*Coralife Super Skimmer Modifications List*

Nano_reeflover · 08/03/2006, 10:06 AM

Ok I'm starting this thread because the main Coralife skimmer thread is more than 80 pages which makes it very difficult for new CSS owners to find the mods that can be done to this skimmer. If you wish to post a step-by-step of a mod that you have done, feel free, but I'm going to ask that there be NO DISCUSSION of the mods. This rule is in place so this thread doesn't turn into something like the 80+ page thread. If you have any questions regarding a mod, please just PM the original poster. Thanks

Coralife Super Skimmer Pics: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hreadid=694835

Pete Harcoff · 08/03/2006, 02:36 PM

My current setup for my Coralife Super Skimmer 125. The outflow is directly into an Aquaclear 70 hang-on-back filter. After cramming a couple filter sponges into the media basket, I've now elimated bubbles entering the main tank.

masterswimmer · 08/07/2006, 12:15 AM

Collection cup overflow:

Discharge mod:

Discharge with foam bubble diffuser:

Venturi mod (vinyl tubing runs from cap to venturi):

masterswimmer · 08/07/2006, 12:17 AM

Surface skimming mod:

Surface skimmer in operation:

yoboyjdizz · 08/07/2006, 11:31 AM

what size pvc pipes are you guys using?

perpetual98 · 08/07/2006, 11:38 AM

What does the venturi mod do?

masterswimmer · 08/07/2006, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Nano_reeflover
but I'm going to ask that there be NO DISCUSSION of the mods. This rule is in place so this thread doesn't turn into something like the 80+ page thread. If you have any questions regarding a mod, please just PM the original poster. Thanks

I'd be happy to answer any Q's in pm's.

splateee · 08/09/2006, 07:20 AM

Here is what i did to our CSS 125. It is from the Tyler Merrick site.

RocketSeason · 08/09/2006, 09:14 AM

can you provide a bit more info with your posts so we can have a better idea how it was accomplished?

I am very curious about the mod to the cup. How would I go about doing that?

trueperc · 08/09/2006, 09:31 AM

Looking for a recirc mod for a needlewheel 220

humbugy · 08/09/2006, 10:15 AM

i put an aquabee 2000/1 in recirc on a css 220, if i can find a camera ill take some pictures

mhj1580 · 08/10/2006, 03:38 AM

link to my css 65 mods (local reef club site)
http://www.mbrk.com/viewtopic.php?t=3485

tgreene · 08/10/2006, 07:29 AM

CO2 De-Gassing Mod

I drilled a hole into the neck of my CSS-220 and epoxied a JG fitting to it, so that the effluent from my Ca reactor is dumped into the skimmer body. This will allow the excess CO2 to be stripped from the effluent before it enters the water column.

I then opened the Calcium reactor needle valve wide open, and now regulate the flow w/ a JG ball valve directly before it enters the skimmer. This was done to maintain adequate pressure to keep the effluent tube from back flowing into the reactor.

Since doing this mod 2 weeks ago, my pH has stabilized higher than what it had been, and is now consistently at 8.2, rather than 7.9 - 8.0 as before.

dermer · 08/10/2006, 08:51 AM

i did it simmilar but i ran a uv sterilizer between the pump and the unit it self and i also found that the bigger the pipe on the return the better

Nano_reeflover · 08/16/2006, 08:43 PM

Contact info for Coralife Super Skimmer help:

Roland M Shoff
Energy Savers Unlimited
910 E. Sandhill Ave.
Carson, CA 90746
(800) 678-8844
(310) 851-8996 Fax
Roland@esuweb.com

abendx · 08/16/2006, 09:09 PM

cup from the larger skimmer fits the smaller skimmer. i have a 220 cup on my 65.... this gives you both a larger cup and a factory designed skimmate overflow.

spineshank385 · 08/16/2006, 09:40 PM

has anyone done a recirc on a css 65?

