Coralife Super Skimmer

i_luv_dory · 06/30/2008, 11:39 PM

We have the model for 65 gallons. Bubbles inside the skimmer = yes. but, Bubbles are flowing like crazy into the aquarium. That wasnt happening yesterday. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

D to the P · 06/30/2008, 11:53 PM

It usually is a problem with hang on the back skimmers like this one. They give you this big bulky bubble diffusion box, and it can't even do it's job! I would try adjust the bubble diffusion box. Sometimes you just need a little tweak like moving it up or down; out of the water, or into the water etc.
I would check around to see if anyone has any modifications for that skimmer that may help out your situation, if you can't just fix it by adjust the box.

A.VOID · 07/01/2008, 08:17 PM

You're probably hosed with this model as a hang on for bubbles >>> Been there and it always gave me some bubbles. Even after I used it in the sump. Works fine as a skimmer though.

However, check the outlet hose. Make sure it is cut so that it's 1-2" from the bottom of the return/ disperser box (or whatever it's called)

sharky's machin · 07/01/2008, 08:55 PM

I changed my diffusion box for a sock. It cut down on my bubble problem significantly. Then I got a sump and moved it all to my sump- even better.

pmeninger · 07/01/2008, 09:23 PM

Along with all this also try and make the black sponge instert raise out of the top of the diffusion box. Be sure to secure the white filter pad to all corners of the diffusion box.

SoCalSURFrider · 07/01/2008, 09:30 PM

Get a sock like Sharky said... It will help out A LOT!

otrlynn · 07/01/2008, 09:32 PM

I have this skimmer too. It seems to do the job but it is sort of finicky. As A.VOID said, make sure that there is at least an inch between the outlet hose and the filter at the bottom of the bubble diffuser box. Make sure that the top of the diffuser box is above the suface of the water (I think the directions say about 1/4" above the water). Also pull out the shaped black sponge/filter and the flat white filter from the bubble diffuser box and rinse them out well. If you were not having this problem yesterday though, what has changed? If you blew off the rocks or used reef epoxy to glue down frags, the skimmer will go a bit crazy with bubbles for a day or two. Even something like having hand lotion on your hand and accidently putting your hand in the tank can cause a lot of extra bubbles. Just FYI, after I do tank cleaning and maintenance, I usually have to dial back the skimmer for a day or two.

aslavatortin · 07/01/2008, 10:27 PM

+1 Sock and sump

i_luv_dory · 07/04/2008, 09:52 AM

thank you very much to all of you

abulgin · 07/04/2008, 10:15 AM

Honestly, the Coralife is a piece of crap. I can almost promise you that you will eventually spend the money on a better skimmer. A SS was my first skimmer--I bought it before I knew much/did any research. I regretted that purchase almost as much as I regretted buying a 4x54W HO T5 fixture for my 110g with no individual reflectors. I eventually got smart and purchased an AquaC EV-180. No more floods, no more microbubbles, no more worrying about the water level in the sump . . . and a lot more skimmate. As one famous inventor once said . . . "Set it and forget it."

otrlynn · 07/04/2008, 11:44 AM

[QUOTE]Originally posted by abulgin
Honestly, the Coralife is a piece of crap. I can almost promise you that you will eventually spend the money on a better skimmer. A SS was my first skimmer--I bought it before I knew much/did any research. I regretted that purchase almost as much as I regretted buying a 4x54W HO T5 fixture for my 110g with no individual reflectors. I eventually got smart and purchased an AquaC EV-180. No more floods, no more microbubbles, no more worrying about the water level in the sump . . . and a lot more skimmate. As one famous inventor once said . . . "Set it and forget it." [/QU

Abulgin, as much as respect your expertise and the advice you have given to me and to others, your "piece of crap" comment is really not helpful to someone who already has a Corallife skimmer and is trying to deal with a problem. As much as I love this site (and I spend too many hours here) one thing that bothers me a little bit is the assumption that everyone has unlimited funds and can afford to upgrade to the best and biggest. Some of us are trying to make the best of what we have.

timschmidt · 07/04/2008, 12:41 PM

I got rid of that box and just ran some flexible tubing to put the output of my coral life to the left of my bubble trap in my sump and I don't have any issue with micro-bubbles anymore. I agree that this skimmer that we have is not the best, but anything is better than nothing. It pulls out skim mate (quite a bit and smelly at that) I just tweaked my bubble level and I run a bit dry on the skimmer. Also someone suggested that maybe putting super glue around the air intake tubing to help our skimmer work a bit better.

aslavatortin · 07/04/2008, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sharky's machin
I changed my diffusion box for a sock. It cut down on my bubble problem significantly. Then I got a sump and moved it all to my sump- even better.

+1, I did this and have no more problems

06/30/2008, 11:39 PM	#1
i_luv_dory Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: florence alabama Posts: 21	Coralife Super Skimmer We have the model for 65 gallons. Bubbles inside the skimmer = yes. but, Bubbles are flowing like crazy into the aquarium. That wasnt happening yesterday. Any help would be greatly appreciated. __________________ Our addictions: decorating like crazy for xmas, decorating for halloween...and now this! Current Tank Info: one 60 gallon, and a 29gallon

06/30/2008, 11:53 PM	#2
D to the P Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Amishville, USA Posts: 2,047	It usually is a problem with hang on the back skimmers like this one. They give you this big bulky bubble diffusion box, and it can't even do it's job! I would try adjust the bubble diffusion box. Sometimes you just need a little tweak like moving it up or down; out of the water, or into the water etc. I would check around to see if anyone has any modifications for that skimmer that may help out your situation, if you can't just fix it by adjust the box. __________________ Nature V.S. Nurture: Nature Always Wins. Current Tank Info: 12 gallon Aquapod reef with LED's, multiple nano's at work.

