hints on making a 9010 work better?

[tuzeman]

Hi all, I've had a 9010 skimmer for about a year and a half now, and I've recently been noticing a performance drop off (and this is after I stocked a little more heavily!). I've given it a vinegar bath. I went from emptying it weekly (only about 50 ml of skimmate), to emptying it daily (sometimes there is almost nothing). I have a 65 gallon tank with 8 fish and feed moderately. been battling lobophora for a while now (anyone have any ideas?) and now some cyno has crept in. Anyone know of a good way to help my poor little 9010? Would be much appreciated.

 

[rvitko]

I would disassemble and clean the pump and venturi nozzle with vinegar. I would reassemble it and submerge it completely in vinegar and water with the blue air adjustment screw removed and submerged so the skimmer pulls the solution through its air passages when it is plugged in.

 

[tuzeman]

Thanks Roger, I'll give it a shot...after re-assembly, I assume I should submerge and run it in the vinegar/water solution up to its usual level (about 6 inches)?

 

[rvitko]

Fully submerged, the entire skimmer should be under water when you run it, this way it sucks in vinegar and water through the air port and cleans out the salt crust and lime deposits.

 

[tuzeman]

Hmmm. Well I've done as instructed and I've given it a couple of days now. But now it seems like like there is much less water being pushed through the exit pipe. I've tried taking it apart and reassembling, but that didn't help....What have I done?

 

[rvitko]

You are welcome to send the skimmer in but trying to diagnose the problem without seeing it is very difficult. In general the water flow from the pipe should be just a slow trickle. If the foam production is correct then you should be in good shape.

 

[jerryvan]

Roger--How long would you leave the skimmer running in the Vinegar and water---Jerry

 

[rvitko]

I would run it for 6-12hrs. It must be completely under water with the air adjustment screw removed so it takes in the vinegar and water through the air passage.

 

[jerryvan]

Hello---Thanks Roger---Jerry