Tunze skimmer problem

[pyranha]

A few months ago I was in a quandry trying to figure out which skimmer to buy. I let price drive my decision and ended up with a Kent nautiuls TE and a Mag 9.5 to drive it. Can you say LOUD?
So an online friend of mine and ReefCentral contibutor MalHavoc suggested I try the Tunze 230/3. I called Premium Aquatics and recieved it in 2 days. At first glace I thought "how in the hell will this coffee pot looking thing ever do a good job?". Little did I know the shock I was in for. This thing skims like nobody's business. Here are a couple pics for the skeptics.

http://www.fatjason.net/Tunze_230_3_14_hours.jpg
http://www.fatjason.net/Tunze_14_hours.jpg

Now for my problem...
Recently I came home from work to find the skimmer not working. It was just emitting a low hum and no water movement was seen and no foam was being produced. I unplugged the skimmer and took the motor off and took it to the sink. I took it apart and cleaned it(even though I did not see much gunk in it). I put it back together and it made a bit of a rattiling noise. I took it apart again and put it back together and the noise stopped and it started working properly when I plugged it in. I am still having intermittent problems with it not working after several hours of use. Also, when I start it up, it makes this aweful rattle and then starts working fine after a few seconds. I am not sure what is going on. I have only had it for a few months. Any suggestions?
Thanks in advance.

[rvitko]

Yes, unplug it, their is something wrong with the drive unit and continued use withour remedy could cause permanent motor damage as the thermastatic switch will cycle do to overheating and cooling down. I include a photo of a disassembled drive unit. The problem you describe could be the breaks or the binding of the top or bottom bearing surface. Strong acids or calcium dep[osits can cause these problems. The acids swell the plastic, the clacium sticks the parts together. If you cannot find the problem and have thoroughly cleaned it and made sure the parts dissassemble as below, let me know and I will send a new drive unit. Please PM your address and do not run it if you have intermittent stoppages. It is OK once in a while but long term running in this condition will harm the motor.

[rvitko]

BTW- everyone compares it to a coffee maker. Pretty cool little toy though- I fell in love with them 4 years ago and won't even consider anything else- the soft whistle noise reminds me of an espresso machine though:) Being serious though- check that the magnet isn't cracked also- when a magnet breaks it becomes two magnets and will not work properly. The top bushing should allow a loose free movement and should be inserted straight into the pump- not lopsided or crooked in any way. The bottom bearing frequently gets stuck to the magnet- clean this with vinegar and a toothbrush. The impeller should tun back and forth 180degrees if you are holding the magnet and stop- if it can spin 360- the brakes are broken.

[pyranha]

Thanks Roger. I have always been told you are a stand up guy.
I will go home right after work.....heck...I will go home now :-) I did already clean it once, but i will give it a serious cleaning today when I get home and make sire it is all working properly. If I can not get it to run rattle free, I will send you my address. I would hate for you to have to send me something uneccessarily.

Also, this unit is so easy to take apary and put back together. Anyone that wants a highly self-serviceable unit should look into one of these.

[rvitko]

Thanks- it isn't the highest powered and isn't the cheapest but it does do what it is advertised to do and quietly, efficiently and with little messing around.

[pyranha]

Actually I checked the brakes when I had it apart the last time :-) I did a good bit of looking at the docs prior to posting here.

It really is a great skimmer.......but it's coffee making abilities are less than par. Everytime I get a cup of coffee from it, it tastes horrible...no matter home much cream and sugar I use :-)

By the way, I will be buying the 3000l version for my next rig.

[rvitko]

Let us change the design first;) The 240/3 is a bit tempermental for my tastes. The 3140/2 does a really good job though if you need something now.

[blgreef]

Hmm tell us more about the design change????


what being changed

[rvitko]

The cup, it will no longer constrict to one inch which results in gunk accumulation and breaking of the foam column. The rest of the change has to remain a secret but it will be a big change- the outside appearance will be roughly the same and it will continue to be plankton safe but it will be more powerful and consume less electricity.

[blgreef]

sounds like a radical change, blast i have a 5 month old 240.

and the less electricity sounds good

[rvitko]

It is rare that we make design changes that aren't retrofittable and I would expect you could at least upgrade the cup. We have two paths in front of us so we will see which one ends up being the final design or perhaps both will be offered.

[blgreef]

Had some spare time and the cup from a very old 230.

SO stuck it onto a length of 100 m pipe and now its sitting in the 240 just to see if it makes a diff.

so can i now have a job at Tunze in the design dept LOL,

Although my DIY version is not upto the normal Tunze standards

[rvitko]

It will make a difference. Our new cup will have twice the volume of your design but the concept is similar and I made one for myself the same way and it has greatly increased production.