07/01/2008, 09:30 PM	#6
SoCalSURFrider Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Santa Barbara, CA Posts: 380	Get a sock like Sharky said... It will help out A LOT! __________________ Whatever happens, Happens...( IF YOU DONT SURF, DONT START!) Current Tank Info: 200g Mixed Reef 84'-24'-24' Custom Stand/Canopy- 6' light fixture with 3 400w 14k Metal Halides and 2 160w 10k VHOs With 4 cooling fans- R2 moonlights- 4 clip on fans in canopy for cooling- 2 CPR overflows with aqua lifters- 60g custom sump/ fuge

07/01/2008, 09:32 PM	#7
otrlynn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Chester County PA Posts: 1,508	I have this skimmer too. It seems to do the job but it is sort of finicky. As A.VOID said, make sure that there is at least an inch between the outlet hose and the filter at the bottom of the bubble diffuser box. Make sure that the top of the diffuser box is above the suface of the water (I think the directions say about 1/4" above the water). Also pull out the shaped black sponge/filter and the flat white filter from the bubble diffuser box and rinse them out well. If you were not having this problem yesterday though, what has changed? If you blew off the rocks or used reef epoxy to glue down frags, the skimmer will go a bit crazy with bubbles for a day or two. Even something like having hand lotion on your hand and accidently putting your hand in the tank can cause a lot of extra bubbles. Just FYI, after I do tank cleaning and maintenance, I usually have to dial back the skimmer for a day or two. __________________ Lynn 1 horse, 1 dog, 2 cats, small pond with a few koi. The fish tank is gone.

07/04/2008, 09:52 AM	#9
i_luv_dory Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: florence alabama Posts: 21	thank you very much to all of you __________________ Our addictions: decorating like crazy for xmas, decorating for halloween...and now this! Current Tank Info: one 60 gallon, and a 29gallon

07/01/2008, 08:17 PM	#3
A.VOID Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Columbus Posts: 985	You're probably hosed with this model as a hang on for bubbles >>> Been there and it always gave me some bubbles. Even after I used it in the sump. Works fine as a skimmer though. However, check the outlet hose. Make sure it is cut so that it's 1-2" from the bottom of the return/ disperser box (or whatever it's called)

07/01/2008, 08:55 PM	#4
sharky's machin Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Simi Valley, CA Posts: 585	I changed my diffusion box for a sock. It cut down on my bubble problem significantly. Then I got a sump and moved it all to my sump- even better.

07/01/2008, 09:23 PM	#5
pmeninger Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Concord,Ca Posts: 127	Along with all this also try and make the black sponge instert raise out of the top of the diffusion box. Be sure to secure the white filter pad to all corners of the diffusion box.

07/01/2008, 10:27 PM	#8
aslavatortin Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Lakeland, TN Posts: 430	+1 Sock and sump

07/04/2008, 10:15 AM	#10
abulgin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 2,664	Honestly, the Coralife is a piece of crap. I can almost promise you that you will eventually spend the money on a better skimmer. A SS was my first skimmer--I bought it before I knew much/did any research. I regretted that purchase almost as much as I regretted buying a 4x54W HO T5 fixture for my 110g with no individual reflectors. I eventually got smart and purchased an AquaC EV-180. No more floods, no more microbubbles, no more worrying about the water level in the sump . . . and a lot more skimmate. As one famous inventor once said . . . "Set it and forget it."

07/04/2008, 11:44 AM	#11
otrlynn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Chester County PA Posts: 1,508	[QUOTE]Originally posted by abulgin Honestly, the Coralife is a piece of crap. I can almost promise you that you will eventually spend the money on a better skimmer. A SS was my first skimmer--I bought it before I knew much/did any research. I regretted that purchase almost as much as I regretted buying a 4x54W HO T5 fixture for my 110g with no individual reflectors. I eventually got smart and purchased an AquaC EV-180. No more floods, no more microbubbles, no more worrying about the water level in the sump . . . and a lot more skimmate. As one famous inventor once said . . . "Set it and forget it." [/QU Abulgin, as much as respect your expertise and the advice you have given to me and to others, your "piece of crap" comment is really not helpful to someone who already has a Corallife skimmer and is trying to deal with a problem. As much as I love this site (and I spend too many hours here) one thing that bothers me a little bit is the assumption that everyone has unlimited funds and can afford to upgrade to the best and biggest. Some of us are trying to make the best of what we have.

07/04/2008, 12:41 PM	#12
timschmidt Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Chicago area, IL Posts: 809	I got rid of that box and just ran some flexible tubing to put the output of my coral life to the left of my bubble trap in my sump and I don't have any issue with micro-bubbles anymore. I agree that this skimmer that we have is not the best, but anything is better than nothing. It pulls out skim mate (quite a bit and smelly at that) I just tweaked my bubble level and I run a bit dry on the skimmer. Also someone suggested that maybe putting super glue around the air intake tubing to help our skimmer work a bit better. __________________ Tim Current Tank Info: Nanocube 12DX / Nanocube 28G HQI