Coralife Super Skimmer Question?

[gmidd]

Before I called Tech Support I thought I throw a post on the boards to get some input from other Coralife Skimmer users. I just set up my 30 gal tank last week and installed the protien skimmer (the one for up to 65 gal) first its not putting out bubbles near the amount to create foam (I seem to get more bubbles in the Bubble-production Diffuser box)? Secondly the Needle-Nose pump seems to put of quit a bit of vibration, is this natural because you would think it would stress out the fish? Any users input on setup and valve controll would be appreciated.

 

[tx reef]

Are you using it hang on back or in sump?
Got any pictures?
***)

 

[hagfish]

If no bubbles, make sure air line is not clogged. Also check water and air intake for clogs. Water level in tank has an effect too. And level of bubble diffuser has an effect. You want the bubble diffuser as high as you can get it. I have two CSS (not your size though, but shouldn't matter) and they don't vibrate at all. I think I would carefully inspect the skimmer to make sure all of the parts were put together properly (mostly the ones you have to put together). It could be that the impellar is out of balance and causing extra vibration. So you may need to take off the pump intake and check that to see if it's broken or not installed correctly.

 

[chipmaker]

I seriously doubt any of those needle wheel impellers are even close to being balanced. Just becarefull if you pull the front of the pump off and get to that needle wheel, as the shaft is ceramic and it does not take to dropping or bending or any other sideways stresses., before it becomes two or more peices with very little effort.
If the pump (inlet of pump) is within 3" of the top of the waters surface, and the end of the outflow tube is at or slightly above the tanks water level and the diffuser box is approximately 1/4" higher than the water level along with the foam filler sponges in the box, adjust skimmer adjustment knob so the bubbles are about 1" above red retaining ring, or about at the glue joint which is approx 1/2" from the bottom of the funnel portion of the cup. YOu may not have sufficient proteins to creat much skim or it may still need to be broken in. It can take from a few days to a week or so to break in and wash off allthe mold release agents and start to really produce micro bubbles in the reaction column. Postion pump so it is not laying against glass., which will eliminate any vibrations.

 

[gmidd]

Originally Posted by TX Reef
Are you using it hang on back or in sump?
Got any pictures?
***)
No pics. Its on the back of the tank and set up to pre instructions and I measured to make sure its 3" and the the top of the Difusser is a .25" ablove water. The manual did say it could take up to 72 hours and the tank is very new.
I'll try and take it apart and check the needle-nose again since the vibration is slight and does make a little noise.

 

[sacfishguy]

i have one; and from time to time i have to clean the hole where the air line fits in to the strainer. also when i installed the pump it has to be close to the surface ( i belive like 4-6inces). hope this helps

 

[dmc888]

I think you don't have much to skim if you set everything up last week.
Some people here don't even recommend using the skimmer till after the cycle is done.

 

[doglvr]

I have the same skimmer on my 30gc. It's hanging on the back of the tank (for now). It took a few days for the skimmer to "cure" and me to fine tune the flows. The valve at the pump is only about 90% open, this is constant. I adjust the return (red knob) every 2-3 days to skim wetter or dryer. This pretty much depends on feeding & water changes, where it's skimming wetter. I finally solved the major micro bubble problem by replacing the white foam at the bottom with a bag of carbon.
Also, you shouldn't have much to skim with the new tank, unless your also curing a lot of LR. I cured 70 lbs of LR in mine, and the skimmer took a lot of junk out within a couple of days.

 

[gmidd]

Regardless of collecting waste did you see any major bubble action in the Reaction Chamber or the Collection Cup? The only bubbles production is minimal going into the Bubble-production Diffuser cup.

 

[gmidd]

Ok, after reading Doglvr's post I adjusted the Pump valve to about 85% open and this got it going. I had to turn the water flow valve lowest setting. I'm getting micro bubbles overflowing from the Bubble-production Diffuser. I have the top of box about a quarter inch above water level and the hose is about an inch above the white filter. Since I don't have fish in there I'm going to see if it settles down.

 

[chipmaker]

Personally I would pitch that valve that goes on the pump as it was a stop gap fix when they had leaky red adjustment outflow valves. Its not needed at all with any new model css.

 

[fbm]

I have the 220 so I think it is a differnt pump.
But when I cleaned mine I put the ceramic shaft into the motor housing then slide the impeller on then but the suction cover on. And somehown my shaft wasn't long enought to keep the impeller from wobbling and when it wobbled it wouldn't suck air in.
So I had to take the pump back apart and I put the shaft into suction cap then put impeller onto shaft then slide into motor housing and it sucks real good now.
So you might want to check that out.

 

[gmidd]

I'm still having issues with bubbles

I've tried a fine net over the tube and addition foam in the return tub but I'm still get a few bubbles. With this methods I have to turn down the pump valve to 50% or the pressure causes the collection cup to fill up in a matter of minutes. With this Skimmer should I be getting zero micro bubbles or is a few OK? It's getting to the point of whats the lesser evil no micro bubbles or no Protien Skimmer.

 

[broganjd]

You guys rock! I have been trying to adjust my skimmer for an hour and it just keeps filling up the collection cup in a matter of seconds, after reading your posts I checked the air line connection to the intake and sure enough completely clogged! Thanks everyone!

 

[al&burke]

I have the exact same skimmer. I had a hell of a time with it. The vibration make sure your impeller is pushed all the way into the housing on the pump. And like others said make sure your airline is not plugged. Make sure the height of the pump right and make sure you keep up with your top offs in your tank, I found the fluctuating level in your tank affects it. As it says in the manual keep your foam level just within the neck in the cup. I have found some times that when someone opened a door in the house the skimmer would go berserk. Even the furnace going on changed the height of the foam in the cup. I got so frustrated with the micro bubbles that I built a HOB fuge with baffles, I dump the discharge from the skimmer directly into it. These Corral life skimmers are a pita - I am going to replace mine one of these days once I get my sump going. If you like I can post a picture of my DIY baffle fuge thing I built. Good luck hope this helps.

 

[saltfan]

Keep the bubbles to the point in the neck where it says in the manual. Just turn the flow knob slowly until the micro bubbles get to the neck point, then leave it alone. Its going to fluctuate, leave it alone. I don't even have the diffuser on mine, no bubbles in the tank. Yours is still way to new, and has the residue on it from manufacturing. Give it a couple of days to settle in, no worries man, it'll work. Gotta have some patience here.

 

[flower]

I gave mine away...LOL...Now I have an in sump skimmer..I hated every HOB skimmer I ever owned.

 

[saltfan]

I beleive I have beed using mine now for roughly 6-7 years. No trouble with it, I think its a good skimmer.

 

[broganjd]

yea mine seems to be working great now that the airline is unclogged