Bubble Magus BM-180A Protein Skimmer?
- Thread starter asmodyus
- Start date
BobbyV
Established since 2008
The package is a decent deal.
The atman pumps are not very energy efficient.
But your mind is in the right area.
I purchased the BM180 EX which was the largest skimmer that this particular eBay vendor had about 8 months ago.
Skimmer body rated up to 400 gallons. Cone body with cup roughly 11.05"x9.05"x25.40".
I offered $210 and they accepted. (Free shipping/no sales tax) I ended selling the pump that came with it for $20.
Note the skimmer originally was an internal pump design.
After much research as to how the ITech series skimmer were so successful I noticed they utilized the Tunze Hydrofoamer. Energy efficient strong air turbulent specs.
I picked up a used 9430.04 Hydrofoamer supposedly rated up to 792 gallons. (Tunze claims)
I scavenged all the original parts from the eBay package plus some PVC fittings at Home Depot.
I had much more success implementing the bubble diffuser to keep rock solid tuning stability.
I modded everything together, pump is on the exterior and now I have an ITech like inspired creation. Well suited for my bare bottom total 340 gallon water volume zoa/LPS system.
Total investment $290.
Pulls extremely well and dead silent!
The only way this would be a better designed skimmer would be if I had a slightly larger skimmer body so I could crank up the tunze pump a little more. 8 inch body expanded to a 10 inch body would be nice. Or if I had the room a way to expand the neck another 3 - 5 inches. Larger the reaction chamber, the more effective your skimmer will be.
The BM skimmer body quality is so so. The acrylic is not super thick,but if you don't drop the skimmer and crack it, than this doesn't effect anything mechanically speaking.
Makes you think how much marginal profit space skimmers have. This forum offers really nice wisdom sharing threads. You just have to read through all the opinions to collectively create an original cost effective idea.
The reason I was going to sell this skimmer was because it developed a small hum and I didn't know why. Turns out salt creep got into my air intake adjustment clogging the feed causing the pump to cavitate. Simply pour some hot RO water down the intake to clear the line. Back to awesome again, no more sound and stronger bubbie production!
The atman pumps are not very energy efficient.
But your mind is in the right area.
I purchased the BM180 EX which was the largest skimmer that this particular eBay vendor had about 8 months ago.
Skimmer body rated up to 400 gallons. Cone body with cup roughly 11.05"x9.05"x25.40".
I offered $210 and they accepted. (Free shipping/no sales tax) I ended selling the pump that came with it for $20.
Note the skimmer originally was an internal pump design.
After much research as to how the ITech series skimmer were so successful I noticed they utilized the Tunze Hydrofoamer. Energy efficient strong air turbulent specs.
I picked up a used 9430.04 Hydrofoamer supposedly rated up to 792 gallons. (Tunze claims)
I scavenged all the original parts from the eBay package plus some PVC fittings at Home Depot.
I had much more success implementing the bubble diffuser to keep rock solid tuning stability.
I modded everything together, pump is on the exterior and now I have an ITech like inspired creation. Well suited for my bare bottom total 340 gallon water volume zoa/LPS system.
Total investment $290.
Pulls extremely well and dead silent!
The only way this would be a better designed skimmer would be if I had a slightly larger skimmer body so I could crank up the tunze pump a little more. 8 inch body expanded to a 10 inch body would be nice. Or if I had the room a way to expand the neck another 3 - 5 inches. Larger the reaction chamber, the more effective your skimmer will be.
The BM skimmer body quality is so so. The acrylic is not super thick,but if you don't drop the skimmer and crack it, than this doesn't effect anything mechanically speaking.
Makes you think how much marginal profit space skimmers have. This forum offers really nice wisdom sharing threads. You just have to read through all the opinions to collectively create an original cost effective idea.
The reason I was going to sell this skimmer was because it developed a small hum and I didn't know why. Turns out salt creep got into my air intake adjustment clogging the feed causing the pump to cavitate. Simply pour some hot RO water down the intake to clear the line. Back to awesome again, no more sound and stronger bubbie production!
Last edited:
asmodyus
New member
Thanks yeah this dealer has the 180 for well little bit less not sure if I can quote exact price, not sure on the exact rules of talking about ebay but with shipping come just around 200 dollars for the 180 Now there also offering the Bubble Magus BM-220A Protein Skimmer for about 2 and half and some change so not sure if I should go with the bigger version seems for the money I am not going to get a better deal.
Now I take these are older models as when I look them up there no longer for sale or there using the Sicce pumps now.
BobbyV
Established since 2008
I suggest getting the skimmer body as big as you can which makes good sense ergonomically in your sump. The pump is what makes the skimmer.
