Bubble King & "Mini" Bubble King Skimmers Coming Soon - New Lower Pricing!
- Thread starter Jeremy B.
- Start date
DeltecRules
New member
I just thought of something. Wouldn't raising the water level decrease the air intake of the skimmer because of the back pressure? maybe Klaus can chime in about it.
Scott
Scott
Ginzo
New member
Think it's normal, but wanted to check with you guys:
My BK Mini 160 was skimming great all night: collecting a more dryer but still wet skimmate.
But this morning, I decided I was going to clean the inside-back panel of my tank, to remove some algae. Since then, I've remarked that my skimmer has stopped collecting skimmate. In fact, the bubbles aren't going up inside the riser tube anymore, they are forming at the base of the seam of the collecting cup but are not going any higher.
I think this is normal right ? I've read a couple of places, that a skimmer can stop skimming after putting your hand in water or playing around in the tank. Also, I fed the fish somme pellets this morning. That might be another reason ?
What do you guys think ?
My BK Mini 160 was skimming great all night: collecting a more dryer but still wet skimmate.
But this morning, I decided I was going to clean the inside-back panel of my tank, to remove some algae. Since then, I've remarked that my skimmer has stopped collecting skimmate. In fact, the bubbles aren't going up inside the riser tube anymore, they are forming at the base of the seam of the collecting cup but are not going any higher.
I think this is normal right ? I've read a couple of places, that a skimmer can stop skimming after putting your hand in water or playing around in the tank. Also, I fed the fish somme pellets this morning. That might be another reason ?
What do you guys think ?
catastrofe
New member
Quite normal. The same thing may happen when you feed your tank. Nothing to be concerned about.
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10715354#post10715354 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Jeremy B.
2 left in stock!
Collection cup height on these units are 7". The entire skimmer is unbelieveably well built, and when you pull the collection cup off and hold it, you'll see what I mean!
hopefully only one left and i just bought it
Ginzo
New member
Good ! I can see that the bubbles are starting to get a little higher now. Should be back to normal in a couple of hours.
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10724288#post10724288 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by catastrofe
Quite normal. The same thing may happen when you feed your tank. Nothing to be concerned about.
DeltecRules
New member
I have had this skimmer running since Tuesday night. So far I have hardly any skimate. I set up my skimmer in a position in the sump so the water level stays constant. I had the water level set at the black line and moved it up were everyone else was having good luck at were the cup meets with the body but I am not getting hardly skimate. The foam is not making its way up the collection cup. Not sure how long it will take for this skimmer to break in. Could it be possible that there is some restriction in the air silncer or something with the pump?
I took apart the pump and everything looks great. By the way its easy to take apart the skimmer. Took me 7 minutes total. How can the air silencer be serviced?
I took apart the pump and everything looks great. By the way its easy to take apart the skimmer. Took me 7 minutes total. How can the air silencer be serviced?
Coralfreak
Premium Member
Wish I could be of some help, still waiting for mine to arrive. Not to sure how excited I am at this point, this isnt the most encouraging news, I had thought these would be quite the skimmer. Do you have any pics of your setup?
DeltecRules
New member
I think it still needs some breaking in still. I also relaized I put the bubble plate back on wrong.LOL When i get home Ill fix the bubble plate. Its working, just got to give it some time.
Coralfreak
Premium Member
Yeah, that could make a difference. I actually had mine in my hands, but it was damaged in shipping
, replacement should be here tomorrow. The build quality is outstanding!!
, replacement should be here tomorrow. The build quality is outstanding!!I also have been running my mini 200 since tuesday i don't have much skimate at all. i hope its just the breaking in. i have it in the same place as my ev 180 was set up. if it does not start skimming i may have to hook up my other skimmer is this normal.. i have a steady water level.??
DeltecRules
New member
I think we need to let it break in a little more. I will say it is easy to take it apart and clean. It took me 7 minutes to take apart and put together. I like to look over my new toys and how they are put together. I wish I knew how to take apart the silencer since Klaus says it can be taken apart and cleaned. The bubble plate when I assembled it back onto the skimmer I accidently placed the holes over the output of the pump which I believe caused a geyser effect causing the skimmer not to skim correctly. The part with the holes needs to be placed over the output of the pump.
I been reading that people are getting better results wih the water level higher than the black line. But makes me wonder if we are loosing air when the water level is raised higher than th black line. Maybe Klaus can chime in.
