Bubble King Skimmer Club

[Creetin]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14387152#post14387152 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tonym10
New member to this club here.
I just hooked up my 180 mini on my new 156 tank.
It started skimming like crazy the second it was plugged in.
The tank is new and just cycling live and dead rock right now.
Is there an instruction manual online here? I saw it once but do not remember where? Any other tips? It is in 9" of sump water.

Holy frothy mugs of rootbeer!

 

[mojo~]

awesome. I love my mini 160

 

[DaveJ]

Guys,

Hoping I can get some feedback from you internal 250 Deluxe owners. I've had mine for quite awhile and have been happy with the performance thus far. I am in the process of upgrading to a 300G and want to make sure I get it dialed in to its optimum performance level so can someone explain the following to me....

The riser pipe raises the level of the water inside the skimmer body. What is the ideal level?

What is the ideal depth in the sump? How many inches and is that inches from the bottom plate or the intake valve.

Above the riser pump is the air intake assembly, with the half pipe section. The label says use that to adjust the bubbles... yet when I do adjust that, the water level rises as well. So how did you go about using the combination of the riser and the half pipe to achieve your optimum skimmate production?

Can someone explain the screw device on the intake of the pump please. How does this effect the skimmer etc and what are the ideal settings there.

Also... how often do you clean the entire skimmer, not just the skimmer cup but the body and plate etc? Or service the pump. What is your procedure for this?

Thanks!

 

[Dejavu]

The riser pipe raises the level of the water inside the skimmer body. What is the ideal level?

I run mine about 1" up the neck of the cup.

What is the ideal depth in the sump? How many inches and is that inches from the bottom plate or the intake valve.

8-9" total from the bottom

Above the riser pump is the air intake assembly, with the half pipe section. The label says use that to adjust the bubbles... yet when I do adjust that, the water level rises as well. So how did you go about using the combination of the riser and the half pipe to achieve your optimum skimmate production?

This is just used to fine tune the bubble height. I use this in correlation with the riser pipe to achieve the level of 1” up the neck of the cup.

Can someone explain the screw device on the intake of the pump please. How does this effect the skimmer etc and what are the ideal settings there.

This is used to adjust how much water you let in to the skimmer. I close it all the way and then turn it so the two black dots line up.

Also... how often do you clean the entire skimmer, not just the skimmer cup but the body and plate etc? Or service the pump. What is your procedure for this?

Once a month

premiumaquatics has manual now heres a link. It's at the top.

http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=bubbleking

 

[DaveJ]

Thanks Brian, I appreciate it.

 

[DaveJ]

Took it apart last night.. the pinwheel was pretty clean, the impeller bearing was a bit dirty so cleaned that out, readjusted everything back to factory (black dot alignment) and checked out the silencer... found it was clogged shut. Actually had to poke the stuff out with a scratch awl (carefully of course). Cleaned it up a bit, I'll soak in it in vinegar when I transfer it to the 300 in next month. But for now its back to skimming like it did after initial installation.

Thanks for the links, that helped me locate the silencer issue.

 

[tonym10]

Just wanted to post some more pics of my new 180 mini.
This is after 40 hours of skimming. Just rock in the tank , no fish yet.

 

[ksed]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14404321#post14404321 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DaveJ
Took it apart last night.. the pinwheel was pretty clean, the impeller bearing was a bit dirty so cleaned that out, readjusted everything back to factory (black dot alignment) and checked out the silencer... found it was clogged shut. Actually had to poke the stuff out with a scratch awl (carefully of course). Cleaned it up a bit, I'll soak in it in vinegar when I transfer it to the 300 in next month. But for now its back to skimming like it did after initial installation.

Thanks for the links, that helped me locate the silencer issue.

Dave

How long have you gone without cleaning it?

 

[DaveJ]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14406639#post14406639 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ksed
Dave

How long have you gone without cleaning it?

Hmmm about a year or so.. since I purchased it. It still was skimming, but obviously not at 100%.

 

[Creetin]

Yep these pumps are strong, Just cleaned mine out a couple mos ago after running a year. Not much inside of it.

 

[tonyespinoza]

BK 300 Ext plumbing newbie...

BK 300 Ext plumbing newbie...

okay... finalizing my plumbing for the BK 300 External and have a couple questions.

I picked up the unions that convert from the metric to 1" for the input and 2" for the return.

here are my 2 questions:

1) Does anyone know the purpose of the large 2" drain? does it somehow reduce noise or increase efficiency at this size? would it make any difference if I reduced it down to 1" or so for my drain line to the sump?

2) Another newbie question since I've never had an external skimmer before -- I presume the skimmer drain stand pipe needs to be higher than the water level in the sump, correct?

Thanks for any insights! Excited to finally get this thing rocking...

 

[buck50bmg]

I have the same skimmer. I would keep it at 2". It a noise thing and a gurgle thing. A smaller pipe and it might sound like a sucking straw.

Yes the drain needs to be higher, so it will gravity feed to the sump.

