Tunze 9010 Skimmer Problem

[Patow]

So I've had this skimmer for about a month now, and I've already had to replace the pump twice. The interior of the pump is not well crafted, and large welts formed on both occassions. Luckily Tunze/my LFS have been very good at replacing the pump promptly.

However, with the most recent pump I received, I cannot for the life of me get this thing to skim with any kind of efficiency. I've adjusted the blue air valve at nausium, and it isn't making any difference. The water level in the chamber will not go any higher than the top of the black casing. I can't get the water level to go into the clear plastic sleeve leading to the collection cup. The instructions tell me that the water level should be half way up the clear plastic sleeve leading to the collection cup. This skimmer has been running for a week now, and I've collected under 100ml, which is not right. All I'm getting is a really heavy foam forming in the chamber.

Any suggestions on what could be wrong? I'm using the skimmer in standing mode in my sump with the black tube and blue filter attached to the skimmer. There doesn't appear to be as much water flow out of the black tube as their was previously.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Dave

 

[Melbourne]

A few things to check.

1 - make sure the bottom (the part with the suction cups) is fully seated and not letting large amounts of water to leak out.

2 - make sure the riser pipe and the little plastic rectangle it plugs into are fully seated with the skimmer body.

Another thing you can do although you shouldn't have to is build a simple gate or ball valve so that you can run your 9010 with adjustable water height in the skimmer body.

PVC elbow -> a short section of PVC -> PVC T on its side. Top of T takes a length of PVC tubing higher than the blue line on the skimmer body, side of T takes a gate or ball valve.

So between the adjustable valve and the blue air valve screw you will have fine control over your Tunze DOC skimmer.

Picture of bubble column

 

[honda2sk]

does the riser pipe get pushed in all the way so the end touches the inside plastic? or just pushed in a little?

 

[rvitko]

The bottom plate is the usual culprit, if it is loose or backwards the water flow will escape through the bottom. The beveled side should face forward and you must use the solid plate without the slits in it. It should be all the way on. Adjust it so the air screw is opened 3-4 full turns, ignore the instuctions in this regard, we changed it in the last reprint as it was too confusing to people not familiar with our skimmers. After a few days, adjust the screw in 1/4 turn increments based on the skimmate collected, too dark, open it, too light, close it. I apologize for the defective pumps, we have changed the pumps so this problem will not recur it was a combination of a material defect and molding problem.

 

[honda2sk]

so how about the riser pipe? pushed in all the way so the opening is touching the plastic on the inside or only half way pushed in?

"the beveled side should face forward" what does this mean? you have a picture please? i hope my problem is this but i dont understand what you mean by this

 

[rvitko]

You don't want to push the pipe in too far or you will cut off the flow.

The bottom plate has three flat cut sides and one with a bevel or angled cut. This beveled edge needs to face the front.

 

[Patow]

Roger,

Thanks for the advice. I checked all of the components on the skimmer, and everything is seated as it should be (as far as I can tell). The bottom is on as it should be with the beveled edge facing forward.

I just fired it up again, and the water level is exactly where is was before (running right at the top of the black sleeve, but not entering the clear sleeve on the collection cup). I'll give is a day or two to adjust, and see if there is improvement.

When I first got the unit, I was pulling at least 150ml/day. With the new pump, I'm pulling 150ml/week, so hopefully this will improve. If not, I'm going to return this unit to my LFS and ask for a replacement. Maybe my LFS just got a shipment of bad units.

The only other difference that is notable to me is that this new pump does not fit as snugly into the skimmer as the previous pump. It seems to sit fine, but it is really easy to remove. Before, I had to pull pretty hard to get the pump out.

Dave

 

[rvitko]

Dave,

I am sending a PM

 

[pezcubano]

Hello,
I don't want to hijack but I'm having EXACTLY the same problem as Patow. I've followed all of Roger's suggestions and I've read as many threads as possible on the problem. Im a few days into this skimmer (9010) Please help...