Super Skimmer

[JimD]

Anyone using a Coralife Super Skimmer? Would you mind doing a quick review on it? Thanks

[Mr Cob]

I used a Super Skimmer 220 for about 2 years on my 120 and it was super efficient once I made some mods. I would not recommend using it without the mods.

1) First off I purchased a CA-4000 Aqua Pump/Powerhead for about $60, it's rated at 1300gph...well over the stock pump of 650gph.
example: http://www.petmeister.com/item2598.htm (http://www.petmeister.com/item2598.htm)

2) Added dual air lines from an air pump attached to a gang valve which was then routed with one air line to the air inlet on the super skimmer (it's an external air inlet). The gang valve is used to control the micor bubbles because without it the stock red knob control does no good due to the over sized after market pump that I added.

Here's a pic after skimming wet for a few hours (you can see the airline I added to):

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m138/robart1208/Mr%20Cobs%20Reef/SSPX0357.jpg

[JimD]

Ill be using this as a hang on, will that pump put out a lot of heat in the tank? Thanks for the info.. I take it the two black lines are the air intake? Is the cup drilled for an overflow container? Ive never seen one of these live, how do you think a stock 165\\\\\\\\\\\\? would do on a 65g acro tank?

[JimD]

Ill be using this as a hang on, will that pump put out a lot of heat in the tank? Thanks for the info.. I take it the two black lines are the air intake? Is the cup drilled for an overflow container? Ive never seen one of these live, how do you think a stock 165? would do on a 65g acro tank?

[Mr Cob]

Ill be using this as a hang on, will that pump put out a lot of heat in the tank? Thanks for the info.. I take it the two black lines are the air intake? Is the cup drilled for an overflow container? Ive never seen one of these live, how do you think a stock 165\\\\\\\\\\\\? would do on a 65g acro tank?

I never had any type of heat issues and I also had multiple koralia 3's 2 x 250w MH and other various equipment. Yes, the two blk lines are the air intake airlines that I added which were being pushed by an air pump. Yes, the collection cup is drilled, but I plugged mine. I have no info on the smaller verions of this skimmer because I have not used or seen a smaller one in action.

[tony]

i used one as a hang-on for about 6 months and wouldnt do it again on a dare. it was waaaaaaaaay too finicky. fluctuations in the water level would cause overflow problems, any debris floating in my tank caused overflow problems, etc . . .

my .02

[JimD]

Well thats not what I wanted to hear... So you say that the change in water level in the main tank due to evaporation caused the overflow issue? I have an ato that keeps the level constant.. Consider that.

[Mr Cob]

Mine was in the sump in an area where the water level was constant and in 2 years I have never had any problems, but mine is also modded and I only recommend this skimmer in the way that I have used it.

[Kyle46N]

I use the 125 as an in sump skimmer. I've added the air line with the air pump, but still use the stock pump. It puts out pretty good skimmate. I've seen other higher end skimmers though, and this does not compare. I would like to eventually upgrade. And yes, I think it fluctuates too much for a HOB. I used to use it as a HOB and it was annoying. In sump the water level stays the same, so no issues.

[JimD]

Ok, My next question, I need a good, dependable hanh on skimmer, Ive used the Aqua C, the bakpak and the PM hot 1., Didnd care for the Aqua c, Bakpaks too small and the HOT 1 was unpredictable as far as overflowing.

[Troutmasters02]

I also had a 125 with stock pump and air mods. I had overflows once and a while for no apparent reason. It did an ok job for the money, it too sat in my sump. Since then, I have gone skimmerless so it sits in our closet now.

HOB is risky IMO especially if you have electrical cords below the skimmer.

thats my .02

[cpreefguy]

Though expensive, I love my Deltec MCE300, it helps that Tony made me a killer deal on it.
It skims like crazy and I have had zero problems with it.

[tony]

deltec mce600, mce300, octopus in that order would be my preference

[JimD]

Yeeesh, 400+ clams for the 600...

[mikedelgado]

I'm assuming your tank isnt drilled .you can use an in sump skimmer if you get a small sump and place it above the tank. place a powerhead in the tank to feed it and let it drain back to the tank as if it were the display and the tank was the sump. You can put a bookcase or something next to the tank to hide it in. this way you are not stuck with a hang on the back skimmer and the water level in the raised sump will never fluctuate. or just drill the tank!

[JimD]

I have an auto top off so the water in the main tank stays constant.

[glennr1978]

I really wasn't impressed by the mce300. I love my RO, but it's not a HOB. CSS's are good for the $$, but I wouldn't even consider using one HOB. As the others have stated, they like to overflow for no apparent reason.

[Mr Cob]

Yes, I agree, HOB is not an option when it comes to skimmers. Too much room for error, in less it's possibly a HOB where the collection cup hangs over the water...???

[brewercm]

How about the Turbo Floater HO version. Never used one myself but always heard decent things about the regular Turbo Floater.

[BIGBIRD123]

Check out the Reef Octopus HOB.

S

[JimD]

Looking into both of those.. Thanks!

[cpreefguy]

mmm... nog...

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c66/wantedwrx/DSCN9728.jpg

[ReefCube]

I really liked my deltec mce300 but I am using sumps now and I like the in sump look better but HOB there is nothing better! Maybe warner marine HOB Ive seen videos with that thing skimming like craZy. I would personally go in sump go bubble king hehe j/k those things are crazy expensive

[glennr1978]

Check out the Reef Octopus HOB.

S

The warner marine HOB's are supposed to be pretty good too.

[glennr1978]

One good thing about the mce300 is that it can't flood your floor because of the way it's designed. it's a decent skimmer but there are better options for $300.

[DSAfanatic]

I had a css 125 on my 40 and for a little while on my new 90 and it worked just fine for me with no mods. I wouldn't say it was a permanent skimmer to use with no mods, but it was decent. It pulled out about a gallon a week of medium wet skimmate. It would pull out about 1 gallon every two weeks of nasty, thick skimmate if I set it to run real dry.

[JimD]

Thanks for all the feedback!!! Great info here....