Need help with CSS125, again

msn711 · 06/24/2007, 11:09 AM

Once again, I'm ready to throw this thing in the garbage. Yesterday, I was doing some tank maintenance and the CSS went completely beserk. It started filling up with water, even on its lowest setting. Thinking maybe there was something on my hands or something had somehow gotten into the tank, I prepped some saltwater for a water change. I let it mix overnight and kept the skimmer off. Today I did a 5g water change. I turned the skimmer back on, and it immediately started filling up with water, even at its lowest setting. None of the corals or other livestock in the tank has shown any signs of stress, so I really don't think something bad got into the water. What do I do?

Turn off my ATO and let it dump water out of the tank until it's happy?
Trash it, consider it a lesson learned about coralife products, and buy a new one?
Some other ideas?

If i get a new one, I had been thinking about an Octopus NW150 or ER RS 100. I think I can spend about $300 on a skimmer. The sump is a 20L with no baffles, so 30x12 footprint. And if I do get a new skimmer, it should be something flexible for that inevitable future upgrade.

Any thoughts?

Thanks

skimmy · 06/24/2007, 12:09 PM

this is a great skimmer, better than the octo 150 or euro reef rs100
it comes with an aquabee 2000/1 nw pump that pulls 500lph of air, and easily mesh modded for even better performance.

http://www.protein-skimmer.com/shopp...itemdetail.asp

skwirl · 06/24/2007, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by koraltek
this is a great skimmer, better than the octo 150 or euro reef rs100
it comes with an aquabee 2000/1 nw pump that pulls 500lph of air, and easily mesh modded for even better performance.

http://www.protein-skimmer.com/shopp...itemdetail.asp

that is a great skimmer.

i think if you just let your current skimmer run, it will settle down. right now any skimmer would do that. there is something in your water that needs to break down. just let it run, and overflow into the sump. it will settle down and be back to normal soon.

msn711 · 06/24/2007, 01:22 PM

Thanks skwirl, that's what I'm doing now. I just thought that after a water change, it would've gone back to normal.

stanlalee · 06/24/2007, 01:40 PM

in the mean time clean the salt build up out the passage on the pump strainer where the airline connects to it (most likely and the cause 90% of the time). clean out the salt or blockage in the airline itself, clean out the blockage/build up in the airline muffler passages. remove backpressure from the water output by readjusting your bubble difuser if you actually use it or pulling the pipe from submersion in the water if you dont use it.

In my experience a blocked air passage or backpressure on the output pipe are the ONLY reasons it overflows unpredictably.

msn711 · 06/24/2007, 03:58 PM

Thanks stanlalee! Problem solved. I swear, when this works, its ok, but sometimes....

06/24/2007, 11:09 AM	#1
msn711 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Reynoldsburg, OH Posts: 974	Need help with CSS125, again Once again, I'm ready to throw this thing in the garbage. Yesterday, I was doing some tank maintenance and the CSS went completely beserk. It started filling up with water, even on its lowest setting. Thinking maybe there was something on my hands or something had somehow gotten into the tank, I prepped some saltwater for a water change. I let it mix overnight and kept the skimmer off. Today I did a 5g water change. I turned the skimmer back on, and it immediately started filling up with water, even at its lowest setting. None of the corals or other livestock in the tank has shown any signs of stress, so I really don't think something bad got into the water. What do I do? Turn off my ATO and let it dump water out of the tank until it's happy? Trash it, consider it a lesson learned about coralife products, and buy a new one? Some other ideas? If i get a new one, I had been thinking about an Octopus NW150 or ER RS 100. I think I can spend about $300 on a skimmer. The sump is a 20L with no baffles, so 30x12 footprint. And if I do get a new skimmer, it should be something flexible for that inevitable future upgrade. Any thoughts? Thanks

06/24/2007, 01:22 PM	#4
msn711 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Reynoldsburg, OH Posts: 974	Thanks skwirl, that's what I'm doing now. I just thought that after a water change, it would've gone back to normal. __________________ Shay Current Tank Info: 120 Deep Blue Pro

06/24/2007, 03:58 PM	#6
msn711 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Reynoldsburg, OH Posts: 974	Thanks stanlalee! Problem solved. I swear, when this works, its ok, but sometimes.... __________________ Shay Current Tank Info: 120 Deep Blue Pro

06/24/2007, 12:09 PM	#2
skimmy T3am Zissou Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Galactic Sector ZZ9 Plural Z Alpha Posts: 1,123	this is a great skimmer, better than the octo 150 or euro reef rs100 it comes with an aquabee 2000/1 nw pump that pulls 500lph of air, and easily mesh modded for even better performance. http://www.protein-skimmer.com/shopp...itemdetail.asp

06/24/2007, 01:40 PM	#5
stanlalee Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: hampton roads, va Posts: 1,799	in the mean time clean the salt build up out the passage on the pump strainer where the airline connects to it (most likely and the cause 90% of the time). clean out the salt or blockage in the airline itself, clean out the blockage/build up in the airline muffler passages. remove backpressure from the water output by readjusting your bubble difuser if you actually use it or pulling the pipe from submersion in the water if you dont use it. In my experience a blocked air passage or backpressure on the output pipe are the ONLY reasons it overflows unpredictably.