Super Skimmer Rocks!

[fatpuffer]

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.





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

[Saltysteve]

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!

[fatpuffer]

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

[rudy]

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.

[Saltysteve]

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.

[rudy]

What is the bubbles like? any salt creep?

[Saltysteve]

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.

[outtafocus]

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.

[outtafocus]

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.

[Saltysteve]

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