Bubble King Setup, Tuning and trouble shooting thread. Post your questions here!

[ReefKeeper64]

I have less than a year under my belt using ozone but I may have a few suggestions for you.

It makes a big difference where your ORP probe is placed in comparison to where your ozone injection is. I had the probe sampling water in a remote refugium initially and the numbers didn't move quickly. It took much more time as it dissipates. Moved it into the sump and just down stream of where the ozone exits the skimmer and immediately saw much higher values when ozone was on. Then the values would drop quickly when turned off. If the probe isn't near your source, your numbers tend to reflect the fact that the ozone depletes quickly and the overall tank (and refugium) isn't really getting inundated with ozone.

If you take your skimmer cover off while ozone is running, you should be able to smell the ozone. Its a very noticeable smell.

At what level do you have your controller set to turn off your ozone? I'd check that.

 

[docwells]

I have run ozone before but always used an ozone reactor. This is the first time I have used a skimmer to inject my ozone into it.

I would expect the amount of ozone measured coming out of the skimmer to be the highest levels as the ozone is injected there. This would not be a true reading of the tank in my opinion. I think having the probe in another location away from the exit of the skimmer would give a more true reading of the tank ORP.

When I take the skimmer cover off, their is a faint smell of ozone. This lead me to ask if an air pump is needed to get more ozone into the skimmer.

My Apex is set to turn off ozone at 390.

 

[GQuinn]

I Have a Bubbleking Mini 180 that I bought new from you. This skimmer was a little loud when I first got it and it is slowly getting louder. It has a terrible vibration that is easily heard thru the basement and first floor. If I removed the air it is silent. Once air is added it gets a terrible vibration. I have checked the bushing in the rear multiple times. I have taken this skimmer apart multiple times and I am extremely frustrated. How loud is this skimmer supposed to be, as I thought Bubblekings were supposed to be quiet. I need to send this to you so you can look at this. I have had many skimmers thru the years, and this is one of the loudest. The skimmer is in 8 1/2 inched of water currently. The water depth appears to have no effect on the noise. I also have a DC180 and that skimmer is dead silent.

 

[ReefClownMIA]

Should be very quiet - sounds like something is not right.(pun intended)
Scott will reach out to you... we’ll get you taken care of!

 

[slief]

I Have a Bubbleking Mini 180 that I bought new from you. This skimmer was a little loud when I first got it and it is slowly getting louder. It has a terrible vibration that is easily heard thru the basement and first floor. If I removed the air it is silent. Once air is added it gets a terrible vibration. I have checked the bushing in the rear multiple times. I have taken this skimmer apart multiple times and I am extremely frustrated. How loud is this skimmer supposed to be, as I thought Bubblekings were supposed to be quiet. I need to send this to you so you can look at this. I have had many skimmers thru the years, and this is one of the loudest. I also have a DC180 and that skimmer is silent.

It's very odd that it's silent when you don't have the airline connected. How old is this skimmer? How deep is the water level in the sump? Only time I have encountered issues regarding vibrations has been when the screws that hold the motor base plate into the body are too loose or too tight such that the intake nozzle doesn't align well through the hole in the body or if the bubble plate assembly ins't centered and is instead off center and touching the body or if the bubble plate is loose and the upper plate is vibrating. That wouldn't however account for your observation where it is silent without the airline connected though the vibrating bubble plate could be impacted by the addition of air. Do you have the ozone port on the pump capped off so it's not pulling water in from the ozone port or have the red ozone tube connected and above water? When was the last time you cleaned the foam filter in the silencer?

 

[GQuinn]

It's very odd that it's silent when you don't have the airline connected. How old is this skimmer? How deep is the water level in the sump? Only time I have encountered issues regarding vibrations has been when the screws that hold the motor base plate into the body are too loose or too tight such that the intake nozzle doesn't align well through the hole in the body or if the bubble plate assembly ins't centered and is instead off center and touching the body or if the bubble plate is loose and the upper plate is vibrating. That wouldn't however account for your observation where it is silent without the airline connected though the vibrating bubble plate could be impacted by the addition of air. Do you have the ozone port on the pump capped off so it's not pulling water in from the ozone port or have the red ozone tube connected and above water? When was the last time you cleaned the foam filter in the silencer?

The skimmer is about 6 weeks old. It is silent with no air. It is in 8 1/2 inches of water. I actually have tried loosening and tightening the screws. I took it apart earlier today. I do not have the ozone port capped off I looked at the foam silencer and it looks good.

 

[slief]

The skimmer is about 6 weeks old. It is silent with no air. It is in 8 1/2 inches of water. I actually have tried loosening and tightening the screws. I took it apart earlier today. I do not have the ozone port capped off I looked at the foam silencer and it looks good.

Do you have the red ozone tube connected to the ozone port?

 

[GQuinn]

Do you have the red ozone tube connected to the ozone port?

No. I did not see a red ozone tube.

