Bubble blaster vs Askoll pumps?

[plancton]

Hi, I want to make a replica of the vertex alpha cone 250 skimmer. The expensive part I think is the red dragon pump (by the way what red dragon model is it?).

They told me the askoll 1500 basically has the same performance at a cheaper price.

But now there´s a line of octopus pumps in the market: the Bubble Blasters. There´s Bubble Blaster Pump 2000, 3000 and the new 5000. How do these bubble blaster pumps compare to the askoll 1500 or the red dragon for alpha cones?.

If you want to use it on a vertex alpha cone 250 which one would you buy if you could skip the red dragon?

 

[Reefobsession]

You should have just bought a vertex skimmer at Prmium when they were on sale during thanksgiving. I got a alpha 170 for $585 shipped. Try buildong one for that.
In my opinion the bubble blaster is a nice pump, but when you compare it to the red dragon it isn't in the same league. The red dragon is super quiet and runs with minimal heat. If I were you, if it were me, I would just buy an actual alpha. If you have your heart set on a custom skimmer builld I would go with the bubbleblaster or a sicce with a custome volute, kinda like the mini airstar on the ATB econo skimmers.

 

[nikon187]

I would look into the SWC askol as well.

 

[plancton]

Supposedly the bubble blaster transfers less heat than the askoll, I read a review that said it was better, it just came out of the market the model 5000 I mean. Its supposed to produce 90 SCFH same as the askoll, but its $75 cheaper and it has a 3 year warranty.

I'm looking for performance to be parallel to an original vertex alpha cone 250 and my heart is on doing in custom.

You must realize the body and the pump, assuming I go for the Bubble blaster HY 5000 is about $590 dlls vs $1200 of the original vertex alpha cone 250

 

[plancton]

I would look into the SWC askol as well.

That's the one I meant, its the modified askoll 1500. What I'm seeing is that it pulls the same ammount of water and 90 SCFH just like the Bubbble blaster HY 5000, but the bubble master is a newer model, supposedely transfer less heat its cheaper and its supposed to be the equivalent.

I'm looking for a pump that can produce the same ammount of foam and get the same results obtained in the Vertex alpha cone 250 without investing on the expensive red Dragon.

 

[rbnice1]

The problem is, that with the neck size on the alpha you woul,d need 2 pumps to get enough air/water draw. If your having it custom made, make the neck smaller, like the size of the ATB econo, then you can use a atb pump which will set you back a little less.

 

[plancton]

Is that a fact?, by neck you mean the cup's neck or the cone's top inner diameter?, if you mean the cup's neck then that would be an easy modification.

What happens if I go with a replica of the vertex alpha cone 200 with the bubble blaster HY 5000 pump?

The problem is, that with the neck size on the alpha you woul,d need 2 pumps to get enough air/water draw. If your having it custom made, make the neck smaller, like the size of the ATB econo, then you can use a atb pump which will set you back a little less.

 

[plancton]

How come I would need a smaller neck diameter?, I've seen the octopus extremes that use the bubble blaster pumps and the body is wider and with a 6" neck. I can do the mod for a skinnier neck, but I need to know if I really need to do that or just leave the 250 model as it is.

And what would happen if I put this bubble blaster 5000 on an alpha cone 200?, to much?, is a bigger body better for skimming purposes?

 

[luther1200]

Supposedly the bubble blaster transfers less heat than the askoll, I read a review that said it was better, it just came out of the market the model 5000 I mean. Its supposed to produce 90 SCFH same as the askoll, but its $75 cheaper and it has a 3 year warranty.

I'm looking for performance to be parallel to an original vertex alpha cone 250 and my heart is on doing in custom.

You must realize the body and the pump, assuming I go for the Bubble blaster HY 5000 is about $590 dlls vs $1200 of the original vertex alpha cone 250

Go check out the Octo cone thread that uses a bubble blaster and read what they have to say about it. It doesn't produce any numbers like they claim it does.

 

[plancton]

Checking, but don't know which post you're refering to. So far the Octopus cone skimmers use bubble blaster 2000 on the internal models and the 3000 on the externals, the 5000 is substituting the askoll 1500 they use on their large skimmers, and it just came out this December so there isn't really reviews yet.

But reef speciality has reviewed this new bubble blaster and they say its better than the askoll 1500, the askoll 1500 is what the ATB econo were using to substitute the 2x sicces. http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=16106539#post16106539

I could buy 2x bubble blaster 5000 for my vertex alpha cone 250 replice, but would I really need it?

