Tunze 9002 Skimmer Frustration

[The Debonator]

After reading and taking the advice of some of the experienced forum members, I ordered a Tunze 9002 skimmer. I was so excited about getting it! Until I tried to get it into chamber 2 of my 29 gal. BioCube. Unfortunately, with the metal halide "arm" in the way, I couldn't get the skimmer to fit in the chamber. Well, the skimmer fit, but the cup could not be attached. The bracket that holds the light fixture on was in the way, no matter how I tried to position it. Very frustrating! I'm still stuck with the POS Oceanic skimmer (i.e. NO skimmer), and I doubt I can return the Tunze since I got it wet trying to put it in the tank. Between that and my favorite Xenia suddenly dying despite consistent water changes to keep nitrates down, I feel discouraged. I'm doing everything "by the book" and although many of my animals are happy (all 4 fish, my mushrooms, and my colt coral) the loss of my xenia, trumpet coral, and cup coral are bothering me. I change 3 gal. of water every week, but my nitrates persist between 5-10 ppm. On the advice of a LFS owner, I changed 6 gal. this week, tested for nitrates, and still have 5-10 ppm. I have Chemipure Elite and Purigen in chamber 2. Tank's been up for 2.5 months.

 

What on earth am I doing wrong??? ::sigh::

[glennr1978]

Get a inTank collection cup.

[pumarjr]

Instead of doing weekly water changes, try this. First, are you using ro/di or tap? Also try changing like 1 gal every other day and then one 5 gal per week for the larger water change. Doing it that way can actually eliminate the need for a skimmer or at least get you by until you get the tunze cup form intank. Also, how long are the lights in the system staying on for? Are you possibly overfeeding? But on any note, change 1 gal every other day, on the normal day that you do your water changes, do a 5 to 6 gal water change and that should help. Also your nitrates will not go down with one water change, it takes time to remede the issue. There is definately something wrong if all was fine, and now your having these issues. I hope this helps.

[The Debonator]

Instead of doing weekly water changes, try this. First, are you using ro/di or tap? Also try changing like 1 gal every other day and then one 5 gal per week for the larger water change. Doing it that way can actually eliminate the need for a skimmer or at least get you by until you get the tunze cup form intank. Also, how long are the lights in the system staying on for? Are you possibly overfeeding? But on any note, change 1 gal every other day, on the normal day that you do your water changes, do a 5 to 6 gal water change and that should help. Also your nitrates will not go down with one water change, it takes time to remede the issue. There is definately something wrong if all was fine, and now your having these issues. I hope this helps.

 

Thanks for the answers.

 

All I've ever used was RO/DI water. The lights are on the system for 12 hours a day. As I said, I have metal halides. Not running any other lighting. I feed every other day, cyclopeze/frozen mysis for the fish and phytoplankton for my corals.

 

Where can I get an in-tank skimmer cup? Is there a photo somewhere?

 

I will take your advice on the water changes. I don't want to lose my corals. I feel personally responsible for everything in the tank.

 

P.S. Will the in-tank collection cup work with the glass plate on the rim of the tank?

[The Debonator]

 

Here is a photo of my set-up.

 

Thanks for the advice.

[bananahands]

For the inTank skimmer cup check out mediabaskets.com

 

As for your xenia dying, believe it or not this is a good sign. Xenia likes "dirty" water. People with well established, healthy tanks often have trouble keeping xenia because their water is actually too clean.

 

Edit: I'm bored so I checked out the website and it doesn't look like inTank offers a cup for the biocube hqi. But I may have just missed it. You should go to the inTank section in the sponsors forum and ask if they make a skimmer cup for your model. Hth

[The Debonator]

For the inTank skimmer cup check out mediabaskets.com

 

As for your xenia dying, believe it or not this is a good sign. Xenia likes "dirty" water. People with well established, healthy tanks often have trouble keeping xenia because their water is actually too clean.

 

Edit: I'm bored so I checked out the website and it doesn't look like inTank offers a cup for the biocube hqi. But I may have just missed it. You should go to the inTank section in the sponsors forum and ask if they make a skimmer cup for your model. Hth

 

POOP. The hqi fixture is super-unwieldy (is that a word?). It's hard to know what to do with it, because it seems most on here have actinic BioCubes. The LFS guy isn't helpful, either. He is experienced and knows a lot, but thinks no newbie should ever attempt a nano tank (and maybe he's right, but it's what I got talked into by a not-so-scrupulous LFS person across town).

 

Thanks for trying.

[Lawnman]

Why will they cup not fit to wide to tall?Next cut the Phyto out.You don't need it for that few of corals.Are you straining your mysis before feeding?Thaw the cube and rinse with tank water or RO water.5-10 nitrates is not a big deal. With your corals are you starting low in the tank and slowly moving them higher in light?I am almost sure a intank cup will fit. StevieT will be along shortly to answer for sure.

 

I totally disagree with his comment on nano tanks.It takes a little time to figure out.Plus you have to find the proper height for the light.

[The Debonator]

Why will they cup not fit to wide to tall?

 

It's too tall. Hitting the curved over lighting arm. The xenia had been happily living in my tank for the last 6 weeks and it just shriveled up about a week ago. Before then it was multiplying. I have no idea what happened. I've been doing the same things consistently the whole time. It had not been moved. I know some consider it a weed, but I loved it.

[Lawnman]

How much to tall?You need a intank cup if it is to tall that will fix your problem.Is the xenia still in the tank?Xenia is a good indicator of water quality.Xenia will not shrivel up with 10 nitrates.What are your other params?Hopefully you aren't dosing any 2 part.