Make sure to pair the right pump with the skimmer body. God forbid you get a pump too big or too small.
Just look at skimmer sizes and dimensions. For example an SRO INT3000 is paired with a bubble blaster 3000. The skimmer body is 8 inches.
The SRO INT5000 is a 10 inch body paired with a BB5000 pump.
I chose the highest model Tunze Hydrofoamer simply because they are still low wattage and I found a sweet deal on one. Now that I think about it I paid $110 and they retail for $250.
Is my pump maybe too powerful for my skimmer, possibly. I have it only cranked about 50%. But boy does it do an awesome job and I certainly feel a sense of pride saving money to create something as equally good or stronger as some of the mainstream manufactures.
Love my Frankenstein skimmer!
If my pump dies. Next go around I may go with a level two Hydrofoamer or maybe a BB3000 pump. Like I said, you just need the skimmer body.
I plan on keeping the body till I drop it or get out of the hobby. No reason to not use it.
Honestly, the cone design is nice but I wish I could have gotten my hands on a SRO INT3000 skimmer body. People claim the less cone design is much more consistent of keeping a foam head and due to the wider neck it technically has more reaction area space. But those skimmer are double what I paid for my "mutt" skimmer.
Good luck!
Make sure to pair the right pump with the skimmer body. God forbid you get a pump too big or too small.
Just look at skimmer sizes and dimensions. For example an SRO INT3000 is paired with a bubble blaster 3000. The skimmer body is 8 inches.
The SRO INT5000 is a 10 inch body paired with a BB5000 pump.
I chose the highest model Tunze Hydrofoamer simply because they are still low wattage and I found a sweet deal on one. Now that I think about it I paid $110 and they retail for $250.
Is my pump maybe too powerful for my skimmer, possibly. I have it only cranked about 50%. But boy does it do an awesome job and I certainly feel a sense of pride saving money to create something as equally good or stronger as some of the mainstream manufactures.
Love my Frankenstein skimmer!
If my pump dies. Next go around I may go with a level two Hydrofoamer or maybe a BB3000 pump. Like I said, you just need the skimmer body.
I plan on keeping the body till I drop it or get out of the hobby. No reason to not use it.
Honestly, the cone design is nice but I wish I could have gotten my hands on a SRO INT3000 skimmer body. People claim the less cone design is much more consistent of keeping a foam head and due to the wider neck it technically has more reaction area space. But those skimmer are double what I paid for my "mutt" skimmer.
Good luck!
Last edited:
asmodyus
New member
yeah there a lot in that area I have down to 3
Bubble Magus BM-220A Protein Skimmer w/Atman ph4000 260-396gal $274 shipped
ESHOPPS PSK-200 Protein Skimmer w/Sicce Italy Pump PSK-600 150-200g $225 shipped
Reef Octopus NWB 200 Classic Protein Skimmer Hailea OTP 3000 Pinwheel Pump 150-250g $289 Shipped
Bubble Magus BM-220A Protein Skimmer w/Atman ph4000 260-396gal $274 shipped
ESHOPPS PSK-200 Protein Skimmer w/Sicce Italy Pump PSK-600 150-200g $225 shipped
Reef Octopus NWB 200 Classic Protein Skimmer Hailea OTP 3000 Pinwheel Pump 150-250g $289 Shipped
CrazyEyes
New member
There is a guy on the national form, JediMasterBen selling a nwb-150 w/ Bubble blaster hy-2000 pump. I think this would a killer skimmer if you have the room in your sump. It's basically an SRO-2000.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2417189
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2417189
asmodyus
New member
Thanks but I remembering reading somewhere that body is little to small for that pump
that why I am looking at the 220 or the ASM G4 larger bodies, but a great deal nerveless I just trying to find the best bang for buck and 250 is pretty much the limit I wanna stay at becuase I know there a couple really good ones for 300 to 350 and I cannot stretch that far.
CrazyEyes
New member
Not sure how that pump is too big for that body. The sro-2000 uses the same body and pump, and that is the exact pump most people use as an upgrade from the otp-2000. I know the hy-3000 will turn it into a cannon. With that said, I've heard alot of great things about the G-4 skimmers.
asmodyus
New member
Did some more research you are correct, but still people saying that the 8" Reef body is the better body.
Anyways Yeah not sure I might actually go with the bubble magus 180a and save the money and maybe even upgrade the pump on it and get rid of the atman pumps. think the GSM is just going to be a large beast and will limit what else I can put into my sump. And well the 220a might be to much for the 120
any more pictures or details mate as my ph4000 has broken on my BM-220a so need a replacement pump or equivalent
cheers
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