Bubble King Skimmer Club

[BenjieC]

I got a 300 deluxe internal a few weeks ago. It's up and running and doing great. It has the RDII pump and I had a couple questions. Is it more advantageous to run the water level lower and the pump rpm higher or the other way around. Also there are a couple extra holes in the venturi, Top is for air intake, I assume the one off to the side is for O3, but what is the one on the bottom for. The manual didn't mention it. Thanks!!

anyone?

 

[Creetin]

Ben, I would run the water at 8.5 to 9 inches and set the pump accordingly. Speeding the pump up would only run more water/air at a quicker pace thru it making it less effective for the stubborn DOC's. Its a good way of removing things quickly like an anemone spawn, But I like to run them slow and steady. JMO
Its really up to you, If you like light colored skimmate and running wet then the faster pump option would probably work best. If you like dark dry skimmate I would keep the pump matched to the reccomended waterlevel for the skimmer and go from there.
I am not familliar with the RDII So I dont know all the specs on how mch air/water it pushes at what speeds. I do know a little about skimmers in general.

 

[njsurfcaster]

Signing up. My BK Mini 160 came in last week. If I closed my eyes and you turned it on I'm not sure I would be able to tell. This is what I call quiet!

Thank you Mojo for doing the BK Mini review!

Joe
:beer:

 

[ONEWAY]

Hay is there anyone looking to sell a Bubble King Mini 200 Gen 2? I'm looking for one.

Thanks,
Anthony

 

[Jeremy B.]

I might know of a guy selling a used one. If you're still interested contact me at jeremy@premiumaquatics.com.

 

[DJPB]

Jeremy, sent you an email about the 200

 

[DJPB]

i have a SM 250 on my 170
get what you get go for the 200 or the 250

the mini's are crap trust me I have had both 180 and the 200

Why do you feel the mini's are crap? Just wondering as I'm considering a 200 for my 180g. Thanks

 

[Laverna]

Question on BK skimmer with surges

Question on BK skimmer with surges

Hello everyone,

I am in the midst of setting up my new system and am about to pull the pin on my skimmer purchase but ran into a problem. I will be running surges in the system and the sump level will vary by roughly 3 to 5 inches at any given time. I had planned on using an in sump model but am wondering if the flux of water will effect performance. I am very short on space for a external.
BTW the system total will be roughly 500 gallons and I get a little heavy handed with the phyto and feedings.

Thanks

 

[asmodeus]

Why do you feel the mini's are crap? Just wondering as I'm considering a 200 for my 180g. Thanks

I ran the 200 on my 150 its was ok, but its just wasn't what i thought all this hype was about. however your contact time isnt there. Its great and all, its stating that its rated for 265 gal. I really dont see it. I have a 250 SM on my 150 and its keeping it super clean. I could really probably use a SM 200 would work too go the extra $$ and get the SM model

 

[Jeremy B.]

Hello everyone,

I am in the midst of setting up my new system and am about to pull the pin on my skimmer purchase but ran into a problem. I will be running surges in the system and the sump level will vary by roughly 3 to 5 inches at any given time. I had planned on using an in sump model but am wondering if the flux of water will effect performance. I am very short on space for a external.
BTW the system total will be roughly 500 gallons and I get a little heavy handed with the phyto and feedings.

Thanks

You would need to go external with a sump that fluctuates that much. Or if you could baffle up an area of the sump that wouldn't fluctuate, but I'm not sure how much room you would have to do this?

 

[Jeremy B.]

I ran the 200 on my 150 its was ok, but its just wasn't what i thought all this hype was about. however your contact time isnt there. Its great and all, its stating that its rated for 265 gal. I really dont see it. I have a 250 SM on my 150 and its keeping it super clean. I could really probably use a SM 200 would work too go the extra $$ and get the SM model

Glad to hear your SM is rocking for you. The Mini's are not really touted as the best performance based skimmers on the market, but more the best performer out there combined with quality of construction and efficiency / quietness in that small of a footprint. If you had enough flow through in your sump, the Mini 200 could handle a 265gal tank with no problem though. For comparison on this, check out all of the old TOTM pages on RC back in '02/'03/'04/'05, etc.... when we used to run heavily loaded sps tanks that were this size with EuroReef CS8-2 skimmers, etc. It's definitely possible.

Post some pics of your SM sometime, I'd like to see it in running in your sump!

 

[justinbarstow]

i have a 30 gallon bio cube w/ a hob refugium but no sump.i was looking at the bk 200 external and i have 2 questions 1) is there any way i can use that w/ out over skimming the tank ( would really like to find a way too). second. i am assuming the external means it is a recirculating skimmer? meaning i can hook it up outside the tank via a feed pump and have it dump back into the tank? any help would be appreciated. thanks- justin

 

[asmodeus]

no problems here are a few Jerm

this is 15 mins after starting it up retarded isn't it.

making sure the strength of the BK are top notch..

This is what the BK SM 250 is Skimming

right side

middle

left side

 

[Jeremy B.]

Outstanding! The photo of you biting the lid is hilarious!

 

[reeftivo]

Jeremy,

Received the BK mini from you-Thanks-Nice!!

Finally installed it and I've had the BK 160 mini running for 24 hours now and notice that it seems sensative to only an 1/8 inch water level fluctuation. I run a Tunze osmolator and only have 1/8 inch fluctuating between top off. I also have the skimmer operating at 10 1/4 inches and plan to bring the level down to 9 inches to see what it will do.

The effects I'm seeing are a good foam head forming and rising then as the water level drops slightly over time, so does the foam head until the ATO kicks in and pushes it back up 1/8in. Then the foam head comes back up. I haven't really heard anything about these being too level sensative when kept within the range I have, so I'm thinking I'm running the skimmer with too high of a water level. I have the air/water line an inch below the max level line on the body of the skimmer and the bubbles are breaking at about 1/3 up the neck of the skimmer. I've played with quite a few skimmers over the years and the foam head dropping in and out on the BK has me curious.

Your Thoughts?

Thanks in advance,

Tivo

 

[Jeremy B.]

This is pretty common, especially with a new skimmer. Once the skimmer gets slimed up it won't fluctuate that much with only 1/8", but it still will just very slightly. Give it time to break in and get going.

 

[reeftivo]

Thanks Jeremy,

I've lowered the water level in sump to 9 inches and it seems much more stable. I need this thing to skim dry since I'm running Zeo. Looking good so far! I'll get pics tonight.

Tivo

 

[rsuplido]

Quick question. What's the difference between a BK Mini 160 gen1 and gen2? Is there a way to upgrade to gen2? Thanks.

 

[mojo~]

Quick question. What's the difference between a BK Mini 160 gen1 and gen2? Is there a way to upgrade to gen2? Thanks.

The only difference on the 160 is where the air silencer is mounted.
the gen 2 180 and 200 have a custom volute and added air draw. the 160 remained the same.

 

[Padrino]

question for all of you. I currently have a BK mini 160 on my 90 but will be upgrading to a 500 gal system. What skimmer would you suggest? I was thinking SM250? Would that be suffice?