SMS76 · 08/28/2006, 04:37 PM

^^^^

GMGQ · 09/02/2006, 11:23 PM

I just took out the stock pump from my CSS125 and replaced it with a GenX 2400. I took off the cover from the front of the pump, and screwed in the nozzle that looks like a bazooka with a nipple for the airhose (for venturi).

First of all, once I plugged it in, it wasnt sucking any air. I noticed if I put my finger over the intake to cover it 50%, THEN it started to suck air. So I got a piece of 1/2" tubing and plugged it into the intake, and that reduced it enough so that it started stucking air.

Now it seems like even though there's bubbles in the skimmer, it doesnt generate any foam at all. I have the water line up to the neck inside the collection cup, and the water surface is fizzling like 7-UP.

What do I have to do? I thought a lot of people have used this pump with their CSS skimmers??

Thanks in advance!

kimoy · 09/03/2006, 12:26 AM

well to start with i really did not do anything to my skimmer. when i got my css125 it was brewing coffee but after a month it stops. so i was asking around the lfs in my are but no one could give me a good answer. so what i did was i bought an air pump with adjustable air output and connected it to the air silencer of my css125 and after getting the right air to go into my pump and voila an excellent black gunk....

corivus · 10/13/2006, 06:49 PM

I think I might try the air pump thing, my css125 does the exact same thing, skim's for a few days then stops all together, its very odd and fusterating, meanwhile, my old old old turboflotor 1000 produces 1-2 cups of skimmate a day on my fowlr tank

enemec1 · 10/13/2006, 07:37 PM

I just bought the 125 model I want to hang it on my sump (20L) to my 75 gallon tank. what are the best mods to do? I would like to keep it as much stuff out of the sump as possible,

masterswimmer · 10/14/2006, 04:03 PM

enemec1, IMO the css 125 is too small a skimmer to handle a system running with 85-90 gallons.

swimmer

samc99us · 12/12/2006, 06:36 PM

This thread has been stagnant, but I think I have stumbled upon a major performance increase to these skimmers for $.50 (more like free because you probably already have everything, like me)!!!!

Idea sparked by jacmyoung

my original post: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...84#post8721484

New pics and the mod:

divecj5 · 12/13/2006, 06:46 AM

Thanks for providing us with this idea....sounds like a great idea and definitely an enhancement. Just to make sure I have this correct, you just put an air valve (the blue thing in the first pic) somewhere between the intake going into the venturi pump and the grey cylindrical silencer? Just want to make sure I'm clear before I give it a go.

I will be heading to Lowe's or HD this afternoon to check this out.

Adam

08/03/2006, 10:06 AM	#1
Nano_reeflover Reefer Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Seattle Posts: 449	*Coralife Super Skimmer Modifications List* Ok I'm starting this thread because the main Coralife skimmer thread is more than 80 pages which makes it very difficult for new CSS owners to find the mods that can be done to this skimmer. If you wish to post a step-by-step of a mod that you have done, feel free, but I'm going to ask that there be NO DISCUSSION of the mods. This rule is in place so this thread doesn't turn into something like the 80+ page thread. If you have any questions regarding a mod, please just PM the original poster. Thanks Coralife Super Skimmer Pics: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hreadid=694835

08/07/2006, 12:15 AM	#3
masterswimmer Registered Member. Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: East of the Mississippi, north of the mason dixon line Posts: 3,255	Collection cup overflow: Discharge mod: Discharge with foam bubble diffuser: Venturi mod (vinyl tubing runs from cap to venturi): __________________ I said, "look honey, we paid the mortgage and we have all this money left over for the tank." Her response confused me. She said we still needed to buy food and pay the utilities. Current Tank Info: 75 10ecor, SLS TEK 6 x 54w T-5, Lifereef sump & VS2-24" skimmer, 15 gal. AGA fuge

08/07/2006, 12:17 AM	#4
masterswimmer Registered Member. Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: East of the Mississippi, north of the mason dixon line Posts: 3,255	Surface skimming mod: Surface skimmer in operation: __________________ I said, "look honey, we paid the mortgage and we have all this money left over for the tank." Her response confused me. She said we still needed to buy food and pay the utilities. Current Tank Info: 75 10ecor, SLS TEK 6 x 54w T-5, Lifereef sump & VS2-24" skimmer, 15 gal. AGA fuge

08/07/2006, 11:38 AM	#6
perpetual98 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Oconomowoc Posts: 1,242	What does the venturi mod do? __________________ Used to have many SW tanks, now starting over with one...

