Tunze 9002 - still not skimming..

[Nano]

So my skimmer has been on the fritz for months now, probably causing or adding to some of the problems in my tank. I recently discovered the power cord was cracked causing it to stop and start etc. So I replaced the motor yesterday.

While I know it can take a bit for it to start producing, it doesn't look right. It's producing the fine bubbles typical of the 9002, but they arent even reaching an inch into the neck.. even after 24 hours it should start to bubble a bit higher, but hasn't. I'm not sure what's wrong at this point, I have disassembled it yesterday, clean the clear elbow that attaches the airline to the venturi pump, but it seems like the bubbles are bursting before the collection cup. I'm not sure if the motor is sitting to high, the skimmer is at the right depth, but nothing is happening.

Anyone with tunzes or experience with them your help is appreciated.
I need to get this thing back on line asap.

Thanks

[tim the toolman]

I'm sure you have already tried adjusting the air valve?
Also in reading p on these guys I have seen a couple posts regarding issues with the air adjustment and they have been modded to be more effective.
http://www.3reef.com/forums/protein-skimmers/tunze-9002-skimmer-review-94606.html

[Nano]

Yea mines been modified as well, it worked great til the motor crapped out, now I've just been losing hair over it. Lol

[tim the toolman]

Well the only other thing I can think is that you may need to change the water line a bit to get the bubbles climbing to the necessary height. Then again I know sometimes my skimmer will go days without producing any skim mate even though most of the time it runs extremely efficient.

[Nano]

Are you running the 9002?

I've always found mine worked well at the specified height til now.

[jtbadco]

I had some issues with my Tunze as well after about 6 mnths. I had to take the whole thing apart and clean out the airline and the connecting elbow as well as the motor and impeller really well. After that it worked fine again.

[tim the toolman]

No. Sorry to be misleading if I was. I am just in the process of setting up a small cube and have been reading the Internet in its entirety on different options.
I am running a reef octopus on my current system.

[Nano]

Yeah i just did that 2 weeks ago, when I put the new pump in last night i inspected it, and its still clean

[Nano]

heres a video showing what its doing.. er.. rather not doing
you can see the bubbles not even reaching to the bottom of the cup (which is a bit dirty on the inside, but the neck is clean)
usually after cleaning the skimmer, its working or at least starting to within a few hours. so again, the neck of the skimmer is clean, the cup is dirty on the inside though. I doubt that would be the cause. I have opened up the air a bit more since filming this, so we'll see if it helps.

http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/thehobdenmarina/th_VIDEO0074-2.jpg (http://s1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/thehobdenmarina/?action=view&current=VIDEO0074-2.mp4)

[Nano]

Any ideas?
Since opening the airline a bit the bubbles are just below the cup and look a bit finer. But I don't know if with a new motor I'm going to see an extended break in period or if something isnt right?
Again any help is appreciated..

[windcoast reefs]

I would say the pump isn't broken it. I would wait a bit and see what happens before doing anything else.

[Nano]

I would say the pump isn't broken it. I would wait a bit and see what happens before doing anything else.

Yeah I'm thinking so too.. there's still no change. It's a bit of a let down, I've been reading 9002 threads and reviews today, and at least 90% are reporting skimmate with in the first 5+/- hours. Mines over 24 now. :doh:

[Nano]

ok.. facepalm...

I might be completely brain dead but here goes,

after reading around and finding people having similar problems, I`ve discovered maybe the pump is in backwards so to speak but cant find a good diagram on how it should go so I`m sketching up how I received it and have run it for the past year, as well as how I just read its supposed to be run, anyone who knows please let me know ASAP
thanks

so this is how I`ve run it cause thats how it came
http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/thehobdenmarina/1.png

This is what I`m reading its supposed to be set up like... is this correct or am i reading it wrong??

http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/thehobdenmarina/2-2.png


Thanks in advance I feel like a dummy :P

[The Grizz]

I think you are right Ken, this is the only pic I can find myself but if you go to Tunze site & look at the op manual it shows putting the pump in with the inlet of the pump facing the side where the magnet is.

Go here, page 72
http://www.tunze.com/fileadmin/gebrauchsanleitungen/x3165.8888.pdf


http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/xx291/GRIZZtheWELDER/a1c88ca6d8659d5b344a4a17097e7f93.jpg

[Nano]

Thanks Greg. Yeah I couldn't figure it out 100% the diagrams are awful, I wish they'd do a side view as well.

Ok well I flipped it around the 'right way'(i hope) the bubbles are super fine now, but they are just barely into the base of the neck. I'm assuming its going to break in now the right way.. lol. Man what a dunce (me)