Someone explain my skimmer to me

[LbulletM]

I recently bought a Tunze Comline DOC 9001 DC skimmer. The DC is the new version that comes with a controller for the air rather than an adjustment screw on the air intake line.

My confusion is that the controller says that the adjustment knob is for the air pump, yet if I turn it up (ie closer to 100%) I get a REALLY wet skim. Like fill the collection cup in a few minutes wet. I currently have the pump basically as low as it goes, and am getting a nice, dark, foamy skimmate.

So I guess the questions are:
1) Can someone give me a quick run down of how skimmers work as far as adjusting for wet/dry skim, etc? I've never found a super simple explanation. I know on the older non-DC version of the 1009, the goal was to eventually have your air line screw all the way open after break in, allowing the maximum amount of air. Which leads me to....
2) Is my controller mislabeled and the increase in power actually increases the water intake leading to a wetter foam, or does the answer to number 1 explain that? (as in more air at once would carry more water into the collection cup)

 

[rockhead51]

More air means more bubbles. More bubbles coming up means the ones already up there have less time to collapse, so they get pushed higher up the column and into your cup. All bubbles have a "skin" of water, and in this skin is the nasty stuff you want removed. The more bubbles collapse, the more the nasty stuff concentrates before spilling over.
So more air means more bubbles with more water "skins" and fairly dilute nastiness. Less air means the bubbles have time to collapse and the nastiness concentrates.

 

[LbulletM]

Okkkkk. So I was completely backwards. I have it dialed in for a great skimmate right now, but I was just confused as to why it was working haha. Thank you!

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

The tunze has combined the air/motor into one adjustment. It used to be 2 adjustments. I'll take this as a good review then.

 

[LbulletM]

The tunze has combined the air/motor into one adjustment. It used to be 2 adjustments. I'll take this as a good review then.

No complaints, yet! It started producing from day 1 and got better and better during the break in. The only issue was that I kept turning up the air because I thought more air = more good. I was producing the ubiquitous "iced tea" skim because of it, but have left it turned down basically all the way the last couple of days and it's only filled about a half inch, but super dark skim with tiny, viscous bubbles coming down the tube in the cup. Even with the initial thin skim, I was still getting some chunks. Here's a pic from the second emptying ever.

I've been running it maybe 3 weeks now, and I don't regret it at all. There's currently PLENTY of junk for it to pull out right now. I'll grab a photo of my next emptying and throw it here (if I remember).

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

No complaints, yet! It started producing from day 1 and got better and better during the break in. The only issue was that I kept turning up the air because I thought more air = more good. I was producing the ubiquitous "iced tea" skim because of it, but have left it turned down basically all the way the last couple of days and it's only filled about a half inch, but super dark skim with tiny, viscous bubbles coming down the tube in the cup. Even with the initial thin skim, I was still getting some chunks. Here's a pic from the second emptying ever.

I've been running it maybe 3 weeks now, and I don't regret it at all. There's currently PLENTY of junk for it to pull out right now. I'll grab a photo of my next emptying and throw it here (if I remember).

Nice! Ive been putting of ordering for kinda the same reason, I like the more air I get now but the older style is pretty clunky to get adjusted..

 

[LbulletM]

Here's a teaser that didn't quite make it over to PhotoBucket from my phone...

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Here's a teaser that didn't quite make it over to PhotoBucket from my phone...

Ok Ok Ill call Roger at Tunze usa and order it!!! Geez!

Im actually bummed I cant get a AC110 behind the 30.

 

[Katrina71]

I want the 9001 also. I had to settle for a much cheaper skimmer for the moment. 10.00 is hard to pass up. Don't even have fish yet, so I hope it buys me a little time for the 9001. I'm counting on you guys to walk me through set up when I get mine.

 

[LbulletM]

I went 5 months before finally pulling the trigger on the skimmer due to how often I had NO3 issues.