Seeking Urgent Skimmer Advice

JeffDubya · 11-10-2007, 01:49 AM

I have a problem, and need your help.

It would seem that I made a slight mistake when I built my sump. The skimmer zone is too deep, at least according to the fine folks at Coralife, who makes my skimmer.

I noticed this week that the skimmer collection cup was filling quickly, even at the lowest setting. I assumed I my pump was too high in the water, and caller the manufacturer to verify that theory. They indicated that the skimmer itself sits too low, and there is "not enough resistance."

I am not certain what this means, but here's what I *do* know. There is not enough clearance on my rack to allow me to lower the sump, or to raise the shelf the skimmer sits underneath. What this means is I have an exceedingly tight space with which to work, and raising the skimmer is not possible.

Additionally, hanging on the side of the tank is also not an option due to clearance issues. Damn!

Here are some photos.

Is there anything I can do, perhaps to mod this thing that will make it work? There's always SOMETHING....

veriann · 11-10-2007, 02:07 AM

I can understand that total pressure @ the intake & output can translate into the vortex chamber, however looking at what you have already, i wouldn't have thought it would be creating a problem.

3 options come to mind.
1) Move the pump higher, which it looks to be high anyways.
2) move the output higher, so your not getting as much back pressure.
3) increase the bubble ratio within the skimmer housing. even if it requires the use of a force feed air pump instead of self draw. I'd invest in a quality air control valve for force feeding so you can regulate the hight at the skimmer neck.

JeffDubya · 11-10-2007, 02:18 AM

Before I removed it this morning, the pump was located approximately 4.5 inches below the surface of the water.

I could raise the output about an inch.

I have seen some mods on this online where my 90 degree elbow on the output is replaced by a tee, and a piece of pipe goes up as well as down. I don't know why they would do this, so I don't know if it could help.

Sorry, I don't understand option #3 at all...

veriann · 11-10-2007, 02:25 AM

the Tee section would help negate the pressure in much the same way your dump pipe works.

3rd example - . Its Venturi driven correct?
does your air intake happen before the prop & be chopped up before entering the chamber. or does the intake happen after the pump & atmospherically draws based on the strength of the pumps through-put.?

What i was referring to was "turbo charging" the skimmer, albeit controlled.

JeffDubya · 11-10-2007, 03:04 AM

This is my skimmer...

Coralife Super Skimmer Needle Wheel - up to 65 Gallon (Saltwater Aquarium Supplies > Protein Skimmers > In-Sump > Venturi With Needle Wheel )

veriann · 11-10-2007, 05:26 AM

yup, got the mental picture of the design now.

It looks down draft. in at the top with a pipe penetrating the vortex chamber, out at the bottom traveling up past the tee vent & into a bubble trap yes.

when you raised the height of the pump, did you cut the air tube to fit the new hight?
Does the silencer restrict the air intake at all.?
By that pic it looks like you can cut an inch or 2 from the pipe after the control valve & likewise on the return.
This valve, does it throttle the pump or do you have another valve on the air line as well? The reason i ask is if your current config doesn't work at the moment & your control intake valve throttles the through-put of the water/air mix & not the air ratio alone, then the same problem will still occur.

Skimmers live & die by the ratio's being applied, then its limiting factor is govern by design. with the pump hight raised, the air tubing adjusted, there should be more than enough O2 being drawn for the unit, and turbo charging the system would be major over kill. Just let is us know on the valve, cause i think getting around that is your solution.

im also assuming the pipe in the vortex chamber is what causes a set run in period for the unit.

PSH · 11-11-2007, 03:03 PM

Here is a picture of my heavily modified CSS125.

The tee really helps with the returns back pressure. I also wrapped the needle wheel with fish line, drilled out the venturi and use 1/4" hard tubing for the air line. My pump only sits about 3-3 1/2" under the water.