9010 - how much bubbles?

[IPT]

I just set up my 9010. I am wondering if I have the Venturi setup right. There are bubbles in the chamber, but not very much. Not by a long shot. My Prism chamber has a lot more bubbles in the chamber. I repostioned the venturi in the the pump fitting less deeply and then there were no bubbles. I reset it about half way in. Valve open about three turns and was back to the low density of bubbles.

My question is how do you know when it is set correctly? and, is low bubble density in the chamber itself just part of the breakin process? I know foam production may be a while in coming, but I figured the bubble density would be a constant. Is that incorrect?.

 

[IPT]

Oh yeah, turning the air valve didn't seem to change much. Even unscrewed it until it practically fell out. Just wanna make sure I set the thing up right. I just hate it when it is user error

 

[rvitko]

It should be very dense with bubbles. I suspect the hose is pinched between the pump and skimmer body or the nipple from the airline to the nozzle is not fully inserted.

 

[IPT]

it's a little better after 10 hrs of running but seems to me like my Prism is denser with bubbles. Should the airline nipple be pushed in as deeply as it can go (so it extends to about the middle depth of the pump outlet)? Is there a way to test it? For example if I open the air valve all the way should I be able to overflow the skimmer?

Thanks Roger for your help and guidence.

 

[rvitko]

You push it in as far as you can, generally about half of its length. It all depends on the surface tension of the water, in the right setting it will fill the cup with water when fully open but if the water has a low surface tension due to some oils being present from foods and supplements it may not. It takes some time for the foam to build. Having used a prizm though, the foam should definitely be more.

 

[IPT]

I think I didn't have the air line pushed in deep enough. It's looking better now in terms of bubble density. Question though, if running the 9010 on a tank with a low bioload is the large riser diameter of this skimmer a handicap? Is the 9005's riser tube smaller in diameter? Or is it better to compensate by the gate valve Mod melbourse spoke of (and or the mesh mod)?

 

[rvitko]

I am not so sure on the mesh mod, when the 9010 development started our plan was to make it a needle wheel skimmer and as Melbourne noted, it is at the limit of what the skimmer body can handle. With a needle wheel the entire skimmer would fill with air over time and within 2-3 days it would just be a box of air and stop working. The wider throat if anything is a benefit from my experience as it goes longer between cleaning than more narrow ones. The 9005 cup is just shorter, not narrower.

 

[IPT]

Thanks - seems like the same could be achomplished with the valve. Fingers crossed for some good bubble action when I get home from work!