How exactly do skimmers work? - Page 2

jinks · 12/24/2013, 06:22 AM

I don't have that skimmer so can't help you with some of those probs but the waterline on must skimmers is not where the tanks water should be its where you should max adjust the water inthe skimmer to. You don't want bubble going right up and into the cup. They should sit below it and every now and again a little will go up and over.

reefguy24 · 12/24/2013, 09:49 AM

No matter how I adjust the skimmer (with regards to the height it sits in the water), bubbles are not being formed....or if they are, they are very weak.

The second I took the skimmer out of the box, the cheap plastic bottom fell off the Tunze 9002 skimmer, and the motor fell out. It can be put back in 1 of 2 different ways.....after an hour of internet searching I think I figured out the right way.

There are no (apparent) kinks in the airline hose.

I'm honestly amazed they charge $130 for this piece of poorly engineered crap. I get it, it's based on a scientific principle which makes the skimmer work, but they sure cheaped out on construction. The top and the bottom "lid" of the skimmer kept falling off as I was trying to install it.

So it's now sitting outside my tank and I have no idea what to do with it.

This is the reason I created this thread....because I did some research on the Tunze 9002 (after I purchased it) and realized that many other people were having the same kind of problems (on other forums). I was kinda hoping someone on this forum who has a JBJ 24ga nano had some experience.

//edit

Just throwing this out there....but this is the "n00b" part of the forums. Maybe if I make a new post in the nano section, there is someone who has the same set up in there?

MikeyUU · 12/24/2013, 10:09 AM

I have the 9002 and had a bit of a problem getting it to work at first for me too. Not for the same reasons though. Remember your tank is new so it will take awhile for you to build up enough waste for it to really start working. Along with that, it is a new skimmer, it takes awhile for them to really break in.

I set mine right on the water line that is marked on the outside of the body. As for the adjustment valve, I tighten it until it is all the way in, and then untighten it 1 full rotation.

If you are looking for more help, it could be beneficial to post to he tunze forum, there is a guy named Richard on there who helped me out when I first got the skimmer.

flixxx · 12/24/2013, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reefguy24

No matter how I adjust the skimmer (with regards to the height it sits in the water), bubbles are not being formed....or if they are, they are very weak.

The second I took the skimmer out of the box, the cheap plastic bottom fell off the Tunze 9002 skimmer, and the motor fell out. It can be put back in 1 of 2 different ways.....after an hour of internet searching I think I figured out the right way.

There are no (apparent) kinks in the airline hose.

I'm honestly amazed they charge $130 for this piece of poorly engineered crap. I get it, it's based on a scientific principle which makes the skimmer work, but they sure cheaped out on construction. The top and the bottom "lid" of the skimmer kept falling off as I was trying to install it.

So it's now sitting outside my tank and I have no idea what to do with it.

This is the reason I created this thread....because I did some research on the Tunze 9002 (after I purchased it) and realized that many other people were having the same kind of problems (on other forums). I was kinda hoping someone on this forum who has a JBJ 24ga nano had some experience.

//edit

Just throwing this out there....but this is the "n00b" part of the forums. Maybe if I make a new post in the nano section, there is someone who has the same set up in there?

I have a few tunze products myself and find that their products are really well built.

I don't think it's fair that you are bashing a product because you don't understand it. The bottom of the skimmer is a plastic that clips on.

Here is a video I found on the installation of a tunze 9002:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-p6hGdBgLQY

If that fails, take MikeyUU advice and call or visit tunze to ensure you did not receive a defective product.

reefguy24 · 12/24/2013, 03:15 PM

I'm good. I'm just blasting the fact that both top and bottom fall off so easily.

Very frustrating when a piece falls off, and there's no intelligent way it can go back on (piece could be reinstalled one of two ways).

Anyways, after playing around with different configurations of both top and bottom....I got some bubbles to come up.

They are not even 1/8th the way up the collection tube, but it's a start.

Yes I do know I have to wait a few hours so I'm just going to chill out until Friday or Saturday of this week. Hopefully something will show up, or at the very least the bubbles will start to build up higher.

I have read every single Tunze 9002 thread there is on the internet....both this and many other forums. I read that having Purigen or Chemipure might affect the way it's running, so I took all that out. I'm running nothing but a little bit of Chaeto and a light in chamber 1 and the skimmer in chamber 2.

