9010 Skimmate Production

[LockeOak]

Hi, I purchased a 9010 skimmer a few months ago, and I've noticed that its skimmate production is very low. It produces foam, but the foam almost never seems to rise high enough in the neck to fall into the cup. It's been running for 3-4 months and I haven't had to empty it once. I'm starting to major algae problems in the tank, still no significant skimmate. The skimmer is located in my sump, the water level is about an inch below the blue printed water line on the skimmer body. Could that difference cause such a big problem? The chamber it's in has pretty high flow in it (near the drain from the display) but no bubbles make it into the intake. Anything else I can do?

 

[kfick]

Do you have the sump kit installed with the outlet pipe on the front? It keeps the internal water level at the right height. If not, you will need the water level right at the blue line.

Otherwise, I'd take it apart and check it out. Make sure that the venturi (the piece that the air tube hooks to) is snug in the pump outlet. Make sure the pump outlet fits all the way into the jetpipe in the skimmer body. Also make sure there are no kinks in the air line inside the skimmer after you put the pump in.

Also check to make sure the bottom plate is not on backwards and fits snug all the way on. With the blue screw all the way out, the skimmer should definately be overflowing if your salt content is high enough. What does the salinity measure?

 

[LockeOak]

Salinity is 1.026. If by the outlet pipe you mean the vertical pipe with the blue sponge around it, yes it is installed, water/bubbles rise out of it and pours over and through the sponge. I'm pretty sure I have the outlet all the way in, but I haven't checked the internal air line. I've moved it into another chamber with much lower water movement but the same water level, I'll see if that makes a difference.

 

[kfick]

Yes, thats the pipe I meant. It sounds like you just aren't getting enough air flow, I would make sure the line isn't pinched. The venturi should fit snugly into the pump output as well.

The bottom plate also makes a big difference if it is not on all the way, water can escape out of the bottom of the skimmer and its internal level wont be high enough.

Do you hear gurgling from the air intake? If I run the water that high in my sump, mine will start to suck water into the air inlet and reduce foam performance.

I have mine in a chamber with about 600gph flowing by it in about 8.5 inches of water. The water flow doesn't have much impact on it, even when a bunch of bubbles come from the overflow.

 

[LockeOak]

Today I took apart the whole skimmer and checked the air line. Nothing obviously wrong, airline seemed fine, so I put it back together. Put it back in the sump and wonder of wonders it foamed up immediately. It's working great now, so I'm not sure what the problem was, I suppose something slightly loose. I didn't even clean it. Oh well, let's see what it produces over the next week or so. Thanks!

 

[wartskin]

LockeOak

It is very possible that when it was assembled at the factory,the airline tube inside was pinched and was not allowing air into the pump. When you took it apart you corrected this problem. Please let us know if this problem should arise again.