9020

[steve the plumb]

Roger I can't remember if I mentioned this but I did notice that when I was dosing kalk near the skimmer it had the tendency to stop skimming.My other skimmer didn't do this.I did notice the tunze is very sensitive to feeding and dosing kalk water near the skimmer.Why is this.When feeding the skimmer did go back to normal but with kalk water for top off it didn't skim that much it goes dorment.I noticed while I was gone on vacation it didn't skim all that much considering I was away for one week and came back to a polluted tank.The skimmer bubbles were low.I maybe had 1/4 of a 3 litre botle of skimmate and I was noticing the skimmer wasn't working that much even after the fact(bubbles were low)Yet the skimmer was clean of debris.The tunze must be sensitive to kalk water.This was one thing that I wasn't happy with.The skimmer bottles should have been full with all that went on or the skimmer bubbles should have been working to produce skimmate

 

[rvitko]

Whenever you make a skimmer more compact it becomes more sensitive as the changes in surface tension, etc are magnified by the recirculation system. Imagine a 3ft skimmer and you change the surface tension and this affects the foam column by about 1/2", now, imagine on the Tunze all 3 ft is folded up to 18", by a system that reflects the foam back on itself, the change is now 1". This holds true on any skimmer that has multiple passes or baffles to extend the actual reactor length. I haven't expereinced this problem with kalk but I use it very dilute and do not dose it near my skimmer or any pumps as the kalk can rapidly foul pumps so this is generally a bad idea as it precipitates quickly due to the warmth of the motor.

 

[steve the plumb]

I will plan tp change that if I set up another tank.I will use 2 sumps and have the skimmer in the second away from any dosing units.Thanks for the help.

 

[Tyrinius]

Just to interject if I may. I have read the threads on the 9020 not producing skinmate and I have that very problem. It has been running for about a month and a half. I have not produced any significant skinmate throughout that period (1 cup every two weeks±). I have been experimenting by just using one of the skimmers and leaving the other one off for about the last two week without results. I don't believe that my tank is so clean it doesn't produce anything. Any suggestions. Thank you Roger.

 

[rvitko]

How are you running it? In tank or in sump? Can you describe more what it is doing? Any foam at all?

 

[Tyrinius]

I am running it in a sump (All Glass Model IV) using the suction cup installation so it sits off the bottom slightly. The skimmer sits in about 8 inches of water. It produced some white foam yeaterday but nothing is making it out of the chamber into my collection bin. I have taken the return pipes out and put them back in a few times to make sure I had it put together correclty. I have had the blue screws completely out for the last month. I am not currently dosing with anything and I use the Osmolator 3155 for top off so the water level is very stable. Any other info I can provide that may help in a diagnosis? Thanks again.

 

[rvitko]

Check that the bottom plate is in completely, even a couple mm out of position will cause problems. Make sure the coupler between the intake and the pump is seated properly and the intake grate is open all the way. Make sure the pump is in all the way while you are it, the bottom plate should not be bowed and the pump nozzle should seat in the jet pipe. Double check that the air line to the venturi is fully inserted.

 

[Tyrinius]

I will check it tonight. It could be that I slid it on the bottom of the sump and the suction cups may have held, thus moving the plate.

 

[Tyrinius]

Roger,

I checked the bottom plate and it is in completely. The coupler between the intake and the pump is seated properly and the intake grate is open all the way. The bottom plate is not bowed and the pump nozzle and air line to the venturi seeems fully inserted.

Here is a picture after I adjusted everything. I have not seen the water coming out of the skimmer like this before. Also after I took these the skimmer on the right stopped making bubbles all together and the skimmer on the left began to make a clicking noise. It seems to be extremely finiky. I am going on vacation for a week on Sat. and need to get this resolved.

Here is a picture of the setup.

I have the black tubes all the way in at the bottom of the skimmer, which is further in than they were before. When putting them back in I pushed a little more and was surprised at how far they go in. I have tried it with the blue screws at all different lengths, but the foam if there is any will not get into the overflow.

 

[rvitko]

I think the elbows are too far in, basically the water cannot drain effectively and is backing up and this is probably choking the venturi.

As for the clicking noise the impeller would likely be the culprit. Push in the bush bearing.

They are a bit finicky to set up, everything has to be assembled just right, but once set up they tend to require little or no adjustment. How long has the tank been running and how long has the skimmer been set up, the one tube that is not overflowing with water appears quite normal, it just looks like it hasn't started skimming yet and needs some time to break in.

 

[Tyrinius]

The tank has been setup for a little over a year and a half. The skimmer has been running for a month and a half. I have a fairly heavy bioload (12 fish, 30 corals, 3 shrimp, 2 star fish and cleaning crew). I will pull the elbows out a bit and check the bush bearing.

 

[rvitko]

I am sorry, I would be very happy to look at the skimmer for you but it doesn't sound like you have that kind of time. I know it is a good skimmer. Lets try to walk through this step by step. Check these things, carefully reassemble it and be sure that those bottom lids are on properly, the back end should be inside the grove and the front end has a slight bevel. When you get these things done post back with a picture and we will take it from there.

 

[rvitko]

Here is a problem another customer had that may be worth checking into-

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=942028

 

[rvitko]

This was a thread I illustrated some assembly steps on

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=718329&highlight=DOC+Skimmer

 

[Tyrinius]

Let me say one thing "You have been the most proficient and responsive person I have dealt with in any field in a very very long time". Thank you for your dedication!! I have made the recommended adjustments and the skimmer is quiet and productive. The left side is perfect and I believe the right side will catch up. I feel armed with enough information to assess a problem in the future and I am comfortable leaving it to do its job while we go on a well deserved vacation. Many THANKS ROGER!

 

[rvitko]

Whew! I always fear these situations as some peoples patience wears thin before I can find the solution. Thanks for sticking with me and being calm, it makes all the difference. I am happy it is working out, I think you will be happy with it.

 

[dddsee]

Glad it's working out for you before the big day.

RC has been the primary resource for many reefers like myself.

Perhaps, after your vacation, it would be much more helpfull if you can let the rest of the reefers know what was the solution to your problem... any pics?

Have a great vacation

THANKS

 

[Tyrinius]

We are packing right now to leave at 6 AM. I will try and get some pics up when I get back in a week. I think the problem was a combination of a few things.
1) elbows too far in
2) bottom plates not entirely flush
3) some tuning on the couplers
As imagined, the right side has caught the left. Thing is you can spend a lot of time adjusting by yourself, but if you don't have someone's experience it is hard to know if you are doing the right thing. Fortunately, I will sleep well.