Cadlights PLS-50 Nano Pipeless skimmer

[digedgeReef20]

Cadlights PLS-50 Nano Pipeless skimmer

Just received my PLS-50, previously I had a Red Sea Berlin Airlift, I will post more of a review after it breaks in and I get it dialed, but here are some pics in the meantime.

Its really easy to adjust by loosing the red nut and turning the body. I'm probably going to have to raise it some more, its made to set in 5 to 8 inches of water 6 inches is optimal. I'm also getting some micro bubbles

[BeardedReeferLLC]

Hopefully this product produces because I'm thinking about the PLS-100.

 

Keep me updated.

[digedgeReef20]

So ive had this skimmer set up one week now, I think its finally starting to break in. I am skimming a little wet, I also have a low bio load at this time.

Pros
Cheap price for the quality of this skimmer.
Its really easy to adjust, you just have to make sure its sitting flush with the bottom plate while adjusting.
Impressed with the quality of the unit.
Seems to be skimming good though its a little wet still have some tweaking to do. Just like any skimmer im only a week in so I will post again later with more results.
Not loud at all, Listen to the sound in the video. Sitting 4 feet away you cant hear it.

Cons
Every time i turn it off, the pump wont start back up on its own? i have to mess with the intake cap then it magically starts? I May contact cadlights about this issue.

Still have some Micro Bubbles showing up in tank but when my filter media is new you don't see any. Hopefully this will minimize as it breaks in more.
The tubing can tweak some when using the hole in the mount at the bottom to run the tubing threw to connect to the pump. Because of the angle of the pump when fully tightened down. I just cut a new piece of tubing and bypassed the hole all together.

I was using a IP cam to watch it from work in case it went screwy, so I could shut it down with my apex. The first chamber its in is small and if it goes nuts and overflows cup, I will end up with water on the floor......

Here is a video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9WZMUJX21w&feature=youtu.be&hd=1

[Mstefa1]

Very cool, I considered trying one of these out to over my Tunze.

[digedgeReef20]

yep

[BeardedReeferLLC]

*shakes head* the micro bubbles will go away. they can take a little.. ranges anywheres from 2-4 weeks usually. I wouldn't throw in the towel just yet.

[digedgeReef20]

Well, with some suggestions of fellow Nano-Reef.com reefers I've decided to try again!! Thanks, terrbelt, Bucknuter and SaltCube!!

What I did raise the skimmer so its sits in 6 inches of water from bottom of pump before it was at 8 inches and also gently tighten the locking screw so it doesn't offset the bottom plate which in turn lets more micro bubbles escape and this really seemed to have helped out with the micro bubbles. So now im going to let the PLS-50 fully break in and see what this thing can do.

Thanks again guys

[BeardedReeferLLC]

Glad to hear your giving it another shot, And to be honest I had to do the same to my wifes HOB skimmer as in lifting it up a little bit more and it works like a top now. There's always tweeking to be done when your a reefer.

[Bucknuter]

I'm sorry you're having issues.

I literally haven't touched mine and have never had a bubble and pulling good consistent skim.

It could be the extra chamber before the pump chamber on the 38IM is catching the bubbles. I'll check tomorrow and see if that's the case.

[Mstefa1]

If you get tired of it, send it over here and I'll try it out for you.

[Bucknuter]

I have my depth set at 8 3/4 inches from the waterline to the top of the collection cup.

There are no bubbles in the second chamber btw.

And it percolates at the base of the neck of the collection cup not in the neck itself.

Also running carbon and purigen...but will start gfo in the minimax today and pulling the purigen.

I hope that helps.

[digedgeReef20]

Thank for the info Guys!! After reading your original thread I placed my PLS-50 in the same depth as yours, roughly in 6 inches of water and it seems to be doing allot better. Before I had it in 8 inches of water. I'm not getting as much skim as yours probably due to different bio loads. I will tweak mine by not tightening the screw to much so the bottom plates set flush and I get allot less micro bubbles. The micro bubbles seem to come and go I can set it up perfect then later on the tank is full of micro bubbles. I'm only two weeks in so it prob needs to break in some more. Another thing happened today, I put new filter media in just a filter pad and my skimmer went nuts filling up the whole cup. I use Chemi-Pure Elite and purigen.

[Mstefa1]

How constant is your water level?

[Bucknuter]

Constant water level helps as stated above. And skimmers in general always go nuts when a new filter media is introduced. Try rinsing the filter well prior to putting in the tank. The same will happen when gluing frags...something about the glue makes it go nuts.

[digedgeReef20]

The water level in the first chamber is constant never changes.

[digedgeReef20]

Udate:

OK, keep having the problem where the pump on the skimmer would not restart after it was shut down.

Grrrr... screw this, I took the pump side off and found out it was missing the rubber grommet on the shaft end on one side!!!.....$@#@% looked in my aquarium junk yard of parts and found one similar to the one on the other side of the shaft that's still intact, similar but not the same. It now shuts off then back on with no issues. It seems to be making finer bubbles now and easer to keed an adjustment. I had it going for the last three days with no skimmate. Hopefully this resolves my issues.I will keep you posted

Btw: where can you buy those pumps...

Mike

[BeardedReeferLLC]

Contact Cad-Light I'm sure you can get something from them to fix your problem with the right parts.

[digedgeReef20]

Think I finally got it tuned correctly or it finally broke in, Its been skimming 24hrs constant no issues. Lowered another 3/4inch then it started skimming like mad and only occasional Micro-Bubbles...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMq-iC3urhA&feature=youtu.be&hd=1

[Bucknuter]

Glad to hear it worked out. Mine continues to create a thick green cup of sludge every 2-3 days.

[digedgeReef20]

Very Nice!!!!, Hopefully mine starts looking like that.

[SouthFlorida_Tron]

promising news, just ordered a 50, cant wait to get it...

[BeardedReeferLLC]

All great to hear. Mine will be turned on in one week.

[digedgeReef20]

Keep us posted!!!

[SaltyVT]

Got mine hooked up and running but waiting on the tank mounting screws..... And rock would help. Haha

[digedgeReef20]

The mounting screws were missing?