PM Bullet 1 Siphon Pull From The Outlet
- Thread starter Kaiden
- Start date
5thtonbench
New member
I've used the PM bullet 1 in various places, and I have to say its been the best functioning skimmer i have owned. I am using a T4 velocity on the skimmer. I owned it with the old OLD intake system that you couldnt even take apart and it worked well even then. With the newer intake with the screw tops I bought from them as an upgrade, it just got better and better. I find it takes a litle while to "break-in" and then some serious skimmate.
Make sure all your fittings are right, and you may be better off adjusting with a gate valve and not a ball valve. If you dont feel like paying the price for the spears valve from the fish stores, get one from US plastics for about half the cost. Its worth it to have that level of control. The PM 1 takes a 1-1/4 gate.
take some pictures of whats going on in your riser tube and maybe that can give us an idea of whats going on.
Make sure all your fittings are right, and you may be better off adjusting with a gate valve and not a ball valve. If you dont feel like paying the price for the spears valve from the fish stores, get one from US plastics for about half the cost. Its worth it to have that level of control. The PM 1 takes a 1-1/4 gate.
take some pictures of whats going on in your riser tube and maybe that can give us an idea of whats going on.
elephen
In Memoriam
I hate how everybody recommends Mag 12's to run becketts. If you want a beckett that is solid, produces a great skimmate and runs like a champ step up to a pressure rated pump.
http://reeftanksupply.com/product_info.php?cPath=39_75&products_id=46
Thats the pump I use to run my Bullet-2 and its the best skimmer I've evern owns... Runs circles around any NW skimmer I've ever used.
http://reeftanksupply.com/product_info.php?cPath=39_75&products_id=46
Thats the pump I use to run my Bullet-2 and its the best skimmer I've evern owns... Runs circles around any NW skimmer I've ever used.
BMitch
Member
You need a gate valve on your output. This skimmer will be near impossible to dial in with a ball valve.
I'd also give it 72 hours or so to break-in.
Also, you might want to add a hose clamp to the input. I would hate to hear that the tubing came off its fitting and that your Mag 12 splashed water all over the walls.
I'd also give it 72 hours or so to break-in.
Also, you might want to add a hose clamp to the input. I would hate to hear that the tubing came off its fitting and that your Mag 12 splashed water all over the walls.
Thanks alot you guys for the pics and the help. So first things first change the ball valve to a gate valve, well that is in the mail already. Sould this make a diffrence, I don't know. As far as buying a new pump wow that would suck, PM told me this is the guy I needed, it must work with this pump. Hose clamp done. Well so far I don't see anything that is going to help me at this moment, so i guess this is standard opp for this skimmer. About the 72 hour thing it has been up and running for 3 weeks, and not a drop to drink! Wow thanks guys but I am still bummed..
Ereefic
In Memoriam
Kaiden, did you get some parts with the skimmer for the output? Apparently, they don't provide a GV on the Bullet 1, but they do with the Bullet 2/3, but the Bullet 1 is supposed to come with something to regulate waterlevel in the skimmer when used in-sump. I'm curious as to what those parts are.
mm949
New member
it comes with a preset drain pipe to level water .5" above box...no valve needed...since your pump is much lower Mag12 should work....your valve is closed too much.... to set skimmer run with air OFF set water level to .5" above gray box..use air valve to adjust the skim you want...if skimmer does not look like its flowing a ton of water and bubbles are minimal you will need to check the beckect injector for obstructions....I LOVE PM Skimmers....
5thtonbench
New member
To chime back in here...
A picture's worth a thousand words they say, right?
First off, the gate valve will help you, because that water level is going to have to be a bit more controllable. Its not going to change the foam level though, which is obviously devoid of air in this picture. You really dont see much water in the chamber unless you are pushing for really wet skimmate and have it dialed in to do so. That whole chamber should be filling with foam when running properly. This might not be the initial case because typically it takes a bit to "break in" and get the foam running till its popping at the top of the collection cup, so give it time when we do get this running right.
start by opening the air valve all the way and see what happens to the bubbles. The only time I have seen the air so devoid of bubbles is when I clean the unit with fresh water OR the air is shut off.
to clarify, you dont need a gate valve for a skimmer of this type, but you do need something to tighten up the output so you can control the water level by creating backpressure. The gate valve is just the most advisable because most have very little experience controlling the water level with a ball valve. The ball valve is really for on/off while the gate valve is meant to controll flow. A gate valve isnt included with the bullet 1, and I really dont know why because I just dont see how you could get it to work without it... I've played with it and just wasnt happening.
your mag 12 will work, but the above said is right: pressure rated pumps are best. Think of it as having all the horspower but lacking in the torque department. When I first used this I tried it with a mag 9.5 and it definitely didn't work effectively.
A picture's worth a thousand words they say, right?
First off, the gate valve will help you, because that water level is going to have to be a bit more controllable. Its not going to change the foam level though, which is obviously devoid of air in this picture. You really dont see much water in the chamber unless you are pushing for really wet skimmate and have it dialed in to do so. That whole chamber should be filling with foam when running properly. This might not be the initial case because typically it takes a bit to "break in" and get the foam running till its popping at the top of the collection cup, so give it time when we do get this running right.
start by opening the air valve all the way and see what happens to the bubbles. The only time I have seen the air so devoid of bubbles is when I clean the unit with fresh water OR the air is shut off.
to clarify, you dont need a gate valve for a skimmer of this type, but you do need something to tighten up the output so you can control the water level by creating backpressure. The gate valve is just the most advisable because most have very little experience controlling the water level with a ball valve. The ball valve is really for on/off while the gate valve is meant to controll flow. A gate valve isnt included with the bullet 1, and I really dont know why because I just dont see how you could get it to work without it... I've played with it and just wasnt happening.
your mag 12 will work, but the above said is right: pressure rated pumps are best. Think of it as having all the horspower but lacking in the torque department. When I first used this I tried it with a mag 9.5 and it definitely didn't work effectively.
All right... We have got bubbles... This thing I think had some kind of rock stuck in the Air intake. Now this bullet is sucking some major air. Ok now what size bubbles do you guys use, you said wet and dry skimmate. What is the best and the worst. I already have half of the chamber full with solid bubbles, and that's on the ball valve. Anyhow let me know, thanks you guys..
elephen
In Memoriam
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6956915#post6956915 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Ereefic
PM doesn't supply a gate valve with there skimmer?That's pretty lame.
Kaiden, run your water level higher for the time being.
Where did you buy your skimmer from? EVERY PM skimmer I have ever seen has come with a gate valve.
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