Bubble King

[GTR]

Ken, I'm aware of that. My only popint was I didn't have the problems on my 300 that were seen at DaveB"s house on his indoor/outdoor system and hince his opinions.

This skimmer never truly performed.

Here's a pic of the skimmer at his house. Looks like it's working to me but the pic is kinda small.

Dave also was concerned with the bubble plate in the bottom of the skimmer.

I think the bubble diffuser is a flawed design. This is the natural location of sediment and detritus to settle in the skimmer, and yet it is a sealed area which cannot be cleaned.

I don't run micro bags and the flow through my BB system is around 5,500 GPH into the common sump. Inside the body of my BK at least there is way to much flow to be concerned with detritus settling in the bottom.
Heres a pic of mine after several months of use.
This was taken in August and the skimmer was installed in March.

That said I can't compare the BK to others since I've not owned a skimmer anything like this in the past. I'm sure many other high end models would do the job.

I didn't look at the skim-off as a "which skimmer is better" but more of how each one worked, power consumption, ease of use, budget constraints.

We may be in the minority here on that one. It would be difficult at best to create a show-down that would be proof of anything either way.

SteveU

 

[Fliger]

Got my sump drilled and FW testing is underway. When people say silent, they mean SILENT. You do not know this thing is on, seriously. Amazing, especially since is equivalent to 4-5 Sedras - at only 70 watts or so. Lots of things in this hobby are overpriced, and although this may be one of them - it is the most amazing piece of engineering I have ever seen.

 

[moonpod]

Well Dave, I was gonna SWEET setup til you put those FUGLY stickers on there....

 

[CAreefer]

Great looking set-up Dave. One thing I did notice tho, the last baffle in your sump goes over. Isn't this the same type of problem nick is fighting with (micro bubbles)? Unless of course your water level will be over the top of the first baffle.

 

[Fliger]

LOL Chuck. I'll be rooting for Cal when they play SC on 11/12 if it makes you feel any better. Actually I'm probably going, we need a Nor Cal trip after reading our snobby wine posts ....

CAReefer - I had to change my baffle placement like 5 times during the construction of the sump due to unforeseen circumstances. This ended up being a comprimise and I think it'll be OK. I'm only running ~500GPH thru the sump so I doubt there will be a lot of bubbles. The water should shoot down into the first single baffles - bubbles will flow to the top, and across to the "under" baffle and stay at the top. I don't think there will be enough force to pull the bubbles underneath that baffle.

One complaint I have is that the narrow red PVC that you see coming out of the Red Dragon is too narrow. I don't know if I can get 500 non pressurized GPH thru there without backflow issues. But I'll find out this week. I think that since the recommended GPH on this RD is 300-600 (per the pump sticker) - the inlet should take 600 non pressurized GPH. It still might, we'll see. I had about 725GPH and it couldn't come close to handling it in my fresh water tests.

I think that Klaus will include US adapters for all further US shipments. Another recommendation I might make is to make the "T" on the riser tubes threaded. I had to cement in the red PVC tubes (the horizontal ones).

Will keep you posted!

(ps, the stickers will come off and get shredded if the Chefs lose to the Donkey's on MNF)

 

[moonpod]

S'OK, I still cheer for my boy Tony G. He's my fantasy TE anyways. Then again, Rod Smith and Champ Bailey are on my team too....

Actually in terms of the pipe diameter, the choke point IMO for a gravity feed is the inlet. The outflow pipes will handle it just fine. It's the inlet that may not make 500 without using a pump.

 

[CAreefer]

Wont there be some level of suction at the inlet side of the pump? IMM, this would make up for the gravity feed. No experience with this mind you, just a thought.

 

[moonpod]

yeah, that's what I'm hoping b/c I'm gonna gravity feed mine....

 

[Fliger]

Yeah - that was the pipe I meant. The small red one in the pic on the intake of the pump. I think it's less than 3/4" but I need to check. I think that's a design flaw, for those who want to gravity feed this skimmer (which is always optimal). But I have yet to test it, although my guess is it won't even take 500 GPH.

