Can I hook a external air to a 9410 Skimmer?

skud · 08/05/2017, 02:29 AM

I have been running a 9410 skimmer for nearly 7 years and am very happy with it.
Over winter my PH drops due to house being closed and ducted heater burning all the oxygen (maybe) . Can I hook a air line to my skimmer and suck some air from out side? Thanks Kim.

rvitko · 08/07/2017, 12:30 AM

No, but you can pump air into the intermediate chamber through the ozone port, the pump does not have sufficient suction for a longer distance and added tubing.

skud · 08/07/2017, 01:05 AM

Thanks I'll give it a go.

MZurlo · 08/09/2017, 09:02 AM

yes you can, i have my setup like that, and it works very well. Here is a video that gave me the idea to do so.

thanks

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPF3Hwm6zd8

MZurlo · 08/09/2017, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MZurlo

but you can add a pump and a air stone in your sump works even better, i have my setup like that, and it works very well. Here is a video that gave me the idea to do so.

thanks

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPF3Hwm6zd8

rishma · 08/11/2017, 05:50 AM

I have another alternative that has worked on other skimmers. I never tried it on the 9410.

Use a very small air pump. Locate air pump outside and run tubing to skimmer. Insert a Tee fitting in the skimmer pump airline. Connect the outside air pump to one of the Tee barbs, leaving the third Tee barb open.

With the small air pump providing positive pressure, you wont impact the air suction of the skimmer's pump. The excess air gets vented out the open end of the Tee fitting, but all the air the skimmer is pulling in comes from outside. If you don't use a Tee fitting, the air pump will push too much air to the skimmer pump and choke it.

rvitko · 08/11/2017, 10:07 AM

What Rishma does is exactly how I do it.

ReefHog · 03/08/2018, 11:32 AM

Wouldn't pumping the outside air between the skimmer and the pump eliminate or reduce the "moistness" of the air feeding the pump? One of the nice things about this skimmer setup is the air port on the pump doesn't have salt build up and clog like most other skimmers because the supply air is always moist/wet.

rvitko · 03/08/2018, 12:11 PM

Yes and no. Generally the "moist" air around the tank has a lot of salt so it tends to contribute to salt plugging the air intake. The outside air will vary with the humidity in your area, where I am the air tends to be humid, but I have a 25ft run of airline and a lot of that condenses in the line so I periodically have to purge the line or it sounds like a hookah.

08/05/2017, 02:29 AM	#1
skud Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 26	Can I hook a external air to a 9410 Skimmer? I have been running a 9410 skimmer for nearly 7 years and am very happy with it. Over winter my PH drops due to house being closed and ducted heater burning all the oxygen (maybe) . Can I hook a air line to my skimmer and suck some air from out side? Thanks Kim.

08/07/2017, 12:30 AM	#2
rvitko RC Sponsor Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Austin Texas USA Posts: 35,785	No, but you can pump air into the intermediate chamber through the ozone port, the pump does not have sufficient suction for a longer distance and added tubing. __________________ Roger Vitko Tunze USA "He's for every one of us, stands for every one of us, he'll save every man, woman and child in a mighty Flash!" Current Tank Info: 210 gallon planted tank with Altum Angelfish

08/11/2017, 10:07 AM	#7
rvitko RC Sponsor Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Austin Texas USA Posts: 35,785	What Rishma does is exactly how I do it. __________________ Roger Vitko Tunze USA "He's for every one of us, stands for every one of us, he'll save every man, woman and child in a mighty Flash!" Current Tank Info: 210 gallon planted tank with Altum Angelfish

03/08/2018, 12:11 PM	#9
rvitko RC Sponsor Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Austin Texas USA Posts: 35,785	Yes and no. Generally the "moist" air around the tank has a lot of salt so it tends to contribute to salt plugging the air intake. The outside air will vary with the humidity in your area, where I am the air tends to be humid, but I have a 25ft run of airline and a lot of that condenses in the line so I periodically have to purge the line or it sounds like a hookah. __________________ Roger Vitko Tunze USA "He's for every one of us, stands for every one of us, he'll save every man, woman and child in a mighty Flash!" Current Tank Info: 210 gallon planted tank with Altum Angelfish

08/07/2017, 01:05 AM	#3
skud Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 26	Thanks I'll give it a go.

08/09/2017, 09:02 AM	#4
MZurlo Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2017 Posts: 11	yes you can, i have my setup like that, and it works very well. Here is a video that gave me the idea to do so. thanks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPF3Hwm6zd8

08/11/2017, 05:50 AM	#6
rishma Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Mississippi Posts: 1,206	I have another alternative that has worked on other skimmers. I never tried it on the 9410. Use a very small air pump. Locate air pump outside and run tubing to skimmer. Insert a Tee fitting in the skimmer pump airline. Connect the outside air pump to one of the Tee barbs, leaving the third Tee barb open. With the small air pump providing positive pressure, you wont impact the air suction of the skimmer's pump. The excess air gets vented out the open end of the Tee fitting, but all the air the skimmer is pulling in comes from outside. If you don't use a Tee fitting, the air pump will push too much air to the skimmer pump and choke it.

03/08/2018, 11:32 AM	#8
ReefHog Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Posts: 118	Wouldn't pumping the outside air between the skimmer and the pump eliminate or reduce the "moistness" of the air feeding the pump? One of the nice things about this skimmer setup is the air port on the pump doesn't have salt build up and clog like most other skimmers because the supply air is always moist/wet.