My collection cup Overfloweth!

When I first saw your post a few days ago, I wanted to say "return it" but I don't want to ruin your anniversary present. Most of us (including myself) made newbie mistake of getting this skimmer and will never get the same skimmer again.
1. You will never be able to adjust the red nob perfectly. Never.
2. Your collection cup will always overflow, especially when you are not looking.
3. It will release annoying microbubble into the tank.
4. Bubble trap cup with foam is a joke. It always clogs and overflow.
5. The valve above the pump is also almost useless. The more you adjust it, the more trouble it will cause.

Having said that, there are a few mods/add-on's you can try to improve.
1. Build a sump and place the skimmer where the water level is constant.
2. Drill the collection cup and add a drain valve to a larger collection cup.
3/4. Google "tyler merrick coralife skimmer" to build DIY bubble trap.
5. Open the valve to maximum and do not play with it if you can. Adjusting this valve will reduce the air drawn and will effect the skimmer performance.

Return if you can or start saving money to upgrade skimmer. Hope it helps.

 

From what I understand, newer Coralife skimmers do not come with the valve on the intake side of the skimmer anymore. My 65 took about a week to break in and really start functioning properly. I love mine, it works great, but I have to agree with the mods that ReefWizard has described. And if you'd prefer to not drill your cup in order to have it self empty, the Coralife 220's cup already has a drain and it'll screw directly onto the 65s body.

 

I just bought a Super Skimmer 65 3 weeks ago and it had the valve on the pump output. The manual on their website (and comes with the skimmer) even describes adjusting this valve to 50% during the break in process.

You can see the valve here.

 

+K to Unclejed for looking that up for me, but alas my unit, did not have that page in the manual, and also my pump was fully put together when received. Is that a manual from the bigger series skimmers?
i'm about to do a top off, so i will definitely pull it out and check to see if i can find some way to slow the pumps flow. Maybe i should call Coralife?

 

Ah ReefWiz, thanks for the advice!
The collection cup does have a drain built in, which i have been utilizing since i started this thing up. I just don't want to have to drain all the time, the seems like such a waste, and seems to defeat the purpose.
I'll give it a full week and then maybe do a DIY valve on the tube which leads to the pump.
Hell, maybe i'll have to take the plunge and get a nice stand so i can stuff away a sump. I'm having plumbing nightmares already!

 

I know what valve you are talking about because I have one.

Here is a picture of the new 65.

Coralife 65 Skimmer Coralife Super Skimmer 65

 

Went to Lowe's and got a valve, i think it might work, i'll post pics if i do mod it.:-/

 

A little advice here. It is not wise to make a damning assessment of a product based on just your subjective experience (i guess you had one?). I have that skimmer and like all skimmers, from time to time there are glitches. Over all the skimmer is great and pulls quite a bit skim mate from the tank.

 

Mine is still doing the overflowing. Had it running for 48hrs straight already, but as soon as I put the collection cup on, it fills with foam in seconds, foam becomes water and it overflows.

Did you figure out what's better to slow it down? My skimmer doesn't have a valve on the intake like yours is showing.

I'm glad that yours is slowing down a bit.

- Mag.

 

Hey Mag, Mine doesn't have a valve above the pump either. i went yesterday and got a valve from Lowe's but as of yet i'm going to wait and give it a full week to "break in". If it's not right after that, i'm installing a valve to the pump and cutting the pump down to half open. I checked this morning and it is producing larger bubbles in the collection cup. Maybe that's a good sign. I'll plug the drain hole later today and log the time it takes to fill the cup. Finger's crossed, and good luck to you!