Looking for help from roger on my 9004 skimmer

jamesbog283 · Oct 1, 2016

Hello roger I hope you see this I've been told you're the man to ask.
I bought a 9004 skimmer on Thursday afternoon. I've installed as per the instructions I believe. However the cup on top fills only with water? Then the bubbles push the cap off and flow back into my tank. I have the screw almost entirely closed otherwise it fills up in about 45 seconds.

I have had people tell me to raise the skimmer or close the air screw even more but regardless I seem to get the same results. Can you or anyone give me some advice on how to fix this? Or have I got a defective unit?

jamesbog283 · Oct 1, 2016

These are the bubbles I'm getting, they're coming from the side seam on the front panel

saltyfilmfolks · Oct 1, 2016

I let my skimmer run a few days w no cup, to "break in."

jamesbog283 · Oct 1, 2016

saltyfilmfolks said:
I let my skimmer run a few days w no cup, to "break in."

Interesting I haven't heard that yet but it makes sense. I think that one little piece that was sitting in the box made a big difference. It must have fallen out in shipping. It looks like nothing but operates completely different with it. I still can't open the screw completely yet but at least its skimming that makes me smile.

saltyfilmfolks · Oct 1, 2016

jamesbog283 said:
Interesting I haven't heard that yet but it makes sense. I think that one little piece that was sitting in the box made a big difference. It must have fallen out in shipping. It looks like nothing but operates completely different with it. I still can't open the screw completely yet but at least its skimming that makes me smile.

sweet!
Part of the break in is actually everything being coated in bacteria

what piece was it.

jamesbog283 · Oct 2, 2016

saltyfilmfolks said:
sweet!
Part of the break in is actually everything being coated in bacteria

what piece was it.

I'm not even sure...it was a small rectangular piece that says tunze and fills a small spot under the impeller. With that said....when I woke up this morning it's acting up again. Micro bubbles are back (not as bad as they were and I had to close the air screw almost all the way closed again. This is by far the most frustrating thing I have purchased yet. But as @squarerigeersailor mentioned it could be the colony making it act up so I'll hold off on adding that for a few days and see if things get better.

Midrats · Oct 2, 2016

Roger should chime in tomorrow. He typically only responds during the week.

jamesbog283 · Oct 2, 2016

squareriggersailor said:
Roger should chime in tomorrow. He typically only responds during the week.

I hope so cause I'm getting a little frustrated but I guess thats part of the game...lol

saltyfilmfolks · Oct 2, 2016

jamesbog283 said:
I hope so cause I'm getting a little frustrated but I guess thats part of the game...lol

lol.

Marc.The.Shark · Oct 2, 2016

It took my 9001 two weeks to beak in

jamesbog283 · Oct 2, 2016

Marc.The.Shark said:
It took my 9001 two weeks to beak in

Albiet i'm not really a patient guy but that is reassuring

tj w · Oct 2, 2016

I'm with you man, just hooked up a new skimmer and biopellet reactor on my 300g today as well. It usually takes a few days up to a few weeks for them to break in.

rvitko · Oct 3, 2016

It is submerged way to deep, raise it so only 1/3rd to 1/2 of the front intake is under water. You want to run the air as open as possible, work with depth first. If you close the air, the water flow increases and many micro bubbles will be ejected. I would unplug it, open the air all the way, raise it up, plug it in and close the air as little as possible. Any surfactant media or additive can also cause this reaction (most anything organic, stress coat, dechlorinator, amino/vitamin supplements, non phenol free floss, organic exchange resins, bio pellets, carbon dosing). Stop using these until the reaction subsides then resume with a half dose.

jamesbog283 · Oct 3, 2016

rvitko said:
It is submerged way to deep, raise it so only 1/3rd to 1/2 of the front intake is under water. You want to run the air as open as possible, work with depth first. If you close the air, the water flow increases and many micro bubbles will be ejected. I would unplug it, open the air all the way, raise it up, plug it in and close the air as little as possible. Any surfactant media or additive can also cause this reaction (most anything organic, stress coat, dechlorinator, amino/vitamin supplements, non phenol free floss, organic exchange resins, bio pellets, carbon dosing). Stop using these until the reaction subsides then resume with a half dose.

I have tried all sorts of depths and screw adjustments. I will try again tonight agfter work currently it is barely submerged and the screw almost completely closed, and still fills the cup in almost 3 minutes if I open the air up. Is it possible it is still breaking in? Its been in the tank for about 4 days now.

rvitko · Oct 3, 2016

Are you sure no organics/surfactants have been used which are causing a surface tension change and resulting foam overs? If so, it will take a week for this affect to subside after use is stopped. Break in will not cause what you describe, it takes 2 weeks to fully break in, but the worst of break in is wetter skimming and some micro bubbles escaping. The cup filling with water if not depth related is likely related to a surfactant.

jamesbog283 · Oct 3, 2016

rvitko said:
Are you sure no organics/surfactants have been used which are causing a surface tension change and resulting foam overs? If so, it will take a week for this affect to subside after use is stopped. Break in will not cause what you describe, it takes 2 weeks to fully break in, but the worst of break in is wetter skimming and some micro bubbles escaping. The cup filling with water if not depth related is likely related to a surfactant.

I was using colony however @squareriggersailor mentioned that was not a good thing. Last dose was on Thursday but it doesn't seem to be getting any better. I guess a few more days will tell the tale?

rvitko · Oct 3, 2016

I am not familiar with that product, can you post a link to it?

jamesbog283 · Oct 3, 2016

rvitko said:
I am not familiar with that product, can you post a link to it?

I will see if I can find one. Its a bottled bacteria additive.

Here is a link
http://acrylictankmanufacturing.com/products/water-treatment/biologicals/colony-nitrifying-bacteria/

rvitko · Oct 3, 2016

It is hard to say, the bacteria alone, no, but any colloid or food for the bacteria could be a cause. I can not think of any possible technical cause if the depth is correct and air is not overly restricted so I have to believe it is a substance in the water. Best if possible would be to verify it on another tank that is more established and has a skimmer running well on it, this same effect would happen to any skimmer, but is less pronounced on larger skimmers.

jamesbog283 · Oct 3, 2016

rvitko said:
It is hard to say, the bacteria alone, no, but any colloid or food for the bacteria could be a cause. I can not think of any possible technical cause if the depth is correct and air is not overly restricted so I have to believe it is a substance in the water. Best if possible would be to verify it on another tank that is more established and has a skimmer running well on it, this same effect would happen to any skimmer, but is less pronounced on larger skimmers.

I will take back into the lfs where I bought it and see if they can help.