Red Sea C-Skim 1200 Skimmer.

[Steve McKay]

I just setup my skimmer the Red Sea C-Skim 1200 Skimmer next to my sump.which is just now operational too.I replaced my 30gal.with a 50gal.I setup the skimmer a few weeks ago to test it out and make sure I had everything I needed when the time came.I ran into two problems.One,they say use standard 1/2"flexible hose.The hose will go on but you can't use the hose locking mechanism,The wall thickness of the hose is 1/8"to thick to work.There is only one barb on the water inlet and would not feel safe using it like that.You could use a hose clamp but sometimes they actually create leaks.I noticed Eheim tubing has a thinner wall thickness,I bought some 12/16mm=1/2"hose and it worked perfectly.Two,While researching the skimmer I read that a lot of people were using the Maxi Jet 1200 pump.I had a couple of them so I thought I would try one.When I started the skimmer up and adjusted the air control full open as well as the skim regulator,I could not get the foam to the right height.This of course is because the pump wasn't strong enough.I bought the Maxi Jet 1800 pump with flow adjustment,that way you wouldn't need a ball valve if needed.I was lucky,didn't even have to adjust it down.The skimmer produces a fine thick foam,the best foam I've seen.I can't tell you how well it works yet,as I just set it up and the water in the aquarium is new.I'll post some results when it starts producing fudge cycles.The Commercial grade neck washing system with the turn of a lever is a great feature.I think I will like this skimmer

[Steve McKay]

To make a long story short,once you turn it off you might not get it running again.I've had so many problems with it that I'm not even going into details,I'm not happy at all.
I'm sending it back.Anybody have suggestions on a good skimmer for a 50gal?I have turned my wet dry into a sump,it's only big enough for a pump,not pump and skimmer.
I would rather not hang one one my tank.Thanks.

[Parrothead]

Hey Steve,

read your build thread, good job, as far as a skimmer for your tank, if you don't want to hang one on the tank, and you have only got room for the pump in the sump, you are gonna be limited, How close to the top of the sump is you water line?

[gregony]

I've been scouring the web for protein skimmers for the 90 I'm trying to get up and running. I was kind of leaning toward a down draft or beckett style myself. ETSS makes the Sumpbuddy 40 that takes up the size of a brick in your sump. It's really small, and its about $220. It needs a somewhat beefy pump for its size though. The Reef Devil can be run out of the sump and with its pump (a CA-1800) it runs less than $250. Then of course there's the Aqua C EV-120 which no one seems to complain about. That can also be run out of sump, and its around what the C-Skim costs. Precision Marine has the bullet one, but its a bit pricey (around $400 with pump). There's also the Lifereef external model. I don't know what you have by way of room, but you may be able to rig up one of those storage totes and put a drain in the side of it and just return it to your sump. Jack the skimmer up in it so it's high enough to drain, but not wash out the skimmer. Then you could run all the needle wheel skimmers like the AquaEuro's the SWC's, etc. etc. if you have enough height where you plan on putting it. If you do use one of those sterlite type storage tote thingy's make sure you fill it full of water and let it leach out the chemicals first, before using it. No need for you to repeat my mistake.

[Parrothead]

greg,

reread his post, he has room for a pump only in is sump, check out his rebuild thread for pics of the sump, the ev has much to big of a foot print, as do a lot of in sump skimmers.

[gregony]

I thought he said he had room next to his sump, that was where he said he stuck the C-skim, but, my bad if he doesn't. I don't know how to get to the rebuild thread for the pics. This is the first online forum I've ever joined and don't know all the tricks in how to link stuff up.

[gregony]

I finally found his build pics. I also looked a little closer at the EV120. I didn't realize it was only in-sump use (doesn't make any sense to me, but if that's what the manf says I guess AquaC got a good reason). Anyhoo, the C-skim has a 13x10 footprint. The Hydor performer 400 would fit and I've seen it set up next to a sump just like Steve's got his C-skim. I believe you could gravity feed it or feed it with a pump. Premium Aquatics got them for $250 right now, on perpetual close out (they were overpriced at $350). I also still believe the Reef Devil would work. The outlet may need to be plumbed to get it back to the sump, but the pump would fit in the sump (it uses a fairly small pump for a downdraft), depending upon the size of his return pump. The Pacific Coast RPS-1000 looks like it could run external with some plumbing on the outlet. The Reef Octopus 110NW Recirculating Skimmer is 11x5.5 and is rated for internal or external operation. Most people have good things to say about all four of those. Some people say downdrafts are fussy, but that they produce the best foam.

[Steve McKay]

My water level is 10.5",the height of sump is 16".I had the C-Skim just high enough for the water outlet to clear the top of the sump.The water level at that time might have been 5"or6" could this have affected the skimmer.What does washing out the skimmer mean?Thanks for the replies.

