Coralife skimmer 125 help.

[Straight_OG]

Ok guys so I've been having some bad luck with my tank now for a while and everytime I tell myself to not give up something new tends to go wrong and this is the last thing I needed, So now I'm having problems with my coralife 125G protein skimmer I've been trying to find out what's wrong with it and how to get it back to work again for about a month. The problem is that it creates to much bubbles. Even when the red knob is turned all the way down it still overflows. I've cleaned the pump the impeller the little air hose made sure it wasn't clogged with salt the little silencer also made sure there was no debris in there and that it was clean. I recently got laid off from my job so I can't go and buy a new one and I know buying this skimmer I was risking it. (I researched it after I had bought it, not before, bad idea I know) so hopefully we can get this working again. Because I've about had it even though I love this hobby so much. Thanks guys.

I'll upload the clip to you tube now. For some reason I thought I could just upload it here.

 

[Straight_OG]

Coralife 125G protein skimmer problem: http://youtu.be/SLKkeLNXdJQ

 

[james-lee]

Never mind just saw the video and you have it as HOB. Did you dose the tank or add anything? Looks like there is something in the water column making it go crazy. Try to pinch the airline tubing to restrict some air and see if it creates less bubbles. If so you try and add an airline intake adjustment knob to restrict some airflow.

 

[djam]

I have had that issue as well when I turn the skimmer on for the first time in a long time..it takes a few hours to "tune" itself. Try letting it run for 5-6 hours before you turn it off and see if it becomes reasonable.

 

[james-lee]

Also try removing the microbubble catch from the outlet to relieve some back preassure. I know the micro bubbles will suck but once the skimmer breaks in you can put it back on. Not gonna lie I'm kinda jealous. Wished my super skimmer 65g made that kind of bubbles LOL!

 

[Straight_OG]

Never mind just saw the video and you have it as HOB. Did you dose the tank or add anything? Looks like there is something in the water column making it go crazy. Try to pinch the airline tubing to restrict some air and see if it creates less bubbles. If so you try and add an airline intake adjustment knob to restrict some airflow.

Well I had it in the sump an hour before I put it in the tank I put it on the tank so it would be easier for me to see if there were any issues or I was missing something. And no I haven't added anything besides a water conditioner but that was like 3 weeks ago. Could that be the problem?

 

[Straight_OG]

I have had that issue as well when I turn the skimmer on for the first time in a long time..it takes a few hours to "tune" itself. Try letting it run for 5-6 hours before you turn it off and see if it becomes reasonable.

The thing is that I have had it hooked up since I got it. I haven't stopped using it for a long period of time. But never the less I'll try. I'll leave it running the whole night and see what happens.

 

[Straight_OG]

Also try removing the microbubble catch from the outlet to relieve some back preassure. I know the micro bubbles will suck but once the skimmer breaks in you can put it back on. Not gonna lie I'm kinda jealous. Wished my super skimmer 65g made that kind of bubbles LOL!

Yeah i had it running like that in the sump with out the sponge thing but no help. Haha I wish mine would just work.

 

[james-lee]

Well if you had it in the sump have you tried elevating it up higher from the water level?

 

[Straight_OG]

Yup I've tried that. I put in water and took out water anywhere from 10 inches to 2 inches of water. I put it back on the tank also because before I would run it at the same depth and everything and it worked great but not this time.

 

[james-lee]

There's no mesh mod on your needle wheel?

 

[Straight_OG]

Nope in reality I don't know what it is. I've heard of it but since the skimmer was working fine never looked into it

 

[james-lee]

Do you have extra tubing laying around? Maybe there is some kind of extra air being sucked somewhere between the pump to the skimmer body?

 

[james-lee]

Or better yet do you have those adapters that allow you to adjust the flow of the pump? Maybe reducing the pumps flow will help you out.

 

[Straight_OG]

I do have extra tubing. But I don't have the adjuster thing. Do you know where I can get one.?

 

[james-lee]

You can put a gate valve onto some pvc piping that the tubing will lay over. Can be had at home depot. Also did you do a water change recently?

 

[Straight_OG]

Oh ok yeah i see what you mean. Yeah about a week and a half ago. I know all that can affect the skimmer but like I said it's been going on for a while. And it never went of for this long after water changes and stuff before

 

[james-lee]

Are you able to or are running activated carbon?

 

[Straight_OG]

No I'm not but I have been thinking of adding some. Good idea bro I'll see if I can get some tomorrow maybe there's something in there making it act crazy

 

[james-lee]

Let us know bow it goes!