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View Full Version : Coralife 125 Skimmer Mod


pbukow
05/29/2009, 10:28 PM
I just finished installing the bio-wheel impeller mod on my coralife 125 protein skimmer on my 65tall, Looks promising so far ;) I did have one issue, the mod seemed to slow the gph of the pump so it didn't start to pull air into the pump feed on its own. Luckily I had a spare air pump laying around, I added one of those little plastic valves in the line that feeds air to the skimmer. The foam and reaction chamber is the whitest it has ever been. I ran it stock initially for a week or two, then tried the mesh mod on it. When it was tweaked just right, it would do ok, nothing amazing or seemingly worth the time to install the modification. I am excited to see what it collects over night.

Pics to come...

FYI: Tank is a 65tall with 4 t5HO lights on Individual reflectors, numerous frags about have soft (zoas mainly, a goni) and SPS frags (Tort, slimer, mille, monti cap, monti digi, and one other that I don't know what it is). I have 4 chromis, Square Spot anthias, cherub pygmy angel, and a yellow-belly damsel. I feed the tank a mix of mysis, Kent's Zooplex, Ocn Nutrn's Form 1 RDF, Cyclops, Ocean Plankton, and garlic 3-5 times per day (for the anthias)

pbukow
05/29/2009, 10:56 PM
Here is a pic of the skimmer with the mesh mod (might be hard to see bubbles)
<a href="http://s155.photobucket.com/albums/s314/pbukow/?action=view&current=DSCF0016.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s314/pbukow/DSCF0016.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Here is the neck of the skimmer with the bio wheel impeller, so SwEeT
<a href="http://s155.photobucket.com/albums/s314/pbukow/?action=view&current=DSCF0011-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s314/pbukow/DSCF0011-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Skimmate after about 30 mins of skimming :D
<a href="http://s155.photobucket.com/albums/s314/pbukow/?action=view&current=DSCF0008.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s314/pbukow/DSCF0008.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Right side of sump (its a 20 gallon long) Skimmer, feed from display, and pH monitor, and Phosban reactor (Not pictured, its down for cleanin, waiting for more GFO to come in)
<a href="http://s155.photobucket.com/albums/s314/pbukow/?action=view&current=DSCF0012withdescription.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s314/pbukow/DSCF0012withdescription.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Left side: Cheato in middle, return pump with heaters in lef chamber
<a href="http://s155.photobucket.com/albums/s314/pbukow/?action=view&current=DSCF0014-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s314/pbukow/DSCF0014-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

andyrm66
05/29/2009, 11:40 PM
Have a link to the mod, or more info?

Thanks

pbukow
05/30/2009, 10:15 AM
Not really, I didn't follow any specific instructions on how to do it. I googled bio wheel mod and found some ideas on what would work and fit for the pump. If you have any questions let me know.

pbukow
05/30/2009, 10:47 AM
Here are some pics from this morning (I like to skim wet btw), this is working better than it ever has. Definately the best mod I've found so far. Is this the best skimmate ever produced in this amount of time? No, but this is a Coraliffe Skimmer, not a deltec or euro-reef. Now I'm not bashing any of these brands, its just from my own experiance with the Coralife, they have shown to be moderate to adequate skimmers at best. Now I feel that it is a great performer for the easy and cheap mod done to it. I can't wait to see it continue to perform.

<a href="http://s155.photobucket.com/albums/s314/pbukow/?action=view&current=DSCF0002-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s314/pbukow/DSCF0002-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s155.photobucket.com/albums/s314/pbukow/?action=view&current=DSCF0003-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s314/pbukow/DSCF0003-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

synofreak
05/30/2009, 01:16 PM
I'm assuming you mean Bioball mod? Or did you mesh it?
Heres what I did to my CSS220.
Removed the venturi, silencer and needlewheel.
For the venturi, I cut off the nipple with a hacksaw, and drilled it open with a 5/16" drill bit. I also cut off both nipples on the air silencer and drilled those 2 holes to 5/16.
Purchased 3- 1/4" plastic barbed airline connectors seen here
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l201/stallion811/CSS220001.jpg
The one on the right is cut lengthwise and half the tube removed to go into venturi, making it just like the original venturi, just with a bigger hole for 1/4" airline. The object was to get more air, and less clogging. The other 2 are cut accordingly for the silencer, to make it almost like original. All pieces were superglued where they go. Make sure you glue the venturi peice, so that the open side of the tube faces the pump.
Next was to mesh the impellar. I didnt remove any of the needlewheel. I just ziptied 2 peices of flatback enkmat using 4 zipties. Flatside faced together.
I also modded the output(a long time ago), using 1"PVC. Need 6" of pipe, 1 T, 1 90 degree, and 1 cap. I drilled a 3/16 hole in the cap. Helps air escape. All these are dry fitted, no eed to glue.
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l201/stallion811/CSS220003.jpg
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l201/stallion811/CSS220005.jpg
Some pics of the stuff before putting it back together.
Everything I did is basically reversable. Would need to get an airline valve to reduce air intake to get back to original. BTW for the return make sure the 90 degree exit is not fully submerged, I basically get no microbubbles in the tank.

pbukow
05/31/2009, 08:42 AM
Yes I did mean bioball, sorry ;) Do you have any pics of the skimmer with the output on it. I've always wanted to mess with the output of mine but haven't tried. Just curious, why did you mod the output

synofreak
06/01/2009, 04:04 PM
Hard to get a pic of the output on the tank. The ouput is in the pic, and thats all to it. The gray piece with the airline stubby is stock and simply slides into the 1" pvc T. Then it all slides into the skimmer output where it was originally.
The reason for the mod is because the bubble diffuser was junk. Cogged to easily, and microbubbles were still a minor problem. This setup allows air to escape more freely.
You could go 1 step further and add 1" straight PVC to the 90 degree, drill some holes on the top. This would allow output H2O more contact time with the surface water to allow even more air to escape before entering the aquarium.
Mine is setup in the corner of the tank, so I dont have the room.