Have a new Tunze 9010 Skimmer setup and it makes a pop/click noise. Water level is at the blue line on the skimmer. Is this normal? When I stop the air flow in, it goes away. Also, is there a way to pipe outside air into one of these skimmers. Otherwise, the skimmer appears to work fine.
Tunze 9010 Skimmer Pop/Click Noise
- Thread starter Meitzler
- Start date
It sounds like it is submerged too deep and water is getting into the air intake system. If you are using the sump kit you can disregard the water line, as long as 4" are submerged it should work. If you are using it in tank, run the water line 1/2" below the marked line, US pumps are stronger and that is why this is necessary.
kfick
New member
My 9015 has always made the same noise. I run the sump outlet pipe with the foam 1/4" below the top, I even made a shorter pipe but same thing. The skimmer runs great, its just a bit annoying not to know what the noise is so I must tinker with it. Sure does sound like water getting sucked into the air line somewhere.
I took off the colection cup and dried around where the inlet is and put a piece of scotch tape over it and then removed the blue screw to let air in from the other side. Same noise. I remember vacuum checking the silencer (with my mouth) last time it was apart so I dont think that is it. My guess would have to be on the silencer-to-venturi hose.
Could turbulance from the flow by the venturi cause the noise if it backwashes a little into the venturi?
I took off the colection cup and dried around where the inlet is and put a piece of scotch tape over it and then removed the blue screw to let air in from the other side. Same noise. I remember vacuum checking the silencer (with my mouth) last time it was apart so I dont think that is it. My guess would have to be on the silencer-to-venturi hose.
Could turbulance from the flow by the venturi cause the noise if it backwashes a little into the venturi?
Hi:
My 9010 has a tight fit with almost no clearance. So if I need to raise it a 1/2", does that mean I need to get a smaller cup like the one off the 9005. I sure wish your literature stated that, since I read the directions prior to purchase when it said the level need to be at the blue wavy line. At the blue wavy line it fits. 1/2" below it does not. Will the 9005 cup work?
If you have more detailed instructions, feel free to email me at
meitzler@verizon.net
My 9010 has a tight fit with almost no clearance. So if I need to raise it a 1/2", does that mean I need to get a smaller cup like the one off the 9005. I sure wish your literature stated that, since I read the directions prior to purchase when it said the level need to be at the blue wavy line. At the blue wavy line it fits. 1/2" below it does not. Will the 9005 cup work?
If you have more detailed instructions, feel free to email me at
meitzler@verizon.net
So you are using it in tank? Why does it not fit? Is there a brace overhead? There should be a way to make it work. A photo would be a big help.
I am assuming that the noise people are posting about is a coffee maker type percolating noise. This noise would only be audible from the upper portion of the air system so it would definitely not relate to the venturi connection. Could you clarify if this is this type of noise or a mechanical click from the pump?
I am assuming that the noise people are posting about is a coffee maker type percolating noise. This noise would only be audible from the upper portion of the air system so it would definitely not relate to the venturi connection. Could you clarify if this is this type of noise or a mechanical click from the pump?
kfick
New member
Yes, it is definately a percolating noise. The type of noise you'd hear if you ran a few drops through it.
Mine is just sitting in the sump in about 8.5 inches of water, I do have quite a bit of water flowing out of the pipe, I would describe is as more that a trickle which is what I hear other skimmeres reffered to. I checked yesterday to make sure the silencer-to-body-top hose is seated all the way and it was.
Its definately sucking in water and builds up some salt deposit somewhere in the air passages. When I cleaned it last time, it skimmed like a beast compared to before the cleaning. I have the air throttled down like 4 turns from full out I think.
Mine is just sitting in the sump in about 8.5 inches of water, I do have quite a bit of water flowing out of the pipe, I would describe is as more that a trickle which is what I hear other skimmeres reffered to. I checked yesterday to make sure the silencer-to-body-top hose is seated all the way and it was.
Its definately sucking in water and builds up some salt deposit somewhere in the air passages. When I cleaned it last time, it skimmed like a beast compared to before the cleaning. I have the air throttled down like 4 turns from full out I think.
I would suspect one of two causes, the sponge is above the pipe, even just slightly. Or the elbow is in too far. The elbow should stop flush with the hole in the front plate if you look from the back. Sometimes this molded stop wears out or breaks if the pipe is pushed too hard.
kfick
New member
I have the pipe elbow in only a millameter or two into the skimmer base, it fits really snug, so I don't have to push it in far. I have the sponge about 1/4" below the top of the output pipe. I don't think the problem is the water level is too high, because when I put a piece of tape on the cup side of the air inlet and take the blue screw out, I still hear the same noise. Of course it is a bit louder with the blue screw out. The tape seals well enough that when I plug the blue screw side with my finger, almost zero bubbles are present.
The little door over the intake is fully open too. I forgot to mention I'm running the foam extractor and not a cup, but I don't think that would make much of a difference.