[gregony]

"Washing out" means that you would have positive backflow into the outlet of the skimmer from the sump or wherever else the skimmer was draining to. If you were dumping the outlet over the side of the sump this couldn't have been a problem, unless the skimmer was designed to work this way (most skimmers prefer the outlet be free from pressure). The water level shouldn't have been a problem since you are running the skimmer externally, again, unless the skimmer is designed to sit in water. I looked up the specs for the C-skim, it looks like a good skimmer. The C-skim needs 400 gph according to the info. Are you sure the Maxijet 1800 is getting 400 gph into the skimmer? I see it's rated for 474 gph at 0' head height. That would be cutting it close. Is it possible the C-skim self cleaning lever got bumped? It looks like it's initially working great in your build photos. According to the pics on Drfs the C-skim has an outflow adjustment. You'll almost certainly need to dink with that to get any skimmer to work right. Some skimmers just don't like being turned off. It takes a while for them to get back up and running. I have a CPR Backpack 2 on my 40 gallon, and if you turn it off, or mess with the air adjustment, you have to wait a half a day, or longer, to see if its going to dial back in (granted, the CPR didn't cost $350). Because it doesn't have an outflow adjustment, it uses the cup height to dial in (supplied rubber ring no good, use thick hair scrunchee instead, fyi), and this took several weeks to get set right when I first got it. You should at least give the C-skim a couple weeks, but then there's the return policies and stuff, and I don't know what your particular situation is.

[Parrothead]

If he can get his waterline up high enough and still leave room for mishaps he could also use the remora pro by aquac which would more than suffice on a 50 gallon tank, trick is, keeping the pump submerged which means a higher waterline in the sump. JMHO

Tanks
Robert

[gregony]

That's true, and everyone says nice things about those skimmers too.

[Steve McKay]

It was designed for internal or external,I was using it externally.The water level was below the last part of the outlet (as they required).The feed pump must supply between 300gph and 400gph,that's why I went with the Maxi Jet 1800.It has flow control so I could dial it back if I had too.When I first got it and tested it I used a Maxi Jet 1200 and it worked but you could not get the foam to rise to proper height,almost though.So what does that tell you? I have already sent it back with the manual so I can't use the correct terms for the adjustments.It has no outflow adjustment,it does have a water flow and air flow adjustment for adjusting the height of the foam.Of course when you cut the water flow back,it does cut back the return as well.But that wasn't the problem,it was getting enough water Red Sea tech support told me to cut the flow back when I told them what pump I was using.The problem was no air,some how it was flooding itself out internally IMO.Then there were the leaks,not only would it leak at the return but water would come out the air control valve.Tech support which amounts to one person (named (Pinky) that doesn't know****.I won't go into details,Just call tech support and find out for yourself.) said you can't have the water feeding to the skimmer without the aspirator on,which is contrary to the manual.The manual states turn the feed pump on and wait for the skimmer to fill up and have water flowing out the return,then turn on the aspirator pump.But as I've said water starts coming out the air control valve.I would have liked it to work,but there is something else to tell you.I read a lot of reviews before I bought it,none from a forum where you would get the truth.The place were I bought it had reviews to and more than half were not good,there were leaks and other things I don't remember now. When I went back to the website were I bought it to read the reviews again they were deleted.When I called about returning it because it leaked I was told it's not the best performing skimmer,I then replied "do I have to spend 6,000 to get one that works.But they are going to let me return it,it's already on it's way (good bye).I honestly tried to get that thing to work,following the manual to the tee.I don't mind waiting a few days for the manufacturing chemicals to washout before a skimmer starts to really skim but it has to have bubbles to do that.This is all I have to say I'm done with it.

[Steve McKay]

Thanks for the recommendations guys,I'll check them out.

[gregony]

Sorry it didn't work out. On the bright side, you should be able to find a much cheaper one. Let us know which one you go with and how it works as I'm still looking as well.

[Parrothead]

Steve,

Can you get your water level up to about 5 inches from the top of your sump, if you can, you could hang the remora pro on the sump, with the mag 3 in the sump, you would have to make sure you have enough room for back flow in case of a power failure, and would have to make sure you water level keeps the intake submerged, I don't know if you can overclock it with a larger pump, say a mag 5 and drop the pump further down in the sump, just a thought.

Robert

[Steve McKay]

Yes,I can get it that high.If I pull the plug on the return pump,I only get 3" of water.It goes from 7" to a little under 10" thanks to a anti-siphon hole.So if I have 11" it will go to 14" giving me 2" to spare.Not only that but the sump (wet-dry with no bio-balls) sits inside another container for accidents.Here's a good photo of what I have.

[Steve McKay]

The replacement for the Red Sea C-Skim 1200 skimmer has arrived.May the 1200 rest in peace,the Bubble King Alpha 170 Cone Skimmer is here.

[gregony]

Well I didn't think to recommend the $900 skimmer. Make sure you let us all know how well it works after using it a couple of months.

[Steve McKay]

Well huh,I guess I went a little overboard and over kill.But in my defense it's rated from 40 to 200 gallon and I do have a 50,I'll most definitely post results,but I do believe we all know how this will turn out after all it is a Bubble King.

[gregony]

Yeah, if the Bubble King doesn't work for you then maybe reefkeeping just isn't your thing.