Coralife Super Skimmer

Hey all,

If I recall correctly there is a user on this forum that has a great
deal of knowledge on the CSS.

My problems with this skimmer are as follows.

1. The bubble diffuser box seems to do nothing other than take up tank
space.

2. After cleaning out the collection cup and intake strainer, bubble
production is reduced to almost none. Getting the bubbles flowing again
generally requires blocking off the intake screen. This is not always
successful though...it often takes some monkeying around with it.

3. I use it in tank, as opposed to in sump, so the bubbles are a hassle.

I've found hints to mods people have made to these to solve the
problems, but they are apparently government secrets, because specifics
are few and far between. Any specifics would be great.

TIA
Pat

On Mon, 01 May 2006 19:40:29 GMT, Pat wrote:
Hey all,

If I recall correctly there is a user on this forum that has a great
deal of knowledge on the CSS.

My problems with this skimmer are as follows.

1. The bubble diffuser box seems to do nothing other than take up tank
space.
Get rid of it then, use a foam filter sleeve as is commonly found on
pump intakes such as the pondmaster line of pumps. Its simply a open
cell foam that is cylindrical in shape, that is placed over a pumps
inlet screen. Works super at eliminating bubbles and does not take up
any space thats of concern......

2. After cleaning out the collection cup and intake strainer, bubble
production is reduced to almost none. Getting the bubbles flowing again
generally requires blocking off the intake screen. This is not always
successful though...it often takes some monkeying around with it.

It can take a bit of time to regenerate and produce more skim, as it
all depends on how much junk your tank is producing......which is
governed by what and how you feed, the fish load, the coral load etc
On my one tank I can clean skimmer cup daily, but on my other tank it
can go almost 4 or 5 days or more before it needs cleaning.

3. I use it in tank, as opposed to in sump, so the bubbles are a hassle.
Proper adjustment of red flow adjustment knob, proper height of
outflow tube should be at or above water level, and pump inlet screen
/ strainer as close to top of water surface as possible...which is
anywhere from 1/2 to about 3". I have two I run at approx 1/2" under
surface of water which create a vortex sucking in any film off surface
of tank, as I run these two tanks pretty darn high, almost to the
point of them overflowing, so the hob filter does not realy do a good
job of chopping or breaking up any accumulated slick junk on top, but
the skimmer effectively removes it all just fine. A small portion of
the pump is exposed to the air but its not been a problem and its not
run hotter than the rest of the pump does....

I've found hints to mods people have made to these to solve the
problems, but they are apparently government secrets, because specifics
are few and far between. Any specifics would be great.

There is no need to mod anything other than trash the diffuser box and
use a foam sleeve, and set it up properly. They work just fine out of
the box with a box if yu have enough room for it, or the sleeve if you
want less junk in the tank.....Biggest problem folks induce is adding
a piece of tube to air inlet line to pump or adding a valve, or by
adding a air line to the outflow bleeder nipple........About the only
thing I would do if need be is drill outflow bleeder nipple a bit
larger, but its certainly not been a problem at all on the 6 CSS that
I have been running trouble free. I will say, for reasons unknown, out
of 6 coralife skimmers I have 5 work fine without a diffuser box, but
one makes just a few bubblkes with a foam sleeve, but not a problem,
and it needs a diffuser box.......and as of yet, still have not been
able to figure out why it will not run like the others with just a
foam sleeve instead of diffuser box.

CSS skimmers best bang for the buck for 99% of the folks out there.

TIA
Pat

Koi-Lo....
Frugal ponding since 1982.
Aquariums since 1956.
Some assholes Pond & Aquarium Pages:
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But, I am the one and only original Koi-Lo.
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