9002 Skimmer - no bubbles?

[dgin]

Just got a new 9002 and set it up in my nano. I have the water line exactly at the mark on the skimmer. I can't get the internal water line to reach the bottom of the cup. There are no bubbles or foam being produced at all even after adjusting the air adjustment screw. When I take the skimmer cup off, I can see a little water coming out of the air ajustment screw area. Any ideas on what could be wrong?

 

[rvitko]

It sounds like the airline is not properly inserted or pinched. The airline ends in an elbow that is inserted into the venturi of the pump, make sure it is in correctly.

 

[dgin]

I took it apart prior to posting. I pulled the elbow from venturi and stuck it back in. It seems like water is being pushed into the airline somehow.

Inside of the elbow seems to appear like its pinched but I know water and air can flow through albeit at a slower rate.

 

[rvitko]

The venturi is likely defective, I can send a new one but it is worth opening it and checking that it isn't plugged, it is two parts, a black outer shell with a white inner nozzle.

 

[dgin]

I opened up the venturi and did not see anything blocking the passageways. I did a test with the pump, venturi and elbow with airline and the water gets pushed through the airline as well as the main passageway. I looked at the owners manual and the venturi doesn't look like its missing anything. I just don't understand why water is being pushed through the airline - is that normal?

 

[rvitko]

If the venturi has a small defect it will push water out instead of sucking air in. This can also happen if the elbow is not fully inserted.

 

[Littleg182]

I recieved a 9005 the other day and I was getting no bubbles at all like you. I took the pump out of the bottom and found that the airline wasn't in the hole, it was just laying in the chamber. So I put the end of the air hose in the piece where you have to line up the holes. It didn't seem to fit tight though, but I did get it working. Is the airline just suppose to lay in the hole? Or is it suppose to be tight? There is also a slight ticking sound every couple seconds. Not sure if it has to do with that.

 

[rvitko]

It should be a fairly snug fit. You should be able to pull lightly on it and it not come loose.

The ticking noise would indicate to me that the bearing bush (a collar inserted at the top of the hole that the impeller assembly is in) is loose. These often slide forward in shipping and just needs to be pushed back in.

 

[Littleg182]

Yeah I could only imagine what happened during shipping. It looked like someone had sat on my box, then kicked it to the door, rang my doorbell and probably ran or skipped back to the truck. Damn UPS damn them!