bubble magus-BK knockoff

[GSMguy]

My apple computers built in China is the highest quality computers i have seen, much better build quality than the american made computers......

China does quality control too but its expensive and you dont have to pay for it when you have something built there....

As for Medical Research, It's easier to do when you don't have to tell the patients they are in a study....

 

[mhurley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11809567#post11809567 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mhurley
so let's talk about skimmers.

 

[Lubu]

Those BubbleMagus currently on ebay are not covered by warranty and are not designed to run on 110V 60Hz enviroments.

Having said that, they are currently testing skimmers to run on the US voltage/frequency. I dont think they are competing with the high end skimmers like BK but instead the mid level markets like the Octo and ER.

 

[Lubu]

Double post

 

[GUILLO1]

I sent the ebayer an email asking if their skimmer would work in the U.S on 120v. This is the response I got from them this morning


"cant using in us"

What does it mean? I guess he means that it can't be used in the U.S.

 

[ostrow]

Again, a simple voltage converter is all that is needed. Cost about $30 for a good one that can handle up to 200 watts or so.

 

[Lubu]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11811866#post11811866 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ostrow
Again, a simple voltage converter is all that is needed. Cost about $30 for a good one that can handle up to 200 watts or so.

Those are 50Hz pumps. In the US(60Hz) it will likely run 20% faster and burnout the pump.

So to get it to work, you can buy one of those frequency converters on top of the voltage converter.
http://www.hzfrequencyconverter.com/60Hzto50Hz.html

 

[Lubu]

Sry double post again

 

[tgreene]

Or rather than buying a bunch of converters and regulators to operate a mid-range skimmer that has extremely obvious design flaws, you could use the extra money spent to buy a skimmer that was designed to be operated @ 120v/60Hz, has a warranty and manufacturers support, and be done with it!

 

[bristle]

What about replacing the pump to resolve the 220V issue?

 

[tgreene]

You still have all of the following issues:

1) No warranty
2) No spare parts availability
3) Poorly designed 3" neck
4) 1/4" JG fitting for the collection cup drain
5) Pump replacement cost
6) New pump size to alloted space issues
7) Metric --> Standard conversion issues

Seriously, if somebody likes the design that much, then simply DIY your own from that design, with standard US fittings and the pump of your choice. You can fix the design flaws and probably still be further ahead financially in the end.

-Tim

 

[ostrow]

I want to see how that pump and impeller work if I'm gonna test it. I've been assured that the frequency isn't much of an issue but will confirm.

 

[ostrow]

tgreene -- if the neck is matched to air intake it's not a poor design! The rest of your points are non-issues, really. Can all be dealt with.

Why get it? Well, me, I have a beast of a skimmer already but these look cool and someone said "who wants to test it?" I'm game under the offer above, though still haven't heard anything.

Looks like a good design, actually. And from close-up pics well-built. So I'm interested in seeing how it performs with the Atman pump they have on it.

 

[Lubu]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11812083#post11812083 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bristle
What about replacing the pump to resolve the 220V issue?

Good question. On the BM100 they use ATMAN pumps, and ATMAN pumps = ViaAqua pumps. Not exactly sure which model tho, but i'm guessing VA2300/2600.

BM99 uses NEW JET 1700, no 110V/60Hz US version.

 

[bristle]

I don't know if this skimmer is NW, downdraft, venturi...didn't really look at the specs.

Maybe someone can hack a 1260 NW in there or some other pump comparable in size. Maybe even a Rio1700? Sicce, or aquabee..?

 

[ostrow]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11814729#post11814729 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bristle
I don't know if this skimmer is NW, downdraft, venturi...didn't really look at the specs.

Maybe someone can hack a 1260 NW in there or some other pump comparable in size. Maybe even a Rio1700? Sicce, or aquabee..?

Maybe a Sedra. Not the others if the neck is 3" or 3.5".

They sell others with Aquabees and Eheims.

It is a needlewheel. And one of the attractions is it looks from photos to be a very good needlewheel.

 

[Lubu]

They sell others with Aquabees and Eheims.

Aquabee YES, Eheim NO.

 

[GUILLO1]

I went ahead and ordered one of these bubble magus skimmers. They said they would give me a free voltage converter. I just pay $12 bucks for its shipping. I'll be the guinea pig on this one. I'll post when it comes in.

 

[tsouth]

You're a champion Guillo. THE f'n man.

 

[Jim_S]

I don't think you can successfully run a pump designed for 50Hz on a 60Hz frequency with a converter....

The voltage will convert over, but the motor will have difficulty running on higher the US frequency.

I could be wrong though