9002 initial set-up, issue?

[Nerdy Nudi]

Hello Roger,

I apologize if this has been asked before, but I have found nothing posted that is similar.

What I have read, is that upon setting-up, the 9002 nano skimmer is prone to overflowing. I have the opposite "issue". No matter which way I turn the nozzle it has no effect.

From what I can discern, the bubble amount is the same whether it is turned all the way in either direction. I even placed the skimmer 1/2-3/4" deeper into the water and yet nothing, neither a water overflow, or bubbles of any size make it into the cups tube.

The manual says to adjust in small increments, but I have tried both extremes with the exact same result. It has been running all day and the Foam has never been visible.

Is this normal? Is the screw suppose to be that difficult to turn?Turning it counter clockwise opens for more air, correct?

Again, sorry if this is a retread, but I have read of issues with the pump and tubing assembly coming undone, and I would hate to wait a week before correcting it or take it apart if I dont have to.

Thanks for the help

 

[rvitko]

Is this an established tank, or is it a new set up? In general you don't want to go deeper, if anything it should be raised. The marked waterline is best thought of as the maximum and the ideal is about 1/2" below the marked water line. Any higher and water will go in through the air intake. This causes a coffee maker noise that is quite distinct.

 

[Nerdy Nudi]

The tank was a secondary tank, 29g with about 25lbs of rock. Only maintainence was top offs. We recently added a cleaning crew and goby, but these are the first inhabitants in well over a year. I would have though there would be plenty of residue to get the skimmer going.

btw, now I understand why there is a screwdriver slot to twist the air valve. thats one tight little screw.

I had the skimmer's line about 1/4 under the water line, thinking that 1/4 over and 1/4 under with evap would keep me in an ideal zone. But if the ideal zone is actually 1/2 below, Ill lower it that amount.

Just to make sure, it is left to open the air gauge?

Regarding the filter, will the pump be strained if the media is packed and restricting water flow? I would like to use it on occasion to polish the water with some 50 micron pads that I stack under a foam block.

At least I have not heard that coffee grinder effect!

 

[rvitko]

It will sound like a percolating coffee maker when it is submerged too deep.

Turn the screw counter clockwise to increase airflow. I would start with it open 3 full turns and then open or close it in 1/8 turn increments every 24 hrs to make the final adjustment based on what collects in the cup, if it is watery close it, if you get nothing or only thick sludge, open it.

I would be careful with densely packed media, the filter will produce a lot of microbubbles when used this way. I would use only one media at a time and keep it loosely packed. I recommend the included filter floss but packed lightly, Eheim floss is also a good quality media, and Chemipure will also work very well.

 

[Nerdy Nudi]

Hey Roger,

It seems the skimme has made a turn for the worse.

I did as you said and for a few days had some foam build and dissapate, but I dont think I have anything for the skimner to remove at the moment, at least not much. So I am not expecting skimmate.

But I was not expecting for the skimmer to go bonkers. I woke up this morning to it overflowing. I made sure the painted line was over the water mark by 1/2. I even removed the screw completely and it kept overflowing. The hissy airy sound was replaced by a gurgle and slurp.

In order to get it to stop, I decided to unplug it, and for about an hour the overflowing subsided but then returned again.

I've read all the threads and have tried all your prescribed methods to no avail. The only thing I have yet to do is take the skimmer apart.

Let me know what I should do next.

 

[Nerdy Nudi]

Good news, I think.

I decided to try something different and turned off the skimmer, let it settle, and closed the valve all the way.

The first few days of running the skimmer it reacted differently. When I opened the air valve, the column would dip, and when I closed it, the water column would rise and then overflow.

But now, if I open up the air valve it will overflow, and decreasing it lowers it. Acting in accord with your explanation and comletely oppsite what it was doing yesterday.

That was the source of confusion, sinse the skimmer wasnt acting the way it should until just a few hours ago.

Hopefully Ill wake up in the morning to a small cup of tea and not a tall glass of water :0)

 

[rvitko]

Keep me posted.