Better Skim!!

[palymadness]

Not sure if any of you have ran into this problem. But I ordered a skimmer (used) off ebay. Coralife 220. It wasnt producing skim well at all. I spoke to the seller obviously they said it worked fine. Instead of buying a new pump that isnt cheap. I stuck a bubbler from my old fresh water tank on the input for the air line. Ive never had foam like this. Probably works better than it did brand new! Hate it or love it? Any way this could harm the pump?

 

[Reefing Madness]

No, it won't harm the pump.
You could have gotten a cheaper pump off E-Bay and modified it for mesh. Then modified the reutrn line, and made it a beast.
Modifing the Coralife Super Skimmer CSS | Tyler Merrick
impeller mesh mod - Bing Images
660GPH Submersible Aquarium Pond Water Pump Powerhead Freshwater Saltwater 2500L | eBay

 

[GHill762]

I've always thought about doing that and seeing what happens, gonna follow and see what others say..

 

[redfishbluefish]

I'm not familar with the Coralife 220, but from Madness' comment I'm assuming the pump comes with a mess wheel. I have an Atmann pump on my SWC that also uses a mesh wheel. When I noticed it wasn't producing its typical foam, I played around with it and found that if I put two or three teflon washers on the shaft on the mesh wheel side, the skimmer worked like it was brand new. My guess was that some of the mesh was rubbing against the face plate slowing down the impeller. The washers moved it away enough to allow the impeller to spin freely. These washers can be found at you local HD in the drawers in the hardware section. Good luck.

 

[luke33]

Those coralife skimmers aren't great performers honestly. Adding an aerator to it is basically forcing more air into it than its pulling on its own. It won't harm the pump. If you force to much air I will cavitate the pump and it won't work correctly(sounds like your fine). If a skimmer is built correctly it shouldn't need an air pump(minus air stone skimmers).

 

[palymadness]

Im sure its the pump. It has a needle wheel no mesh. I have the air line hooked up the same as I did on my last skimmer but it just doesnt take in enough. The froth from this improvement is thick and nasty. It will work until my next pump order.

 

[JMSKI333]

If it works for you, then run with it! I haven't heard of that being done before

 

[redfishbluefish]

One more thing to try......clean the volute. That is the piece on the pump where the air line connects. The volute clogs up with calcifications and needs to be cleaned with frequency. I clean mine at least once a year. Prior to soaking it in vinegar I scrap out as much as I can using the head end of a finishing nail and small scalpel. If I didn't do this I'd have to leave it in vinegar for a couple days. See what that does.

 

[palymadness]

That was one of the things I checked for. No blockages at all. It came very clean I must say.

 

[Reefing Madness]

The CoralifeSkimmer isn't a good skimmer by itself. The impellar is junk, its an upside down very small needle wheel.
I run basically of them on my 240g tank, I have the mods on them both, and know the difference between the junk impellar and the mesh mod, HUGE difference in the foam. I can take it apart to get pics if its necessary.

 

[tigerdragon]

I have a 220 on my frag tank i changed the pump out for an upgrade pump for a bm curve 7 using the sp2000 pump and the air venturi for the bm now skimmer produces some very dark nasty skim

 

[palymadness]

I wasnt aware of mesh impellars. That is something I will have to look into. I do intend to get a new pump. this will work for now tho

 

[jcarmo]

Hi, can i see some pics of your mesh mod.

 

[zoo]

I will have to try that on my old skimmer from Third coast corals. They made Saphire skimmer it works great, but the foam impeller is getting old. no replacement pumps, or impellers are available. Thanks for the idea you made my day I have project to do tonight

 

[jcarmo]

I have seen the pumps on line, But they dont have the needle wheel.