Ok the 9002 is making wet foam..it fills the collection cup up with water.
- Thread starter 3fins
- Start date
Sorry if I'm coming off as bossy. I just know the frustration of not having a new toy work......
When you say "i put water in my tank", what else is in the tank right now? If you already know this, you can just ignore me, the skimmer will only work in saltwater with enough fish and coral waste to have something to skim out.
From what you type, it sounds like your trying to adjust the foam column by adjusting the water level in the tank. This isn't a good way to adjust the skimmer.
1. Setup skimmer so water level in tank is 1/2 inch below the water mark on the skimmer box.
2. Adjust air so foam column is just at the bottom of the clear tube.
3. Comeback 12 hours later and see what is in the cup. Make small adjustments and check 12 hours later.
You don't want the bubbles to be high in the column. Once the skimmer starts skimming our proteins, they (dark funk) will be pushed up the height of the column no problem.
Jeff
When you say "i put water in my tank", what else is in the tank right now? If you already know this, you can just ignore me, the skimmer will only work in saltwater with enough fish and coral waste to have something to skim out.
From what you type, it sounds like your trying to adjust the foam column by adjusting the water level in the tank. This isn't a good way to adjust the skimmer.
1. Setup skimmer so water level in tank is 1/2 inch below the water mark on the skimmer box.
2. Adjust air so foam column is just at the bottom of the clear tube.
3. Comeback 12 hours later and see what is in the cup. Make small adjustments and check 12 hours later.
You don't want the bubbles to be high in the column. Once the skimmer starts skimming our proteins, they (dark funk) will be pushed up the height of the column no problem.
Jeff
Jasonf08
New member
Not to be rude, but why would you adjust the water height a 1/2 inch below the water mark? the instructions claim to put the water there & i personally noticed the skimmer doesnt skim at all when the water level falls a 1/2 inch... But maybe its just my unit & it may need a vinegar bath.
In the past, Roger has mentioned that the american nano pumps are a little to powerful. This is solved by raising the skimmer above the water mark. Once the pump is broken in and a little dirty, the skimmer can be lowered. I've found that the skimmer will work fine once "dirtied" at either height, you just have to adjust the air for that height.
Roger also has said that the watermark should be taken as more of a highest level then the location is needs to be. I suppose this is where skimming is more of an art then a science comes into play.
Jeff
Roger also has said that the watermark should be taken as more of a highest level then the location is needs to be. I suppose this is where skimming is more of an art then a science comes into play.
Jeff
Jasonf08
New member
Gotcha, I partially think its my unit because i took the bottom off the other day to clear the stuck pump & i noticed the inside was all covered in tons of calcium deposits. I has a period of a kalk problem with tons of it creating sheets on my pumps before i realized what was going on. Unfortunatly with full time work & full time school, i wasnt there to notice it. Do you see any problems with running the skimmer in a vinegar/water mix to dissolve all the deposits?
Worlrey, u didnt come across bossy at all, but i went upstars and looked in the cup and saw..A yellowish tent and alil green stuff..not mutch though. BUT i do have 2 clarkiis 1 l/w blenny and a starfish and a buntch of snails and crabs.
im getting closer....................................................................i think
3fins
im getting closer....................................................................i think
3fins
Jasonf08: I've read about people soaking their skimmers in a 50% vinegar without any problems. This should take care of any buildup. Just make sure to pay extra attention to the venturi parts. The little pipe cleaner brush that tunze includes works well for cleaning these out.
3fins: I'm glad your getting closer to having the skimmer "tuned in". When you start getting closer to having it right....I have found the smallest amount you can possibly turn the dial will still make a difference.
Jeff
3fins: I'm glad your getting closer to having the skimmer "tuned in". When you start getting closer to having it right....I have found the smallest amount you can possibly turn the dial will still make a difference.
Jeff
The more you close it (less air), the drier the skimmate will be (less water).
