Tunze 9010 Skimmer Question

[messina06]

I have a Tunze 9010 skimmer for my 90g which i recently replaced the pump in. The water flow through the return seems fine but the bubbles dont seem to stay up in the tube. I have 8 fish now and the tank has been up and running for 10 years now. If i clean out the collection cup and look at it maybe 2 days later, i will notice bubbles in the tube. I may go back and look at it the next day and they have slid back down and hardly anything in the collection cup, just some residue on the sides.

Is this normal? I have adjusted the air knob to allow more air but doesnt seem to change the net effect. Maybe this is normal as my tank doesnt have much waste with only 8 small fish? not sure but looking for some insight from Roger. Should i take it out and try to clean out the insides?

thanks in advance. You are very helpful on this forum.

 

[rvitko]

Thanks!

I would do the following, make sure the pump is installed so the output is inside the clear tube in the skimmer body.

It would be worth cleaning the entire skimmer if you see any debris inside.

I would check the silencer for leaks in the following manner, strip the skimmer down to the body only, remove the blue screw, put a finger over the screw opening and the hole immediately behind it and blow into the hose that attached to the pump, it must hold pressure, if it leaks or you hear any whistle the silencer is damaged and this is allowing water to be sucked in and reducing the air volume drawn in.

 

[messina06]

Thank Roger.
I will be sure to check this out over the weekend.

One other question: cold this possibly occur because I have not been using a filter sock over the last month or so? Maybe particles are causing the bubbles to slide back down the collection tube?

 

[rvitko]

High levels of particulate can disrupt skimming, especially if they cake up in the cup, another factor maybe that the flow rate by the skimmer is higher and more turbulent since the sock was removed.

 

[messina06]

Thanks!

I would do the following, make sure the pump is installed so the output is inside the clear tube in the skimmer body.

It would be worth cleaning the entire skimmer if you see any debris inside.

I would check the silencer for leaks in the following manner, strip the skimmer down to the body only, remove the blue screw, put a finger over the screw opening and the hole immediately behind it and blow into the hose that attached to the pump, it must hold pressure, if it leaks or you hear any whistle the silencer is damaged and this is allowing water to be sucked in and reducing the air volume drawn in.

Roger, it seems to have been the silencer. I took it apart and it leered like there was actually a gap between the connection. I pushed it back in and when I blew back into the tube, there was no more whistling :beer:

Hopefully that stays. Already have bubbles collecting in the cup :celeb1: thanks for the advice!!!

 

[rvitko]

Good news!

 

[messina06]

Ugh, so i thought it was working properly, but now noticed that there is not water exiting the plastic pipe. What would cause this? it worked before i clicked the silener into what i thought was the correct position as there was no preasure realesed when i unscrewed the blue screw and blew out the tube.

 

[rvitko]

The main cause of no water exiting the pipe will be that the bottom plate of the skimmer is not on all the way. Just push the bottom plate in all the way, this will likely solve it.

 

[messina06]

Bingo! Thanks again and appreciate your quick response.

 

[thewire]

i have the same problem too..i took the thing apart..and broke something lol..anyway, the bubble were half way up in the cup but went back to a few hours later..what's up?

 

[rvitko]

If water is exiting the pipe it could be as simple as some stirred up sand or a water change or oils from your skin disturbing the foam production for a couple days. How long has it been running without producing skimmate since it was cleaned?

 

[thewire]

If water is exiting the pipe it could be as simple as some stirred up sand or a water change or oils from your skin disturbing the foam production for a couple days. How long has it been running without producing skimmate since it was cleaned?

don't know for a while. Every now and then I can smell the slightly ditty water, however all gunk stuck at the neck.

 

[rvitko]

Have you tried just cleaning the inside thoroughly, any sediment in the body can impede the performance? I would take it apart clean everything you can see, then reassemble it with the blue screw removed and submerge it in an old salt bucket so the entire skimmer is submerged in 1 part vinegar and 4 parts water, it is important the whole thing is under water, then plug it in and let the skimmer run for 4-8 hours to get all the salt and mineral build up out of the air passages.

 

[thewire]

Have you tried just cleaning the inside thoroughly, any sediment in the body can impede the performance? I would take it apart clean everything you can see, then reassemble it with the blue screw removed and submerge it in an old salt bucket so the entire skimmer is submerged in 1 part vinegar and 4 parts water, it is important the whole thing is under water, then plug it in and let the skimmer run for 4-8 hours to get all the salt and mineral build up out of the air passages.

Thanks, I will give it a a try. Do I only submerge the skimmer (without the cup? right?

 

[rvitko]

Correct.