9002 nano skimmer keep overflowing

[Mirugai]

I bought this skimmer brand new from marine depot. It doesn't matter how high I set the water level, the bubble level shoots up and overflow the cup. I took it apart and make sure there's no kink in the airline, everthing seems fine. I even raised the skimmer 1" over the water level it's still overflowed.

Please help me troubleshoot this.

 

[rvitko]

Is this even with the air adjustment screw completely closed? Are you using any sort of algae killer, medication, stress coat, dechlorinator or is the tank brand new with new salt mix?

 

[Mirugai]

the tank is 3 months old and i have a phosban media in the sump. The bubble level does not shoot up right away, it takes a while until it shoots up and overflow. I have the air screw about half way.

 

[rvitko]

The air screw is the main adjustment, please try closing it, this skimmer will typically need the air screw open 2-4 turns to operate properly.

 

[Mirugai]

i closed it all the way and it's still overflowing. I brought the water level down to about 2.5 inch from the level indicator by lifting the skimmer up from the sump floor, it's been 8 hours and seems to fix the problem.

 

[rvitko]

This is too high, the maximum height the skimmer should be if it is operating properly is 1.5" from the marked line to the actual waterline. You are sure no vitamins, new floss, no chemicals that would cause this sort of reaction have been added? Is the pump installed correctly, was the pump ever removed and maybe reinstalled facing the wrong way? If installed properly the cord has to wrap over the pump to come out the back where the magnet holder is located.

 

[Mirugai]

Re: 9002 nano skimmer keep overflowing

Yes the pump is installed correctly. And you're right 2" is too high, it didn't bring the bubble up to the bottom of the cup. But when I brought it down to 1.5" the bubble shoots up and overflowed. There seem to be a very fine line to find the right level, and when I thought I had it, I didn't.
Is this normal? Or is the one I got defective? I'm getting pretty frustrated. I got rid off my Elos NS100 for the same reason, hoping for a simple an easy operating skimmer.

 

[saltygeek]

Did you happen to use any epoxy to hold the rock together? My 9002 goes crazy when I've used epoxy to mount some frags.

 

[rvitko]

Can you please check that the air adjustment screw does something, you should see a sharp drop in bubbles with the screw closed and an increase as the screw is opened. Epoxy stick can definitely cause this problem as can any vitamin, dechlorinator, stress coat or slime algae killer and also new floss or filter cartridges. The air screw is the main adjustment, if it is working properly and the pump was not removed and installed backwards it should be very simple to set up. The air screw is a sensitive adjustment and you should wait 24hrs between any adjustment to give it time for foam to build, it should only be adjusted a maximum of 1/2 turn per day.

 

[Mirugai]

Re: 9002 nano skimmer keep overflowing

I don't see any changes when I play with the air screw. I just cannot have a consistent bubble level. When I had the bubble level start on the bottom of the cup, it climbed up slowly until it's everflowed. Once it's overflowed I raised the skimmer up so the bubble level comes back down to the middle of the cup. And after I let it skimming for a day, the bubble dropped all the way down pass the bottom and dissappeared. I let it stay that way for 24 hrs hoping that it'll come back up, but nothing.

I don't have vitamins, epoxy or anything that would make the skimmer go crazy.

Does it mean that the pump was installed incorrectly? Now Which direction should I have the pump nossle aim to? Straight to the cup or next to the cup?

 

[rvitko]

Next to the cup, the nozzle goes through a hole in the skimmer and shoots the water air mix at a curved plate, the pump will seem to be in backwards as you have to wrap the cord over the pump to get it to exit the back cord hole. I would not change the water level, all adjustments should be done with the air screw so long as the water level is at least 1/2" below the marked line and not more than 1.5" below the marked line. I would start with the screw open 3 full turns and make adjustments in small increments slowly. If the cup is overflowing you can close it as needed, but I would wait a day otherwise and open the screw 1/4-1/2 turn if needed to collect skimmate or close it 1/4- 1/2 turn if the skimmate is too watery, always wait 24hrs between adjustments as the foam does take time to build and rise.

 

[PSam]

I would not change the water level, all adjustments should be done with the air screw so long as the water level is at least 1/2" below the marked line and not more than 1.5" below the marked line.

As far as the water line, between 1.5" to .5" below the blue line - is one of these optimal distance, or does it not matter, so long as between this range? I've had a similar problem with overflowing, though it seems to be settling down now that the skimmer has been running 2 weeks / breaking in. Not collecting anything, but I was fiddling often during the break in. I need to restart from zero, setting the water level and then using the screw only.

 

[rvitko]

The optimum is to keep it as constant as possible, you will tune the air to compensate so at a lower water level and more airflow you can get a drier skimmate, if the water level increases the skimmate will become wetter and air flow will have to be decreased. The key to setting the water level is consistency and not so deep that the skimmer starts gurgling from water being sucked into the air intake.

 

[Mirugai]

Re: 9002 nano skimmer keep overflowing

Ok I will i give it a try. As far as the pump installment it's been correct all a long. I will use the air screw adjustment for now and give it 24 hr each setting. But as far as I can tell you, the air screw adjustment does nothing.

 

[rvitko]

If the air adjustment does nothing then the top plate is defective and I can send a replacement, the thread is too large so air passes by the screw.

 

[Mirugai]

Re: 9002 nano skimmer keep overflowing

The top plate pops off very easily. Whenever I tried to move the skimmer up or down, I can easily accicdently popped the top plate off, and when that happens I lose all the bubbles that's been built up.

I will tell you in the next 2 days if the airscrew adjustment works. Otherwise I'm gonna have to have you send me that replacement.

Thank you

 

[rvitko]

The top plate only rests on top, if it pops up it is because there is extra air hose in the top chamber that just has to be pulled down into the lower chamber, it is the airline tension that is causing this and it is easy to fix, but I would wait and see if we need to replace the top lid and then you can just do both at the same time.

 

[Mirugai]

Re: 9002 nano skimmer keep overflowing

Ok. I'm officially giving up on this skimmer. Nothing I did would make this thing work. Can I declare it as a lemon? There certainly something wrong with it.

 

[rvitko]

Please, send it in, and I will get it working properly and send it back completely set up and ready to go-

Tunze USA
305 Victor St
Austin, TX 78753

Please pack it carefully, the cup in particular can be easily broken in shipping.

 

[Mirugai]

Re: 9002 nano skimmer keep overflowing

I'm gonna be out of town until Friday. I will send it to you when I get back. Is it possible to have the new one send to me first? so I don't have skimmerless tank while the old one being sent to you. I can pay for it first and you can refund me the money once you received the old one. If so, give me your phone number so we can deal over the phone.