master doc 9440
- Thread starter biriki
- Start date
Yes, I have a master doc 9440. Finally got it going last weekend, since my live rock came in.
At first, the hydrofoamers made a weird sound, and did not generate any bubbles. I wasted 2-3 hours fooling with it. That's when I discovered that you can rotate the hydorfoamer, then Boom! I found the sweet spot and the bubbles came roaring out. My guess is that it was not rotating, it was just shaking, and my moving the motor helped it get spinning.
This skimmer works very well and is very powerful. It has pulled a lot of stuff out in the short time I have had it. I would recommend it even though I had problems getting it going.
At first, the hydrofoamers made a weird sound, and did not generate any bubbles. I wasted 2-3 hours fooling with it. That's when I discovered that you can rotate the hydorfoamer, then Boom! I found the sweet spot and the bubbles came roaring out. My guess is that it was not rotating, it was just shaking, and my moving the motor helped it get spinning.
This skimmer works very well and is very powerful. It has pulled a lot of stuff out in the short time I have had it. I would recommend it even though I had problems getting it going.
Your 9440...is it ultra quiet? I am getting skimmer fever and looking closely at either this model or a BK. BK's have a reputation for being very quiet and since this sits in my living room next to my couch, sound level is very important. Let me know what you hear from yours...
I need to get very close to it to hear it. Then I hear a very light humming type sound. Perhaps not ultra quiet but certainly would not be a distraction. The pumps are underwater and so you really can't hear them.
That said, sound is so very subjective, and it depends on what other sounds are in the room.
It was this model or the BK for me also. The BK came highly recommended, but in the end it was the Tunze automatic features that made the difference for me.
That said, sound is so very subjective, and it depends on what other sounds are in the room.
It was this model or the BK for me also. The BK came highly recommended, but in the end it was the Tunze automatic features that made the difference for me.
So are you suggesting that the Tunze 9440 is a set and forget model like the Bubble King? That is the comment about the BK's that I see when I review the posts on it. Users set it up, it runs, runs consistently, and runs quietly.
From your report, it sound like Roger has a winner with this 9440. Lots of junk coming out of the tank, easy setup, and runs quietly.
Am I reading you correctly?
From your report, it sound like Roger has a winner with this 9440. Lots of junk coming out of the tank, easy setup, and runs quietly.
Am I reading you correctly?
wartskin
New member
One of the key features of this skimmer is it's ability to lower the water lever with in the chamber if there is a higher surface tension so that it doesn't overflow the cup. I ran into this problem alot with my ER. The pumps are not near as loud either, but as said before sound is subjective to the person listening to it. Ambient noise is a major factor, if you can hear a pin drop then chances are you could hear the pumps running. I am a person that picks up on sounds from the tank and has a tendency to focus in on them ( irritating habit ) so I understand the concerns about noise levels but IMO you aren't gonna have that problem with this skimmer series.
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Thanks Rodney...my inclination is to go with the Tunze. With you and Roger right here in Austin, service can't be easier to get when needed. I think I'll settle down on the BK thing and continue to plan for the Tunze.
Is the 9440 planned to be released in a revised form later in the year or will it continue to be fabricated as it is in its current revision?
Is the 9440 planned to be released in a revised form later in the year or will it continue to be fabricated as it is in its current revision?
wartskin
New member
Not real sure, I will have to get with Roger about that, but he will more than likely see your post and be able to answer your question.
I have to say that in my years that I was with Marine Depot I always loved the Euro Reef skimmers and never really looked at anything else. However after seeing these Master DOC skimmers operate I am mighty impressed and will definitely make the switch when I set up another tank.
I have to say that in my years that I was with Marine Depot I always loved the Euro Reef skimmers and never really looked at anything else. However after seeing these Master DOC skimmers operate I am mighty impressed and will definitely make the switch when I set up another tank.
It produces wet skim and works great. I like the ease to clean it with the neck beign part of the waste container. You don't have to turn it off when you clean it. I like having the anti overflow system, which seems to work when I put water in there to test. There is a ring on the outlet where you can adjust the pressure of the bubbles coming up, but I have not had the need to play with this. I found the blue sponge on the outlet not needed.
On the negative side on three occacions on restart the motor did not produce bubbles right away. Most times it restarts just fine. To get it going, I just unplug it then and plugged it back in. I am not sure what is going on. I seemed like the motor would try, then cutoff, then try agian. Perhaps Rodney or Roger could comment on that.
After 4 days since last cleaning:
On the negative side on three occacions on restart the motor did not produce bubbles right away. Most times it restarts just fine. To get it going, I just unplug it then and plugged it back in. I am not sure what is going on. I seemed like the motor would try, then cutoff, then try agian. Perhaps Rodney or Roger could comment on that.
After 4 days since last cleaning:
I have a 9440 and had the same issue with the hydrofoamers not working on start up sometimes but once you move it a little and the needle wheel gets going it pumps out a lot of bubbles and skims quite well.
One question I did have for Roger and others using the 9440 is whether it's normal to accumulate a lot of thick hard skimmate in the area between the waste container and the unit. I recently found very thick skimmate around the opening of the black plate and quite a bit of ot came out thru the output. Luckily it was so thick, it just sat on top of the foam surrounding the output tube.
One question I did have for Roger and others using the 9440 is whether it's normal to accumulate a lot of thick hard skimmate in the area between the waste container and the unit. I recently found very thick skimmate around the opening of the black plate and quite a bit of ot came out thru the output. Luckily it was so thick, it just sat on top of the foam surrounding the output tube.
