9010 operation in question

[aqualab]

Roger,
My 9010 is sometimes not as effective as other times - foam drops real low into unit, level from discharge pipe barely flowing out. If I shake the skimmer it seems to pick up and become more aggressive. I have it installed in a sump - water level in sump is pretty steady at 6". Seems I am always adjusting the air knob to try and get it to be produce a steady foam - almost impossible trying to get it more dry - runs wet. Skimmer just doesn't seem to have the umph it did when first operated. Does it matter if the blue foam diffuser is an inch higher than the stand pipe - seems to help alleviate micro bubbles from being introduced into the sump. Took it all apart and cleaned to see if that would help, all tubing is connected and pieces fitted together as required. It shouldn't have needed cleaning as it has only been in action for maybe three weeks total (new tank is cycling). I did buy this used, the pump looked clean and tight during my initial inspection when I first got it months ago. Water is being discharged out the back hole at a good rate. Could it be that my cycling tank is not putting enough of a load on it yet, liverock is half cured and half uncured, livesand also? Or am I just expecting too much from it? Salinity is 1.024.

Thanks,
Bill

 

[rvitko]

It should be pretty steady. The most frequent cause of this sort of behavior is oily foods, frequent fiddling with the tank (oils from skin) or lots of additives being used. When you add something or put your hands in the tank or feed a very fatty or oily food it is normal for skimming to be affected on any skimmer. Having the sponge above the height of the pipe could be a problem, if the sponge gets dirty at all water will back up and restrict the air flow. Possible mechanical causes are the nipple from the airline not being fully inserted in the venturi nozzle, or the outlet of the pump not being inserted in the jet tube. I would give it a throrough cleaning, including dissassembly of the pump and then reassemble it and look out for any of the above mentioned things.