Cant get Coralife 220 skimmer to work

sox59 · 02-28-2007, 08:31 PM

I know, I know, I shoulda got a different one, but as I stated in another post, it was the only one I could get to fit in my sump. Anyways, I have the whole thing in sump, but I cant get the thing to make bubbles. If I take the hose out of the diffuser box, then I can get bubbles, but then my main pump, pumps out insane amounts of left over bubbles into my tank. I've had it breakin in for 2 weeks now, and still no love. I have the pump submersed the 3-4" like it says, and the top of the diffuser 1/4" above water line, and hose going into it 1" above white filter pad. Any ideas??? Does the diffuser box have to be directly above the pump inlet?? Thanks in advance for any help or suggestions.

tat2dfreeky1 · 02-28-2007, 08:47 PM

i have the same one and keep having problems getting "enough" bubbles out of mine...i've tried everything and mine only works 1/2 ass.....so, i don't know what to tell you...maybe some one else has an idea...

dobejazz · 02-28-2007, 09:14 PM

Let me see if I can find some threads for you guys

leveldrummer · 02-28-2007, 09:29 PM

how far into the diffuser box does the exit pipe go? if its too deep it could be stopping the whole thing up, cut the hose till its an inch or two off the sponge in the bottom of the diffuser, so it only goes about a half inch below the edge of the diffuser box itself. do you have a bubble trap in your sump? that should stop any extra bubbles from making it into the main display.

Hendersonracing · 02-28-2007, 10:33 PM

the main problem I think with the 220 is a weak pump...I had 2 of them!

sox59 · 03-01-2007, 12:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leveldrummer

how far into the diffuser box does the exit pipe go? if its too deep it could be stopping the whole thing up, cut the hose till its an inch or two off the sponge in the bottom of the diffuser, so it only goes about a half inch below the edge of the diffuser box itself. do you have a bubble trap in your sump? that should stop any extra bubbles from making it into the main display.

Never heard of a bubble trap. Any ideas where I can get one? Thanks. If I can stop the bubbles from going into the display tank, I can bypass that difuser whatever box, and I should be ok then. Thanks again!!

Loverotties · 03-01-2007, 01:49 AM

Is this a new unit or used?

sox59 · 03-01-2007, 01:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loverotties

Is this a new unit or used?

Brand new, well been running 2 weeks now.

By the way love your avatar. I have 2 Rotts myself.

trea · 03-01-2007, 05:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leveldrummer

how far into the diffuser box does the exit pipe go? if its too deep it could be stopping the whole thing up, cut the hose till its an inch or two off the sponge in the bottom of the diffuser, so it only goes about a half inch below the edge of the diffuser box itself. do you have a bubble trap in your sump? that should stop any extra bubbles from making it into the main display.

I think cutting some of your pipe going into the diffuser box might help. I have mine cut for my CSS 65 and it works fine. I expect it should work the same way when I put it in the sump later this week. Just cut a little of the pipe at a time and test. Don't take a big chunk at one time

leveldrummer · 03-01-2007, 04:46 PM

i meant do you have an " over under over" system of baffles in your sump before the return pump chamber, that would stop the bubbles, its not something you buy, its a certain way you set up your sump. can you post a pic of your sump so i can see how you have everything set up?

sox59 · 03-02-2007, 02:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leveldrummer

i meant do you have an " over under over" system of baffles in your sump before the return pump chamber, that would stop the bubbles, its not something you buy, its a certain way you set up your sump. can you post a pic of your sump so i can see how you have everything set up?

Gotchya, no, I dont have that type of set up in my sump.

Here's a picture of my set-up. If I could I would hust get a new sump, but I built this bar around an old sump unfortunately(bad planning in hindsight), but that's what I have.

I did finally get it to work. I took out the white filter pad at the bottom of the "difuser" box. I'm still getting an udesireable amount of bubbles in the display though. So, I set up a filter to the pump intake and that helped a little, so I will experiment tomorrow w/ some different materials, and foam pads or something and try to get it reduced more. I'm soooo sick of messin w/ this skimmer I could cry.

Loverotties · 03-02-2007, 06:01 AM

Wow and I have mine as a HOB and I just need to empty the cup two times a week.

silvers · 03-02-2007, 07:08 AM

Make sure the intake where the venturi is is pushed in all the way. I have had the 220 for over a year now I did the thread wheel mod about a week ago and it seems to help.

ReefNeck · 03-02-2007, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by silvers

I did the thread wheel mod about a week ago and it seems to help.

Would someone be kind enough to point me to more info on what this mod is/does and how it's done?

I only have one Super Skimmer left in use (A 220) and if I can get it to work better until I replace it with an ASM like I have all my others I would love it.

swanny88 · 03-03-2007, 12:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loverotties

Wow and I have mine as a HOB and I just need to empty the cup two times a week.

I run the same pump and it works great. Bubbles up the next of the skimmer with tons of skimmate. I've got mine in the sump and it works just fine, but as others pointed out it took a while to get the 'bubble diffuser' to the right location.

Cant get Coralife 220 skimmer to work

Agreed