Fine-tuning 9410 skimmer

[TankCla]

My Tunze 9410 is running for 6 months now and I am not very pleased with the way it makes bubbles. I have big bubbles, not small fine ones in the mixing chamber. I tried lowering the air, but than I have the splashing noise and not so many bubbles in the mixing chamber. Actually very few. I covered the outlet with a mesh, to reduce the noise, but I am not too happy about the amount of skimmate due to reduce bubbles.

The only way I got it to make more fine bubbles, is to remove the outlet of the skimmer (pipe and post filter) and let maximum air in the mixing chamber.

The skimmer is in 7.5" (20cm) of water. Somewhere in the middle between minimum and maximum recommended by the manufacturer. The removal of the pipe and the depth of water makes it now to overflow. For that I had to replace the skimmer cup with the bigger one (taller skimmer cup - 9015.140), but I have the feeling that something is not right. The skimmate is like a light tea in color and I would like it to be more brown/black in color. And I don't think the manufacturer would design this skimmer to work in this manner.

Can someone help me tuning this skimmer?

 

[rvitko]

Make sure the stand pipe is fully pushed into the skimmer base, also make sure the filter bag mount is not above the top of the pipe. Lowering the water level about .5-1" will also help (or raising the skimmer if that is not possible). I would remove the mesh, any restriction to the free draining of the water will reduce the air production.

 

[rvitko]

Also, any additives you are using may be a culprit, so consider stopping use of any colloid, stress coat, vitamin or amino acid supplement at least temporarily, usually after a week of non use, the skimmer function will return to normal.

 

[TankCla]

I was thinking to lower the water line, but that means the pump will run half way out of the water, maybe more. I am afraid it will not cool enough and will eventually burn.

 

[rvitko]

So long as at least 2/3rds of the pump is submerged, it won't be an issue.