Bubble King Skimmer Club
- Thread starter JohnL
- Start date
TheReefKeeper
Aquaholic
Gen1
jthao
Super Saiyan
reefkeeper: honestly I had the same issue. I bought it from a guy who couldn't get it to work right and he wasn't too satisfied with it. I then used it and was not satisfied with it for the first few days.... I was wondering the same thing "is it really worth this much $$?" But then I played around with it and found it's "sweet" spot. now it pulls dark nasty skimmate like crazy (I empty the cup every 3 days!!)
I don't know how the minis work, but I have the 200deluxe internal and there's a lot of "tweaking" that you have to do to get it right. I had it in 8" of water and it didn't perform well, now I have it in 9 inches of water and it pulls like crazy. funny 1" of water can make such a big difference.
I say play with it a little, try it in different water levels, try adjusting the pump intake nozzle (I don't know if you have this) also try adjusting the water level inside the skimmer. I find that the BKs work best when the water level is right up to the bottom of the collection cup where the "neck" begins.
good luck.
I don't know how the minis work, but I have the 200deluxe internal and there's a lot of "tweaking" that you have to do to get it right. I had it in 8" of water and it didn't perform well, now I have it in 9 inches of water and it pulls like crazy. funny 1" of water can make such a big difference.
I say play with it a little, try it in different water levels, try adjusting the pump intake nozzle (I don't know if you have this) also try adjusting the water level inside the skimmer. I find that the BKs work best when the water level is right up to the bottom of the collection cup where the "neck" begins.
good luck.
TheReefKeeper
Aquaholic
Cool Thanks Bro' I will give it a shot in 9in of water worth a shot.
That's impressive for 3 day of skimmate! I wish mine looked like that.
I posted the question in another forum I need all the input I can get
Thanks Again!
That's impressive for 3 day of skimmate! I wish mine looked like that.
I posted the question in another forum I need all the input I can get
Thanks Again!
jthao
Super Saiyan
yeah..... try different things with it. it will act differently when you adjust the nozzle in the front also. I would do 9" of water because you said that you get wet skimmate, that might be because your water level was at 10" and this made the water level in the skimmer rise also thus producing wet skimmate.
I have alot of fish (30 or so) that's why I get a lot of skimmate.
I have alot of fish (30 or so) that's why I get a lot of skimmate.
TheReefKeeper
Aquaholic
Thanks Got it at 9 lets see what happens!
TheReefKeeper
Aquaholic
No airflow meter. No different. Really hating this thing. Knowing the airflow is going to do what? It's going to skim or not. I can't imagin airflow is the problem it seems like design to me. It seems like their isn't enough power for the diamater neck or should I say their isn't enough reaction time in the lower body you are doing all of the reaction in the neck once that is dirty skimming stops. Every other skimmer I've ever owned you want the neck to stay clean. That is impossible with this. I am no skimmier expert by any means hopefully klaus will jump in and give an explination to what the design/function idea behind this is. I am also wondering if that's why a gen 2 came out.
jnb
Premium Member
I had the 160 - it worked great, I now run the 180 gen2 - it works great but continues to break in and is getting even better.
My water level is at 8 inches exactly and it was with the 160. It is the most consistent skimmer and pulls as good as or better than my previous ER, H&S, Elos.
What happens when you cover the air intake with your finger - the bubbles rise rather quickly, yes, just checking.
You know how things need to slime up to work nicely? Well, I believe that leaving the cup, white area at the bottom of the cup (inside of course as it turns into the white material - that the whole white part should never be cleaned - when I cleaned it, the skimmer took longer to start skimming and I have never cleaned it since - the browner, slimerier the better in my experience.
When you close up the pipe (water flow) by twisting it, the water/bubble level rises - yes? and you have it set so that the division of more or less solid water, where it breaks into less water/more bubbles is around the level suggested on the pipe and/or manual - yes? (I run my a tad higher so that the bubbles at the point where they become bigger is about 1.5 inches up into the cup - you know about 3 inches from the top of the cup.
