Need some help setting up 9020

G

grantrosehill

New member
Roger,
I finally took delivery today of my 9020 and I have a couple of questions regarding set up.

1) Is it normal for water to come out of the holes at the back? I looked in the bucket and there were no pulgs etc?

2) How does one attach the rail mounts to the skimmer? I have read the instructions and can make out that there are two (left and right) but cant see how to attach them to the skimmer body?

3) With the foam extractors where do I set the initial foam height? The instructions say half way up the cup but there is no cup?

Grant
 
Are you going to use it in tank or in sump? I will describe for in sump.

1) Yes, this is a critical part of in tank use, it is a pressure relief, it could be plugged if you desire for in sump use. We don't include plugs and it isn't necessary.

2) You won't use the rails in sump, you will use the bottom plates with the suction cups. I would just set it down in the sump, don't stick the suction cups down.

3) Basically, I would open the venturi 3 full turns, wait and watch, rather than relying on any of that tune it so the skimmate is the right color for you. After a week at 3 turns increase or decrease in 1/4 turn increments and wait a day until you get what you want.
 
The only thing I have learned that is critical and not covered in the manual is the pipe has to be really forced into the elbow- even a mm too high and water will back up into the cup and venturi instead of exiting the riser tube.

Are you having a particular problem?
 
Even with the air inlet completely open the bubbles are just at the top of the skimmer (ie at the level of the black plastic) and not rising into the foam collection chamber at all.

This might be due to it breaking in.

Grant
 
Did you install those little things between the grid at the front and the pump? Make sure they didn't slip. Also, you absolutely have to use the suction cup bottom things and they have to be on all the way, it sounds to me like you are not building up pressure and these two would be your culprits. I had the same thing happen and it was both. The sliding piece came out about 1/4" and the pump was not firmly in that fitting. What happens is some water is being recirculated and some is leaving through the bottom so your water column is not high enough to really build foam, my experience was a break in that took literally minutes.
 
I did instal the curved things between the grill and the pump but will check to make sure they have not slipped. The suction cup bottom is installed but I will check to make sure it is in all the way (but I think it is).

Grant
 
That bottom piece is tricky, when all the way in the back edge is inside a groove, it can hit the groove and you think you closed it but it isn't and easily slides out.
 
Well I reinstalled the bases and checked the grills. Now when it goes on water comes out the ozone nipple and the other nipple at the front?


Grant
 
The pipe isn't in the elbow far enough or the elbow is too far into the skimmer. Basically now you have pressure but the outlets aren't working.
 
Roger,
I have taken the elbow out a little and the foam drops down to the level it was at before. The outlet pipe was joined to the elbow when it arrived and it is in as far as it can go.
Also the foam in one of the reactors is now not even making it up to the collection cup - ie it stays in thee body of the skimmer and water does not run out of it's outlet.

Grant

Grant
 
Do you have someone locally you can go to? The only possible problems are in the three areas I have mentioned. Pipe/elbow, bottom lid, pump inlet. I had another customer report the same issues and it worked fine once I checked all these and got them set up right. Just be careful and take your time in assembly, I think when you fix one you are knocking another part out of whack.
 
No exact measurement, I will try to get some pics tomorrow. The basic thing is water needs to exit from those pipes, if it isn't you get the problem with water stacking up and choking the venturi or, the other possibility is water is draining elsewhere- the bottom is open or water is being recirculated. I know you are probably frustrated but when you get it you will understand it and it won't be an issue again. It took me a couple days to figure everything out that could go wrong. I know it is also possible to have the screen/pipe thing on the wrong way, the pipe goes on the right if I recall, and to have the pipe in the wrong end of the elbow. IIRC the side of the elbow that says SPEARS should go into the body roughly to where the writing starts and the pipe should be really pressed in to the other side. As I said it is logical once you get it, it is just the manual is really rough.
 
Thanks for all your help Roger.
The foam is about 1/2" up the collection towers. I will leave it alone for a while to see if it climbs up now my hands are out of the tank.

Grant
 
Thanks Roger

Thanks Roger

Woke up this morning and one of the reactors had filled with filthy foam. When I came home from work today both were full and there is skimmate in the reservoir. :D

If anyone was wondering if these things are quiet I can assure you they are. For their size the make much less noise than my remora pro.

Grant
 
Great to hear. I was getting nervous. It has a lot of features and that adds to the complexity. I found today that this last batch of skimmers it seems the pipes are now glued to the elbow in the proper position.
 
That is the same batch mine is from. I was wondering why you were saying push the pipe into the elbow when it was already welded on. Also the SPEARS end was attached to the outlet pipe and not the part you push into the skimmer.

Not to worry the thing is working great.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

M
Help with setting up Red Sea Max G2 XL (Raleigh, NC Area) - Will PAY
Replies
0
Views
514
Matty2000
M
E
Setting up 10g quarantine tank
Replies
9
Views
209
Dr. Reef
Dr. Reef
E
What's Old is New Again
Replies
2
Views
356
Uncle99
Uncle99
rockryno
32gal Maxspect Lagoon Build - Chicago Sunburst BTAS and SPS!
Replies
3
Views
132
rockryno
rockryno
D
DIY Stand Help
Replies
6
Views
289
kharmaguru
kharmaguru
Back
Top