I see you have the self cleaning head. You will love it. I run mine 50 sec every day.

It took about 1 week to get a good break in and 2 weeks for the final break in.

I found out by Klaus looking at my video that I had the feed water flow too high. It will make a world of difference. Get the flow to the point that you see the bubble plate most of the time. If its too much than bubbles will fall back down and obscure the bubble plate.

I started with the center of the discharge "T" 1 inch from the start of the cone. Im now at the middle of the cone. I use a waste collector that I installed a float switch in, so if the skimmer goes crazy it will close an input to my aquacontroller, shutting down the feed and needle wheel pumps, thus preventing a flood or tank draining.

HTH

Have fun.

 

[diverdan814]

Question for you Buck50mg: What connections are involved with the self cleaning head? And do you have to turn it on or does it automatically clean at a given interval?

Thank you- I have a 180mini on the way and am curious about spending almost as much on the SCH.
thanks--

 

[buck50bmg]

The head as you reveive it, will have a simple wall wart type transformer (12vdc) it connects using the standard DC power connecter to the SCH. The way Aqua driver will have you use it is to just plug it in for a minute every day or so.

The timer I used:

http://www.ab.com/industrialcontrols/products/relays_timers_and_temp_controllers/general_purpose_timers_and_counters/700-hx.html

Is set to a mode (not sure which one) so that as soon as the timer is turned on (power applied) it will close the contact and countdown and then open the contact.

Now this is powered by a outlet on my Neptune controller. I have it on for most of the day, then it goes off for 1 minute then back on for the rest of the day. As soon as the power goes on it will start the timmer and then sit there in the powered state untill power is shut off again for that minute, then repeat...

May sound hard but it really isnt.

I have my SCH run for 50 seconds.

The neptune's smallest increment is 1 minute.

The SCH is great, as I have the 300ext with a waste collector, its somewhat hard to disconnect the waste collector, unscrew the head and clean. Also since its a external, I would have to shut down the needle wheel so the foam wouldnt overflow on to my carpet. If I did do it that way, I would have a lag time while the foam builds back up. So for me, a great investment.

And besides, the bubblekings look cooler wearing little red hats.

I asked Aquadriver about including a timer and I dont think anything is in the works.

HTH

 

[diverdan814]

Thanks- very helpful

 

[Johnny Reefer]

Posted earlier about buying a second BK SM250, as I was impressed with the first one. However, the construction of the second 250 is unlike the first. Two main differences.
- The two skimmers are the same height, overall, but the body of the second skimmer is shorter and the neck is longer. I do not see this as an isuue. The two skimmers appear to perform equally.
- The collection cup on the first skimmer is simply held on by gravity. Simply lift it off for cleaning. However, the second skimmer's collection cup screws on. And plastic threads, at that. Why? Why change a good thing? This really irks me. I paid $1700 CAD for this skimmer and I really hope it isn't ruined by the plasctic threads becoming damaged by removing this cup twice/week for cleaning :mad2: .

 

[fishyheaven]

Hello again,

I was wondering if it is possible to over skim a tank? i have a gen 1 bk 180 on my 90g and i just cant seem to get a nice dark dry skim. The best i got is something that looks like pee water. i think i have a medium bioload with about 8 fish ( 2 4 inch tangs, pair sm maroon clowns, 2 sm anthias, 3 blue eye cardinals and one firefish). I am starting to test my water now and the only test i finished so far is my po4. which is at 0.

I have never had a good luck with skimmers. I had a asm g1x before and was having about the same result as my BK. I switched to BK when my pump broke.

I have read just about every post and i just can not figure it out. any suggestions would be great. could it be that i have something wrong with the equipment?

thanks,

 

[Creetin]

Johny, I dont see an issue with the threads. I have a deluxe and it has the threaded cup. I never had an issue with it. Just put a little silicone grease on the oring if there is on and thats all.

 

[ReefEnabler]

IMO its only possible to overskim a tank if you are slacking on water changes and feeding very little and skimming like mad. I think its possible to deplete certain nutrients in this situation. while this might not directly harm corals, it might reduce the growing population of plankton within the tank over time and hurt the corals indirectly.

I think most people are adding in enough of this stuff through feeding and waterchanges that it never gets too low.

I have mine set a bit dry since I the nutrients in my system were staying too low and corals started going a bit pale.


Johnny Reefer, my BK 250SM has the threaded collection cup too, and I've never had an issue with it.

 

[chatyak]

Hello fellow fish friends. I currently have a lifereef svs-24 and am wondering if I should upgrade to the BK. I have a 125 gallon with a 90 gallon sump being built.

I was thinking of getting this skimmer here.
http://www.jlaquatics.com/product/p...uper+Marine+200+Internal+Protein+Skimmer.html

Would you recommend it?

This was my skimmate from my lifereef for about 2 days.

However I am currently going through a hair algae/dinoflagellates battle.. so it should pull more?

Please advise as this is an expensive purchase.