Bye Skimmer; Hello Refugium

bleached · 11/02/2006, 04:07 PM

Hi guys,

I have a Coralife needlewheel skimmer and it has been giving me so much problems. Lately it has been hard to fine tune and over flows alot. Every little thing I add in the tank causes the skimmer to go berserk and drains my 5g fresh water top-off reservoir. Needless to say, my carpet is soaking wet. What sucks is it doesn't over flow right away. It happens a few hours after I make any adjustments/add to anything and unfortunately I am usually not home to take care of the problem.

Anyway, I am really considering ditching the skimmer and just convert the sump to a refugium. What trouble am I looking into?

Thanks and looking forward to your replies.

PS: I have a 40g tank with mostly LPS. some SPS, a Crocea clam and a rose anemone.

Reefmedic79 · 11/02/2006, 04:12 PM

The trouble that I personally forsee, is that you won't have the needed space for a large enough fuge to completely replace a protien skimmer.

I'd say invest in a better skimmer.

TekCat · 11/02/2006, 04:16 PM

ditto, get better skimmer!

jessp · 11/02/2006, 04:19 PM

imo a fuge does not replace a skimmer, fuge performs different task. a skimmer w/ a fuge is ideal. If you are looking for a good skimmer for your sump i just bought a aquac urchin and it rocks, totally easy to use plug and play no fiddling. and super small footprint 6x3. and from all the reviews i have read everyone likes them.

psuedopimp · 11/02/2006, 04:31 PM

from my experience with the coral life skimmer, always set it lower than you think it should be. For some reason it the foam will raise a bit after awhile and fill the collection cup. I always set mine in the evening so that i can check on it for a couple of hours before i go to bed. Is there anyway you can put it in the sump so if it does over flow..?

MyCatsDrool · 11/02/2006, 04:53 PM

well, if you are going sump and fuge, can't you put the skimmer into the sump and let it overflow in there? Mine was in my sump for the same reason before my tank blew up

Vin7250 · 11/02/2006, 04:55 PM

its funny cause i LOVE my css 125 i set it on the lowest setting and it works GREAT......IMO shut if off when adding supliments, feeding and working with hands in tank, and leave it off for a few hours after then turn it back on (btw do this after water changes as well). If you do that you should not have a problem with that skimmer i think they are GREAT.

pony_killer · 11/02/2006, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Vin7250
its funny cause i LOVE my css 125 i set it on the lowest setting and it works GREAT......IMO shut if off when adding supliments, feeding and working with hands in tank, and leave it off for a few hours after then turn it back on (btw do this after water changes as well). If you do that you should not have a problem with that skimmer i think they are GREAT.

+1

MyCatsDrool · 11/02/2006, 05:10 PM

btw...if you are in florida and want to lose the skimmer, gimme a PM =)

bleached · 11/02/2006, 06:10 PM

wow, thanks for the quick replies.

My css is also the 125 and I have it setup hanging from the back of the sump with a drain hose leading to a 1 gallon milk container.

I tend to set the level of the bubbles in the skimmer to where I can see the bubbles levelling 1/4 up the inner tube. (not sure if I made sense there.) what's wierd is that sometimes I would hear whistling noises and see the bubble level drop to where you would unscrew the cup. it usually comes right back up to normal.
but yeah, ill lower the setting even more and see what happens.

my sump's openning is small and I have to remove the live rocks inside to do so.

my sump/refugium:
http://www.truvuaquariums.com/mwdpsrf75.html

bleached · 11/02/2006, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MyCatsDrool
btw...if you are in florida and want to lose the skimmer, gimme a PM =)

lol. I live in California.

GlobaLPimP · 11/02/2006, 06:16 PM

yep...your skimming too wet. Lowering the level should work out fine for ya

dippin61 · 11/03/2006, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bleached
wow, thanks for the quick replies.

My css is also the 125 and I have it setup hanging from the back of the sump with a drain hose leading to a 1 gallon milk container.

I tend to set the level of the bubbles in the skimmer to where I can see the bubbles levelling 1/4 up the inner tube. (not sure if I made sense there.) what's wierd is that sometimes I would hear whistling noises and see the bubble level drop to where you would unscrew the cup. it usually comes right back up to normal.
but yeah, ill lower the setting even more and see what happens.

my sump's openning is small and I have to remove the live rocks inside to do so.

my sump/refugium:
http://www.truvuaquariums.com/mwdpsrf75.html

id take some of that live rock outta your sump, and throw the skimmer in there. there should be plenty of room.

