CSS 65 pump sucks

[gdavis17]

I have a Coralife Super Skimmer 65 on my 30 gal cube. Recently I have been having a lot of problems with the needlewheel pump that comes with this skimmer. Can any one confirm that make and model of the stock pump on this skimmer? Is it a rio 1100, which is rated at 300 gph? Can I replace the pump with a maxijet 1200 with a diy needlewheel mod? The mj1200 is rated at 295 gph. If not, any other ideas without buying a whole new skimmer? I have tried cleaning the venturi on the rio and it keeps on loosing suction. It needs to go. Thanks for the input.

 

[cd77]

Are the connections between the pump, valve, and tube tight? I actually ended up wrapping the connection between the pump and the valve with zipties then supergluing it down because it had a very minor crack in the plastic tube end piece causing it to not work correctly.

Also, have you made sure there is no water in the air line and that the airline is fitted well too?

 

[m2434]

works very well on my 20G, but rio's are... I think I'll tag along on this one anyway.

 

[gdavis17]

I have made sure all connections on the venturi are tight and clean. It works great for about an hour and then quits. I have also replaced the tubing with no success. will a mj1200 with needlewheel mod work?

 

[gdavis17]

Has anyone done something like this before? The reason I ask is I have a mj1200 lying around and the meshmod looks pretty straightforward for this impeller. Thought it would save me a few bucks if it works, we all know how expensive this hobby is (especially when you don't diy). Thanks

 

[cd77]

If you have it laying around, it certainly wouldn't hurt to try

 

[gdavis17]

I just don't want to ruin the skimmer. The mj1200 is rated at 295 gph and I think the stock pump on a css 65 is the rio 1100, which is rated at 300.

 

[gdavis17]

any ideas?

 

[cd77]

Since you'd be replacing the entire pump and you wouldn't have to physically break anything to make the change, what part of the skimmer are you afraid of damaging?