Skimmer for 225 Reef, Deltec APF600 or Euro-Reef RS250?
- Thread starter Vegas_ReefMan
- Start date
Vegas_ReefMan
New member
Check this Ed said that the BM-250 can skim 500 gallons heavy easily. He said he likes H&S as well for sure. He did not say which was better, other than for a sump model he cannot beat the BM-250. I cannot wait, I may lose sleep... My fish will be doing flipper back strokes in the tank from now on. I just always did bi-weekly water changes and my nitrates have never been above 5...
Reef Sponger
In Memoriam
Hey Vegas_RM, I heard differently when I asked Ed about the BM skimmers before. I thought I heard the BM250 could easily support from 200g up to 400g heavy bioload and/or heavy feedings, but up to 500g-700g range for light to medium. The 500g-700g range is more the manufacturer's rating as I see it on their website.
Vegas_ReefMan
New member
I will ask ad as maybe I should get the BM300...?
Reef Sponger
In Memoriam
For 240g total volume, the BM250 can handle 200g-400g heavy, so you are good to go, I would think.
klam114
In Memoriam
VRM - you won't be disappointed with the BM250 in terms of performance as I don't think you can buy anything better at that price. also, you purchased from the best dealer that I know of and I am lucky that he is local to me, so I can order easily and pickup.
I own a BM200 and it is a true performer. Amazing how ATi was able to balance such a powerful pump with such a small skimmer footprint and get such outstanding results. It's obvious that the German engineers know what they are doing. I have a H&S skimmer on my smaller tank and both are excellent performers, but the price on the BM is so much better. It's a real simple design and if you don't want to pay $1,000 more for construction quality like the H&S A250 $1,700 and the Deltec AP902 $1,869, the BM250 $769 is the best match for your setup. I don't have any complaints on my BM200 as it is amazing. If you have any adjustment concerns, contact Ed as he will walk you through setting it up correctly, he's the man. Especially if you are newbie to ATi skimmers, you want to listen to his instructions to avoid any beginner's frustrations.
I own a BM200 and it is a true performer. Amazing how ATi was able to balance such a powerful pump with such a small skimmer footprint and get such outstanding results. It's obvious that the German engineers know what they are doing. I have a H&S skimmer on my smaller tank and both are excellent performers, but the price on the BM is so much better. It's a real simple design and if you don't want to pay $1,000 more for construction quality like the H&S A250 $1,700 and the Deltec AP902 $1,869, the BM250 $769 is the best match for your setup. I don't have any complaints on my BM200 as it is amazing. If you have any adjustment concerns, contact Ed as he will walk you through setting it up correctly, he's the man. Especially if you are newbie to ATi skimmers, you want to listen to his instructions to avoid any beginner's frustrations.
Vegas_ReefMan
New member
Ok, I am ****ED NOW! The BM-250 is officially a joke! The unit comes without an o-ring to seal the skimmer cup to the base of the skimmer which is very cheesy. It doesnt even have any connection tab or anything to hold it on, it just sits on top of the skimmer body. The actual pumps hook into the skimmer body using the crappiest connections I have EVER seen. They use a flimsy tubing which just sits inside the pump and connects it to the skimmer body. They did not even use any pvc connections anywhere on the skimmer for any solid connections. The pumps are supposed to sit on a rubber venturi header rubber piece which hooks to the pump by nothing other than slipping over a thread fitting, and then the pump rests down on the rubber venturi header, and then hooks into the skimmer body using a flimsy rubber tubing which is over a thread fitting. The gate valve mod which came with the skimmer was solid. The internal acrylic workmanship on the skimmer looks good, but I am ****ed about how the pumps hook to the skimmer body and how they have no connection fitting for the skimmer cup to the body. Please check in people with the BM-250, as I want to know what you think about these issues. I have not even hooked it up and I emailed Ed to tell him that I may be shipping it back!
klam114
In Memoriam
VRM, about the pump connection, that's probably the one suggestion that the first generation owners had made as a recommendation to change, but ATi will not be changing this feature or they would have done it by now, since the BM250 has gone through 4 generations of changes. I actually found that the rubber hose and the rubber feet is what keeps the pumps so quiet, barely can hear any vibrations when they are in use. I just logged onto your thread, so haven't read carefully what all has been posted. Hate to say that if you read through the BM information threads and done your research, you should have been aware of the connections of the pumps. But, they aren't a problem, they stay in place and the skimmer works great. If you setup and turn it on, your mind will change as you'll never see anything perform so well. I'm sure that other BM250 owners can chime in with their experiences.
