Tunze 9010 + Ozone = problems...

[Amin]

Hi all,

I have a Tunze 9010 Skimmer, I've added a Sander C25 Ozone unit into the mix.
I have a Sonic 9908 Air pump, capable of 480l/ph.

When I connect the Ozone feed (Airpump into Ozone, Ozone outlet to Tunze Skimmer) into the Skimmer it starts making noises as if the Skimmers airflow is staved...And it certainly is...

The skimmer no longer makes foam...I'f i set the airpump to max then it starts creating some foam...

I've adjusted the skimmer nipple to try and fix the issue, but even with the nipple removed and the air pump at maximum setting its still under performing...At such settings only 1/5 of the cup is filled with bubbles and nothing is captured in the cup...

Am I doing something wrong?

 

[rvitko]

First, keep in mind, ozone oxidizes the same compounds a skimmer is trying to remove, oxidizing means essentially you burned them up without the presence of fire, just by chemical reaction, so there is very little left to remove and may only collect a colorless liquid.

Second, the airflow is way too high, you want a very small air pump something in the range of 50-100l/hr. The skimmer pump only takes in 650 l/hr and that is with air adjustment completely open, in general use for a darker skimmate you take in about 350-400l/hr and the ozone generator will work better with a lower flow through rate.

I would be sure the large air nipple on the skimmer is completely unobstructed, inject the ozone into the small nipple at the rate of 50-100l/hr. This will give the skimmer 50-100l/hr of ozone enriched air and it will take in the remaining air from the large nipple as needed. With an airflow rate that excedes what the pump takes in, ozonated air is just blowing out the large nipple and possibly pressurizing the skimmer and defeating its operation.

Be sure the skimmer is level as well, it maybe that a nipple is obstructed because the skimmer is at an angle and water is blocking it.

For only the clarifying effect of ozone you want to add 1-2mg/hr for every 100l of water in the aquarium, it is a very low dose and at this dose you should still get some colored skimmate, but it will be lighter.

 

[Amin]

Hi Roger,

As always thank you for assisting.

The Airpump is fortunately adjustable...WHen set on low I can hear odd noises as if the skimmer is starved of air...

Starvation problem kicks in the second I plug the airtube into the Ozone feed.

Ill have a play around and see if I can 'fix' this...

 

[Amin]

Well its started skimmng again...
But its still making noises....

A fellow reefer has suggested to use a T piece and hook it up internally and that should cure my problems...

 

[rvitko]

But without the ozone attached you get no noise? Are you sure that that larger nipple in the other corner under the cup is not being blocked?

 

[Amin]

Just checked, no blockages.

Although when I bought the skimmer i noticed it has some plumbers tape on the blue screw...I removed it...

Now that I've added the Ozone and the dedicated feed is restricted, could air be seeping in through the blue screw thus making it noisy?

Just a thought...

 

[rvitko]

It could, but this should happen regardless of whether the ozone is connected. I would check the following. The air connection is like a T, there is a screw for air adjustment, this covers a nipple that extends down in the chamber under the cup and the air comes in through a hole in the side wall inside under the cup. It may be that the nipple in the underside is disconnected from the airline and if that is so, the pressure created by pumping air in, may be just enough to push water into the air intake. The top plate is removable (though tricky and not a fun part to reinstall, it clicks in a very specific way with 5 locking tabs) and the teflon tape is not stock, it may be that the original user had a constant high airflow due to this disconnected hose (no air adjustment and always full open) and tried the tape to seal the screw which doesn't work because the air adjustment is not even connected.