Have you changed any piping recently - overflow, new acrylic item in the sump, etc - doing this can suspend skimming for more than a day in my experience. - before you installed it, did you remove the volute and check for obstructions, etc?
When I clean my tanks (hands in) or some foods do slow down skimming but it comes back to normal in an hour - and it takes more than a simple quick hand dunk to make this happen - so what you are experiencing is not normal (in my experience)
Perhaps give a list of what you put in your tank like special liquid selcon, reefbooster, etc) - in my experience these slow down skimming for a while.
What size tank do you have this on?
I assume your system is mature not newly set up?
My water level is at 8 inches exactly and it was with the 160. It is the most consistent skimmer and pulls as good as or better than my previous ER, H&S, Elos.
What happens when you cover the air intake with your finger - the bubbles rise rather quickly, yes, just checking.
You know how things need to slime up to work nicely? Well, I believe that leaving the cup, white area at the bottom of the cup (inside of course as it turns into the white material - that the whole white part should never be cleaned - when I cleaned it, the skimmer took longer to start skimming and I have never cleaned it since - the browner, slimerier the better in my experience.
When you close up the pipe (water flow) by twisting it, the water/bubble level rises - yes? and you have it set so that the division of more or less solid water, where it breaks into less water/more bubbles is around the level suggested on the pipe and/or manual - yes? (I run my a tad higher so that the bubbles at the point where they become bigger is about 1.5 inches up into the cup - you know about 3 inches from the top of the cup.
Have you changed any piping recently - overflow, new acrylic item in the sump, etc - doing this can suspend skimming for more than a day in my experience. - before you installed it, did you remove the volute and check for obstructions, etc?
When I clean my tanks (hands in) or some foods do slow down skimming but it comes back to normal in an hour - and it takes more than a simple quick hand dunk to make this happen - so what you are experiencing is not normal (in my experience)
Perhaps give a list of what you put in your tank like special liquid selcon, reefbooster, etc) - in my experience these slow down skimming for a while.
What size tank do you have this on?
I assume your system is mature not newly set up?
moondoggy4
Team RC
Reefkeeper you said something that grabbed my attention "" it seems to not have enough power for the diamater" I have had the same problem with my ER CS8/2 it could only make some bubbles but no skimmate it seemed to not have enough power to make skimmate. So I thought it was a weak pump so I borrowed a brand new Sedra 5000 it worked a little better. So my conclusion after 6 months of frustration is that the skimmer is oversized. I put my old CS 5/3 and it pulls a cup a day. It is a 120 reef with 100ppm nitrates. So I hope this helps,
TheReefKeeper
Aquaholic
Yes when I block the air intake it rises quickly.
I don't understand this question.
Q-you have it set so that the division of more or less solid water, where it breaks into less water/more bubbles is around the level suggested on the pipe and/or manual - yes?
I have the water level at the line suggested and have tried a tad higher to the bottom of the white where the neck meets the body.
So don't clean it ever?
Is their supposed to be a o-ring at the bottom of the riser ya know the pipe you twist?
The water level is 9" it was at 10 1/2 wasn't good their. it's better at 9"
The tank is a year old nothing new. Running a calcium reactor every couple days I add Mag.
I know it common sense about the air meter but it's hard to imagine I am the second owner of this skimmer who can't get it going. Could it really be a bad pump. Or a Air issue? I'm asking not telling. It's loud as all can be (Air sucking).
I don't understand this question.
Q-you have it set so that the division of more or less solid water, where it breaks into less water/more bubbles is around the level suggested on the pipe and/or manual - yes?
I have the water level at the line suggested and have tried a tad higher to the bottom of the white where the neck meets the body.
So don't clean it ever?
Is their supposed to be a o-ring at the bottom of the riser ya know the pipe you twist?
The water level is 9" it was at 10 1/2 wasn't good their. it's better at 9"
The tank is a year old nothing new. Running a calcium reactor every couple days I add Mag.
