ReefOcto BH1000 Skimmer

[sharky_sa]

Hi, was wondering if you experts could solve my problem ... purchased a ReefOcto BH1000 Skimmer (hob) for my 100litre (South African therefore litres ) cube ... problem is lots of bubbles is created by the return to DT I think due to the return pipe sucking in air in the return chamber ... I was wondering if there is a method of "releasing" this air trapped in return pipe before it reaches the DT, and hence eliminating the bubbles ... see pic below

 

[boret]

Can you add a 90 degree elbow in the inside? Maybe you can avoid bubbles that way.

 

[sharky_sa]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15487787#post15487787 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by boret
Can you add a 90 degree elbow in the inside? Maybe you can avoid bubbles that way.

thanks but tried that, all it does it lowers the water level in return chamber .....

 

[Charlie Davidson]

Borat is correct Turn the elbow, and wait for the skimmer to "break in'. They bubble less after break-in.

 

[sharky_sa]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15488047#post15488047 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Charlie Davidson
Borat is correct Turn the elbow, and wait for the skimmer to "break in'. They bubble less after break-in.

thanks, do you mean turn the elbow (under the blue sponge to point downwards ?) .... if yes, the water level in the return chamber lowers radically ...... did this solve your proble personally ?

 

[Charlie Davidson]

Turn elbow on the output side (in tank)

 

[sharky_sa]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15488166#post15488166 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Charlie Davidson
Turn elbow on the output side (in tank)

sorry, I misunderstood earlier .... so I should add another 90' elbow to existing one so it aims down ?

 

[Charlie Davidson]

I can not see from pic, but my octo just used the downward facing 90 and a short pipe. Your water level looks higher, so you might be able to get by with just the 90 on output (turned to side slightly)

 

[boret]

I don't have that fixture so I am not sure what parts are movable or not. The point is that you want the air to escape before it reaches the tank or avoid it entering at all. Seeing like you can't raise the inside water level I think you have to give the air a chance to escape. So you either stop air from being collected in the inside or give it a way to be released on the output before touching the water in the tank. Play around with the fittings and see if it works. You could even add a T on the output to allow air to escape upwards. Those bubbles are a pain and they burst like craizy leaven salt residue everywhere, lights included.

 

[boret]

You could try rotating the output until it almost faces upwards. That will raise the level inside. On some HOB skimmers, like the CPR they use a special bubble-trap net. I used to have one (my first skimmer) and this is what the bubble trap looked like:

I had to clean it every week but it did stop the bubbles.

 

[ol-Zed-lo]

I have the bh-1000 and its only been running in a new set up live rock the who nine. I'm having bubble probs to. The whole prob with the set up is the dump tube. No matter what u do inside the return side of the skimmer, you cant stop or really slow down the fall of the water inside the tube. Or stop the rotation that it creates while falling in tube. I tried taking the last 90 elbow inside the tank off ,nothing. I tried changing water level, nothing. I tried turning/removing the inside 90 elbow. I tried so many different methods. The one thing I found that really helped, didn't stop the all bubbles but helped. Was turning it right around facing at the glass. That really seems to do the job well. I'm hoping this will fix it until the tank gets mature. Now the catching em in the nylon idea would work also, but u gotta clean it. Making a simple clip on hanging screen might been a good way to stop them. Any ways, heres a short video of my new 30 gal cube with bh-1000 a mp20 vortech pump and live rock from Vanuatu a small S. pacific island due east of Fiji. In the video I haven't yet figured out to turn the inside tank 90 elbow to the glass and you'll see the prob. By the way no glue epoxy clear rob or any fastener was used. Just lot of choice rock with a bunch o trial and error. Hours spent setting up. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fogFdmLtSuA

 

[Charlie Davidson]

from first pic.. Why do you have surface skimmer, so low in water? it does not work when set so low, set it were water is 1/2way up the teeth.
I think the blue foam is supposed to be at bottom of output box, not the top. (yes, it will need cleaning)

Its hard to see water level in skimmer Because of blue foam-- If anything-- I am thinking you need lower water level inside it. And I think by using the surface skimmer, it will...

from video, remove lower 90 (elbow) and turn top 90 sideways so short pipe downward facing pipe- is just out of water slighly..

 

[Charlie Davidson]

I quote you-"The whole prob with the set up is the dump tube."
So I do se you have not done as asked, from the first replys.. Do you want help or just want to complain?

 

[Charlie Davidson]

Re: ReefOcto BH1000 Skimmer

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15487772#post15487772 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sharky_sa
Hi, was wondering if you experts could solve my problem ... purchased a ReefOcto BH1000 Skimmer (hob) for my 100litre (South African therefore litres ) cube ... problem is lots of bubbles is created by the return to DT I think due to the return pipe sucking in air in the return chamber ... I was wondering if there is a method of "releasing" this air trapped in return pipe before it reaches the DT, and hence eliminating the bubbles ... see pic below

you can drill a hole in the 90 on the top or do piping as I suggested.

 

[mkasper70]

I have the same skimmer.
After about a week, there will be no more bubbles.
I was running mine off the side of my sump. I got loads and loads of bubbles in the display tank.
I searched all the forums online. Everyone was suggesting the same thing... the skimmer has to break-in.
A week later... no more bubbles.

 

[ol-Zed-lo]

The blue sponge as far as the instructions goes is supposed to be on the dump tube inside the tank. At least thats what it looks like to me. But its really hard to figure out. The skimmer comes with a black sponge that goes in the bottom of the return side. To stop micro bubbles from entering the tank. I dont use the blue sponge. I've never seen any one put it over the dump tube inside the skimmer. My skimmers 3 weeks old and still creates big bubbles. I know its caused by the way it flows cause you can take it apart and put it any way you want. And still get the same amount of bubbles. Like I said before I turned it towards the glass and it seems to get rid of almost all the bubbles. I got that idea from other threads that had pics and theres where turned that way. Hes a link to the instructions tell me what you people think....http://coralvue.com/pdfs/BH-1000.pdf

 

[sharky_sa]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15607821#post15607821 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Charlie Davidson
I quote you-"The whole prob with the set up is the dump tube."
So I do se you have not done as asked, from the first replys.. Do you want help or just want to complain?

I assume this was meant at ol-Zed-lo as I solved my issue by aiming 90' elbow towards rear glass ....

 

[ol-Zed-lo]

So you turned the tube in the tank towards the glass. Is that because of my post ? And why do u have the blue sponge over the dump tube? never saw it there before. And Chrarlie I think you are getting some sharkys and mine posts mixed up.

 

[Falcao]

Hey my bh300 has a t with a 90 at the bottom end that I point towards the rear glass. I do not have any problem with bubbles.

 

[boret]

Maybe he meant to post that on a different thread... I can't find the quote!

The bubble trap bag that comes in the CPR HOB works great.... about the only thing that worked great in that skimmer!