08/09/2006, 09:14 AM	#9
RocketSeason Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Peoria, IL Posts: 601	can you provide a bit more info with your posts so we can have a better idea how it was accomplished? I am very curious about the mod to the cup. How would I go about doing that? __________________ There is no such thing as a "Nemo fish". PBITAWA Current Tank Info: 37 Gallon Oceanic Cube, Various softies, 95 lbs of LR, 6 gallon cryptic fuge. Planning my 75 gallon upgrade.

08/03/2006, 02:36 PM	#2
Pete Harcoff Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 196	My current setup for my Coralife Super Skimmer 125. The outflow is directly into an Aquaclear 70 hang-on-back filter. After cramming a couple filter sponges into the media basket, I've now elimated bubbles entering the main tank.

08/07/2006, 11:31 AM	#5
yoboyjdizz Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Elk Grove, CA Posts: 3,137	what size pvc pipes are you guys using?

08/09/2006, 07:20 AM	#8
splateee Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Flower Mound, Texas Posts: 561	Here is what i did to our CSS 125. It is from the Tyler Merrick site.

08/09/2006, 09:31 AM	#10
trueperc Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Ottawa, On, Canada Posts: 788	Looking for a recirc mod for a needlewheel 220

08/09/2006, 10:15 AM	#11
humbugy Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: bloomington, il Posts: 464	i put an aquabee 2000/1 in recirc on a css 220, if i can find a camera ill take some pictures

08/10/2006, 03:38 AM	#12
mhj1580 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 112	link to my css 65 mods (local reef club site) http://www.mbrk.com/viewtopic.php?t=3485 __________________ A smart man tells his wife when he is wrong. A wise man knows how to hide his mistakes. Current Tank Info: 118g & 75g prop interconected via 55g sump lighting (3) 175W MH total

08/10/2006, 07:29 AM	#13
tgreene Registered Member. Join Date: May 2003 Location: Jonesboro, AR Posts: 2,712	CO2 De-Gassing Mod I drilled a hole into the neck of my CSS-220 and epoxied a JG fitting to it, so that the effluent from my Ca reactor is dumped into the skimmer body. This will allow the excess CO2 to be stripped from the effluent before it enters the water column. I then opened the Calcium reactor needle valve wide open, and now regulate the flow w/ a JG ball valve directly before it enters the skimmer. This was done to maintain adequate pressure to keep the effluent tube from back flowing into the reactor. Since doing this mod 2 weeks ago, my pH has stabilized higher than what it had been, and is now consistently at 8.2, rather than 7.9 - 8.0 as before. __________________ WWBAD Current Tank Info: 157g custom Starphire display, 450g frag system, 285g fish QT system, 400g Shark tank

08/10/2006, 08:51 AM	#14
dermer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Illinois Posts: 523	i did it simmilar but i ran a uv sterilizer between the pump and the unit it self and i also found that the bigger the pipe on the return the better

08/16/2006, 08:43 PM	#15
Nano_reeflover Reefer Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Seattle Posts: 449	Contact info for Coralife Super Skimmer help: Roland M Shoff Energy Savers Unlimited 910 E. Sandhill Ave. Carson, CA 90746 (800) 678-8844 (310) 851-8996 Fax Roland@esuweb.com

08/16/2006, 09:09 PM	#16
abendx Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Oxnard, CA Posts: 185	cup from the larger skimmer fits the smaller skimmer. i have a 220 cup on my 65.... this gives you both a larger cup and a factory designed skimmate overflow. __________________ 2007 MASVC President of VICE! (retired) Marine Aquarium Society of Ventura County Current Tank Info: One gallon goldfish bowl

08/16/2006, 09:40 PM	#17
spineshank385 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Lancaster, PA Posts: 410	has anyone done a recirc on a css 65?

