Bubble King Setup, Tuning and trouble shooting thread. Post your questions here!
- Thread starter machodik
- Start date
slief
RC Sponsor
The bodies are very similar however the base and bubble plate is different on the version with the RD3 so you cannot upgrade to the RD3 if you have the older models. As for load, you will need to add a LOT more fish for the 200 to make sense. I would still recommend the Mini 180 over the 200 with a 150 gallon display. Our skimmers are very conservatively rated and you want your skimmer to be consistent. If you go over sized relative to the load, you will end up with an inconsistent skimmer. Sometimes, "less is more".
slief
RC Sponsor
No factory refurbs. Skimmers go out as fast as they come in and never get returned. FWIW, we are releasing a new controllable version of the Mini 160 and Mini 180.
This is the new Controllable Mini 160. The new Mini 180 will follow soon.
https://royalexclusiv.com/Skimmer/S...e-King-160-with-Red-Dragon-6-DC-12V::976.html
slief
RC Sponsor
Yes but don't get caught up in the air intake numbers since that skimmer was designed to be used and balanced around that pump. Air intake numbers are more for bragging rights as it's all about the fineness of the bubbles and balance inside the skimmer. Also, the numbers are conservatively rated. Air draw is likely closer to 1200l/hr.
slief
RC Sponsor
This is the replacement motorblock which is typically in stock in our Ft. Myers warehouse. When properly maintained, those pumps will last indefinitely. If something is going to fail, it's typically the block and usually due to a lack of improper maintenance.
https://royalexclusiv.com/Spare-Par...block-for-Mini-Bubble-King-200-VS07::164.html
Hi, please help with some tips. I've read this whole thread and followed all advice but still having trouble.mI have a double cone 150 that I picked up about 3 w-4 weeks ago used but in awesome condition. Tank and sump is 300 litres.
Now I cannot get this thing tuned no matter how hards I try.
I have it in 17cm depth and have the volute one 4.5 turns and wedge pipe fully opened.
After a lot of heartache I thought I finally had it and was skimming nicely (dark tea coloured skim mate). Did a water change this morning roughly 10%, turned the skimmer back on and it's been overflowing for the rest of the day.
I really want to keep this skimmer but have had nothing but trouble with it.
Any advice would be so greatly appreciated.
Now I cannot get this thing tuned no matter how hards I try.
I have it in 17cm depth and have the volute one 4.5 turns and wedge pipe fully opened.
After a lot of heartache I thought I finally had it and was skimming nicely (dark tea coloured skim mate). Did a water change this morning roughly 10%, turned the skimmer back on and it's been overflowing for the rest of the day.
I really want to keep this skimmer but have had nothing but trouble with it.
Any advice would be so greatly appreciated.
slief
RC Sponsor
You’re water change could have impacted the surface tension resulting in the overflowing condition. Depending on the salt mix, how well it was mixed and other factors, your new salt water could be causing the issue. Also, if you bought this skimmer used, make sure the venturi port on the nozzle where the air hose connects ins’t clogged with dried salt.
The other thing that can impact it is if you still have the skimmer tuned improblerly. While it’s overflowing, my best advice would be to make nozzle adjustments to get the overflow condition to stop. This may require going further out on the nozzle or more in depending on the root cause of the overflow. My guess is that once you get this issue tuned out via more nozzle adjustments, it should be more stable going forward though you might have to close the wedge pipe some to get it to produce depending on your fish load. Also keep in mind that a tiny fraction of a turn on the nozzle can make a big difference so make small adjustments and use rubber gloves when making those adjustments so that the oils in your skin don’t impact the water and cause the skimmer to go flat forcing you to wait to see the results of the adjustment.
The other thing that can impact it is if you still have the skimmer tuned improblerly. While it’s overflowing, my best advice would be to make nozzle adjustments to get the overflow condition to stop. This may require going further out on the nozzle or more in depending on the root cause of the overflow. My guess is that once you get this issue tuned out via more nozzle adjustments, it should be more stable going forward though you might have to close the wedge pipe some to get it to produce depending on your fish load. Also keep in mind that a tiny fraction of a turn on the nozzle can make a big difference so make small adjustments and use rubber gloves when making those adjustments so that the oils in your skin don’t impact the water and cause the skimmer to go flat forcing you to wait to see the results of the adjustment.
Thankyou so much for the reply.
I have tried turning the volute out to 5 turns, 5.5 turns and even 6 turns still to no avail. Everything was cleaned spotlessly before I put it in the tank. It's been overflowing literally all day, I thought it might settle after a couple of hours, but nope, it's literally like a waterfall
Should I just leave it overflowing overnight to see if it settles?
