9020 with Wavebox (Sumpless)

dddsee

Premium Member
How should I place the 9020 and wavebox in my 90g sumpless tank (48lx18wx24h)?

Currently, Wavebox is located front left side (creating a 3/4" wave). My 9020 is located left side facing toward the right side of the tank.
 
The main point is the skimmer should be centered on the back so the water fluctuation is minimal, the wavebox is positioned properly
 
Thanks Roger

I've position the 9020 to the middle of the tank... or as close to the middle as possible being the tank has a Centrebrace. Also my 90g has a 6000 on the back right corner circulating water across the tank. So couple with the wavebox, there is alot of water movement on the service.

I made the decision to purchase the 9020 base on the many great reviews on RC and the compac size makes it perfect for in-tank skimmer. I hope it was not a bad decision.

How sensitive is the 9020 to water movement?
 
The 9020 will skim best in a constant water level condition but it still works with some wave action. At IMAC three years ago I used a wavebox and a Reefpack 500 and while the foam kind of surged and dropped with the wave it still was very effective.
 
Thanks for the feedback. I am glad the 9020 will work with some wave in the tank. It's now located in the middle of the tank next to the centrebrace.

The RIGHT side seems to work perfectly quiet and creating alot of bubbles.

The 9020 LEFT side is making alot of bubbly/slurping noise. If I close the blue airscrew all the way in, the noise stop. Also, it doesn't seem to skim very well. the bubbles never reach high enough to be seen in the pipe.

Do you know what's the cause of this noise on the LEFT side chamber?
 
Not sure why the left chamber is so noisy and not producing. in the last 2 weeks, I've taken out the 9020 many times to check and reseat the pump but to have no luck.

The bubbly noise is very loud and it's not producing much. Although you'll see bubbles in the bottom of the half moon tube, but nothing compare to the right chamber is producing.

I've taken out the wavebox out last night. Will keep it off for 2 days and see if it helps.
 
I took out the wavebox last night .

Like I said , I can turn the blue airscrew all the way in and the bubbly noise will go away. Stay up till 12am last night fiddling with the 9020 and removed it from the tank a few times to check what's causing the noise. But everything looks in tack.

The water is pretty constant now. The only thing that's stirring the water is the 6000 sitting in the back right corner of the tank (oppsite end of the 9020).

checked this morning, no change. As always, the RIGHT side is working properly, but the LEFT side is same old same old... looking dull. Bubbles at the bottom of the half moon tube and very loud bubbly noise.
 
Check that the coupler between the pump and the intake are not installed and the hole in the back of the skimmer is not plugged. From what you describe water is being pumped in faster than it can drain and backing up into the venturi system. The wrong bottom plate could also cause this, be sure you are using the one with the three slots. The last thing to check is that the airline nipple is firmly inserted in the venturi. Raising the skimmer a 1/4" may also fix this if those all check out.
 
ok, I'll check tonight when I get home. If memory serves me well, I think I've read somewhere that the skimmer is shipped ready to be used in-tank.

My 90g is an All-Glass tank with the black plastic trim on the top.

I use 2 magnets 6200.5 on the top across and 2 Suction cup part# 3060.440 at the bottom across. At the moment, the top of the skimmer is sitting all the way up against the black plastic trim. I am not sure I can raise it 1/4" more. If all fail, I can always, drop the water line in the tank another 1/4"... would be the same as raising the skimmer right?

The bottom plate used at the moment is part# 3130.020 in the manual page 51 (List of spare parts).

Coupler? are you referring to part# 9010.350 in the manual page 51 (List of spare parts)?

Sorry I don't understand the part with "Airline nipple is firmly inserted in the venturi". Can you give some more detail on this?
 
They are shipped ready for in tank use but you never know, someone may have screwed up.

The coupler is part 9010.400.

You could also move the magnets to the bottom nipples.

The airline inserts into a hole in the venturi, it has a small plastic nipple that plugs in and it can be a firm fit and require a bit of pressure. If this isn't in correctly you will get more water and less air- hence the gurgling as the water flow is higher than the skimmer can take.
 
Good News, Bad news...

Well, after much grief and pain, I've finally see the light at the end of the tunnel last night around 1am. The cause to my last 2 1/2 depressing weeks.

Good News:
It's been fixed. It's working like a champ. The problem is at the Venturi like Rogers suspected... In this case, a picture is worth a thousand words... trust me on this. I'll post the picture tonight when I get home.

Bad News:
during the ordeal of trying to find the problem, I accidentally drop one of my half moon tube and it's now bandaid with Hockey tape on the top half to fix a small leaky crack. looks ugly as hell but it will work.

THANKS Rogers for all your help.
 
Hi Rogers

Here it is. The bubbly/slurping noise was caused by the openning of the nipple on the venturi. The first picture clearly shows the RIGHT nipple does not have the correct openning. The Left side is the correct openning.

126589IMG_9420-01.jpg


This next picture shows the left venturi nipple has been carved out to make the openning larger.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/126589IMG_9425-01.jpg

Thanks Roger for sticking with me throughtout his ordeal.
 
That is good to know, I will forward this to the factory so they can see this is something that may need attention.
 
Hi Roger

I can't figure out how to mount the 6200 magnet at the lower portion of the 9020.

Are you sure it is possible?

THANKS
 
It may not be equipped for it. There should be two dimples with nipples glued into them but they don't put the lower nipples on all products. However, I do have extra nipples and they are glued on with Tangit. Phil, the distributor for Canada, could get the glue and nipples for you.
 
OK... So this is a modification (DIY) to the 9020.

I did notice the Wavebox 6212 does allow us to mount the 2 Magnets (1 on top and 1 on the bottom).

Did Mr. Tunze overlooked the idea of mounting 2 magnets on the bottom half of the 9020?

Does Phil visit this forum?

How can I contact Phil.

THANKS
 
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