Yep, I totally agree! Well said. The aqua C just doesnt produce the skimmate that the Superskimmer does but boy is it painless. I have finally got my SS to the point where there are no more leaks. Yippee. It was quite a journey.

Raquel

I'm glad to hear that you guys were able to tame that CSS.

outtafocus, you can twist the 90 degree output tubing upwards. You can then move the bubble trap over. Twist your pump 90 degrees and then you'll be able to move it up. Does that help :question:

I will try to play with the positioning of everything one day, For now Im just happy the thing is working.

Over 24hrs and no leaks.

Thank you Raquel and Masked for all the help.
It is pulling out a brown skimmate which is already darker than any thing the remora ever pulled.

Do you know if the CSS has a maximum depth of water it can be submerged in?
As long as the return line is out of the water, can the surrounding water be that deep?
I am designing my sump and I am trying to decide on a baffle height.
I am thinking I will go either 9.5" or 10" either way the return line is above water.[/i]

i bought one of the buggers and cant seem to get the water level adjusted , i have the flow turned right down but it overflows like there is no tommorow, what do i do !!! this is my first skimmer.... please help me!!!

Hey digitalsteve, can you post a photo of how you've got it set up? Mine did the same thing for abit as well, when I first plugged it in. It will eventually settle down. If you havn't already, I would give the main chamber and the riser tube a really good scrubbing in hot water. This will really help with the break-in. Also mine came with the valve on page 2, it will really help in controlling the water flow. After a while you can remove it once the skimmer has been broken in. Try altering the water height in your tank also. I did notice with mine that the lower I placed the pump the more foam it created. Which is really contrary to what most are experiencing with this skimmer on the RC forum. Well, for the 2 larger versions anyway.

Fire'er up in a 5 gal pail. They are 12" deep. That should work perfectly. Post your results, I'd be curious to see how it did.

well, i have it set as a hob , with the pump about 4 inches deep , i have that valve set up between the pump and the skimmer to control water flow into the skimmer but when i try to adjust the water flow , the water rises up and starts to overflow into the collection cup. my water height valve or whatever its called is turned right down but i still have a lot of overflow , not really sure what to do , i did clean it out with hot water first but i am still experiencing these problems . another thing is when i taper down the water flow into the skimmer using that little valve i dont get any bubbles so i am at a loss of what to do

I forgot to mention it's very sensitivity at these early stages. Making a slight turn with either the red dial or the valve will make this thing go crazy. Try really small turns. Make sure you don't have anything blocking either the air silencer or the output tubing vent. Check to make sure that the red dial is pointing directly to the output tubing. Not at 90 degrees to it. This is the lowest setting. Also, check to make sure that the air hose from the air silencer that feeds into the pump is securely attached. If there is not enough air getting into the pump it will be pushing more water, which will cause more overflowing.

do u get a large amount of micro bubbles entering your tank ? i seem to be getting a ton of them

I had the same problem.
I used the pu,p valve. You have to play with its setting to get bubbles and have a reduced flow.

You have to have the water return exit ABOVE the water level. By having it below causes back pressure on the system and water has no where to go but up.
I dont even have the flex tubing on mine, just the 90 degree into the bubble trap.
The valve is a weird one (red) all the way in either direction is the same, fully open. If you pull off the return 90 you can see the gate in the valve. spin the knob back and forth, this will give you an idea of where the gate actually blocks the return line, there by increasing the water level in the skimmer.

Funny sounds like I know what I am talking about. Considering I was asking the same questions last week. :lol:

1. Raise the bubble production diffuser rim to the same elevation of the tanks water line.

2. Pull the black sponge out about 1/2" or a bit more higher than the bubble production diffuser rim.

3. Adjust the output tubing to be just slightly into the sponge. Mine actually goes down about an 1" or more into the hole of the sponge. It isn't causing any back pressure issues so far and it also reduses the amount of salt spray.

4. Get a cold glass of beer and stare at a bubble free tank. :lol:

I think anyone that has purchased this skimmer and is able to break it in and produce some tomacco juice knows what their talking about. :smile:

The leak around the red knob has started again. There is no back pressure on the system, so I have no idea whats causing it. Coralife said they would sent me a new o ring, but I have yet to receive it. Till the o ring arrives I have pulled the skimmer off of the tank for now.
Its odd how the skimmer has gone for more than 3weeks with no problems them suddenly this again.

I've found that the microbubbles die down after the skimmer has broken in (2-3 weeks).

I received the o ring from ESU today. However Im pretty sure they did not read the email I sent to them. ESU shipped me the o ring which seals the collection cup to the skimmer body, I am not complaining because now I have a spare.
But my skimmer still leaks at the knob. I will figure something out.

so whats the verdict on this super skimmer? you all pleased with it?

i am considering a HOB for a smallish tank...
hows the noise, i'd prefer a quiet skimmer as this will be in the TV room.

thanks.

I think it's the best HOB back out there (not including the deltec one which I've heard is really good but $$$), mainly because it's using the needlewheel technology.

It's quieter than a Remora, but you can never get a silent skimmer :)

Aqua C Rocks!!!
 

Hi All,

Well as for my vote, the following info should give it away.

After 2 major leaks, I have packed up the Superskimmer and it now resides in my closet.

I moved it to a new tank and it just went nuts. I guess it had settled down on the first one but it still dripped from various parts.

So, my vote is for my good ol' reliable Aqua C Remora Pro, it's quieter, doesnt leak at all and once I upgraded to a Mag 5 it skims like crazy.

Hope that helps!

PS Anyone wanna buy my Superskimmer?

PSS How do I change the subject line of my old post?

