Tunze Nano Skimmer problems

[sweevo]

Hi,

I've had my Nano Skimmer for just over six months now and I just can't seem to get any consistency of performance out of it.

Performance seems to swing from one extreme to the other within approx 60 degrees of adjustments (have tired lots) on the air intake.

Typically, I'll get around 60ml of skimmate the first two or three days and then unless I clean the neck of the collection cup I get practically nothing again. Cleaning the neck can sometimes mean I then get nothing for a day or so afterwards too. Sometimes the unit just stops skimming for a day or so even when nothing has been added or removed from the tank. I'll check on it over breakfast some days and it's just not skimming at all. I also recently went away for two weeks and I still only got just over 100ml when the cup had around a quarter of this amount in it before I left.

I actually thought i'd finally got the hang of it this weekend. I'd increase the air intake a few days ago and drew out nearly 100ml in the space of 3 days. Then in the space of 30 minutes last night the unit went berserk and promptly filled the cup in less than 30 minutes . I emptied the cup, decreased the air closer to my old settings but it still was going mental when I went to bed shortly after. I then got up this morning and the cup was almost full again!

I bought this unit of the strength of Tunze's reputation and some favourable reviews but I'm just about ready for replacing it with something else as i'm fed up of incosistent performance no matter how much I do or don't tweak it.

Could you explain how this unit actually works and think of anything that could cause such erratic behaviour?

Many thanks

 

[Taqpol]

I am having this EXACT same problem with my 9002 and was just about to make a seperate thread about it. Hopefully a Tunze representative can kill two birds with one stone and answer both of our questions.

I am pretty sure there is nothing wrong with my venturi, as I do get a nice amount of bubbles and just as the OP mentioned if I adjust my air valve just a slight amount I can fill the entire collection cup in less than one hour...

 

[rvitko]

The water level needs to remain as constant as possible. Ideally it is 1/2" below the marked line and should not deviate more than 1/2" + or - so the marked line is essentially the maximum. The key to adjusting the skimmer is to give any adjustment time. Open the venturi screw 3 turns, wait one full day, open or close the screw in 1/4 turn increments every 24hrs , close it if you collect watery skimmate open it f you collect no or thick skimmate. Where most people go wrong is on the water level and by constantly fiddling with the screw, it takes time for the results of an adjustment to show.

 

[sweevo]

Thanks for the info. I've got a Tunze Osmolator installed so my water level is very stable. Unfortunately I can't raise the skimmer much, the best I can manage is that the marked line is no more than 2-3 millimeters above the water level. This is due to the rim around the top of my tank preventing the magnetic holder going much above the water level. I'll give it a try anyway as every little helps I guess.

I've just checked the manual that came with the unit just to make sure I hadn't misread it all those months ago and it turns out I haven't. If what you say makes a big difference to performance then I think Tunze need to get the instructions improved/altered.

Thanks again

 

[rvitko]

Yes, I am working on the manuals a little everyday, there are dozens of manuals so it will take me a while to get to all of them but they will be improved.