 

[slief]

No

Try plugging the ozone port on the pump and see if it persists or connect tubing to the ozone port to see if pulling air in there helps. With the ozone port uncapped, you are pulling both air and water into the venturi chamber within the nozzle so capping the port off so it can’t draw water or adding tubing to the port so it can draw air could solve it as this could be the result of cavitation cause by both air and water entering the venturi chamber within the nozzle. Also, with that port open to draw water, you will get excessive salt creep in the venturi port where the silicone air tubing connects to the nozzle.

 

[GQuinn]

Try plugging the ozone port on the pump and see if it persists or connect tubing to the ozone port to see if pulling air in there helps. With the ozone port uncapped, you are pulling both air and water into the venturi chamber within the nozzle so capping the port off so it can't draw water or adding tubing to the port so it can draw air could solve it as this could be the result of cavitation cause by both air and water entering the venturi chamber within the nozzle. Also, with that port open to draw water, you will get excessive salt creep in the venturi port where the silicone air tubing connects to the nozzle.

I just tried both options that you suggested. I do not see a difference in the vibration noise. If I put my DC180 in the same sump it is dead quiet. I can email you a short video if you want.

 

[slief]

I just tried both options that you suggested. I do not see a difference in the vibration noise. If I put my DC180 in the same sump it is dead quiet. I can email you a short video if you want.

PM Sent.

 

[GQuinn]

PM Sent.

Thanks Scott. It is definitely better.

 

[slief]

Thanks Scott. It is definitely better.

Glad to help!

:beer:

 

[chowder]

Thanks Scott. It is definitely better.

What was the solution? I had the same problem but mini was out of warranty so I replaced it with dc180 which is dead silent. My mini 180 works but is relatively noisy.


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[slief]

What was the solution? I had the same problem but mini was out of warranty so I replaced it with dc180 which is dead silent. My mini 180 works but is relatively noisy.


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Loosening the screws on the base. If they are too tight, there is pressure applied where the nozzle goes in through the body into the pump. Also pushing the nozzle into the pump too far can induce a bit of noise as well so pushing it all the way in and then pulling it out a fraction of an inch is best.

 

[GQuinn]

What was the solution? I had the same problem but mini was out of warranty so I replaced it with dc180 which is dead silent. My mini 180 works but is relatively noisy.


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Loosening the screws helped, but it was still to loud for me. Mine just has a vibration to it that I cannot get rid off. I do not think the noise level would bother some people, but for me it is to loud. It is collecting dust in my basement.

 

[hedehodo]

I am having trouble with my dc 150 pump. It's kicking a sound in every or 2 seconds. It's much like start and stop in every second and pump is surging. I tried to take it from skimmer body and completely disamble it. No cracking on impeller teeth or scratches on impeller. I tried it working alone without skimmer body. No luck. Any advice? I also tried to take a video but cant hear this sound in video.

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[slief]

I am having trouble with my dc 150 pump. It's kicking a sound in every or 2 seconds. It's much like start and stop in every second and pump is surging. I tried to take it from skimmer body and completely disamble it. No cracking on impeller teeth or scratches on impeller. I tried it working alone without skimmer body. No luck. Any advice? I also tried to take a video but cant hear this sound in video.

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Is it actually starting and stopping or is it just making a sound? How many turns out on the nozzle do you have it from fully closed? What is the sump depth? How old is the skimmer and when was the last time you took it fully apart for a thorough cleaning? I’d take it complete apart. Do a thorough cleaning per the instructions in this thread. Make sure you inspect the venturi port on the nozzle for salt creep. If I had to guess, I’d suspect it could either be the pump needing cleaning or that you need to open the nozzle more as that will cause surging and can make a bit of noise if the pumps not getting enough air.

Follow the cleaning instructions in this thread and be sure to clean the bearing as per post #2.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2573406

 

[hedehodo]

It's running in 9 inches depth but it tried it in lower inches also without skimmer body, same results. I think it's not making start and stop just making crackling noise. I cleaned it 8 months ago, but when I checked tonight the pump was clean enough. Skimmer is 3 or 4 years old.

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[slief]

It's running in 9 inches depth but it tried it in lower inches also without skimmer body, same results. I think it's not making start and stop just making crackling noise. I cleaned it 8 months ago, but when I checked tonight the pump was clean enough. Skimmer is 3 or 4 years old.

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The pump should be cleaned every 4-5 months. Calcium buildup inside the magnet cavity and bearing will create friction on the bearing and can cause the motor to temporarily go into protect mode and stop itself. Prolonged start/stops will cause premature failure.

Take a look at this thread and also read my edited post above because I revised my post at the same time you replied. A complete break down of the pump for proper cleaning is critical. If when you tested the pump, you still had the airline connected, you may need to open the nozzle up more too as I noted in my edited comment above. Again, take a look at this thread. Post 1 and 2 apply..
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2573406