Bubble King Skimmer Club

[Jeremy B.]

The inner neck is supposed to come out, but the outside of the cup does not disconnect from the bottom. Did you purchase this locally, or was it shipped to you?

You should be able to use some Weld-on, I believe #16, to fix it. Confirm with your local plastics supplier about the Weld-on, by telling them that you're gluing PVC to Cast acrylic, and they will set you up with what's needed.

 

[ghostman]

Thanks Jeremy. It was shipped to me, but doesn't appear to be damaged in any way. The outside of the cup slips easily off/on. I'll check into the weld on to fix it. I appreciate the fast response. Thanks again.

 

[shaggss]

G'Day Jeremy

I have just hooked up my 160 on a 57G new tank. Live rock added yesterday. Skimmer in 23cm water with water in skimmer to the max line limit.

The pump is dead silent and everything seems to be seated properly. When I place my finger over the air intake, the water level rises quite rapidly.

It is spewing out massive amount of micro bubbles. Is this normal and does it need to "slim up"? I see others don't do this?

Any thoughts?

Thanks for your help.

 

[Jeremy B.]

@shaggss, there is something in the system making the skimmer go crazy. Most likely this is due to the fresh, uncured liverock within the system, or possibly epoxy from putting in the rock work. It should settle down in just a few days.

 

[shaggss]

OK thanks Jeremy. I got the rock out of a very established system so didn't think it would be an issue. For the record can you confirm that there is no adjustment on the volute with the Mini 160 and it is just on the stand pipe?

Thanks for your help!

 

[NyReefNoob]

no adjustment on the volute of the 160's

 

[cshutchinson]

First day with the new BK! :lolspin: BK SM250 in 8 inches of water. Running for a few hours now and already has picked up the PVC shavings suspended in the tank that I missed.

Thanks for all the help Jeremy.

 

[Jeremy B.]

Looks great, Chris! All those long hours in the fish room are going to pay off very soon!

 

[jbanks]

First day with the new BK! :lolspin: BK SM250 in 8 inches of water. Running for a few hours now and already has picked up the PVC shavings suspended in the tank that I missed.

Thanks for all the help Jeremy.

Very clean setup! You're going to love that skimmer! What size tank is that on and do you have a build thread? If so, I would love to tag along.

 

[cshutchinson]

Very clean setup! You're going to love that skimmer! What size tank is that on and do you have a build thread? If so, I would love to tag along.

This is a 280 gallon 72 x 36 x 25, with 100 gallon sump 56x30x15

I didn't do a build thread as nearly everything I did here was the original idea of someone else here

 

[jbanks]

Hey, redundancy is weclome here on RC. :lol: Good luck with your system..

 

[NyReefNoob]

and if anyone is interested i have a gen 2 bk mini 160 f\s

 

[Bricky]

So I'm needing some help. I added a second RD2500 pump to my BK400 awhile back. This was added on the recommendation of Proline and RE.

What I've noticed is that the water wabbles at the top of the neck (before the cup) and the bubbles are bursting in the neck at the level where I end up setting it (Not a nice stable foam). The skimmer has been sitting in 8" of water and the volutes have been set from all the way closed to lining up with the dot as recommended. Things still don't change in the foam and water wable.

Would changing out the RD2500's for RD2000's make more sense? Or, just change one of the RD2500's for a RD2000?

A little rant:

I am down one pump right now due to a broken impellar and poor customer service from RE (NOTE: Not Proline or Premium Aquatics - they've been great in trying to help for the last 6 months), and because I am down with a broken pump I was thinking of improving the performance with the RD2000.

I could use some input and help. Much appreciated.

Matt Bricknell

 

[Creetin]

To me it sounds like it has too much turbid water flow. The pumps placed like that are pushing against each other. I would have set them at a rt angle from each other so to not have opposing forces colliding. You would get more of a cyclone pattern of spin in the bubble chamber.
I would try a couple things first before changing pumps. Can ya find some pvc elbows? I would get a 22.5 degree elbow and a 45 degree elbow that fits or can be modified to fit the exhaust of the new pump inside the bubble chamber of the skimmer. Just do one pump and try the 22.5 first if you need more go for the 45.
That should deflect it enough to get the straight on force reduced and get a nice swirl pattern going again.
This is just my opinion, and a elbow is a cheap piece, So if it does not work it will only cost a couple bucks.

 

[Bricky]

I wish I could because that's a great idea. The direct across from eachother was the recommendation of Proline/Klause. How would I get the elbows under the bubble plate? It's not removable. I could drill a new hole 90 degrees from the original, but that means that I would need a small pvc piece that penetrates the body and bubble plate. Sounds easy, but that's a part that doesn't get ordered often and would probably take an additional six months to get. I like your thinking though. Even if it means making my BK a swiss cheese BK.

 

[Creetin]

Can the bottom plate come off?
Also i thought the top of the bubble chamber came off as well.

After a second look it looks like the body and plate is not removable for cleaning.
Try placing the skimmer exhaust pipe under water and tell me what that does.
It should put back pressure on the pumps more and slow the waterflow down a bit.
Good luck!!

 

[0p3n Brain]

Burned up RDII!

Burned up RDII!

I'm bummed. I left town for a week and forgot to fill my topoff tank. Got home and my Red Dragon pump was completely out of the water. I have a BK Deluxe 300 Internal with a Red Dragon, Red Devil II Titanium model 170W-110V-3M.

Of course now it won't run.

Anyone know what options I have?

Can I repair? Can I send it somewhere?

If it's toast, where can I get a replacement?

It's a Red Dragon, Red Devil II Titanium model 170W-110V-3M

Thanks

 

[watsonj]

I just purchased a used 200 mini gen 1 , can I upgrade it to a gen 2, have I made a terrible mistake

 

[Jeremy B.]

I just purchased a used 200 mini gen 1 , can I upgrade it to a gen 2, have I made a terrible mistake

You can not upgrade a Mini Gen 1 to a Gen 2. You should be fine though, the performance of the Gen 1 skimmers is not bad by any means.

 

[watsonj]

Well I just ordered a gen 2 mini 200 and a self cleaning head last night from you Jeremy. I will sell the gen 1 on, do you have both of these items in stock?