Coral Life Super Skimmer 60

Coderad · #1 09-06-2006, 03:06 AM

How well dose it work?

albert_dao · #2 09-06-2006, 03:15 AM

For $120, it works GREAT. But if you want a real skimmer, start at the EuroReef's and work your way up.

Coderad · #3 09-06-2006, 03:19 AM

What dose the Euro Reef cost?

albert_dao · #4 09-06-2006, 03:26 AM

The RS80 should run you $280. It's three times the skimmer but at twice the cost.

Don't get me wrong; I think Coralife is making a great product here for the price range. However, there's a few issues with the Super Skimmer series that I'll address here:

- Shoddy construction materials. The plastic feels cheap. It's not the heavy acrylic that feels nice and rigid in your hands.
- Low air intake. I don't have an air meter, but visually, I'd say the pump is only able to feed less than a third the air volume into the reaction chamber than the EuroReef.
- The pump is low quality. The needlewheel design is kinda.. just okay and the pump itself is probably a Rio.
- Very finicky. The adjustment knob is hard to fine tune and the skimmer is prone to flooding at the slightest change in salinity or water level.
- Excessive microbubbles. Not a huge issue if it's in the sump. If you're running it HOB though, you're in trouble. Which brings me to the last point.
- MASSIVE EQUIPMENT HANGING IN THE TANK when used as an HOB.

Coderad · #5 09-06-2006, 03:27 AM

Cool thanks

Flusher · #6 10-15-2006, 08:20 PM

I really like my Coralife Super Skimmer. It's the 65 gallon version, and I'm running it HOB on a 26 gallon tank. I've only had a few minor issues, and overall I'm very happy with it. It's going to be put on the sump (HOB) for a 60 gallon tank rack upgrade I'm building right now, too.

Once you figure it out, it works well, IME. I don't agree with Albert's critique, BUT... I don't have any experience with better skimmers.

Here's a good link to help fine-tune these skimmers:

http://www.tylermerrick.com/index.php?page=css_notes
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Kid prilosec

b-diddy · #7 02-17-2008, 11:55 PM

I just bought one off E-bay for 70 bucks and it was a nightmare to set up. Now that it's been running for a few days it seems to be producing pancake syrup colored stuff.

What's the deal with microbubbles? I do have a few that come out of the box and I'm hoping that they're not a big deal.

Everything in the tank seems happy right now and I'm hoping that things stay that way.

I have added an anemone (little bubble tip) which I've now read I may have got in there too early. Hopefully it takes to the rock (so far it hasn't grabbed on to anything) and eventually my clown fish moves in and makes it its new home.

Again though.. thing was a B-U-G-G-E-R to set up!

Starry · #8 02-18-2008, 04:01 AM

My ss65 been running for two weeks now, and other than to empty the collection cup, I havent had to touch it once I had it dialed in. This is the result:

The only thing I dont like about it is that as HOB its too bulky. So gave me an excuse to break down and get a sump.

hershey · #9 02-18-2008, 04:02 AM

with a few mods the SS can pull out some dark tar like stuff heres a pic of my SS125 after 4 days