Coralife Super Skimmers

[vpotts28]

I seem to be having trouble with my ss 65. It doesn't seem to be producing alot of micro bubbles in the tube, and thus isn't producing as much waste. The water level is set all the way to zero, and I am still getting a water level half way up the cone, as it was only a 1/4 three weeks ago when I started. Is something clogged, how should it be remedied? How do you clean the sponges, or do you replace them with something else? Also I am getting a ton of bubbles in the tank once it come back through the bubble diffuser? Any ideas?

 

[sfoister]

You're okay. Adjust it so the microbubbles are coming up to the black ring at the bottom of the collection cup. You may or may not be producing any waste during the breakin period, and you'll also produce a lot of bubbles that will find their way into your tank. Keep your water level consistant and bear with it for a week or 2, I had the same problem.

 

[vpotts28]

Originally Posted by sfoister
You're okay. Adjust it so the microbubbles are coming up to the black ring at the bottom of the collection cup. You may or may not be producing any waste during the breakin period, and you'll also produce a lot of bubbles that will find their way into your tank. Keep your water level consistant and bear with it for a week or 2, I had the same problem.

I did the break in period three weeks ago, after 72 hours I ran it wide open, and it seems now it has decided to run a little inefficient.

 

[sfoister]

I had the same problem. Mine broke in, then ran fine for a while, then I changed the water level in my sump and it's like it went through a 2nd break in period with all the same symptoms it had when it was new. After about a week it calmed back down again. They don't do well with water level changes, so I try to keep mine as consistant as possible now.

 

[vpotts28]

Originally Posted by sfoister
I had the same problem. Mine broke in, then ran fine for a while, then I changed the water level in my sump and it's like it went through a 2nd break in period with all the same symptoms it had when it was new. After about a week it calmed back down again. They don't do well with water level changes, so I try to keep mine as consistant as possible now.

I see

. I did do a water change last weekend, and that appears to be the point it started running funny. I turned it off to come to work, I was going to clean it when I get home. I don't want this thing spouting off like old faithful while I am away.

 

[sfoister]

I took mine apart completely thinking it was broken. Save yourself the time. Just adjust it to a point there it's not spouting out of the top and wait it out.
That's exactly what happened to mine. I broke mine in, micro bubbles in the tank so thick I couldn't look at the tank because it aggrevaited me. They stopped finally, did my first water change and they started again.. they eventually went away and now it's been 2 months and several water changes and it's fine.

 

[vpotts28]

Originally Posted by sfoister
I took mine apart completely thinking it was broken. Save yourself the time. Just adjust it to a point there it's not spouting out of the top and wait it out.
That's exactly what happened to mine. I broke mine in, micro bubbles in the tank so thick I couldn't look at the tank because it aggrevaited me. They stopped finally, did my first water change and they started again.. they eventually went away and now it's been 2 months and several water changes and it's fine.
Have you ever replaced or cleaned the filters? If so how did you do it?

 

[jktenpro]

How much below the water level is your pump? Mine at first was 4 inches below the surface and when I brought it up to 2" there were many more micro bubbles produced in the tube. I also do not attach the air tube to the silencer which seems to help, louder though.
The problem I have is after certain vitamins are added to the food or after water changes it seems to overflow at times, which never happened with my last skimmer. One time 2 gallons, luckily I did not have the collection cup capped and had the overflow running into a bucket. Sensitive skimmer, but out produces my last one. I have the Coralife SS 125.

 

[puffer32]

I just got my coralife this past weekend for my new 55 DT. The first night it overflowed about a gal of water onto the rug :scared: After we did afew adjustments, its been fine since. Its pulling out a lot of green stuff already and I am impressed with it. I have a Deltec on my 150 and have used an Aqua C, this is my first CLS, and was leery trying a "cheaper" skimmer but so far, am very pleased with it!

 

[wpayton34]

I bought mine probably 2 months ago and when i first got it they didnt put a hole in the silencer. I had to drill one in it so the microbubbles would work. After i did that it worked fine. One of the best the best thing i bough for my little guys.

 

[fishmanwi]

i just bought a redsea ps and have simular results as everyone else posted. the water overflowed 1 time and now works great. lots of greeen water. wich im told is good.

 

[vpotts28]

I figured out my problem when I took the skimmer off to clean last night. Apparently the airline tubing that attaches the water pump and the air inlet silencer had become kinked. Thus not allowing the proper combination of air and water. Any newbies like myself, or anyone else who encounters a problem with their Corallife SS which causes a fluctuation in water level in the cone of the collection cup, and produces less waste, check that first. Hope this helps.

 

[jktenpro]

A couple mods to the skimmer I've read about are 1: adding an air pump to the air tube and 2: wrapping fish line(6 lb test) around the needle wheel impeller a few times(no more than 3) to chop the bubbles up even finer. Both claim to work well. I was thinking about adding a small air pump to see.

 

[saltn00b]

if you arent getting bubbles in the chamber, people suggest to shorten the depth the pump sits at because the deeper it goes, the more pressure is exerted on the air bubble in the airline tubing going to the pump. this can crease and you will have zero to minimal bubbles. test to see if this is your problem by blowing on the opening of the silencer, you should see bubbles starting to appear in the chamber. also check the angle or pitch that the pump rests at. if it pointing downward, then the airline tubing, or air supply is now having to make a sharp angle turn to get in the chamber, making it easier to crimp. if it is pointing upwards it is more obtuse, so there is not nearly as much of a bend in the tubing.