Skimmer: Tunze 9010... How is it?

[SHOmuchFUN]

I'm curious why the Tunze 9010 doesn't get more praise as a skimmer...

1. It's tiny, footprint of under 5"x5"
2. It pulls 650 l/h of air
3. Over 300 gph throughput of water
4. Less then $400

I hear a lot about the MSX/Octo skimmers being the best bang for your buck, but what about the Tunze skimmers?

I am trying out a fellow reefer's 9010 right now on my lightly stocked 75 and it's doing a great job. The skimmate is pretty light in color, but it's foaming pretty decently. About as good, or better than my MSX160 and takes up much less room (and the MSX160 is fairly compact).

Anybody else run a 9010 or have any comments? I'm about to order one unless someone can recommend me something better with similar numbers.

 

[SHOmuchFUN]

Anybody?

 

[bristle]

Because compared to other skimmers under $400, it doesn't pull out as much skimmate.

 

[SHOmuchFUN]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13630214#post13630214 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bristle
Because compared to other skimmers under $400, it doesn't pull out as much skimmate.

Care to enlighten me?

 

[codeblued]

not impressed

not impressed

I just ordered a MSX and will be putting my Tunze up for sale. My friend with a reef tank will be doing the same. Neither of us are needing to empty the collection cup for weeks at a time........ and even then its not full. Mine once went to the Tunze dealer, and its true his customer service was great, but its still not kicking any butt.
I definitely wouldn't buy it again, and am switching it out.

 

[SHOmuchFUN]

Re: not impressed

Re: not impressed

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13630755#post13630755 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by codeblued
I just ordered a MSX and will be putting my Tunze up for sale. My friend with a reef tank will be doing the same. Neither of us are needing to empty the collection cup for weeks at a time........ and even then its not full. Mine once went to the Tunze dealer, and its true his customer service was great, but its still not kicking any butt.
I definitely wouldn't buy it again, and am switching it out.

If you couldn't get a TUNZE to get skimmate for you, I expect your MSX to last about as long as your Tunze did. JMO.

 

[Husky_1]

SHO,
I feel like Code does, but have nothing to back it up, I would love to test a "better" skimmer in my tank, to see if there are any differences.

FWIW, it seems like my skimmer has to be emptied 2x per day for the first week after cleaning, but then only produces about 300ml day of medium green tea-ish skimmate.

 

[dkh0331]

Re: Re: not impressed

Re: Re: not impressed

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13630988#post13630988 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SHOmuchFUN
If you couldn't get a TUNZE to get skimmate for you, I expect your MSX to last about as long as your Tunze did. JMO.

I got hardly any skimmate from my 9010, but when I pulled it out and put in the H&S, I started getting cups of skimmate.

 

[Jonathan76]

Maybe you had an issue with your 9010 then. Mine absolutely rocked, and I added the foam extractor. What I liked about the 9010 is the versatility. You can set it up in-tank in plankton-safe mode by closing the grate on the front - essentially, it just recircs. Interestingly, I got more more skimmate of a different color this way??? SKimmate went from green to more brown with the gate closed.

If I were you - I'd try to buy it used on the seller forum.

I read about a guy who mesh-modded his 9010.

IMO, you buy a Tunze for the hydrofoamer pump.

Jon

 

[SHOmuchFUN]

I just bought one used for $200 in the selling forums... I figure if it doesn't hold up, I can't lose much on the deal.

 

[nckayaker]

I have a 9002 on a 10gal. and bought a used 9010 for a 100 gallon system I'm setting up. If the 9010 does half as well as my 9002 I'll be happy. If I were to buy a new skimmer I would definitely pic up a DAS or Octopus extreme because of the price, but I love the simplicity, ease of use, and small footprint of the 9010. its nice not having to fiddle with a skimmer constantly. the mesh mod sounds interesting. I'm no expert, but it seems that everyone does things differently and therefore different skimmers work for different hobbyists. lots of variables in this hobby