corallife super skim not running rightpease help my sps beg you!

reefpimp#1 · 12/03/2006, 07:43 AM

I have a 29 gal sps it now has a penguin 350 bio-wheel (minus the bio-wheels) running in it that I will remove as soon as I get my css200 running right.

At first it produced no bubbles and the water level came almost to the top and overflowed. so I shortened the attaching hose on the pump bringing it closer to the surface. It helped, now I have bubbles!
But, the water level is still at the top so the bubbles make it overflow, and whenever theres bubbles working in it my whole tank is filled with micrbubbles.
Anyone know what the problem might be?
Any ideas would be great.

garyw68 · 12/03/2006, 08:42 AM

how many inches would you say is between the pump and the water line?

theBender · 12/03/2006, 09:28 AM

With the smaller Coralife skimmers, I have the same issue. I used the included ball valve (grey stem wiht a turning knob on it). It goes between the pump and the input to the skimmer (I used some vinyl 1/2" tubing to connect the pieces). I set this a little under full open and then I was able to control my water level with the red know on the top of the skimmer.

reefpimp#1 · 12/03/2006, 09:56 AM

garyw68
the intake part of the pump is 4-5 inches below surface

theBender
Mine did not come with a ball valve although it sounds like it would help

skimmy · 12/03/2006, 10:54 AM

if your serious about getting some good color out of your acro in a 29g i would think about donating that css to charity and getting a better skimmer

jmo

dippin61 · 12/03/2006, 04:28 PM

how long have you had the skimmer running? it can take anywhere from 72 hours to a week to break in. and commonly during the break in, you will not produce bubbles like you should.

so be careful having it up all the way, when the skimmer does decide to kick in, your gonna overflow your collection cup.

reefpimp#1 · 12/03/2006, 06:25 PM

koraltek
thanks for the input I'll try to use it to help me fix the problem.

dippin61
Its a skimmer off a different tank (so yes already broke in). The bubbles are not really the problem since i only have them when the skimmer is running. The main problem is the water level in the skimmer is alomost at the top of the skimmer before the bubbles, after the bubbles it just overflows water instead of bubbles. the water level is turned down to the lowest level there is.

reefpimp#1 · 12/06/2006, 08:33 PM

does anyone no why my water level in my skimmer is 1-2 inches from the top?
its a hang on now it was in a sump where it worked fine. my tanks been almost a week with out a skimmer so the sooner the better. thanks

P.S. its a CSS-225

reefpimp#1 · 12/06/2006, 09:23 PM

no ones ever had or heard of this problem?

Greg manton · 12/06/2006, 09:34 PM

this may be a silly question but have you turned the red dial on the top of the output .? secondly make sure outflow air hole isnt pluged , and ventury hole and silencer arent pluged with salt. i found dialing mine in in my sump i kept the pump inpet 2 inches from the surface of the water then raised the skimmer, i did have to use more tubing but basicly made the pump push the water about a foot in the air . it works awsome now and adjustments are way easeir.

reefpimp#1 · 12/06/2006, 09:52 PM

yes I turned the dial and the water level is at the lowest setting. the air is working fine like i said and it is producing bubbles. I did pull the hose out of the hang ons air bubble diffuser. and presto! lower water level in skimmer. but loads of air bubbles. I'll try a new pad in the diffuser and shortening the hose to keep it from kinking. if anyone has any air bubble reduction tips that would be great.

P.S.
sometimes a little outter perspective does wonders. thanks Greg

Greg manton
"secondly make sure outflow air hole isnt pluged "

it wasn't the air hole but the water outflow itself

12/03/2006, 08:42 AM	#2
garyw68 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 648	how many inches would you say is between the pump and the water line? __________________ My grandmother is over eighty and still doesn’t need glasses. Drinks right out of the bottle. Current Tank Info: 180 gal AGA reef - 55 gal sump/refuge - 235 lbs of LR - 3x250 14k MH w/ 4x96 blue actinic PC's - SRO 5000ext skimmer - 2 Vortech MP40w/es