My water levels are low enough in the back where everything fits with the lid down. The water line on the skimmer....is about `1/2" above the water level in the 2nd chamber.

According to everything I have read so far (and believe me, I spent a few hours researching this online both last night and today).....it appears as if I got everything set up right.

reefguy24 · 12/25/2013, 10:37 AM

So update: 1pm yesterday I finally got it "working" (as best I could). It was producing bubbles, but they weren't going very high.

Just woke up this morning and found my entire collection cup filled with water.

So I'm assuming I need to turn down the dial a bit?

Kyuss · 12/25/2013, 11:04 AM

iirc, those just have an adjustable air valve? If that's the case, you'll want to close it a bit. As with any skimmer, you want to make small adjustments and then give it some time to see how the skimmate is affected before possibly adjusting any further.

ponda · 12/25/2013, 12:09 PM

i was told i dont need to use a skimmer for my 29 gal tank
so @ what size do u need to use a skimmer?

reefguy24 · 12/25/2013, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kyuss

iirc, those just have an adjustable air valve? If that's the case, you'll want to close it a bit. As with any skimmer, you want to make small adjustments and then give it some time to see how the skimmate is affected before possibly adjusting any further.

Yes all it has is an adjustable air valve. I actually had it set on "very high" yesterday and wasn't surprised I got water this morning.

So I turned it down more than a few "clicks" this morning. I think it will only take me a few days to dial it in, and I will be making small adjustments from here on out.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ponda

i was told i dont need to use a skimmer for my 29 gal tank
so @ what size do u need to use a skimmer?

I was told a lot of things too by my live fish store...but they always have an ulterior motive (to sell me stuff). They are using a skimmer on their JBJ 28ga nano tank. There are a lot of other guys on here using skimmers as well.

I only got two clowns, purple pseudochromis, two spot goby and clean up crew and maxima clam. Not exactly a "high" bioload, but I could not get the nitrates down past 15ppm.

So I'm hoping that by lowering my feedings to 1x per day (and only as many pellets as they can eat....so none fall to the floor) and by using the skimmer (along with filter floss, chaeto and chemipure in the 1st chamber), my nitrates will be reduced to 0.

Bpb · 12/25/2013, 12:47 PM

It's a cost benefit thing. At some point if a tank gets small enough, the costs of water changes would be less than that of running a skimmer. I'd say it's ok to use a skimmer on a bc29. I'd likely mod it to run a sump with a standard skimmer, but I just like to have that extra fudge factor a skimmer provides. Not saying you should mod yours, just saying if I had one I would. However. If we start talking 20 gallons and under, I may just consider doing water changes alone and just running a gfo reactor.

jinks · 12/25/2013, 12:54 PM

A skimmer will work on any size tank. Its easy to do water changes on smaller tanks so some people just do more changes and don't skim. I have a skimmer on a 20Gal and it pulls stuff out. If you can get one I would do it. If not i would not let it stop me from setting up a small tank just stay on top of water changes.

H.reidi.MN · 12/25/2013, 01:01 PM

I thought did just run through my mind. So if a skimmer is removing some water with DOC's and then my ATO compensates isn't your salt going to lower over time?

Kyuss · 12/25/2013, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by H.reidi.MN

I thought did just run through my mind. So if a skimmer is removing some water with DOC's and then my ATO compensates isn't your salt going to lower over time?

A slight bit, yes, but that is still easily kept in check by your (now more infrequent) water changes.

12/24/2013, 09:49 AM	#27
reefguy24 Registered Member. Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 288	No matter how I adjust the skimmer (with regards to the height it sits in the water), bubbles are not being formed....or if they are, they are very weak. The second I took the skimmer out of the box, the cheap plastic bottom fell off the Tunze 9002 skimmer, and the motor fell out. It can be put back in 1 of 2 different ways.....after an hour of internet searching I think I figured out the right way. There are no (apparent) kinks in the airline hose. I'm honestly amazed they charge $130 for this piece of poorly engineered crap. I get it, it's based on a scientific principle which makes the skimmer work, but they sure cheaped out on construction. The top and the bottom "lid" of the skimmer kept falling off as I was trying to install it. So it's now sitting outside my tank and I have no idea what to do with it. This is the reason I created this thread....because I did some research on the Tunze 9002 (after I purchased it) and realized that many other people were having the same kind of problems (on other forums). I was kinda hoping someone on this forum who has a JBJ 24ga nano had some experience. //edit Just throwing this out there....but this is the "n00b" part of the forums. Maybe if I make a new post in the nano section, there is someone who has the same set up in there? Last edited by reefguy24; 12/24/2013 at 09:54 AM.