I didn't find that when I turned on the pump suction increased. AAMOF, I'm pretty sure it doesn't at all. I have an air relief valve that FORTUNATELY has a U-Tube back into the sump. I say fortunately because when I fired it up - a lot of water came out of it. Anyway - I was watching the discharge and it did not decrease when I turned the Red D on.

I'm going to do some testing today with a Mag 5 and a Mag 7 so I'll let you know. I have about 5' of head with a couple 90's - I'll figure out head loss.

Did I mention this thing is silent?????

 

[moonpod]

Silence is golden Dave and yeah, I already know about that part....

 

[Klaus Jansen]

I bet a deltec can, did you not read the review on the BK on reef frontiers. They had to stop as the BK was not doing that well. QUOTE]



Fairplay ??? Testing by Deltec-Dealer ?

Look the picture.... this is the same skimmer where go later to testing by Dave.. running by US-Reefer

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regards... Klaus

 

[NAGA]

4 new Bubble King skimmers are being delivered today to my place. I am taking shipment for Gary today. I am pretty excited to see these new DC motors. Should be an interesting comparison with the RD's

 

[RGibson]

NAGA do you know voltage of the DC motors.

 

[Vili_Shark]

Hi
There are some companies that rate their skimmer for volumes that they can not handle (FME) for example Tunze 3140 rated for up to 2000L. which is 526 gallon.

I found Deltec ratings to be quite accurate (Normal load/ heavy load ratings).

How about BK?
Do you find for example be able to skim a 2000L. tank?
http://english.royal-exclusiv.de/index2.htm

 

[GTR]

I have no idea how any manufacturer develops the ratings figures they show for the model lineups. Is their a known standard that's kept secret for them to reference? :lol:

I think as hobbyist we can only compare air flow, water flow, reaction chamber size, etc. that's listed and hope that the overall design of the skimmer is such that it makes good use of it all. Everything else IMO is just based on the experience of users and how it handles the load on each individual tank. That's why I think most skimmers shoppers tend to buy bigger than the listed figures suggest.

SteveU

 

[Vili_Shark]

Oooooopsss.....

I meant to say, do you find for example BK-250 to be able to skim a 2000L. tank...

Cheers.

 

[Fliger]

If I remember correctly - when I was comparing large external skimmers I found that the air intake of a BK vs recommended water volume is pretty close to the air intake of a H&S/Deltec vs recommended water volume.

But my experience with larger external skimmers for a 500G (2,000L) tank would be at least a BK300. That's +2,000LPH. I had an H&S skimmer that drew ~1,700LPH and it was more than enough for my 340, but I do not think it could keep up with a 500G. I would say the BK300 or the H&S A300 3x1260, which are about the same price ($2,200). The Deltec 1003 is comparable as well but a little more expensive.

 

[NAGA]

I believe the voltage is 24. Not too sure though however I am literally waiting for the truck to pull up with what they tell me is 500lbs. of Bubble King skimmers.......lol.

It's due here any minute according to the trucking company. When it arrives I will tear into my skimmer and tell you guys within the next hour or so.

As far as the ratings go for skimmers and the gallonage they rate them for is a subjective and very oppinionated topic. Gladly though I will share my view.

Having used Deltec, H&S, Tunze, and Bubble King I can say that 3 of the 4 rate their skimmers very accurately. Tunze I think has lately been a little more specific when they rate the gallonage their skimmers. They have different ratings for fish only and reef tank ratings. My experience has shown me for instance that their old 3160 skimmer should be put on a reef tank no larger than 200g's. The new models I think are accurately rated however, I haven't used one so that could be deemed as speculation to some. I have a Bubble King 500 on my 750 gallon set up and it works like a charm. I have tons of fish and I feed what amounts to a cereal bowl full of frozen cubes every day. Honestly though I think a 400 would be big enough and I would like to see what a 300 would do on the tank. Might be a fun experiment

 

[NAGA]

 

[NAGA]

MAN THIS IS FUN!!!!!