Got my 9010 today!

[Fliger]

Hey Roger, got it today - looks great. I'm not sure why these aren't more popular given the price and LPH of air! Anyway - my question is, the small piece between the pump and the skimmer interior (connects them) isn't exactly tight. Does it need to be? Its not super tight on either end (into the pump or the skimmer body) and there is no rubber gasket or o-ring so I'm assuming a 100% tight fit isn't necessary. Is that correct?

And am I doing something wrong - its really hard to get the pump/connector/body to all slide in together since you're kind of doing it blind. I put the middle piece on the pump and slid it upwards hoping for a catch. But I can't know for sure how tight that is.

Also the silicone air tube goes into a little cylinder inside the body - and then a tube goes to the top. Does air enter the tube on the inside AND outside?

I hooked this up in a bucket and its actually the first skimmer I've ever FW tested that produces skimmate - and that includes BK's, H&S and Deltecs!

Lastly, the blue water line on the front - is that the "max height" the water level can be?

Thanks!

David

 

[BreadmanMike]

Not to purge on your thread David, but I always have a ton of respect for what you and Chuck say about equipment. I would love to know how this performs after you get it up and running for a bit. Please LMK how this works out for you. Thanks!

 

[rvitko]

Just so long as that bushing is installed so that it is on the intake of the pump it isn't necessary that it be tight.

Put the pump in, then install the connector, then put the cover plate over that.

The air enters on the inside of the screw port, part of the silencing is the air travels under the cup to the intake.

The blue water line is a reference if you are using it in tank.

Basically, if you installed everything correctly water will exit the outlet pipe, otherwise it won't.

 

[Fliger]

Hey Roger, where is the water exiting the skimmer? I installed the riser tube but the water doesn't exit there. Is it coming out of the bottom of the skimmer? I installed it in the sump last night and it flooded the cup by morning. I imagine its too much air and I need to use the blue screw to dial it back?

I got the pump sitting snug in there and it must be fine because I have a lot of foam.

It would be nice if there was a way to attach some silicone tubing and adjust the air that way. Since you can't really see whats going on in the skimmer I have no idea if I'm doing anything by using this blue screw.

 

[Fliger]

Awe man, just read your last line. I must have it set up incorrectly.

The pump inlet is firmly seated, and the water is coming out of that "mushroom" part inside the skimmer. There is LOTS of air, but I don't know why the water isn't exiting the riser tube. The 9010 isn't really "sealed watertight" so I figured its empting the bottom.

I'm so used to externals.

Oddly enough - barring the cup overflow, it skims great.

 

[rvitko]

You have to have the bottom plate with the suction cup feet installed and it has to be restng on the suction cups. This plate has to be fully inserted.

 

[Fliger]

I am using that piece with the suction cups. I guess I'll just take the whole thing out and fill the body thru the top over the sink to find leaks. Man that must skim WET when the riser tube is working since that sits high. 650LPM is a lotta air in such a small body with such a high water level. I might cut that thing down an inch or two. It would be easy to replace.

Actually can I just buy an extra riser tube? I assume its metric so I can't just cut it to desired length with a coupler.

 

[rvitko]

The riser is just 1" PVC from Spears. Maybe the riser isn't fully inserted in the elbow? It wont be feasible to leak test it, it will leak, it is just how much. Be sure the bottom cover is in all the way.

 

[Fliger]

Hey Roger, right now the skimmer is too far back to get to. But I got a full cup yesterday, emptied it last night - have half a cup today! So I'm ok with it for now. I see water exiting the back through a hole (like a little boy peeing fountain), but its not coming out of the standpipe. So I'm assuming the water is lower than usual. The upside is that I have the air at 100%.

I have to say I'm very impressed though.

Since my tank was skimmerless for a couple weeks, this works well. When I get my nutrients down, I will pull it out and adjust it for a higher water level.

Thanks,

David

 

[sjm817]

 

[rvitko]

It sounds like for sure the issue is the bottom plate being not fully seated. It is normal for water to exit the whole in the back. The other possibility is the pipe is not fully in the elbow or the coupler between the pump and front plate is not fully seated on the pump.

 

[Fliger]

Roger, this skimmer - running incorrectly - is kicking SERIOUS butt. I mean nasty crap, like BK/H&S/Deltec stuff. The water is definitely exiting the skimmer somewhere because its not coming to the top of the riser tube. But I have the blue screw entirely out.

One thing I've also noticed is that the skimmer works better when the lid is not on supertight. There are no holes in the top of the skimmer to allow the air to escape, there are a couple on the outside groove but I think those get clogged. I'm going to drill some holes in the top of the lid to allow better air escape.

I am definitely going to cut this riser tube down. I think the reason I've getting such nasty dry stuff is because the water level is lower and I'm able to run all 650LPH of air.

edit - regarding the lid, if i don't secure it down, there is so much dry foam that it pushing the cup off. so i have to constantly put the lid back in place. if i drill holes, i should be able to lock it into place without restricting air. all the other german skimmers i've used have several holes in the coll cup lid.

 

[gillies]

My 9010 has been rocking hard for some time now. Still hands down the best skimmer I've owned!

 

[Fliger]

Can you run your air wide open? Better than your MCE600? Personally I like this one better. The MCE worked well but I had serious problems when I fed. The head goes down on this one - just like every skimmer - but I had microbubble hell every time I fed several different foods.

I didn't know you had one. I dunno why this skimmer doesn't get more mention. It definitely should.

 

[gillies]

Wide open.

 

[Roland Jacques]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7847036#post7847036 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sjm817

I second that

 

[Fliger]

And finally, one of the most impressive skimmers for the money I've EVER owned - Tunze 9010. It runs $325 and draws 650LPH. I am literally emptying the cup every two days of nasty gunk - and my tank is very clean. These were from day 2, I have since then tweaked it and get a drier skimmate.

Very small, fits in sump easy

24 hours after plug in

60 seconds after cleaning

 

[Lothar]

Fliger,

Did you ever drill holes in the cup lid? I've been running a 6010 for 2 months and can't get foam like yours. I've been running mine hanging on my sump wall without riser and have the water level about 1/4 inch below the wavy line. I also have the bottom plate on with the cut outs for running in tank. All I can get is really light tea colored skimmate.

Thanks

 

[rvitko]

Skimmate does vary by what is being skimmed so I wouldn't put too much emphasis on dark color. Every tank has different compounds based on what inhabitants exist and what foods are used and what algaes grow.

 

[Lothar]

Roger,

If I remember right, you run your 9010 similar to mine without the riser pipe in a sump with constant water level. Which bottom plate do you use and do you run it with the sleeve that fits below the cover with sliding unit/door?

Thanks