12/03/2006, 04:28 PM	#6
dippin61 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,897	how long have you had the skimmer running? it can take anywhere from 72 hours to a week to break in. and commonly during the break in, you will not produce bubbles like you should. so be careful having it up all the way, when the skimmer does decide to kick in, your gonna overflow your collection cup. __________________ Reefers Law: It can take about 48 hours to brown, and 48 weeks to color back up! Current Tank Info: 55 Gallon BB Low Iron Glass, Dual 110w VHO Actinics, 250w PFO MH 20k XM

12/06/2006, 08:33 PM	#8
reefpimp#1 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Fort Wayne, IN Posts: 730	does anyone no why my water level in my skimmer is 1-2 inches from the top? its a hang on now it was in a sump where it worked fine. my tanks been almost a week with out a skimmer so the sooner the better. thanks P.S. its a CSS-225 Last edited by reefpimp#1; 12/06/2006 at 09:22 PM.

12/06/2006, 09:34 PM	#10
Greg manton Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: peterborough,ontario Posts: 207	this may be a silly question but have you turned the red dial on the top of the output .? secondly make sure outflow air hole isnt pluged , and ventury hole and silencer arent pluged with salt. i found dialing mine in in my sump i kept the pump inpet 2 inches from the surface of the water then raised the skimmer, i did have to use more tubing but basicly made the pump push the water about a foot in the air . it works awsome now and adjustments are way easeir. __________________ 90 gal aga megaflow, 2x 250 watt mh 14000k ,euroreef rs 135, three hydor corrilia 3"s, 35 gallon sump 70 pounds figi in display 60 pounds diy liverock in refugium Current Tank Info: 65 gallon started jan 15 2005

12/03/2006, 07:43 AM	#1
reefpimp#1 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Fort Wayne, IN Posts: 730	corallife super skim not running rightpease help my sps beg you! I have a 29 gal sps it now has a penguin 350 bio-wheel (minus the bio-wheels) running in it that I will remove as soon as I get my css200 running right. At first it produced no bubbles and the water level came almost to the top and overflowed. so I shortened the attaching hose on the pump bringing it closer to the surface. It helped, now I have bubbles! But, the water level is still at the top so the bubbles make it overflow, and whenever theres bubbles working in it my whole tank is filled with micrbubbles. Anyone know what the problem might be? Any ideas would be great.

12/03/2006, 09:28 AM	#3
theBender Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 3	With the smaller Coralife skimmers, I have the same issue. I used the included ball valve (grey stem wiht a turning knob on it). It goes between the pump and the input to the skimmer (I used some vinyl 1/2" tubing to connect the pieces). I set this a little under full open and then I was able to control my water level with the red know on the top of the skimmer.

12/03/2006, 09:56 AM	#4
reefpimp#1 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Fort Wayne, IN Posts: 730	garyw68 the intake part of the pump is 4-5 inches below surface theBender Mine did not come with a ball valve although it sounds like it would help

12/03/2006, 10:54 AM	#5
skimmy T3am Zissou Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Galactic Sector ZZ9 Plural Z Alpha Posts: 1,123	if your serious about getting some good color out of your acro in a 29g i would think about donating that css to charity and getting a better skimmer jmo

12/03/2006, 06:25 PM	#7
reefpimp#1 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Fort Wayne, IN Posts: 730	koraltek thanks for the input I'll try to use it to help me fix the problem. dippin61 Its a skimmer off a different tank (so yes already broke in). The bubbles are not really the problem since i only have them when the skimmer is running. The main problem is the water level in the skimmer is alomost at the top of the skimmer before the bubbles, after the bubbles it just overflows water instead of bubbles. the water level is turned down to the lowest level there is.

12/06/2006, 09:23 PM	#9
reefpimp#1 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Fort Wayne, IN Posts: 730	no ones ever had or heard of this problem?

12/06/2006, 09:52 PM	#11
reefpimp#1 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Fort Wayne, IN Posts: 730	yes I turned the dial and the water level is at the lowest setting. the air is working fine like i said and it is producing bubbles. I did pull the hose out of the hang ons air bubble diffuser. and presto! lower water level in skimmer. but loads of air bubbles. I'll try a new pad in the diffuser and shortening the hose to keep it from kinking. if anyone has any air bubble reduction tips that would be great. P.S. sometimes a little outter perspective does wonders. thanks Greg Greg manton "secondly make sure outflow air hole isnt pluged " it wasn't the air hole but the water outflow itself