 

Don't get discouraged over losing a few frags stuff happens. I could fill that biocube with stuff I have lost in my time LMAO

[The Debonator]

How much to tall?You need a intank cup if it is to tall that will fix your problem.Is the xenia still in the tank?Xenia is a good indicator of water quality.Xenia will not shrivel up with 10 nitrates.What are your other params?Hopefully you aren't dosing any 2 part.

 

Don't get discouraged over losing a few frags stuff happens. I could fill that biocube with stuff I have lost in my time LMAO

All other params are perfect. Zero ammonia, nitrites, and 8.0 pH. I sent a pm to the inTank folks, with a pic, hoping they could make a suggestion.

 

Thanks for your help. You've done wonders in guiding me a couple months ago (hence, the Chemipure and Purigen).

[pumarjr]

With my tunze 9002 skimmer with the addition of the collection cup from media baskets, I can fit the skimmer, cup and all almost all the way down to the bulkhead. I have the original bc29, the hqi, to the best of my knowledge is dimensionally the same to the original as far as the sump area goes. I wouldn't see why the collection cup from Steve wouldn't fit. He is on here frequently, hopefully he chimes in on the product.

Nevermind, it says right in the description that it's for the BC29, non-hqi version. Sorry.

[The Debonator]

He is on here frequently, hopefully he chimes in on the product.

Nevermind, it says right in the description that it's for the BC29, non-hqi version. Sorry.

 

Thanks. I just sent him a PM. Maybe he can make a suggestion. The interior is the same. It's the light bracket causing all the problems. It interferes in chamber 2 and restricts the vertical part, too. Pain in the rump (and I don't even have a clam yet! lol)

[StevieT]

The Tunze 9002 does not fit in the HQI version even with the cup. **

 

The arm is in the way, it would take a super skinny cup for this to work, with the coming hydor slim skim I am waiting on making another size cup in case this is just a better solution overall.

 

** Here is a thread on a guy that got it to fit, yet you can see he hacked the crap out of the cover over chamber three.

 

http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=254068

 

You do not need a skimmer with other filtration methods, water changes are key. The aquaticlife 115 will fit in chamber one

 

If you want a skimmer look into that, or wait to see the reviews on the slim skim

[Lawnman]

So it will fit in chamber 3 without the cover? Is that a 3 piece cover or just one?

[The Debonator]

Hmm...his corals look great, but I would be worried about the water levels in chamber 3. That's where all my evap takes place. Some days I forget to top off. Still, I don't have a lot to lose. Steve, do you have a better cup for this?

 

So it will fit in chamber 3 without the cover? Is that a 3 piece cover or just one?

 

The cover is two pieces, left and right. If I took off the left one, it would expose chamber 3 and half of chamber 2.

[StevieT]

Read above for info on the cup

 

Water levels would evap in chamber two same as chamber three, you need to add fresh saltwater in either way to bring it up. Top offs are key in a reef tank, investing in an ATO allows you to leave the tank. Mine kicks in 2-3 times per day and gives me 10 + days before refilling.

 

 

 

So it will fit in chamber 3 without the cover? Is that a 3 piece cover or just one?

 

It has different hinged covers allowing you access. You can see the cut he did here to fit the cup

 

 

So it will fit in chamber 3 without the cover? Is that a 3 piece cover or just one?

 

So yeah I suppose if you just remove that cover it will fit. Yet I still do not know about the chamber three placement and having that many pumps next to each other, one making lots of bubbles.

[The Debonator]

I'm scared to pick an ATO after buying the Tunze skimmer that doesn't work with my tank. Any suggestions?

[StevieT]

I have had the JBJ ATO for 3+ years

[The Debonator]

Thanks! Have heard that one before and need to try it out. We've got two major trips coming up in the next couple of months.

[StevieT]

Take your filter floss out during any vacation and fill up that ATO. Turn your MH light photo period down

[Chutsk10]

The Tunze 9002 does not fit in the HQI version even with the cup. **

 

The arm is in the way, it would take a super skinny cup for this to work, with the coming hydor slim skim I am waiting on making another size cup in case this is just a better solution overall.

 

** Here is a thread on a guy that got it to fit, yet you can see he hacked the crap out of the cover over chamber three.

 

http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=254068

 

You do not need a skimmer with other filtration methods, water changes are key. The aquaticlife 115 will fit in chamber one

 

If you want a skimmer look into that, or wait to see the reviews on the slim skim

 

Not to derail this thread too far but do you ever have plans on creating a 'super skinny' cup for the 9002?

 

I just noticed that the 9002 would actually fit the 2nd chamber in the BC14 but would need a cup no more than 2 1/4" wide to fit with little to no modifications to the tank.

[StevieT]

If you read back on page one there is the reason why that hasn't happened yet.

 

Lets see what the slim skim does first before I invest in a new cup size even though that won't fit in the BC14. Also in a BC14/8 there is no reason why you need a skimmer

[Chutsk10]

If you read back on page one there is the reason why that hasn't happened yet.

 

Lets see what the slim skim does first before I invest in a new cup size. Also in a BC14 there is no reason why you need a skimmer

 

ummmm for fun? haha

[StevieT]

I suppose you can never have enough and I don't blame anyone for that. My view a water change is just fine in this size tank, along with that pretty media basket lol

 

the skinny cup that we produce is actually the right depth, just to tall