12/24/2013, 06:22 AM	#26
jinks Registered Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 581	I don't have that skimmer so can't help you with some of those probs but the waterline on must skimmers is not where the tanks water should be its where you should max adjust the water inthe skimmer to. You don't want bubble going right up and into the cup. They should sit below it and every now and again a little will go up and over.

12/24/2013, 10:09 AM	#28
MikeyUU Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Northern California Posts: 45	I have the 9002 and had a bit of a problem getting it to work at first for me too. Not for the same reasons though. Remember your tank is new so it will take awhile for you to build up enough waste for it to really start working. Along with that, it is a new skimmer, it takes awhile for them to really break in. I set mine right on the water line that is marked on the outside of the body. As for the adjustment valve, I tighten it until it is all the way in, and then untighten it 1 full rotation. If you are looking for more help, it could be beneficial to post to he tunze forum, there is a guy named Richard on there who helped me out when I first got the skimmer.

12/24/2013, 03:15 PM	#30
reefguy24 Registered Member. Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 288	I'm good. I'm just blasting the fact that both top and bottom fall off so easily. Very frustrating when a piece falls off, and there's no intelligent way it can go back on (piece could be reinstalled one of two ways). Anyways, after playing around with different configurations of both top and bottom....I got some bubbles to come up. They are not even 1/8th the way up the collection tube, but it's a start. Yes I do know I have to wait a few hours so I'm just going to chill out until Friday or Saturday of this week. Hopefully something will show up, or at the very least the bubbles will start to build up higher. I have read every single Tunze 9002 thread there is on the internet....both this and many other forums. I read that having Purigen or Chemipure might affect the way it's running, so I took all that out. I'm running nothing but a little bit of Chaeto and a light in chamber 1 and the skimmer in chamber 2. My water levels are low enough in the back where everything fits with the lid down. The water line on the skimmer....is about `1/2" above the water level in the 2nd chamber. According to everything I have read so far (and believe me, I spent a few hours researching this online both last night and today).....it appears as if I got everything set up right.

12/25/2013, 10:37 AM	#31
reefguy24 Registered Member. Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 288	So update: 1pm yesterday I finally got it "working" (as best I could). It was producing bubbles, but they weren't going very high. Just woke up this morning and found my entire collection cup filled with water. So I'm assuming I need to turn down the dial a bit?

12/25/2013, 11:04 AM	#32
Kyuss Megistered Rember Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 470	iirc, those just have an adjustable air valve? If that's the case, you'll want to close it a bit. As with any skimmer, you want to make small adjustments and then give it some time to see how the skimmate is affected before possibly adjusting any further.

12/25/2013, 12:09 PM	#33
ponda Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 293	i was told i dont need to use a skimmer for my 29 gal tank so @ what size do u need to use a skimmer?

12/25/2013, 12:47 PM	#35
Bpb Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 3,148	It's a cost benefit thing. At some point if a tank gets small enough, the costs of water changes would be less than that of running a skimmer. I'd say it's ok to use a skimmer on a bc29. I'd likely mod it to run a sump with a standard skimmer, but I just like to have that extra fudge factor a skimmer provides. Not saying you should mod yours, just saying if I had one I would. However. If we start talking 20 gallons and under, I may just consider doing water changes alone and just running a gfo reactor.

12/25/2013, 12:54 PM	#36
jinks Registered Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 581	A skimmer will work on any size tank. Its easy to do water changes on smaller tanks so some people just do more changes and don't skim. I have a skimmer on a 20Gal and it pulls stuff out. If you can get one I would do it. If not i would not let it stop me from setting up a small tank just stay on top of water changes.

12/25/2013, 01:01 PM	#37
H.reidi.MN Moved On Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 882	I thought did just run through my mind. So if a skimmer is removing some water with DOC's and then my ATO compensates isn't your salt going to lower over time?