 

[luther1200]

Your right they do use the 2000, but one would believe that if the claims are exaggerated on the 2000 that they would also be on the 5000. But maybe thats not the case. I guess I am just saying don't believe to much of the marketing and try to get some real feedback from people who have used these pumps before you drop the money on them. The others are all well tested and proven.

 

[plancton]

I'm thinking that I can try one bubble blaster 5000 and If I don't get what I want then I can buy a second one. I misscalculated expenses, total is $490, if its not enough I can add another pump, but it wouldn't be that cheap anymore.

Although I'm sure 2x bubble magus 5000 could outperform the stock red dragon on the alpha cone 250.

 

[Reefobsession]

I would stay away from the bubble baster. Made in China. Not the highest quality. I would lookat 2 modded sicce's over a bubble blaster. In my oppinion, nothing beats a red dragon/askoll pump. They are top of the line. This would be my choices in order.
1. Buy a askoll from marine solutions.
2. Buy 2 modded sicces with a custom volute. (ATB ministar)
3. Buy the bubble blaster.

 

[plancton]

I'm taking note here. Appart from the bubble blaster HY 5000 being made in China is there something wrong with it?, isn't it as powerful as the SWC askoll?, reef speciality said it was better.

 

[extreme5450]

reef speciality is baised since they sell them. get some real reviews. someone on here got one of the bubble blaster pumps and wished they would have gone with the askoll

 

[Reefobsession]

I also forsot to tell you to look at the tunze hydrofoame pumps. They are very nice pumps. Basically a sicce with the heat problem and rotational issue fixed. Plus they use a stronger magnet and they run dead silent. I would do askol first, then an ATB airstar or tunze hydrofoamer next.

 

[gcarroll]

I'm taking note here. Appart from the bubble blaster HY 5000 being made in China is there something wrong with it?, isn't it as powerful as the SWC askoll?, reef speciality said it was better.

Personally I don't think you can compare the 2 pumps. They are not even in the same category. Although the bubble blaster may or may not match the performance of an askoll, it has not been around long enough to earn the respect given to the askoll.

This comparison thread is no different than many of the comparison threads that we have had in the past. Remember Tunze vs Seio. There is nothing wrong with Chinese disposable products but just stay true to what it is. When cost cutting is a factor, shortcuts are taken. It will take some time to see where the shortcuts were taken in the bubble blaster. If you are willing to accept that possibility/probability, then the bubble blaster is a fine pump.

Performance is not the only measure as to what is the better product. If you are driving your BMW M3 and some guy in a green Ford Pinto with a souped up V8 and a brown door pulls up to you at the light and blows your doors off. Does that make the Pinto the better car?

 

[sjm817]

Honestly $225 for the BB Vs $300 for the SWC, I'd spend the extra $75 for the SWC Askoll.

 

[plancton]

Well the thing is, many people haven't even tried it and are bashing it already. rbnice1 suggested to use 2 pumps or reduce the size of the neck as if neither pump would be powerful enough, but with all due respect on what are you basing this info? look:

Alpha 250
* Footprint 18.5" x 13"
* Height 24.5"
* Base Diameter 10.5" - Neck Diameter 5.75"
* 1500 or 1800 lph (63scfh) @ 38W
* Rated up to 400 gal

Super Reef Octopus 5000
# Footprint: 18.5" x 15"
# Height: 27"
# Body: 10"
# Neck: 6"
# Pump: Bubble Blaster HY-5000 (50w/PF 70+) 90+SCFH

Suppose the chinese manufacturer is exagerating the performance, I don´t think its exagerating 50% of its performance, I would say maybe 20% of exageration which would leave it equal to the red dragon. At least the neck size is the same, so I don´t see why would I have to modify my alpha cone 250 to make the neck smaller.

I found somebody who tried them and he said the BB had more power to it and produced no heat, while the askoll produced so many heat and was not as powerful.

He told me the Askoll was only better at producing less noise and the years of testing in the field, but at first hand just as a power factor the BB is better for the task. And yes perhaps something chinese does not have that much of a quality but 3 year warranty is very good actually.

 

[Reefobsession]

Allright then why are you asking us then, you allready have your mind made up. Get a bubble blaster. Enjoy a cheap china product.