You just go back to your first message and edit the thread title.....might be a good idea in this case.... :eek: :lol:

After several emails with Roland at ESU (coralife) we have decided the best solution to my leaking red adjustment knob on my 65gal super skimmer is to return the main body of the beast back to them and they will ship out a new one.
Im sure the shipping down will be paid by me, so I hope the return shipping will be prepaid.
I must call a girl there to get all the details.
Kind of a PITA.

My 65 has the same problem, started out leaking then stopped and now it is leaking again :cry:

Let me know how you make out!

Do you have this flow control valve setup on yours?

Grey piece attaches to the pump :neutral:

:UPDATE:LOL
After investigating, I pulled the output hose off. What a difference, the skimmer is not near as sensitive and it is no longer leaking at the knob. I do not have this limiting valve so I am going to enquire about that.


Still be interested in hearing how you make out!

I was using the valve with Rolands advice, he said that this leaking is a problem with the 65gal model and the valve is included to help.
He suggested 3 things to reduce this leak.
1: pump must be withtin 3inches of the surface (we've already talked about that)
2: use the grey valve and adjust to part way closed
3: make sure your skimmer exit/return line is ablove your water level.

After all of these atempts my skimmer seemed to be working great and no leaks. Dont know why but after two days of running perfect the knob began to leak, at least its in a sump so no mess.
In one of my original emails to Roland I had mentioned the red knob fit very loosely in the valve body, this is why he thinks it needs to go back.
Tried the 1-800# on friday, no surprise but not available in Canada. I am going to have to use the old long distance method. (I should call collect hehe)

Checked at around 9:00PM .......... its leaking LOL

I pulled the red adjustable knob up, aligned the valve to be fully open and blasted it with clear silicone, pushed the knob back down. I've had it with this leaking LOL

Today I am going to buy some pipe and a small valve. Put an end to it all :lol:

I was thinking I would try that, but I have heard that the pipe diameter is not compatable with any PVC sizes.
Maybe its just a different schedule ie 26 instead of 40.
I guess the best thing is use calipers and find the outside diameter and then go hunting.
If you find something that works, let me know, I would like to fix it my self and not ship it away.

Well, you are right, the 3/4 inch PVC is a blonde hair too big, due to the lack of pressure, it is holding though. A small amount of silicone would be fine but I have chosen to build it all dry for obvious reasons. I am happy though nonetheless. One thing I will be changing, the ball valve is overkill! Need a better suited valve for ease of adjustability and looks.

It is working, and there is no way that red adjustable valve can leak LOL :lol:

Will improve on the effort and keep it, for sure!

I bet a small gate valve would be perfect.

So did you just take the plunge and cut the old valve right out?
How about any pics?
Thanks

I'll work on some pictures!
The old valve, I just turned it 'till it was wide open looking through the outlet.
So far no problems but the ball valve definitely has to go.

Here is my CS 65. It initially leaked under the knob like everybody else's so i just lowered the microbubble level.

It is not as good as the ozone ones but I think it is okay.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a69...90001Skim1.jpg
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a69...00001Skim2.jpg
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a69...10001Skim3.jpg

Sorry, pix are not that great.

Microbubble level is about quarter of an inch above the tube. It was pulling darker skimmate, but when i fed last night...it produced more wet skimmate.

Js

Here is a picture of the mod. I have found out that with this setup it is best to have the output submersed. Makes the valve a little easier to find the sweet spot! I will still be looking for a more suitable valve though. Seems to be working well, no more intermittent leaks.

Hope yours remains troublefree!

http://rcpilot.users.sunwave.net/modified_skimmer.jpg

Thanks! Where did u get that valve? Did u silicone it? I have not seen mine leak (knock on wood) for a while. BUT if it does leak...I will do what u did.


Thanks.


JS

With that ball valve, are you using the bubble difuser? Doesn't look like it so I was not sure.

By the way I have a 220 and a 125 going on two different tanks. They seem to work very well and I have not had any leaks. Only comments I would have is:

1. First night with the 220 model I almost burned my house down. (my error. The valve is finicky and water was actually coming out of the air valve at the top of the skimmer due to back pressure I assume. I fixed this by just attaching an air hose and although it is pointed into the tank it is out of the water. Good news is I now use GFIs and the skimmer works well now.

2. I changed out the sponge at the bottom of the diffuser to something a bit more porous. After a night the white sponge at the bottom seemed to be causing more back pressure in the output. Luckily this time I had the airline tube on there.

Local hardware store carries everything, cost was about 10.00 dollars complete. Everything is dry right now in case the idea failed. Once I buy a better valve I will be gluing it. Silicone will work for sure. Not using the bubble diffuser, had to take it right off due to the original valve and leak.
This is a problem apparently with the 65 model.

What is the bubbles like? any salt creep?

Bubbles without the diffuser? I have the output tube submersed over top of a piece of liverock so no troubles there. Also no micro bubbles visible etc.

I see, you just siliconed the valve open and added the new onto the output. Good thinking.

I have a plan which will be much more compact but requires the complete removal of the old valve. I found a few different compresion fittings meant for use with pex and cpvc. I am hoping the the outside diameter of the output piping is very close to that of the cpvc or pex pipe. The fitting which will work best is a 90degree comp to mpt (male pipe thread) then I just attach which ever valve I want as long as it has 3/4" NPT threads (national pipe thread).
Now I just need to take the skimmer and a pair of calipers into Rona and make my measurements. If I feel the sizes are close enough I will chop off the old valve(eek).
I will post my findings in the next couple of days.

So after a few measurements my plan will not work.

Looks like the body of the skimmer his heading down to California.
This way I get a whole new body, and I hope a nice tight fitting adjustment knob. Mine was really loose.

That sucks!
I have no complaints with mine! So far everything is running very well.
No leaks just skimmate :lol: