Alright. I'm about ready to scream- 3 reasons!

[Reggae Fish]

#1
My skimmer is going to make me scream! I have the Coralife SuperSkimmer 125. Sometimes it seems to be working great but other times it doesn't seem to be producing the bubbles very well. I have to basically run it very wet as of late??? Do I need to clean out any of the tubes? If so, isn't that awfully soon???(2 months) the pumps are close to the top of the water.

It's hard to tell but the entire bottom and where the cone starts in the top is all just water, there is hardly ANY bubbles. Just small ones

Here is a pic of my tube from my pump to the skimmer...Don't know if this helps.

#2
My return nozzles are shooting out bubbly air but it's not constant (couple times a minute)

#3
I have some micro bubbles??? (not too many, just some basically on my return nozzles in the morning an the powerhead)
I don't know why? Any suggestions. Does it have to do with #2?

Overall, the tank looks fine but it could look better and should be running more efficiently!

 

[sirreal63]

Hot R/O water down the air inlet. Salt creep tends to clog these skimmers up.

 

[Reggae Fish]

Should I just replace the tube all together? How often should I have to do this and is there anything I can do to eliminate this somewhat or the frequency?

 

[sirreal63]

It is normal and you cannot prevent it from happening. Simple maintenance.

 

[ol'saltybastage]

I just cleaned up my css 65 and it seems to be working in top notch again its 8mo old or so.. also this time when i put it in i turned the pump sideways so the pump intake runs along the back wall (its HOB) and i noticed since the intake tube isnt bent by the back of the pump against the glass it seems to work a lot better.. had to turn it down a bit.. maybe just an issue with the 65..

I did notice saltcreep in the silencer so hot RO is probably a great idea..

not sure if the 125 has a siphon break in the return line but i plugged it on my 65 and now i can run it with no bubble box and 0 bubbles enter the tank.

another thing, have you fed cyclop-eez or anything like that recently? everytime i do i get microbubbles for a while.

other people i'm sure have had luck with other techniques. skimmers all seem to have their own personality..

 

[ol'saltybastage]

just noticed yours is in sump.. nevermind the turning the PH then.

 

[Letmegrow]

Is there no bubbles in the chamber or not enough bubbles in the neck ?

 

[Reggae Fish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7197749#post7197749 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Letmegrow
Is there no bubbles in the chamber or not enough bubbles in the neck ?

There is a very small amount of bubbles in the chamber? (The middle compartment). It's mainly water. Like if you look on the ones at your work, the water only comes up about 1/2 way in that middle chamber and the rest is bubbles that push up all through the cone, etc...I have to run it wet so I'm basically running the water into the cone.

Does anyone know the ID sizing of the tubing on this??? I have my manual but it doesn't say.

 

[Reggae Fish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7197556#post7197556 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ol'saltybastage
I just cleaned up my css 65 and it seems to be working in top notch again its 8mo old or so.. also this time when i put it in i turned the pump sideways so the pump intake runs along the back wall (its HOB) and i noticed since the intake tube isnt bent by the back of the pump against the glass it seems to work a lot better.. had to turn it down a bit.. maybe just an issue with the 65..

I did notice saltcreep in the silencer so hot RO is probably a great idea..

not sure if the 125 has a siphon break in the return line but i plugged it on my 65 and now i can run it with no bubble box and 0 bubbles enter the tank.

another thing, have you fed cyclop-eez or anything like that recently? everytime i do i get microbubbles for a while.

other people i'm sure have had luck with other techniques. skimmers all seem to have their own personality..

Would it be easier to simply put a new tube instead of running hot water through?
Sorry, I dont have my manual with me. Which part is the "Siphon break"

 

[hagfish]

I don't think you want to replace the airline tubing each time. It's just a little salt creep. I guess you could get a second air tube and put it on if the current one gets clogged. Then clean the current one out and put it back in if the other gets clogged.

Just remember, if you're getting no bubbles, you're getting no air. It's as simple as that. So you just have to get it some more air somehow.

 

[Reggae Fish]

Would these issues cause it to be my return nozzles are shooting out bubbly air but it's not constant (couple times a minute)

 

[trottman]

my ss 125 skims like a mother... you just have to play with it for a few minutes after changing the cup

 

[ol'saltybastage]

have you tried blowing on the airline? when i blow thru mine it flows pretty easy. you might be able to tell if its blocked by doing that..

 

[Reggae Fish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7203876#post7203876 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ol'saltybastage
have you tried blowing on the airline? when i blow thru mine it flows pretty easy. you might be able to tell if its blocked by doing that..

Yep. All is clear. I got a PM from a skimmer guru and he told me to let it run overnight and let it slime up again plus if that doesn't work, roy is coming over thur. and I'm guessing since he's been doing this a couple of weeks, I bet he can figure it out:rollface: