9410 skimmer questions
- Thread starter degibson84
- Start date
If water is in the silencer, this will reduce the bubbles. I would suggest opening and inspecting/cleaning the pump, but I suspect the anti overfoaming system was activated by suspended detritus, any additives and the water change and it will settle down in a few days. Basically water is being sucked into the air intake to stop a foam over and cut the airflow due to a change in surface tension.
degibson84
New member
I emptied out the "silencer" and as soon as I put it back into the sump it was filled again.
degibson84
New member
The water level isn't high enough in the skimmer for water to get sucke into the air intake. I feel like the pump just isn't working properly.
I would inspect the pump then, if no water is rising in the intermediate chamber, the most likely culprit is the stuck bearings that rishma described, this is about the time frame where calcium will start to gum these up (3-6 months). The shaft is fused to the magnet and spins in these ceramic bushings that sit in sockets at either end. If it has to drag one the impeller will slow dramatically and stall. Simply separating them and cleaning them with a soak in vinegar and warm water should solve the problem.
degibson84
New member
took the pump apart and scrubbed all the pieces with a toothbrush. put it all together and now have to re tune it. Since i had to take the pipe out of the base. but man that did the trick. foaming like crazy
degibson84
New member
The only way for mine to get dialed in was to build a stand for the skimmer that put the skimmer into 7 inches of water. it ran through a few days of overfoaming and then became a skimming machine
degibson84
New member
If you haven't already open up the air line screw a little. If not then you will need to raise the ring on the outlet pipe above the top of the actual pipe. this will cause the water level inside the skimmer to raise making a more wet skimmate.
degibson84
New member
when i talked to him about it he told me thats what I had to do for the water level to raise in the skimmer
Yes, that is true but you don't want to adjust for this intermediate chamber, you make the adjustments for the skimming only. The intermediate chamber system is basically an automatic shut down if the skimmer was going crazy and it will work if everything else works and is set right.
degibson84
New member
having the same issue again today. Only thing different is that once i cleaned it out and put it back together it didn't fix the problem like before. The foam is not making its way up to the collection cup. it is only making its way up through the neck to about where the bottom of the cup is. very disappointed that this skimmer is just plain horrible. I have recommended this skimmer based on the results I was getting but will not recommend it again. I have never had issue with a skimmer like this one.
What are you cleaning and how often? I am wondering if it is an issue of just disturbing it too much and skin oils and possibly detergent being added are interfering. In general, remove and clean the cup weakly with only warm water and a brush or towel. Remove and clean the entire skimmer with pump every 6 months. If nothing changes the skimmer should work the same as it did, but if detritus is stirred up or hands are in the tank and touching the skimmer surfaces a lot the detritus and skin oils can affect the skimmer. We don't get many complaints about the 9410.
degibson84
New member
Well it is usually just the up that I clean. But after the last issue I had when cleaning the pump worked I figured I would try it this time. It has been brought to my attention that the silencer Is probably faulty since water keeps getting inside of it. I can't find any US retailers that carry them though.