I know it common sense about the air meter but it's hard to imagine I am the second owner of this skimmer who can't get it going. Could it really be a bad pump. Or a Air issue? I'm asking not telling. It's loud as all can be (Air sucking).
TheReefKeeper
Aquaholic
The only reason I said that was because they came out with the Gen 2 fixing the problems of the gen 1 and also lowering the bubble plate increasing reaction time. I would hope that's not the case. It does seem like a bigger pump would do the trick.
jnb
Premium Member
when newish to me my level was even higher than you mention
I have the water level at the line suggested and have tried a tad higher to the bottom of the white where the neck meets the body.
So don't clean it ever? not the area I was talking about - never - I suspect it is a crucial area to start forming good bubbles and if it is always cleaned it looses the slime coat - it does not get much of a build up not like the neck at all
Is their supposed to be a o-ring at the bottom of the riser ya know the pipe you twist? not sure but as long as you can adjustment the level where you want it - where is the top line of you bubbles before they get big? mine is always around 1.5 - 2 inches into the visable cup as described above
The water level is 9" it was at 10 1/2 wasn't good their. it's better at 9"
The tank is a year old nothing new. Running a calcium reactor every couple days I add Mag.
I know it common sense about the air meter but it's hard to imagine I am the second owner of this skimmer who can't get it going. Could it really be a bad pump. Of course it could - but what are the chances in %'s - who the heck knows
Or a Air issue? Again, did you check the volute? You don't need to answer, if you did not check it, then you don't know if it has an obstruction but if you are getting fine bubbles and can adjust the water level around the line and have the fine bubble level anywhere near where I say 1.5 inches - 2 inches then I suspect from there it may be a waiting game for a few more days = that something needs to slime some more.
It may be oversized for your system but I can not find the non-gen2 mini200 specs where I am used to seeing them aquarium specialty
I don't know how the other guy had it and if he knew what he was doing - Every single skimmer I have installed goes through break-in sometimes 2 weeks and ih did not give his a chance to do so, and if that skimmer had a tad more manufacturing residue on it, and'/or if the guy that sold it to you washed it with something that further makes break -in longer - then wait it out
especially if you get the water level when running to the line with the bubbles where I said 3 times now.
Good luck - send a picture of it - a good one from the top of the cup to 1 inch below the line water level line
And I don't know if 1/16 of an inch swing in sump level is bad - THEY SAY KEEP IT LEVEL 1/16 swing is not necc. so.
I have the water level at the line suggested and have tried a tad higher to the bottom of the white where the neck meets the body.
So don't clean it ever? not the area I was talking about - never - I suspect it is a crucial area to start forming good bubbles and if it is always cleaned it looses the slime coat - it does not get much of a build up not like the neck at all
Is their supposed to be a o-ring at the bottom of the riser ya know the pipe you twist? not sure but as long as you can adjustment the level where you want it - where is the top line of you bubbles before they get big? mine is always around 1.5 - 2 inches into the visable cup as described above
The water level is 9" it was at 10 1/2 wasn't good their. it's better at 9"
The tank is a year old nothing new. Running a calcium reactor every couple days I add Mag.
I know it common sense about the air meter but it's hard to imagine I am the second owner of this skimmer who can't get it going. Could it really be a bad pump. Of course it could - but what are the chances in %'s - who the heck knows
Or a Air issue? Again, did you check the volute? You don't need to answer, if you did not check it, then you don't know if it has an obstruction but if you are getting fine bubbles and can adjust the water level around the line and have the fine bubble level anywhere near where I say 1.5 inches - 2 inches then I suspect from there it may be a waiting game for a few more days = that something needs to slime some more.
It may be oversized for your system but I can not find the non-gen2 mini200 specs where I am used to seeing them aquarium specialty
I don't know how the other guy had it and if he knew what he was doing - Every single skimmer I have installed goes through break-in sometimes 2 weeks and ih did not give his a chance to do so, and if that skimmer had a tad more manufacturing residue on it, and'/or if the guy that sold it to you washed it with something that further makes break -in longer - then wait it out
especially if you get the water level when running to the line with the bubbles where I said 3 times now.