[blgreef]

the foam does seem to be more stable, also had to remove the venturi airline from the little green silencer mounted next to the skimmer cup. To much salt spray around the skimmer and it just blocks the venturi every 6 to 7 days.

But the spary is generated by very small bubles from the tank drain.

I think you should send me an evaluation unit to play and fiddle with. Although you may get it back with new bits bolted on :D :D

[Flatlander]

I think it needs Canadian testing, in a sumpless 225g sps tank. :D

Any idea when they will be available Rodger.

[rvitko]

As I said earlier- we have two test models- two totally different concepts for the new skimmer design. We will choose one most likely so it is a bit early. We will unvail a decision at Interzoo 2004 in Nuremburg.

[COCO]

Hello Roger,

It is great that I see your active interaction with Tunze enthusiasts.
By the way, I am Tai, a Korean UT Ph.D. student, who have visited your LFS once every two days. I must admit you have a fine LFS.

It seems that you prefer 3140/2 to 240/3 although their collection cup is exactly the same.
Could you elaborate a little more on why you prefer 3140/2 instead of 240/3.

Anyhow, I really like your LFS and your honest business.


Best regards,

Tai

[rvitko]

Thanks Tai. How are you? Is everything going well in Korea? Anyway, I use both skimmers in my store. The 3140/2 is running a 400gallon system which holds all the shrimp, urchins, snails, hermits- basically the clean up crew section. It produces consistently about 200-300 ml of dark skimmate per week. It seems to generate more pressure and have no problem blowing the foam through a slight debris accumulation. The 240/3 works well but the performance is not as reliable. It seems that debris blocks the foam production quite a bit. Their seems to be a bit less pressure. Interestingly I have the same observations for the 220/3 and 3115/2 which are comparable- the 3115/2 performs better. The 230/3 and 3130/2 perform equal and sometimes I think the 230/3 is actually slightly better. Now admittedly I am running the 240/3 under less load it runs a 180gal SPS and Clam holding tank so their is probably far less to remove but I get maybe 100ml a week and it is lighter colored. The light color could be do to a greater cellulose content and less protein and admittedly the tank does well- no algae except some valonia. You can however see that the skimmer 240/3 struggles a bit to blow the foam into the cup- the 3140/3 smoothly removes the foam- it doesn't bounce around in the riser tube.

[COCO]

Thanks, Roger!

I am doing fine here in Korea during my summer break.
I will be in Austin in mid-August. I will see you then.

Keep up the good work!

Best regards,

Tai

[COCO]

Thanks, Roger!

It is always pleasure to see a feedback that is so prompt.
I will be in Austin in mid-August. I will see you then.

Keep up the good work!

Best regards,

Tai

[Mark]

I hope I don't take the thread too off-topic here, but I have a question as well. I'm setting up a 180 soon, and I'm curious which model you think is the best? I was considering the 3130/2. Whichever I choose, It'll be placed in a sump. I like the quietness and electrical efficiency of these units.

[rvitko]

I really prefer the 230/3 for in sump- I find this model- the original Tunze skimmer model to perform the best of all. The 3130/2 is very good too but requires an 11" water column so isn't suitable for most sump applications. As I said earlier though we have alot of new products in the works and some changes to the skimmers are part of it. In November we will likely have a new product update and again in May.

[Mark]

Originally posted by rvitko
I really prefer the 230/3 for in sump- I find this model- the original Tunze skimmer model to perform the best of all. The 3130/2 is very good too but requires an 11" water column so isn't suitable for most sump applications. As I said earlier though we have alot of new products in the works and some changes to the skimmers are part of it. In November we will likely have a new product update and again in May.

Dang, I may have to just make myself get by with a skimmer I have, and wait for these new designs to become available. I just want to thank you, Roger, for keeping the Tunze line available here in the states. There was a while there after Burleson jumped off, that Tunze was hard to come by.

[rvitko]

I know:) The whole thing was fate. I called Burleson for some parts- the answer was this is the last of it we are no longer doing Tunze. I called Tunze at 2pm on a Saturday and Axel Tunze answered the phone- on a day they were closed at 9pm his time. We talked he said he was actually going to Chicago for a trade show and agreed to come to Austin to see me. Now 3 years later we have Tunze USA and it is an entity which will not die as if I get tired or leave everything is surrendered to Axel who will find my replacement so hopefully it will never happen again.

[blgreef]

Roger.

is the coloum height and hence the contact time the same on a 240 and 3140?

Just thinking since i can make the pvc tube almost any length i could increase the coloum length and submerge the 240 lower so more of it is below the surface.

only down side may be the extra force needed to force water down to the venturi??

[rvitko]

The 240 should theoretically have more contact time than a 3140.