08/28/2006, 04:37 PM	#18
SMS76 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Huntsville AL Posts: 1,814	^^^^

09/02/2006, 11:23 PM	#19
GMGQ Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 491	GenX 2400 Pump I just took out the stock pump from my CSS125 and replaced it with a GenX 2400. I took off the cover from the front of the pump, and screwed in the nozzle that looks like a bazooka with a nipple for the airhose (for venturi). First of all, once I plugged it in, it wasnt sucking any air. I noticed if I put my finger over the intake to cover it 50%, THEN it started to suck air. So I got a piece of 1/2" tubing and plugged it into the intake, and that reduced it enough so that it started stucking air. Now it seems like even though there's bubbles in the skimmer, it doesnt generate any foam at all. I have the water line up to the neck inside the collection cup, and the water surface is fizzling like 7-UP. What do I have to do? I thought a lot of people have used this pump with their CSS skimmers?? Thanks in advance!

09/03/2006, 12:26 AM	#20
kimoy Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Huntley, IL Posts: 2,317	my css125 mod well to start with i really did not do anything to my skimmer. when i got my css125 it was brewing coffee but after a month it stops. so i was asking around the lfs in my are but no one could give me a good answer. so what i did was i bought an air pump with adjustable air output and connected it to the air silencer of my css125 and after getting the right air to go into my pump and voila an excellent black gunk....

10/13/2006, 06:49 PM	#21
corivus Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Tempe, AZ Posts: 1,126	I think I might try the air pump thing, my css125 does the exact same thing, skim's for a few days then stops all together, its very odd and fusterating, meanwhile, my old old old turboflotor 1000 produces 1-2 cups of skimmate a day on my fowlr tank

10/13/2006, 07:37 PM	#22
enemec1 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Rydal PA Posts: 907	I just bought the 125 model I want to hang it on my sump (20L) to my 75 gallon tank. what are the best mods to do? I would like to keep it as much stuff out of the sump as possible, __________________ Help my wife is going to kill me, I'm spending my sons college funds. Current Tank Info: two 30 gallon cubes

10/14/2006, 04:03 PM	#23
masterswimmer Registered Member. Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: East of the Mississippi, north of the mason dixon line Posts: 3,255	enemec1, IMO the css 125 is too small a skimmer to handle a system running with 85-90 gallons. swimmer __________________ I said, "look honey, we paid the mortgage and we have all this money left over for the tank." Her response confused me. She said we still needed to buy food and pay the utilities. Current Tank Info: 75 10ecor, SLS TEK 6 x 54w T-5, Lifereef sump & VS2-24" skimmer, 15 gal. AGA fuge

12/12/2006, 06:36 PM	#24
samc99us Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Southern Maryland Posts: 129	This thread has been stagnant, but I think I have stumbled upon a major performance increase to these skimmers for $.50 (more like free because you probably already have everything, like me)!!!! Idea sparked by jacmyoung my original post: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...84#post8721484 New pics and the mod: __________________ 29g tank, 150 watt de mh, 10k coralvue reeflux, CSS65 Current Tank Info: Mixed/SPS 29 Gallon

12/13/2006, 06:46 AM	#25
divecj5 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Charleston, SC Posts: 709	Thanks for providing us with this idea....sounds like a great idea and definitely an enhancement. Just to make sure I have this correct, you just put an air valve (the blue thing in the first pic) somewhere between the intake going into the venturi pump and the grey cylindrical silencer? Just want to make sure I'm clear before I give it a go. I will be heading to Lowe's or HD this afternoon to check this out. Adam __________________ "I spent 90% of my money on women and drink. The rest I wasted" - George Best Current Tank Info: 20H, Vortech MP20, Aquatinics TX5, SPS Only Tank