9440 Skimmer drama

[gavinduffy]

Hi Roger,

I hope you can help, i'm about to give up on this device.
I upgraded my 9020 skimmer to a 9440 skimmer a few months back.
In all this time, i still have not got it working right.
It will be fine for a few days, then i do a water change, the water level in the sump changes by maybe 1 inch, and that's it. If the level raises, i have a cup overflowing with water by the next day. Then i'm back to closing both valves, and opening them again after a few days.
Basically, i am forever adjusting the skimmer, with most days the skimmer running on only 1 open valve.
The water level in the sump is controlled by a tunze Osmolator at about 18CM. I'm based in Germany if that makes any difference to the model i have.
Thanks for any help you can offer.
Gavin

 

[rvitko]

Gavin,

How long did it run as a 9420? The 9440 is very sensitive and the key is to run it with one pump for 3-6 months and remove as much of the organics as possible and then switch to 2 pumps after most of the built up organics have been removed as it is very sensitive. It is also very sensitive to a change of water level.

 

[gavinduffy]

Hi Roger,

Yes, it's the change in water level that kills me.
A change of only an inch or so and i am back to closing off valves.
I never ran it with only 1 pump, i just had the valves often closed and the outlet pipe tilted at 45 degrees to stop the cup filling with water.
Should i try running it for a few weeks with just one pump?

 

[gavinduffy]

Came down this morning to the cup overflowing with water.
Worst part was that it has been running fine for 4 days, so this morning i had 4 days worth of crap dumped back into the sump.
Does anyone have this skimmer working?

 

[rvitko]

The factory is in Bavaria, my best suggestion would be to contact them for assistance by phone or to email them directly at info@tunze.com.