Opening the air valve will make the skimmate have more water in it (wet skimming).
Roger usually recommends to set the Tunze skimmers to skim "wet", meaning more water will be in the skimmate. Aim for something like a light colored Tea.
I don't know of any scientific studies, but people usually say skimming wet pulls out more crud and more phosphates (even though it looks watered down). Even if skimming wet doesn't pull out much more "stuff", it will help keep the skimmer neck clean which is very important for operation.
There a no dumb questions!
Jeff
Opening the air valve will make the skimmate have more water in it (wet skimming).
Roger usually recommends to set the Tunze skimmers to skim "wet", meaning more water will be in the skimmate. Aim for something like a light colored Tea.
I don't know of any scientific studies, but people usually say skimming wet pulls out more crud and more phosphates (even though it looks watered down). Even if skimming wet doesn't pull out much more "stuff", it will help keep the skimmer neck clean which is very important for operation.
There a no dumb questions!
Jeff
When you say skimmer wet, you mean..with water in the cup?..because he told me that when u screw it in ..black junk should come out. I may be mistaken.
i just want the skimmer to pull out all that junk and do the best i can to get it that way.
thanks for spending time and helping us.
3fins
i just want the skimmer to pull out all that junk and do the best i can to get it that way.
thanks for spending time and helping us.
3fins
The skimmate being darker colored doesn't mean the skimmer is working any better or pulling more out, it just means there is less water in the skimmate. With a wetter skimmate (air valve more open) you'll get the same amount if not more of "stuff", it will just be lighter colored because it is being diluted with more water.
Sounds like the skimmer is working. If by tomorrow you're skimmate is still really lightly colored, you could close down the air just alittle.
Jeff
Sounds like the skimmer is working. If by tomorrow you're skimmate is still really lightly colored, you could close down the air just alittle.
Jeff
I am still dialing mine in now.
I raised mine up to about 1/2 inch below the line as suggested and cranked the air down about 1/4 turn and it looks like tomorrow when i come in it should be close. (crosses fingers)
I dont care what color it is green, brown, purple so long as i do not come in to another cup full off water I will be happy
I raised mine up to about 1/2 inch below the line as suggested and cranked the air down about 1/4 turn and it looks like tomorrow when i come in it should be close. (crosses fingers)
I dont care what color it is green, brown, purple so long as i do not come in to another cup full off water I will be happy
I've had one for about 4-5 months now. I really think this is more of an expectation thing. I have never been able to get the 9002 to produce dark skimmate. It's light skimmate or nothing. So to answer your question, If your getting light tea color then that's pretty much what you should expect. Mine is located in the portion of the sump that the water level remains constant, if your running in tank or in varible partition of the sump then you want to be sure your water levels stays as constant as possible such as a topoff system.
I also have two 9010s going on other tanks and the 9002 doesn't meet near the expectations I had set for it because the 9010s do such a great job.
I also have two 9010s going on other tanks and the 9002 doesn't meet near the expectations I had set for it because the 9010s do such a great job.
Glad to help!
While the 9002 might not hold a candle to the 9010 in terms of skimmate, it still does really well for its size. After much research into nano skimmers, I think the small size makes their design a challenge. For tank 30 and under, I would say there is no better skimmer then a 9002!
Jeff
While the 9002 might not hold a candle to the 9010 in terms of skimmate, it still does really well for its size. After much research into nano skimmers, I think the small size makes their design a challenge. For tank 30 and under, I would say there is no better skimmer then a 9002!
Jeff
Aquadepot
New member
As Jasonf08 mentioned I have noticed they are very sensitive to change in water level.
The 9002 seems to be far more sensitive to water level then the the larger models so constant water level via an osmolator or similar makes a big difference to consistent skimmate from my experience.
Regards
Graeme
The 9002 seems to be far more sensitive to water level then the the larger models so constant water level via an osmolator or similar makes a big difference to consistent skimmate from my experience.
Regards
Graeme
