Coralife skimmer- what happened

[drewdog82]

My Coralife SS 65 has been up and running for 2 weeks. I had trouble getting it going, but since the first week it has been fine. I usually empty the collection cup every 3-4 days and it is apx. 1/3 full of dark stuff. This morning when I woke up it was overflowing with water. I am not sure what happened because yesterday it was only about 1/10 full of dark stuff. Any ideas??? So far all I know is that their is a build up of hair algae on the intake in the water..... not sure if this could have contributed in any way. :help:

 

[newbie77]

Did you add any chemicals or additives to your tank? I had the css125 and if I added anything it would overflow.

 

[drewdog82]

I didn't add a thing.... I just don't understand why out of no where this would happen...

 

[theappe]

some kinds of foods also cause skimmers to go crazy. (ie formula one and cyclopeeze)

 

[drewdog82]

the funny thing is, I haven't put any food in yet....only have a clean-up crew going after my hair algae.

 

[matt819]

Mine did it all the time and everyone acted like it was a just a fluke. That thing peed on my floor more than my new puppy did, totally annoying. You have to keep it really clean, make sure nothing is plugging anything. I ended up taking the dremel to the collection cup and running an RO/DI tube down to a bucket underneath the tank so it could drain if it gets a little more than 25% full.

 

[drewdog82]

Originally Posted by Matt819
Mine did it all the time and everyone acted like it was a just a fluke. That thing peed on my floor more than my new puppy did, totally annoying. You have to keep it really clean, make sure nothing is plugging anything. I ended up taking the dremel to the collection cup and running an RO/DI tube down to a bucket underneath the tank so it could drain if it gets a little more than 25% full.
That explains it.... It was probably getting clogged with hair algae....I will start washing it all the time.

 

[skywatcher]

Water level changes will also affect this skimmer. I have to adjust mine slightly if I add water to top off from evaporation. And I'm sure you found out that the water adjustment knob is very sensitive.

 

[bojik]

Originally Posted by Skywatcher
Water level changes will also affect this skimmer. I have to adjust mine slightly if I add water to top off from evaporation. And I'm sure you found out that the water adjustment knob is very sensitive.
That would explain why i hear people suggestiong those should be behind a baffle system in a sump. Keeps the water level where the bugger doesn't trip out as much?

 

[cgrant]

I have my cup draining into a 1 gallon milk jug, works well and will help avoid overflows.

 

[n2theblue]

I also have my CSS 125 draining into a milk jug, and it has been problem free since I learned how to work it. I have it set up as a HOB skimmer and water-changes or large top-offs may cause it to overflow, so keep a close eye on it after any big changes in water level.

 

[bracebldrs]

my skimmers f-n up to just bougt it. hob on my sump/ fuge
i know that theres a breakin time
but overflowed two times in one day
even when i set the level low . so i took the moto tool
made a 3/4 in hole .1/2 from top and glued 3/4in
tubeing stuck other end in fuge .made an emergency
over flow .did the same for my litte hob prizm .

 

[cgrant]

my skimmer has overflowed on me 3 times, but all 3 were my fault.
once my son turned the red knob, twice when adding LR i forgot to turn the skimmer down.

But besides that i have not had any major issues, mines a coralife ss220 (needle wheel).

 

[cotti]

I'm having the same problem but mine is a jebo (cheap p.o.s) so i'm considering buying something alot better quality. besides I'm not getting much out of the tank it seams, don't have a foam, no green junk just a slight slime inside the cup where the foam is suppose to go up and spill into the overflow, it just doesn't seem to work like it should.