Ultimate Coralife Super Skimmer mod for CSS125

M

Marsfrogie

New member
I believe I have stumbled upon what I consider to be the best mod I have ever done to the coralife super skimmer. Recently, my pump which I had done the meshwheel mod on failed. The pump was out of warranty and I did not wish to spend the money to purchase a new one so I decided to make something that I had lying around work. This mod is really easy to do. All it involves is hooking a RIO600 directly into the inlet of the CSS125. This RIO makes absolute bubble milk and moves less water than the stock pump so it gives longer contact time. These pics speak for themselves. Again, this skimmer is producing more skimmate than it ever has in the past.

DSC00171.jpg


DSC00166.jpg


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DSC00168.jpg
 
No mods. This rio had an air inlet on the impeller cover which I used. I borrowed one of the outlet valves from another RIO600 that had lots of little accessories with it. I'm not exactly sure how you know what version of the RIO600 you are getting though....
 
So your saying the pump they give you is overpowered? Also how do you get the bubbles into the chamber?
 
Sorry...I had to edit that. It's a Gen-X 2400 and I have the water intake restricted and air intake bored out.
 
Are we talking about two different skimmers now? The CLSS 125 and the Gen-x 2400?

If so witch one is this thread about? The CLSS, right?
 
Cope:
This thread is about the Coralife Super Skimmer CSS125. A Gen-X 2400 is a type of pump as far as I know.

BigH55:
Coralife uses the same pump for the CSS125 and CSS220. I would not say that the factory pump has too much flow but I would guess that it is a little on the high side for the CSS125 skimmer body.

Nattarbox:
I can't comment on the CSS65 as I have never seen one in person. I'm sure there is some way that you could attach a different pump to the unit if you desired.

My skimmer is still going a bit crazy at this time. I suspect that it is due to a higher level organics that devoloped in the time period that the skimmer was shut off. I will give a progress report next week and let everyone know how it is performing after everything settles down. Just as a side note. I would not recommend that everyone go out and buy a new pump just yet since we only have short term results.

Another note: I have since added a single rubber band to hold the output nozzle onto the pump. It tends to vibrate off. The nozzle does not come loose at the skimmer body, just on the pump side. This could easily be fixed permanently with some PVC glue. The rubber band works just as well.
 
Alright, I found out what parts you need for the RIO600 to make it into a bubble monster.

Go here to this page and then look at the part #s I give you.

http://www.riopump.net/Replacement_folder/rio_replacement.html

Dual intake venturi kit (I only hooked an air hose to one of these inlets. The other is not connected to anything and simply sucks water)
600-800
#0440 1

Flow control for
Rio 200-800

Note: The standard RIO600 box comes with the flow control. You will have to source the dual inlet venturi to use it on the skimmer.
 
Does the rio have any needlewheel of any sorts? Or do you just use the venturi air bubbles? I'm going to fosters and smith retail store tomorrow and want to pick up the stuff to do this, where can I get that dual venturi thing? Is it possible to mod the inlet with out having that? I cant even figure out how much it is or how to order on that site... I can't quite picture how that venturi deal fits on the pump to make it so effective... Isn't there a way to make the Rio 600 plus work with out finding that part? I don't think fosters and smith has it and I'm sick of my skimmer sucking!
 
The RIO does not have a needle wheel but I do not find that it needs it. The bubbles are smaller than those produced by the original needlewheel pump. All that venturi does is make it so that you can hook a piece of airline tubing up to the intake. It is just a hole that allows the pump to suck air. (I suppose the diameter of the whole is significant) The RIO600 will come with what they call a "venturi" in the box but I have found it to be useless. The "venturi" that it comes with mounts on the output side instead of in front of the inlet. (It does not produce many bubbles)

I think it would be quite easy to modify the existing intake screen using a piece of hard airline tubing. Carefully drill a hole and epoxy the tubing in place just off center.

Take note that I actually did have to use the valve on the RIO to slow it down at first because even with the red knob on the skimmer all the way open I had excessive foam production. After it all settles down you should be able to run the pump wide open and use the red knob to adjust the skimmer as usual.

Also remember, this is unproven so feel free to experiment (It's relatively cheap to do) but don't expect a turn key operation.

hotimportknight: It will not contain the venturi part that you need. That is the manufacturer's website. Perhaps if you call drsfostersmith they can help you obtain the part. Mine just happened to have that dual inlet venturi on it because the pump came with a hang on back skimmer that surprisingly never worked correctly. Strange that the pump did not work on the old housing but seems quite effective on the CSS125.
 
I picked up the RIO 600 today. They had it in the warehouse so I couldn't really look what was in the box before i got it. I talked to the lady there that installs tanks in peoples houses and stuff and she said the CSS should come with the Rio 600 (maybe she was talking about the 65?) then she looked it up and said it comes with the venturi fittings n the box. It did have some, but they do not do anything apparently? I was just testing it in my salt bucket to see how many bubbles it would make and it doesn't make any at all with the venturi thing on the outlet side... why do they include it if it doesnt make any bubbles at all? They never heard of the intake dual venturi thing and didnt sell them... Now what do I do? Anyone know why its not making any bubbles at all?
 
Alright, that was a dumb question. I inspected the airline tubing it came with, there was a crimp in it that didnt allow air to go through it. Put on another piece and now it makes bubbles... some. not many at all. I think it would be pathetic for the skimmer. Where can I find that intake venturi deal? I was going to mod my stock pump inlet side to fit on the rio, but i dont want to ruin it in case it doesnt work out...
 
Ok this is a really weird pump. Ive been playing around with it, had a good idea, have air intake on the inlet site by modding my CSS 125 venturi nozzle to fit, did that with a little bit of cutting of a piece. fit great. I tested it by holding it up to the inlet of the RIO to see if it would work first. Holding the CSS venturi intake on it with my hands around it to seal it worked great, it sizzled and make TONS of micro bubbles. I added on the outlet side and it started making even more! It worked great. So I chopped a piece from the Rio kit to make the CSS venturi fit on it, drop it in and NOTHING! ahh. Turns out its getting too much water flow now and its a very delicate balance... I cannot get it right now so Im throwing the no name brand pump back on so I have a skimmer until I get some real working parts for this thing...
 
I have a CSS220. Isn't the only different from connecting the pump directly to the inlet just a 6" piece of flex tubing? Maybe I am missing something.

Can you post a pic of the overall skimmer?
 
I'm on my way to class right now, I'll try to get some pics up later today. The Rio 600 right out of the box comes with 2 "venturi" pieces. Both fit at the outlet side of the pump and don't do anything really. I ordered the dual inlet venturi fitting for 10$ shipped last night on some website, It was hard to find. My CSS will just have to do until that comes in the mail.
 
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