Bubble King Skimmer Club

[AcroporAddict]

A few pages back, Jeremy recommended a SM 250 for me in my 450 gallon net volume system. I decided to go with a 300 anyways, hehehe! Just got this from Premium last week, and it is kicking butt in my sump. Didn't even need to break it in. I am using a Vertex Vectra Engine neck cleaner/lid with it.

 

[moondoggy4]

^^^^^ Wow Nice skimmer

 

[ArmanS]

I am planning on selling my Alpha 170 skimmer to fund a Bubble king Supermarin Skimmer. I had a 150g DT, 100g Sump, and 60g Frag tank and want to have SPS and lots of fish so I was thinking a Supermarin 200 would be sufficient. Do you guys think a 200 would be fine, or would a 250 be better?

Also, I have the Neck Cleaner for my Alpha 170, anyway I can use that one and just purchase a bigger lid for it for the new skimmer?
Thanks,
Arman

 

[slief]

I am planning on selling my Alpha 170 skimmer to fund a Bubble king Supermarin Skimmer. I had a 150g DT, 100g Sump, and 60g Frag tank and want to have SPS and lots of fish so I was thinking a Supermarin 200 would be sufficient. Do you guys think a 200 would be fine, or would a 250 be better?

Also, I have the Neck Cleaner for my Alpha 170, anyway I can use that one and just purchase a bigger lid for it for the new skimmer?
Thanks,
Arman

I was in almost the same boat a week ago... I have an Alpha 300 which has been the best skimmer I've ever owned and I sit here today waiting for UPS to arrive any moment with my new SM250. It's out for delivery and I'm chomping at the bit. Photos to follow late today once I have it installed. I was really torn between the SM250 and the SM300 however I would much rather have a skimmer that is working hard 24x7 than one that works hard only to exhaust the nutrient levels and then kind of idles along until the build back up. Some times less is more.

In your case, I'd say the SM200 would be more than adequate. You just don't really want to go over sized with these skimmers. They are extremely efficient and if they exhaust the waste load in the tank, they will slow down substantially until the nutrients build back up. As such, sizing depends greatly on your bio load. The SM200 will be much more efficient from a skimmate production standpoint that your Alpha.

 

[ArmanS]

I was in almost the same boat a week ago... I have an Alpha 300 which has been the best skimmer I've ever owned and I sit here today waiting for UPS to arrive any moment with my new SM250. It's out for delivery and I'm chomping at the bit. Photos to follow late today once I have it installed. I was really torn between the SM250 and the SM300 however I would much rather have a skimmer that is working hard 24x7 than one that works hard only to exhaust the nutrient levels and then kind of idles along until the build back up. Some times less is more.

In your case, I'd say the SM200 would be more than adequate. You just don't really want to go over sized with these skimmers. They are extremely efficient and if they exhaust the waste load in the tank, they will slow down substantially until the nutrients build back up. As such, sizing depends greatly on your bio load. The SM200 will be much more efficient from a skimmate production standpoint that your Alpha.

Thanks Scott,

I am leaning towards the SM200 as well, with the Alpha's like you said it was very important to size correctly so I think that is what I will go with. Did you order yours from PA? Was it in stock?

Thanks,
Arman

 

[slief]

Thanks Scott,

I am leaning towards the SM200 as well, with the Alpha's like you said it was very important to size correctly so I think that is what I will go with. Did you order yours from PA? Was it in stock?

Thanks,
Arman

I did order from Premium and I was fortunate that they had it in stock. That serves my compulsion well with near instant gratification!

My new SM250 just arrived.. I will be installing it late today. Thanks Premium Aquatics for the great service as always! I will followup once I get her installed. Tomorrow my new lid with built in wash down will arrive from Aqua Driver in Europe. Sadly the lid size on my Aqua Driver SCH was different on the Alpha so I ordered the new lid and will use my existing motor and wiper. I will likely do my update tomorrow once that arrives and is installed.

 

[ArmanS]

Looks great! Once I sell my alpha I will be ordering me a SuperMarin 200 from PA!

 

[slief]

I think you should go home early today.