Good luck - send a picture of it - a good one from the top of the cup to 1 inch below the line water level line
And I don't know if 1/16 of an inch swing in sump level is bad - THEY SAY KEEP IT LEVEL 1/16 swing is not necc. so.
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Hi, I am having the same frustration as Reefkeeper, I have a 120gallon reef and a Bubble king mini 180 first generation. I have tried different water level heights, taken the pump apart to make sure there was no obstructions, moving one of my baffles in the sump to give the skimmer more room,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,. I have to raise the water level in the skimmer WELL above the water level limit line in order to get skimmate. My tank is has alot of sps and alot of fish,blue tang, yellow tang, mandarin, firefish, wrasse, 3 bartlett anthias, copperband butterfly, hawkfish, 3 neon gobies, clownfish, cardinal. Today I decided to try and run 5/8" inside diameter tubing from the air tube to an outside wall of my house in order to bring fresh air in. If this doesn't work is there any place I could send the skimmer to be serviced?
moondoggy4
Team RC
How bout pouring a little skimmate in the sump and see how the skimmer reacts. The skimmer should go crazy and skim it out instantly.
Johnny Reefer
New member
I like my BK SM 250 enough that I got a second one for the FOWLR.
Reef BK SM 250:
FOWLR BK SM 250:
Reef BK SM 250:
FOWLR BK SM 250:
TheReefKeeper
Aquaholic
Yes I did check the volute. Their are no obstructions.
I have the water just above where the neck meets the body. It seems better but that's almost a half inch above where the mfg suggests. It appears the bubbles are reaching the overflow point into the cup. The problem is when the water is at the point the MFG suggests the neck gets so dirty it doesn't make it into the cup. The point where the water level sits now in the body the bubbles larger are as you said 1.5 -2 inches visible in the neck that seems right. The bubbles are fine and constant the air is too I seems to be a workhorse. I can tell that If the bubbles make it into the cup this would be a great skimmer until then I'm not convinced.
I was told it was give a vinegar bath before I bought it. I also cleaned it when the neck got dirty about 3 day's into it because it seemed it was too dirty to make it into the cup. That's just normal skimmer routine for me and I'm in that habit. After 10 year's in this hobby and about 8 skimmers it's just common sense that's what you do when bubbles aren't making it into the cup. Odiously this is a different breed of skimmer. I'll let it run it's course and post some pics later .
I can't imagine it's oversized I am reading 5 on No3. I have a ton of sps and fish.
Jonny Reefer-I hear the SM blow the mini's away. If I had the space I would have bought one of those. i think the skimmer's function was comprimised with the footprint.
jnb-I appreciate all the help!!
I have the water just above where the neck meets the body. It seems better but that's almost a half inch above where the mfg suggests. It appears the bubbles are reaching the overflow point into the cup. The problem is when the water is at the point the MFG suggests the neck gets so dirty it doesn't make it into the cup. The point where the water level sits now in the body the bubbles larger are as you said 1.5 -2 inches visible in the neck that seems right. The bubbles are fine and constant the air is too I seems to be a workhorse. I can tell that If the bubbles make it into the cup this would be a great skimmer until then I'm not convinced.
I was told it was give a vinegar bath before I bought it. I also cleaned it when the neck got dirty about 3 day's into it because it seemed it was too dirty to make it into the cup. That's just normal skimmer routine for me and I'm in that habit. After 10 year's in this hobby and about 8 skimmers it's just common sense that's what you do when bubbles aren't making it into the cup. Odiously this is a different breed of skimmer. I'll let it run it's course and post some pics later .
I can't imagine it's oversized I am reading 5 on No3. I have a ton of sps and fish.
Jonny Reefer-I hear the SM blow the mini's away. If I had the space I would have bought one of those. i think the skimmer's function was comprimised with the footprint.
jnb-I appreciate all the help!!
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