Coralife Super Skimmer Help

[albatross666]

Hi

I have a Coralife 65 skimmer and it collects a bit of gunk, so its working.
Here is my setup:

55 gallon tank
70 - 80 lbs live rock
6 fish (3 clown, 2 gobies, 1 young angel - 4 inches)

Now, is there a beneft to upgrade to a Coralife Super Skimmer 125? The Super Skimmer 125 has great reviews and also has a drain line.

Any advise appreciated.

 

[hugodboss]

I also have that 65 on a 55g reef tank and im very unhappy with it. I need to mod it to work properly and im getting micro bubbles.

Mine is in the sump how is yours set up?

 

[albatross666]

In the sump. I also have microbubbles that make it to my display tank.

Do you use the "sponge cup" that you get with the skimmer? I use it, it helps, but it does not stop all.

 

[ctjim2005]

The 65 and 125 both need a few week to adjust. I have had micro bubbles with both but after 4 weeks or so they dissapated.

 

[albatross666]

My skimmer is running for over a month now ...
Lets see how it turns out.

Whats your take on the 65 vs 125 since you have experience with both.

My concern is not with the bubbles, but with efficiency of the gunk removal.

 

[papagimp]

I've been using my 65 model for several months now, hasn't even come close to the seaclone 150 I was using. Wasted money IMHO. Guess I'll need to invest in either a better unit or get another crappy seaclone.

 

[mg426]

I see you have a sump. Instead of getting a CSS125 get an Octopus NW150. These skimmers work very well, It will skim circles around a CSS anything. The cost is pretty cloce too. www.octopusskimmer.com

 

[Piscator]

I have the 125 and am very happy with it. The drain line is great. I run the line to a 2.5 gallon gas can, so it is super easy to empty. I know it is not the greatest that $ can buy, but it is working for me. I have a fuge with Chaeto too.

Best wishes,

 

[Kryptikhan]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11223341#post11223341 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Piscator
I have the 125 and am very happy with it. The drain line is great. I run the line to a 2.5 gallon gas can, so it is super easy to empty. I know it is not the greatest that $ can buy, but it is working for me. I have a fuge with Chaeto too.

Best wishes,

2 weeks with a 125 and the research i did for value on a skimmer is paying off so far. The leveling problems everyone told me about adjusting etc, aren't happening to me, at least yet. Quiet and all and zero microbubbles in display, not one single bubble and not using the foam inserts on the exit. When my bioload gets heavy I'll keep any owners updated. Parameters have been perfect so far.

 

[hugodboss]

does anyone have any mod sites with pics that i can use for my 65 becuase it isnt working the way it should..ive been using it for well over 3 months now.

 

[ROB2005]

For those that use the CSS in the sump, where is your output located from the return pump?

I found that locating the output on the opposite side of the return and using a polishing foam block really reduces the microbubbles to a bare minimum.

 

[usmc121581]

I use the 220 and it is in the sump and I get no micro bubbles. For the ones that use it in the sump do you have baffles or is the return pump and skimmer in the same section.

 

[Kryptikhan]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11223520#post11223520 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ROB2005
For those that use the CSS in the sump, where is your output located from the return pump?

I found that locating the output on the opposite side of the return and using a polishing foam block really reduces the microbubbles to a bare minimum.

From my dual bulkheads overflows dipping into my sump...The return from the CSS is aligned with the two pipes coming down from the overflow box into one steady stream, both facing opposite of the flow the water will go through the fuge and return pump. So really, I have three flows coming out in one direction all facing opposite side of the return pump. I have never seen a bubble in my tank. Not using the foam either cause I dont want nitrate traps....

 

[ROB2005]

I just clean my foam every week to prevent any accumulation of nitrates.

 

[Kryptikhan]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11223582#post11223582 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by usmc121581
I use the 220 and it is in the sump and I get no micro bubbles. For the ones that use it in the sump do you have baffles or is the return pump and skimmer in the same section.

Again..mine is overflow return from tank...skimmer, baffle, fuge, another baffle....return pump. Face the return from skimmer opposite of the return pump to tank...that's what I did.

 

[Logzor]

With these skimmers you must make sure that the intake is 3-4" below the water level, any deeper and the basket will produce lots of bubbles. The down-tubing that comes with the CSS125 is about 6" long and puts the intake FAR too deep to work properly.

Setting the intake up higher eliminated 95% of all bubbles.

Also, make sure to CLEAN THE INTAKE. The pump on mine burnt up and nearly crashed my tank. It caused the inner-casing to break and release some kind of oil.

 

[reefergeorge]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11223251#post11223251 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mg426
I see you have a sump. Instead of getting a CSS125 get an Octopus NW150. These skimmers work very well, It will skim circles around a CSS anything. The cost is pretty cloce too. www.octopusskimmer.com

Exactly what I did. Only I went with the recirculating model, and am very satisfied.

 

[albatross666]

Hi

I am going to stick with the Coralife 125 because I have partial credit towards one.

So, back to the question, will the 125 be good for my tank vs a 65?

Thanks

 

[usmc121581]

Yeah! It SHOULD skim more out. I have a CSS 220 sitting around that I plan on adding to my sump along with the other 220.

 

[hugodboss]

I just want to mod mine and get rid of that black box with the foam inside ive seen it done but cant seem to find the site.

instead of the black box it had a piece of foam on it like some pumps have to prevent debries from cloging it. it required some pvc to mod it.