Coralife Super Skimmer 65, how to optimize skimmate

[mattfox27]

I have the css65 in my sump, where should the bubbles be, how far up in the collection cup, it seems like i have to restrice the pump a little for it to produce skimmate. How should i set it to work the best?

[glennr1978]

I have the css65 in my sump, where should the bubbles be, how far up in the collection cup, it seems like i have to restrice the pump a little for it to produce skimmate. How should i set it to work the best?

I have 2 CSS65's, one on each of my tanks. I run the pump wide open and adjust the red knob for the air intake. I set mine so that the bubbles come up to just above the bottom of the collection cup.

[mattfox27]

It seems on mine the only way i get good skimmate is when the bubbles are almost at the top of the neck of the collection cup, like right before they spill over the top...i think thats too high though

[glennr1978]

It seems on mine the only way i get good skimmate is when the bubbles are almost at the top of the neck of the collection cup, like right before they spill over the top...i think thats too high though

Yeah that is waaaay to high. How long have you had it running? You have to give it a few days to "break in". Trust me on this one, run it right at the bottom of the collection cup and let me know how it's working in 4 or 5 days.

 

I think I recall reading that to get the best results to run the pump as close to the surface of the water as possible. On both of mine the inlet for the pump is about 2" below the surface. I've never used any other skimmer, but I can tell you these things work very well. I've seen lots of pics that people post of the skimmate that their high $$$ skimmers produce and it never looks any nastier than what my little CSS65 is doing.

 

Look at the last pic on my frag tank thread. That's a few days worth of skimmate and I only have 1 two inch fish in the tank.

[mattfox27]

Ya mine has been going for about two weeks, i have it mounted in the sump so its just resting on the sump floor, if i shorten the hose it would tip over, and due to space in my sump i cant use the hanging bracket. If i set the bubbles lower it doesnt look like the bubbles will ever get to the top.

[glennr1978]

Ya mine has been going for about two weeks, i have it mounted in the sump so its just resting on the sump floor, if i shorten the hose it would tip over, and due to space in my sump i cant use the hanging bracket. If i set the bubbles lower it doesnt look like the bubbles will ever get to the top.

Looks can be decieving, and are. Set it like I'm telling you and it WILL work I promise. It won't skim as wet, and you won't have to empty the collection cup as often, but it will pull out all kinds of nasty crap (literally).

 

Btw, if you shorten the hose it won't tip over once the skimmer is full of water.

[mattfox27]

cool, i just set it. Oh ok so it wont tip over if i shorten the hose i was wondering about that but i didn't want to cut it cuz i wasn't sure. Ok i'm gonna do that tommorow. Thanks a bunch.

[glennr1978]

cool, i just set it. Oh ok so it wont tip over if i shorten the hose i was wondering about that but i didn't want to cut it cuz i wasn't sure. Ok i'm gonna do that tommorow. Thanks a bunch.

no problem. send me a pm in a couple days and let me know how it's working out.

 

Just thought of something, how far up the skimmer is the water level in your sump? If the water level is too low and you go ahead and cut the tube shorter it may tip over still. just for reference the water level in the chamber where my skimmer sits in the sump is about 10" or just under half way up the skimmer.

[mattfox27]

My water level is about 8" high...is that too low, it looks like it will tip over if i shorten the tube, i'm gonna do some experimenting.