I have tried turning the volute out to 5 turns, 5.5 turns and even 6 turns still to no avail. Everything was cleaned spotlessly before I put it in the tank. It's been overflowing literally all day, I thought it might settle after a couple of hours, but nope, it's literally like a waterfall
Should I just leave it overflowing overnight to see if it settles?
slief
RC Sponsor
You could lower the sump level another CM or raise the skimmer by placing something under it. That should help. If it’s something in the water, short of skimming it out by collecting the overflow, that’s about all you can do. Waiting it out might help but I’d adjust the sump level. You might see what happens if you turn the nozzle inwards but I’d go back to your original setting that was working and lower the sump level or raise the skimmer a CM or 2 as that will make it less sensitive and more forgiving to changes in the water.
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Thankyou again!
I have turned it off for now and will try raising it 2 cm tomorrow and will let you know how it goes, if that doesn't help I might just have to go back to my old skimmer, which would be devastating
as I have dreamt of owning Bubble king for years. Is it possible that the skimmer is just over sized for my tank and stock level.
I have turned it off for now and will try raising it 2 cm tomorrow and will let you know how it goes, if that doesn't help I might just have to go back to my old skimmer, which would be devastating
as I have dreamt of owning Bubble king for years. Is it possible that the skimmer is just over sized for my tank and stock level.
slief
RC Sponsor
Thankyou again!
I have turned it off for now and will try raising it 2 cm tomorrow and will let you know how it goes, if that doesn't help I might just have to go back to my old skimmer, which would be devastating
While it might be on the large side, that wouldn't explain the overflow. The overflowing is a sign of the skimmer not being tuned or setup properly. You just need to keep working with it to fine tune this thing for your setup. The lowered sump depth will help a lot.
Hi,
I raised the skimmer a couple of cm's and still overflowing so raised again. It is now in literally 14cm depth and still overflowing like crazy. Volute opened 4.5 turns and wedge pipe fully open.
I have the drain on the collection cup open so the overflow id draining back into sump.
I've tried tuning it by turning the volute and still nothing:headwalls:
I really wanted to love this skimmer!!
I'll love it and let it drain a couple of hours but I really think I've reached my limit
I raised the skimmer a couple of cm's and still overflowing so raised again. It is now in literally 14cm depth and still overflowing like crazy. Volute opened 4.5 turns and wedge pipe fully open.
I have the drain on the collection cup open so the overflow id draining back into sump.
I've tried tuning it by turning the volute and still nothing:headwalls:
I really wanted to love this skimmer!!
I'll love it and let it drain a couple of hours but I really think I've reached my limit
slief
RC Sponsor
Is it possible that something got into the skimmer pump when when you shut it off? Maybe a snail? The only thing you can do besides inspecting the pump would be to turn the nozzle way inwards and see what it does. Go all the way to 1 - 1.5 turns out from fully closed and see if that helps. Then turn it further outwards than 4.5-5 turns out and see what it does. There should be some point in the nozzle adjustment between fully closed and fully out that makes it subside. Having said that, I suspect something in your new salt mix likely caused this and if you’re not removing and simply letting it overflow back into the sump, you are not going to remove it. And if there is any restriction in the air intake whether it’s the silicone air hose being kinked or the venturi port on the pump being clogged or something in the needle wheel, you will get overflows like you are experiencing. And be 100% certain that the wedge is fully open. You can raise wedge pipe up out of the fitting and see where the angled piece of pipe would be blocking the effluent/exit from the skimmer.
Hi, and once again thankyou so much for taking the time to reply and offer advice.
So I pulled everything apart and everything was spotless, so I thought one last effort I would just let it run. I closed off the drain and just collected what was overflowing and ended up being about 3-4 litres. which was easy to replace and it finally settled down. I will run it now till the weekend when I will do another water change and see if it happens again. I just find it funny that I have been using this same salt for the 3-4 months.
Any way we are back on track. I might even lower it back another 2 cm. And hoping I can really fall in love with this skimmer!.
So I pulled everything apart and everything was spotless, so I thought one last effort I would just let it run. I closed off the drain and just collected what was overflowing and ended up being about 3-4 litres. which was easy to replace and it finally settled down. I will run it now till the weekend when I will do another water change and see if it happens again. I just find it funny that I have been using this same salt for the 3-4 months.
Any way we are back on track. I might even lower it back another 2 cm. And hoping I can really fall in love with this skimmer!.
slief
RC Sponsor
It likely was something in your salt or maybe it wasn’t mixed well enough or there was some precipitation due to the mix separating in the bag if you didn’t use the whole bag of salt when you mixed your new salt water. When you ran it and collected the overflow, you would be exporting whatever was in the water causing it to go nuts. This is why I said you’re not removing anything if you’re just letting it overflow. Glad to hear it’s settling down. Not sure you need to go lower on the sump level. I’d let it run and see how it performs.
