Do bubble plates increase skimmer efficiency
- Thread starter jb61264
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uncleof6
Active member
Bubble plates were used, first, effectively by Royal Exclusiv, to reduce turbulence allowing the use of short wide bodies:
The use of a bubble plate for home sized skimmers, is not as effective as the hype would have you believe. Since its introduction by Royal Exclusiv, it has pretty much become a "me too" type of thing. A sales gimmick. What affects efficiency, air flow, bubble size and contact time. Increasing the water flow at first increases effeciency, then causes it to drop off, the best increase is more air flow w/o increasing the water flow-- only really possible in an air driven skimmer (with air pump.) A off the shelf skimmer, with the recommended pump, and set up and adjusted per the instructions is going to be the most efficient for that particular skimmer.
Anecdote would tell you that "did this mod, and my skimmer kicks ***," but without a quantitative analysis of the TOC content of the skimmate, the anecdote is meaningless. Quantitative analysis is out of the capability of the home hobbiest.
Theoretically, one could let a given volume of skimmate sit for a specified time period, and then evaluate the nitrate content of the skimmate, and possibly use this as a gauge for skimmer performance--however it would have to be in controlled circumstances-- eliminating all other variables. Again, not really within the capability of the home hobbiest.
The moral of the story is: Buy a quality skimmer (ok perhaps an anedotally based choice,) correctly sized for the application (based on system volume and flow rate through the skimmer) use the specified pump, set it up according to the instructions (not anecdote) and the skimmer will perform at its most efficient. For the price of quality skimmers these days, let the skimmer manufacturers spend the money on R & D.
Jim
The use of a bubble plate for home sized skimmers, is not as effective as the hype would have you believe. Since its introduction by Royal Exclusiv, it has pretty much become a "me too" type of thing. A sales gimmick. What affects efficiency, air flow, bubble size and contact time. Increasing the water flow at first increases effeciency, then causes it to drop off, the best increase is more air flow w/o increasing the water flow-- only really possible in an air driven skimmer (with air pump.) A off the shelf skimmer, with the recommended pump, and set up and adjusted per the instructions is going to be the most efficient for that particular skimmer.
Anecdote would tell you that "did this mod, and my skimmer kicks ***," but without a quantitative analysis of the TOC content of the skimmate, the anecdote is meaningless. Quantitative analysis is out of the capability of the home hobbiest.
Theoretically, one could let a given volume of skimmate sit for a specified time period, and then evaluate the nitrate content of the skimmate, and possibly use this as a gauge for skimmer performance--however it would have to be in controlled circumstances-- eliminating all other variables. Again, not really within the capability of the home hobbiest.
The moral of the story is: Buy a quality skimmer (ok perhaps an anedotally based choice,) correctly sized for the application (based on system volume and flow rate through the skimmer) use the specified pump, set it up according to the instructions (not anecdote) and the skimmer will perform at its most efficient. For the price of quality skimmers these days, let the skimmer manufacturers spend the money on R & D.
Jim
oscarsdad608
New member
What if I run an askoll 1500 on a euro-reef 250. I had to run pvc down into the skimmer and split it into 3 outputs to reduce the turbulence and man does it kick but. I would put its performance up against some of the most expensive skimmers out there. I have been thinking about making a bubble plate for it but don't want to take the whole thing apart.
oscarsdad608
New member
I almsot feel like this should go into the ghetto post.
Cleaned the cup spotless last night.
Cleaned the cup spotless last night.
reefermad619
New member
troylee
In Memoriam
in this particular case yes a bubble plate will help alot....that pump is way over kill for that body...so ya your gonna have alot of turbulence...
oscarsdad608
New member
I would love to put one in there but I don't want to cut the skimmer apart to get one in there. There really isn't that much turbulence after the ghetto mod.
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