Lunchbucket
Premium Member
DeltecRules - You can send it to me to test it out
Lunchbucket
Lunchbucket
Ginzo
New member
I just emptyed my collection cup: it contained mostly wet-brown colored skimmate. This time, I tried to lower the water level to almost exactly where the line is. I hope I can a little more dryer skimmate from this. The good news is that it's producing !
On another subject, have you guys tested out how the skimmer reacts when there's a power outtage ? I tried it yesterday on mine and was quite surprised !! Actually, wasn't quite happy, since I hadn't emptied my collection cup and it had some brownish bad looking skimmate and when I did my test (simulated a power outtage) and re-enabled the power 5 minutes after..I was quite surprised. The skimmer completely filled and overflowed from the collection cup. So all the skimmate was back in my sump and tank
Actually, this makes me a little nervous..since the way it reacts is a little scary for me. Don't know if anyone can try this out also..and give me the results. Cause if there's a power outage, in my case, the sump fills itself to a max point. Then when electricity comes back on, the return pump comes back on and the sump slowly goes back to the correct water height. But in this case, seems like the BK goes beserk and fills itself and overflows from the collection cup (the top of the cup comes off almost). That means..that if I'm not home..the skimmer won't go back to normal, until I empty it and re-start it with the right water level in the sump.
One solution I found, using one of my digital timers is to set the socket on (skimmer connected to it) 100% of the time. I then remove the backup battery of the digital timer. So that if the electricy goes out, for more then 5 seconds..the timer won't turn on the socket again (since the memory will have been lost)..and so the socket will remain closed..until I reset it (re-program it). This is a safety measure I'll be using for now. What do you guys think ?
Also, I was thinking of putting a plastic bag (garbage bag or something) over the collection cup or top of the skimmer in order to avoid any water splashes related to the skimmer overflowing during a power outage.
I know it's all a little paranoid..but I think it's something we should think of ?
On another subject, have you guys tested out how the skimmer reacts when there's a power outtage ? I tried it yesterday on mine and was quite surprised !! Actually, wasn't quite happy, since I hadn't emptied my collection cup and it had some brownish bad looking skimmate and when I did my test (simulated a power outtage) and re-enabled the power 5 minutes after..I was quite surprised. The skimmer completely filled and overflowed from the collection cup. So all the skimmate was back in my sump and tank
Actually, this makes me a little nervous..since the way it reacts is a little scary for me. Don't know if anyone can try this out also..and give me the results. Cause if there's a power outage, in my case, the sump fills itself to a max point. Then when electricity comes back on, the return pump comes back on and the sump slowly goes back to the correct water height. But in this case, seems like the BK goes beserk and fills itself and overflows from the collection cup (the top of the cup comes off almost). That means..that if I'm not home..the skimmer won't go back to normal, until I empty it and re-start it with the right water level in the sump.
One solution I found, using one of my digital timers is to set the socket on (skimmer connected to it) 100% of the time. I then remove the backup battery of the digital timer. So that if the electricy goes out, for more then 5 seconds..the timer won't turn on the socket again (since the memory will have been lost)..and so the socket will remain closed..until I reset it (re-program it). This is a safety measure I'll be using for now. What do you guys think ?
Also, I was thinking of putting a plastic bag (garbage bag or something) over the collection cup or top of the skimmer in order to avoid any water splashes related to the skimmer overflowing during a power outage.
I know it's all a little paranoid..but I think it's something we should think of ?
hahnmeister
In Memoriam
Perhaps a telescoping standpipe system like on the deluxe models would be better. Its no shocker on a valve controlled skimmer that it reacts like that.
Otherwise, you are afrad of the skimmer overflowing? Well... hook up an overflow line to the drain on the cup.
Otherwise, you are afrad of the skimmer overflowing? Well... hook up an overflow line to the drain on the cup.
DeltecRules
New member
Jeremy, I noticed my injection plate looks like it is made out of a CNC block like the collection cup. I noticed the other smaller sized mini's are made with like a clear plastic which is much easier to see when you place the injection plate back on the skimmer when you have to line up the output with section with no holes. Anyway we can get Klaus to make a clear injection plate for the mini 200?
Scott
Scott
IF that is happening, then you are running your water level in the skimmer entirely too high. I would recommend running the water level inside the skimmer above the black line posted, but not so high that it is into the the neck and you can not see the water level. Every needlewheel / meshwheel / pinwheel venturi skimmer that I know of has the tendency to overflow when air or power is cut, and then the skimmer comes back online when the water level is being ran too high inside the unit.
catastrofe
New member
Chicken!!!