11/02/2006, 04:07 PM	#1
bleached Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 9	Bye Skimmer; Hello Refugium Hi guys, I have a Coralife needlewheel skimmer and it has been giving me so much problems. Lately it has been hard to fine tune and over flows alot. Every little thing I add in the tank causes the skimmer to go berserk and drains my 5g fresh water top-off reservoir. Needless to say, my carpet is soaking wet. What sucks is it doesn't over flow right away. It happens a few hours after I make any adjustments/add to anything and unfortunately I am usually not home to take care of the problem. Anyway, I am really considering ditching the skimmer and just convert the sump to a refugium. What trouble am I looking into? Thanks and looking forward to your replies. PS: I have a 40g tank with mostly LPS. some SPS, a Crocea clam and a rose anemone.

11/02/2006, 04:12 PM	#2
Reefmedic79 Life and Reef Saver Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Tavares, Florida Posts: 6,202	The trouble that I personally forsee, is that you won't have the needed space for a large enough fuge to completely replace a protien skimmer. I'd say invest in a better skimmer. __________________ ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º>¸. ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º> How much deeper would the ocean be if it didn't have sponges? P. Sherman 42 Wallaby Way Sid Current Tank Info: 40 Breeder, 20L Sump, 10G Fuge, JBJ A.T.O, 4" Reef Octopus, DIY Stand & Canopy, RapidLED Dimmable 36 Kit on 3 6" MakersLED Heatsink, MP10es

11/02/2006, 04:19 PM	#4
jessp Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Miami Posts: 2,747	imo a fuge does not replace a skimmer, fuge performs different task. a skimmer w/ a fuge is ideal. If you are looking for a good skimmer for your sump i just bought a aquac urchin and it rocks, totally easy to use plug and play no fiddling. and super small footprint 6x3. and from all the reviews i have read everyone likes them. __________________ i'm jess and i'm an addict! Current Tank Info: No tank at this time :(

11/02/2006, 04:31 PM	#5
psuedopimp Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: New Mexico Posts: 908	from my experience with the coral life skimmer, always set it lower than you think it should be. For some reason it the foam will raise a bit after awhile and fill the collection cup. I always set mine in the evening so that i can check on it for a couple of hours before i go to bed. Is there anyway you can put it in the sump so if it does over flow..? __________________ Any one can hold the helm when the sea is calm. Publilius Syrus

11/02/2006, 04:53 PM	#6
MyCatsDrool Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Under the Sea Posts: 377	well, if you are going sump and fuge, can't you put the skimmer into the sump and let it overflow in there? Mine was in my sump for the same reason before my tank blew up __________________ I Skim Naked. Recovering Alcoholic/Addict. Humble, but proud of it. Current Tank Info: 10gal nano. 55 gal FW planted. 5 gal FW planted. 125 FW tanganyikan cichlids. 2 gal FW planted

11/02/2006, 04:16 PM	#3
TekCat Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: MN Posts: 3,130	ditto, get better skimmer!

11/02/2006, 04:55 PM	#7
Vin7250 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Connecticut "The Big East" Posts: 1,144	its funny cause i LOVE my css 125 i set it on the lowest setting and it works GREAT......IMO shut if off when adding supliments, feeding and working with hands in tank, and leave it off for a few hours after then turn it back on (btw do this after water changes as well). If you do that you should not have a problem with that skimmer i think they are GREAT.

11/02/2006, 05:10 PM	#9
MyCatsDrool Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Under the Sea Posts: 377	btw...if you are in florida and want to lose the skimmer, gimme a PM =) __________________ I Skim Naked. Recovering Alcoholic/Addict. Humble, but proud of it. Current Tank Info: 10gal nano. 55 gal FW planted. 5 gal FW planted. 125 FW tanganyikan cichlids. 2 gal FW planted

11/02/2006, 06:10 PM	#10
bleached Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 9	wow, thanks for the quick replies. My css is also the 125 and I have it setup hanging from the back of the sump with a drain hose leading to a 1 gallon milk container. I tend to set the level of the bubbles in the skimmer to where I can see the bubbles levelling 1/4 up the inner tube. (not sure if I made sense there.) what's wierd is that sometimes I would hear whistling noises and see the bubble level drop to where you would unscrew the cup. it usually comes right back up to normal. but yeah, ill lower the setting even more and see what happens. my sump's openning is small and I have to remove the live rocks inside to do so. my sump/refugium: http://www.truvuaquariums.com/mwdpsrf75.html

11/02/2006, 06:16 PM	#12
GlobaLPimP Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Palm Harbor, Florida Posts: 911	yep...your skimming too wet. Lowering the level should work out fine for ya __________________ This hobby is educational; it teaches you how to spend a lot of money in a hurry! Current Tank Info: 75gl, SPS, LPS, IceCap/T5/SLR, 2 modded Tunze 6045's, PCI 350 skimmer w/ Gen-X 2400, 95lbs LR, GEN-X 4100 return