The little door over the intake is fully open too. I forgot to mention I'm running the foam extractor and not a cup, but I don't think that would make much of a difference.
kfick
New member
The skimmer does work fine, I just think I'll need to take it apart every 4 months or so to clean all of the air passages to keep the airflow up. I did take off the top plate off the last time I cleaned it, to see if the airline was the problem. I made sure the line from the silencer to the plate was all the way on flush with the plate. I think I'll try new airline the next time it is apart.
I do still get a bunch of microbubbles from the skimmer. I don't add dechlor to my water or any addatives of any sort. I use Instant Ocean salt topped of with some extra MgCl and CaCl, but thats it.
The sponge doesn't really help with the bubbles, once it gets bubbles trapped in the sponge, the water just flows over it. I do get quite a bit of flow out of the pipe, more than what I would consider a trickle.
I still love the skimmer though, it has brought my nitrates down to be undetectible by test kit!:rollface:
I do still get a bunch of microbubbles from the skimmer. I don't add dechlor to my water or any addatives of any sort. I use Instant Ocean salt topped of with some extra MgCl and CaCl, but thats it.
The sponge doesn't really help with the bubbles, once it gets bubbles trapped in the sponge, the water just flows over it. I do get quite a bit of flow out of the pipe, more than what I would consider a trickle.
I still love the skimmer though, it has brought my nitrates down to be undetectible by test kit!:rollface:
You know what you could try, you had mentioned a vacuum test. If you have a hand vacuum pump you could cap the line to the venturi screw and pull a small vacuum from the end that attaches to the skimmer pump, maybe 5mm/hg and see if it holds. I would keep a weak vacuum as it may damage the silencer or caps if it was too strong.
kfick
New member
So I finally took the skimmer apart and did a few tests. I used a vacuum pump and applied 5 inches to the venturi hose and plugged the blue screw hole and the air inlet with my finger and it held fine. I figured you meant 5", 5mm is hardly anything, I can make 5" with my mouth. No parts were hurt 
Anyways, it held vacuum just fine and didn't budge for a few minutes. So that shoots my theory.
I then put in a shorter pipe with the thin-wall PVC. You can see from the photos its almost 1/2" lower than the water line. The black one that came with the skimmer was right at the water line. You can also see that the water boils over the top of the pipe about 3/8 of an inch. Now there is no gurgling coming from the skimmer.
Do you think the pump is too strong? That's quite a bit of water coming out, more than a 'trickle'. I also get a bunch of micro bubbles, and have since day one. You can see them stuck in the blue sponge. In fact, after cleaning the blue sponge, it fills with air in an hour or two and the water basically flows over it and not through it.
The skimmer has been running about 10 months. You sent me the smaller 60hz impeller and that made better skimmate, but no help on the bubbles. I was thinking of triming down the 50hz impeller I got with the skimmer to see if that helps. I have the blue screw about 2.5-3 turns out from all the way in and am running the foam extractor. It skims very well, but 3 turns sounds like a 9010 cup setting. So I'm thinking less water, more venturi.
Sorry about the blue light, it keeps alage down in my sump
The poor venturi was all salted up from sucking in water:
Anyways, it held vacuum just fine and didn't budge for a few minutes. So that shoots my theory.I then put in a shorter pipe with the thin-wall PVC. You can see from the photos its almost 1/2" lower than the water line. The black one that came with the skimmer was right at the water line. You can also see that the water boils over the top of the pipe about 3/8 of an inch. Now there is no gurgling coming from the skimmer.
Do you think the pump is too strong? That's quite a bit of water coming out, more than a 'trickle'. I also get a bunch of micro bubbles, and have since day one. You can see them stuck in the blue sponge. In fact, after cleaning the blue sponge, it fills with air in an hour or two and the water basically flows over it and not through it.
The skimmer has been running about 10 months. You sent me the smaller 60hz impeller and that made better skimmate, but no help on the bubbles. I was thinking of triming down the 50hz impeller I got with the skimmer to see if that helps. I have the blue screw about 2.5-3 turns out from all the way in and am running the foam extractor. It skims very well, but 3 turns sounds like a 9010 cup setting. So I'm thinking less water, more venturi.
Sorry about the blue light, it keeps alage down in my sump
The poor venturi was all salted up from sucking in water:
kfick
New member
Yeah, but isn't the higher water flow going to push the bubbles out of the body? I was thinking if I cut back the flow of the pump (impeller), I could just open the blue screw all the way to get the same amount of air flow. Doesn't 3 turns seem a bit low for the extractor?
Thanks again for the help and reply!
Thanks again for the help and reply!
Yes, but honestly that would lead me to believe it is an issue with surface tension and not the skimmer construction. The problem will be that when you stop using whatever is causing this change in surface tension that is basically resulting in a foam over you will get no skimming at all after you make the modification. I would suspect you are using an additive or possibly a type of filter media that is allowing the bubbles to carry much further than they normally would.
Similar threads
