tails, I was on my 10th 8oz jar so I knew there was still a ways to go. I started recirculating water to the deph again and the tails smell went away and I collected another 9-10 jars that were clean, no tails. I opted for a modular column, each plate is it's own assembly as opposed to 4 in a glass tube. I figured I could take 2 sections out if I wasn't getting much flavor coming through.

In hindsight, I'm assuming I'm going to need to run some water for more reflux. Maybe take a section or two out? Is it typical to get tails with bubble caps that early?