Struggling to set up my new 9010 skimmer....

[pjr]

... got it tonite and can't get it going. Help! I'm trying to set it up for in-sump use. Issues:

1. Getting no air bubbles at all.

2. There is a round hole on the back of the skimmer body about an inch or so from the top.... water streaming out from it. Is this hole normal?

3. Kitty-corner to the air adjustment screw on top there are two nozzles. What are they for? should thye be plugged?

Any comments welcome.... help!

 

[rvitko]

1) Sounds like the venturi hose isn't connected to the pump, often they aren't shipped connected to minimize the risk of the pieces breaking.

2) That is normal, but their should be no noise, if their is noise the skimmer has something hooked up wrong as the water is backing up to high and gurgling in the venturi.

3)The big one is the air intake and should be left alone the small one is an ozone injection attachment.

 

[pjr]

Thanks for the response Roger. The venturi hose appears to be connect, but it's hard to really see inside. Is there a safe way to check this?

 

[rvitko]

Take the pump out and check that the hose is completely inserted in the venturi.

 

[pjr]

Found the problem... the pump outlet is cracked off just before it gets to the airhose connection. damn! Any advice on how I should proceed?

 

[pjr]

P.S. that would be part 0235.130 Impeller housing....

 

[pjr]

P.P.S. Gonna try some SuperGlue...

 

[rvitko]

Go ahead and superglue it for now and I'll send you one out, their is a seam their where two parts are glued together. Can you PM me an address?

 

[pjr]

Thanks... the glue has me running I think. I have bubbles, but the water level is only about 1/2 way up the skimmer body....

P.S. and it's real LOUD! I'm sure it's air seeping through the glue seam.

 

[rvitko]

It shouldn't be loud and the water level has me thinking it isn't assembled right. For in sump use you MUST use the suction cup footing, the other base has slots and will not work. It has to be fully seated. You have to have the coupler installed between the pump and the intake grate which has to be completely open.

 

[pjr]

I have all those parts installed. And I turned it on today and it's quiet! Go figure... not sure why the intermittant issue. I'll chalk it up to the cracked part for now.

The water level is still about only halfway up the skimmer body... is that normal?

 

[rvitko]

No, if it isn't full something is wrong, double check those parts, if that bottom door is just open a hair it won't work, if that coupler didn't sit right, it won't work. It has to be resting on the suction cup feet, no holder should be used, in general this problem is the bottom door is not completely shut.

 

[pjr]

[sheepish mode on]

The bottom cover wasn't tight. Water level is up....

[sheepish mode off]

Thanks! And I'll keep my eyes out for that impeller housing!

 

[pjr]

Been running just under 24 hours... got a nice foamy cup of skimmate. Yummy!

 

[pjr]

Thought I'd post an update. On Feb 25 I installed the new impeller housing to replace the original that was broken in shipment. The skimmer is performing well. The bottom cover is fussy about being secured tightly.... which as I've learned prevents the skimmer from reaching the correct water level in the skimmer body. I've removed the suction cups, as they seemed to be the root cause of it becoming loose.

Right now I'm getting about 100 to 125 ml of deep dark green output per day. The performance is very consistent too. No overfoaming or underperformance. The skimmer is nice and quiet too... a great benefit!

I do wonder if the output is too wet. It is deep green liquid, which makes me think it is OK. I have the venturi screw about 80% to 90% open. Is that normal?

 

[Melbourne]

Hi,

That sounds about right - I haven't been able to get really dark gunk out of my 9010 but I'm wet skimming on purpose. I'm running with a foam extractor and 100 % open.

-Mike

 

[pjr]

Thx for the info. My gunk is dark.... but I guess i'm not too wet after all. THX!!