9010 rattle noise

[andyco]

Hello,

I set up my 9010 about 3 days ago.

It's skimming like crazy (super foamy!), and pulling some really nice yuck out.

But, it is making a rattling noise. The noise is slightly louder than the pump, and it sounds metallic (sorry that's the best description I can think of).

I've taken it apart 3 times, tried to find what could be making the noise, but I don't see anything outside of the pump itself.

Does anyone else with a 9010 hear a noise like this? Any ideas?

-andy

 

[rvitko]

It shouldn't make any noise. Here is what I would suggest, open the pump, have your manual out and locate the bush bearing. This is a collar around the hole the impeller seats in. The most common thing is for this piece to slip out a bit in shipping. Pry it out, turn it 180 degrees and reinsert it. Note that it slides down a couple groves and can only go in to ways. Push it in very firmly and then reinsert the impeller assembly giving it a bit of a push as well. This almost always fixes a noise issue.

 

[andyco]

Roger,

Reinserting the bush bearing did quiet the pump a little, but did not impact the rattle.

I ran the hydrofoamer by itself in a bucket of water, and it was silent.

I poked and prodded everywhere, and found closing the blue air screw almost all the way does make the noise go away.

The noise is not just air flow though - it is definitely a rattle.

 

[rvitko]

Maybe it is submerged too deep or the cup is on crooked? It sounds like the venturi is taking in some water and gurgling. It is possible to seat the cup such that it is off center. Note the four little pegs that should nestle inside the skimmer. I have done this myself and in that position the "self cleaning" feature allows the venturi to take in some water and it sounds kind of like a rattle.

 

[andyco]

OK

You are correct. Water is getting in the venturi, making a slight noise.

This happens no matter how I position the cup.

The culprit appears to be the seam where the "neck" of the cup (the part that goes down into the skimmer) meets the body of the cup (the part that has the collection cup.

As soon as the foam column hits this seam, water leaks out, and gets sucked into the venturi.

Is this by design? The seam appears to be non-watertight all the way around.

 

[andyco]

I can't figure out a way to test if this is actually what is happening.

Pivoting the cup, I can't seem to see it leaking, and I can still hear the noise, even when I can't see water getting in the venturi.

I checked (many times both ends of the air hose.

 

[rvitko]

Does it not hold skimmate? It should be water tight.

 

[andyco]

It holds skimmate.

I was thinking maybe it was leaking at the point where the bottom part of the skimmer cup meets the top part. This is just below where the skimmate accumulates. There is a seam there that looks as though it might not be water tight. But, I don't know for sure - I can't see it leak.

I've wiggled and repositioned pretty much every part of this thing that moves. The only thing that effects the noise is closing the blue air screw makes it go away. It seems to come on as the column of foam reaches the height of the seam that is between the two parts of the skimmer cup.

But, I really don't know for sure how the water is getting into the air line...

 

[rvitko]

By chance could you post a photo of the skimmer assembled and installed?

 

[andyco]

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/157341.jpg[\IMG]

[IMG]http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/157343.jpg[\IMG]

[IMG]http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/157342.jpg[\IMG]

 

[andyco]

 

[rvitko]

Try backing out the elbow just a hair. Everything looks correct but it maybe that not enough water is exiting and it is backing up inside. Is anything obstructing either intake nozzle on the side or the hole in the back of the skimmer?