Bubble King Skimmer Club

[slief]

I cleaned it many times. Only this time I forgot to put back the bubble diffuser plate!!!!! Stupid stupid me! It works fine now.

Adam

:lmao:

Gotta love a stupid problem. Sometimes the dumbest ones are the hardest to figure out. Even if it's obvious.. I'm sure that was driving you nuts for a while only to find out it was something that obvious. At least you figured it out and learned something in the process.

You will love the new pump. Spend some time finding the sweet spot. My SM250 seems to perform best around 38 watts. I started much higher but found a bit lower is actually better as it makes smaller bubbles. You results may be different but it's nice having the ability to fine tune via the pump control instead of having to adjust the volute manually.

Glad you got it figured out! :beer:

 

[lee_d_m]

Hi,

On a 170g, the Mini 180 would do very good job. They are conservative on there ratings. Or a Double cone 200, really a double cone 180 would probably keep up.

Keep in mind all the pump issues go back several months and before Florida location has been opened. There were times were we waited months to get orders while they were gearing up production to open the USA factory, but i have seen a huge change in there service the last month and even our last order, which was 4 pallets of skimmers took 4 days to reach us.

So unless it's a unique part, i think going forward the common pump parts will be able to get within a few days now, plus you can do warranty direct with them now as well.

Thanks, so it sounds like the choice is between a mini 180 or a double cone 200. Is there any particular reason to choose one over the other ? I'm based in the UK, and luckily we don't suffer with CS issues over here, so I'm not as concerned about lack of replacement parts etc.

Thanks

Lee

 

[jjablonski]

Bubble King Skimmer Club

find 3 differences

 

[ksed]

Are those both SM 250? The cone seems to extend further down on the new one.

 

[kris101]

Ozone port
the screws holding the bubble plate and the bottom on. 2 instead of one in the middle
And the new one looks like a SM200- the other is a 250

 

[jjablonski]

Both are the same model of BK SM 250, one is from 2010

 

[acesq]

AS v DC Pump, press v threaded cup attachment, relative size of upper cone to bottom chamber

 

[Adamc1303]

So on the old SM 250 the sweet spot was having the volute open 1.5 times. What's the sweet spot for the DC pumps? What percent?

 

[xcorallusx]

I love my old supermarin 250, have not had to replace the pump yet

 

[BfishLpond78]

Back Again...

The new BK Double 200 will be going on a brand new system, estimated at around 180 gallons...Can I assume it will be awhile before the skimmer performs in optimal conditions?

 

[BfishLpond78]

Ok, so im looking at the website and looking through the photos of the Double Cone 200 and Supermarin 200, on the SM200 pump there is a little tube that connects the venturi side and the motor block on the RD S3 Mini, and on the DC200 there isn't?

What are the major difference in these skimmers?

 

[slief]

Back Again...

The new BK Double 200 will be going on a brand new system, estimated at around 180 gallons...Can I assume it will be awhile before the skimmer performs in optimal conditions?

Skimmers need dissolved organics (DOC's) to produce properly. So yes, you will need to build up your bio load for the skimmer to produce nasty skimmate. It also takes a couple weeks to break in. If this is going on a brand new system that is cycling, I would run it with the drain line going back into the sump while you are working through the cycle and I wouldn't expect anything other than maybe tea colored skimmate until you start building your fish stock up.

Ok, so im looking at the website and looking through the photos of the Double Cone 200 and Supermarin 200, on the SM200 pump there is a little tube that connects the venturi side and the motor block on the RD S3 Mini, and on the DC200 there isn't?

What are the major difference in these skimmers?

I just checked the photos on the premium website. The only thing that I can see that is different in the photos on the pump is the SM200 shows the anti-lime bypass tubing that goes from the volute to the motor block where as the DC200 doesn't show that in the photos. They both run the same pump and I would expect the anti-lime bypass to be present on the DC200 pump as well. I do believe that is standard on all RD pumps. The key difference is in the skimmer bodies design and the way the body is manufactured. As far as I am aware the SM is built with better quality acrylic. The body is glued together as multiple pieces where as the DC is extruded or cast. The body design of the SM has a larger internal volume which translates to longer contact time which increases it's tank size capability. The bubble plate on the SM is also different and the SM has an internal cone attached to the bubble plate which may improve it's efficiency by compressing the bubbles where as the DC has an internal cylinder attached to the bubble plate as opposed to the internal cone. All that adds up to a lower manufacturing cost of the DC and a lower tank size rating but still an excellent skimmer.

 

[BfishLpond78]

Skimmers need dissolved organics (DOC's) to produce properly. So yes, you will need to build up your bio load for the skimmer to produce nasty skimmate. It also takes a couple weeks to break in. If this is going on a brand new system that is cycling, I would run it with the drain line going back into the sump while you are working through the cycle and I wouldn't expect anything other than maybe tea colored skimmate until you start building your fish stock up.

That is what I was anticipating, I currently have a Skimz SK181 but with this new build I'm trying to buy better equipment. With the sale going on I want to capitalize on a top of the line brand and skimmer.

 

[slief]

That is what I was anticipating, I currently have a Skimz SK181 but with this new build I'm trying to buy better equipment. With the sale going on I want to capitalize on a top of the line brand and skimmer.

I think you are making a great choice. These skimmers are in a completely different league than your current skimmer from both a quality and performance standpoint. I also just edited my last post to answer additional questions of yours regarding the differences between the Supermarin and Double Cone. Take a look at my last post.

 

[BfishLpond78]

Ok, I am a bit new to the higher end skimmers, what does the anti-lime bypass do? I've never seen this on any of the skimmer pumps i've looked at. (but again this is my first time looking at the upper tier of skimmers)

Thanks for the information by the way.

 

[slief]

Ok, I am a bit new to the higher end skimmers, what does the anti-lime bypass do? I've never seen this on any of the skimmer pumps i've looked at. (but again this is my first time looking at the upper tier of skimmers)

Thanks for the information by the way.

It allows water to cool the motor block which increases it's reliability. It's also been said that it reduces calcium build up within the pump however, I am not sure how effective that would really be other than perhaps a cooler block means less calcium buildup. From what I understand, the Anti-Lime bypass/AKB as Royal Exclusiv refers to it was originally added to the external pumps primarily for cooling purposes but has since become standard on all their pumps.

 

[BfishLpond78]

Thanks slief....

Officially part of the BK Club...BK DC200 just purchased from PA!

 

[Adamc1303]

So on the old SM 250 the sweet spot was having the volute open 1.5 times. What's the sweet spot for the DC pumps? What percent?

 

[slief]

So on the old SM 250 the sweet spot was having the volute open 1.5 times. What's the sweet spot for the DC pumps? What percent?

It varies depending on the skimmer model, sump depth etc. I have my SM250 in 9" of water at at about 37 watts. I've seen DC250's run at 35w so it just depends on a number of variables but I'd say between 35 and 38 watts with a sump depth of 8.5-9" on an SM250. Not sure what the sump depth range is on the DC's.

 

[BfishLpond78]

What are the power levels on the red dragon speedy pump the increments I mean.