Skimmer is all set up and running and my Alpha 300 is soaking in a bleach water mix. I also had to make templates for the new lids for the sump. Well actually half lids as you can see from the photos below. The old lids wouldn't work with the new skimmer because I had to change it's orientation to fit properly despite the fact that the new skimmer has a slightly smaller footprint. I just dropped the templates off at my acrylic fabricator who happens to be a few blocks from my house. All too convenient. Those should be ready tomorrow. Also due to arrive tomorrow is the new lid for my Aqua Driver self cleaning head. This one is going to include their wash down which saves me from having to make that again like I did for my Alpha. All I will need to do is screw the motor/wiper on to it and plug it back in. As such I will update again tomorrow.

In the mean time, below are a few more photos. The skimmer has been running for about 2 hours and already has a nice foam head. Obviously I've got a ways to go (probably a week) before the skimmer is broken in but I'm pleased with the fact that it's already skimming nicely and the foam head is already getting dark looking. It's kind of tough to swallow the fact that this skimmer looks smaller than my Alpha 300 as it's kind of counter intuitive but sometimes less is more and I'm confident that despite this skimmers slightly smaller form factor, it will carry a bigger punch. So far, I have good reason to be optimistic.

For reference, skimmer is in 9" depth of water. RD3 controller is at full power and stand pipe is about 2/3 open.

 

[pmrossetti]

Yeah, it definitely looks smaller. One pump too.
Maybe because the reaction chamber is a tube instead of all cone it handles more.

 

[slief]

Skimmer is starting to settle in nicely! Better than I would have expected after only running for 13 hours when this picture was taken.

 

[loup]

Any chance the double cone 150 will have the rd3 upgrade? I have about 80 gal total volume light bioload system and was considering the doublecone 180.

 

[pmrossetti]

Lookin good Scott.

 

[AcroporAddict]

The SM 300 is shorter than the Alpha 300 by about 3-4" as well, so the difference must be fairly pronounced with your SM 250. Same 300 mm diameter body base and cup, although the SM 300 body volume is probably a bit more than the alpha 300s, as it has a bit more of a barrel shape.

I chalk the shorter height up to the double cone design.

 

[s2nhle]

Any chance the double cone 150 will have the rd3 upgrade? I have about 80 gal total volume light bioload system and was considering the doublecone 180.

+1. I am waiting for this also.

 

[acesq]

Skimmer is starting to settle in nicely! Better than I would have expected after only running for 13 hours when this picture was taken.

Nice. Where did you pick up the aquadriver self cleaning head? Looks pretty awesome.

 

[slief]

Nice. Where did you pick up the aquadriver self cleaning head? Looks pretty awesome.

I got my Aqua Driver for my Alpha 300 from Premium Aquatics a few years back. I needed a different lid for my SM250 so I ordered just the lid directly from Aqua Driver in Europe. Was hoping it would arrive today so I could mount the motor and wiper but it's still in transit. I guess I will have to be more patient. Hopefully it will arrive tomorrow but if not, I may be waiting until next week as it shipping to my office and we close tomorrow and wont reopen until Monday.

 

[slief]

This Supermarin 250 is a beast! This was taken this morning. The skimmer has been running for about 38 hours when this was taken. Sump level 9", power setting is at 42 watts of a max of 50 watts or 78 out of 99 for the power level.

 

[pmrossetti]

Great efficiency Scott.

 

[Klaus Jansen]

Any chance the double cone 150 will have the rd3 upgrade? I have about 80 gal total volume light bioload system and was considering the doublecone 180.

Yes, it´s under development, comming soon... it´s a very small hightech 12 Volt SineWave Pump. Look the stator and rotor prototyp on the left side from the RD3 Pump...
We make it for the Double-Cones 130 and 150 + Mini Bubble Kings. All Parts are made from Titanium Grade2. All Parts are made in our Factory in Germany. ( The CNC-made Propellers are come from the United States )






This very small 12 Volt DC pump is for the smaller skimmers with max. 60 Watt and for propellerpumps.

best regards ... Klaus

ps.. thanks to all our Customers for the pretty pictures :wave: Yes, the supermarines are one of our best skimmers and Premium-Aquatics is our best RE-Dealer in USA include best customer-support.

 

[ArmanS]

Just ordered my Bubble King Super Marin 200 with RD3!!!

Cannot wait!