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Cad lights PLS-50 Elite


cityreefer

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Well after running the Auqua Euro Nano skimmer for about a year it started to show it's weakness in my current struggle to get algae under control. Wasn't even pulling a tea color after a thorough cleaning. So what started off as a great skimmer which pulled all sorts of nasty gunk out of my tank, eventually ended up being crap a year later. I originally tried the IM desktop skimmer with my Nuvo 16 when they came out, but that was complete junk. Hell the Auqua Euro a year later is still probably better.

 

Anyway I really fell in love with the PLS-50 when it came out but thought to myself it's still not compact enough for my IM 16 nuvo. Now that they released the PLS-50 Elite which is ever so slightly more compact than the original I was really interested. As anyone knows in this hobby, anytime you can find an excuse to buy something and a new product comes out....you're buying it. So without saying I bought it even knowing perfectly well that there was a really great chance that it wouldn't fit in the sump of my IM Nuvo 16. Well this week I got my PLS-50 Elite box in the mail (which they confusingly only labeled PLS-50) and opened it up to find that it wouldn't fit in my sump.

 

Well being a man with some tools laying around I decided to take my original plan-B if it didn't fit. Cut the bracket as much as I can to get it to fit an pray to god I'm not out my money.

 

Well IT WORKED!!! Here's what I did but all I can say is that I take no responsibility for anyones failure and I highly recommend practicing the old measuring twice cut once routine.

 

Tools needed: Painters tape (or any other type of tape), a hack saw or better yet dremel tool, a solid area to cut on

 

****First thing to note is that I figured out that the part in my sump were I wanted to place the skimmer was within the companies recommended operating depth for the skimmer****

 

Instructions:

-First thing you want to do it fully assemble the protein skimmer including the bracket that's too large to fit in your sump.

-Notice how at the bottom of the skimmer body there are holes forming the shape of a circle and there are also two holes which connect the one black screw (body-bracket) and the large adjustment column that has the red knob on the top.

-Now disassemble the bracket and skimmer

-See the pic I posted with the doodling on it and take note of the green colored lines I drew. These holes on the bracket in the green should not be compromised as doing so could change the skimmer's functionality when all is said an done.

-Now for the mad scientist stuff... You want to cut the bottom part of the bracket where I have drawn the pinkish lines in the picture. To be honest I would even recommend cutting out a bit less than the pink lines at first. Before doing the cutting I recommend using painters tape to help catch the dust and keep you on point.

-Once this cutting is completed make sure to clean off the plastic which you will be using well under water and remove the tape obviously.

-Reassemble the skimmer and place in the sump with out the hanging bracket. The way I was able to run it the skimmer sat on the sump floor for my IM Nuvo 16.

-Test and trim as needed maintaining all areas outlined.

-Start out with running the skimmer with the holes on the bottom fully opened. Adjust as needed.

 

 

Within 2 days of running this skimmer I pulled out some dark looking skimmate and white it isn't completely silent it's about a good 75% quieter than my Aqua Euro nano was. Which was about 75% quieter than my IM skimmer was.

 

At times I feel bad about having a smaller tank because a lot of the quality products out there aren't really compatible with our nano tanks unless you want to sacrifice aesthetics greatly. I can honestly say that this is a quality product that we can make functional for our tanks. My only wish is that Cad Lights knew how many more tanks they could accommodate merely by building the same skimmer with a thinner bracket.

 

 

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I'm so glad you documented this bro!!! I cut and shave the original pls50 to fit a nuvo24, and a lot of people have asked to see it, but the nuvo24 and the original skimmer are gone.

 

I'm still amazed you had the stones to do this in a nuvo16. Nice.........

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I'm so glad you documented this bro!!! I cut and shave the original pls50 to fit a nuvo24, and a lot of people have asked to see it, but the nuvo24 and the original skimmer are gone.

 

I'm still amazed you had the stones to do this in a nuvo16. Nice.........

Thanks pal! I really wanted to find some info or pics on how to utilize the PLS but was never able to find anything. Everyone on here is always so helpful so I'm happy if I can return a favor.

 

How did you like your Nuvo 24?

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It cracked..... But I think I had like 3rd one through marine depot, so the glass was thin. Got a fusion 30L now. I like it so far, thick glass, no bends, no pedestal (the biggest reason I think it failed, the pedestal warped in time.) i would keep an eye on that.

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  • 4 weeks later...

Thanks for posting this. I have always wanted to get the pls-50 skimmer but knowing it wouldnt fit in the new IM fusion 20 I ruled it out. Now that I know there is even a smaller one ( the elite) and that a mod can be done to make it fit, I will be getting this skimmer.

 

Do you feel this skimmer is better than the new IM Ghost skimmers?

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1 more question, In order for this skimmer to fit did you completely cut off the hanging/mounting arm bracket.

 

In the picture you posted I can tell that you cut on the pink line on the left side of the picture, but on the right side I don't see any cuts on the pink line yet and the mounting arm is still on. Did you cut on that line to completely take off the arm?

Thanks

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I've never owned the ghost to be honest. I did go through 2 of the original skimmers though which were terrible.

 

I cut the arm off. The pic was taken before I cut it so people would have a point of reference. Just make sure your water depth is in line with cadlights operating range. Otherwise you'll have to find a way to hang it.

 

So far it's been an amazing skimmer.

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  • 2 months later...
Did the same mod and it fit into an IM Nuvo 20.

Congrats on the mod. Enjoy the skimmer.

 

Are y'all putting this in the second chamber or in the middle chamber? It's hard to tell.

 

I keep mine in the 2nd chamber. Only thing I keep in the center is my heater and return pump.

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kevinfishtank


I put the skimmer in the second chamber.

 

When assembling the unit, do not tighten the screws too much. You should allow some movement so you can adjust the waterlevel and be able to squeeze the unit in to second chamber. Once in the chamber, you can make minute changes to the skimmer water level by turning it clockwise or counter-clockwise and tighten the red screw once you like what you see.

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  • 2 weeks later...
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Glad the skimmer is working well! Happy to report mine is still going strong. Only requires the occasional cleaning and adjusting. Mostly after water changes.

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andrewdingemans

I just got the same skimmer and running it in the back of an Aquaclear 110 for my 10 gallon (soon to be 20 gallon custom glass). It looked used when I got it, but it was making a ton of bubbles. al of my corals have closed up the last 3 days and I got fed up. I raised it so it is sitting at 5.5" to the bottom of the pump (not suction cups) but I am having a hard ime getting the bubbles to stay at the underside of the cup in the neck. I know it will take a few days to make a foam head, but the bubbles in the display are driving me and the corals crazy!!!

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