I would agree with Klam on this.
When i received my BM 250 (3rd week of break-in and doing well) i was baffled at the connections also.
Especially the connection between the pump and skimmer - they can be challenging to stay in the pump and then push into the skimmer body.
IA that the rubber feet absorb vibrations, and they are stable once set properly with the skimmer.
IMO give the BM250 a chance, and you'll be glad you did.
When i received my BM 250 (3rd week of break-in and doing well) i was baffled at the connections also.
Especially the connection between the pump and skimmer - they can be challenging to stay in the pump and then push into the skimmer body.
IA that the rubber feet absorb vibrations, and they are stable once set properly with the skimmer.
IMO give the BM250 a chance, and you'll be glad you did.
Vegas_ReefMan
If i was not a owner of the BM250 skimmer i was afraid to buy it after i read this post.
don't judge the skimmer before you test it .
1. they maybe forgot to put in the pack the O ring but i believe they will send it to you (if you will decide to keep it)
2. "They use a flimsy tubing" are to reduce vibration and to keep the skimmer body from damage (you can see it also in the picture of the BK skimmer , because of that it's not good ? )
and this is also why those pump sit on the rubber .
the mesh make vibration on any pump and noise to (and i try it on some different pump ,i wish i was able to connect them to the skimmer body as it's on the BM skimmer)
3. if you decide to keep it , when you will start the pumps they will be rattle and this can be because the size of the mesh (diameter ) but when it's will be run for day or 2 that's it it will stop.
4. about those little pump i can tell you : if they was sell them separate and the hobbyist here was able to buy them maybe 50% of the ppl here was change them original pump to the Sicce pump and put them on own skimmer's .
i can't tell you what to do this is your money and if you feel bad turn it back , but i can tell you this: i am member in other forum to behind RC and i saw a lot of other review on a lot of different skimmer , there is other good skimmer in the market and i love them . but the ATI it's a great protein skimmer to and will beat a lot of good other... (i don't say that because i want to argue , i said that because i want you to know that this is a very good protein skimmer ) .
you can see here how the RD pump connect to the skimmer body , it doesn't mean the skimmer not good :
If i was not a owner of the BM250 skimmer i was afraid to buy it after i read this post.
don't judge the skimmer before you test it .
1. they maybe forgot to put in the pack the O ring but i believe they will send it to you (if you will decide to keep it)
2. "They use a flimsy tubing" are to reduce vibration and to keep the skimmer body from damage (you can see it also in the picture of the BK skimmer , because of that it's not good ? )
and this is also why those pump sit on the rubber .
the mesh make vibration on any pump and noise to (and i try it on some different pump ,i wish i was able to connect them to the skimmer body as it's on the BM skimmer)
3. if you decide to keep it , when you will start the pumps they will be rattle and this can be because the size of the mesh (diameter ) but when it's will be run for day or 2 that's it it will stop.
4. about those little pump i can tell you : if they was sell them separate and the hobbyist here was able to buy them maybe 50% of the ppl here was change them original pump to the Sicce pump and put them on own skimmer's .
i can't tell you what to do this is your money and if you feel bad turn it back , but i can tell you this: i am member in other forum to behind RC and i saw a lot of other review on a lot of different skimmer , there is other good skimmer in the market and i love them . but the ATI it's a great protein skimmer to and will beat a lot of good other... (i don't say that because i want to argue , i said that because i want you to know that this is a very good protein skimmer ) .
you can see here how the RD pump connect to the skimmer body , it doesn't mean the skimmer not good :
Reef Sponger
In Memoriam
Bubbleking skimmers, aren't they like $3,000+ and world known to be one of the best skimmers? I never did any research on them as they were out of my price range.
Vegas, hopefully you can do a little more research to settle your mind. you have one heck of a good skimmer.
Mavgi, if a $3,000 skimmer uses the same connection, is it that bad? I agree with you, it is just different and different doesn't mean bad, it just means different. Vegas come from a ASM background where they use those great uniseals.
Vegas, hopefully you can do a little more research to settle your mind. you have one heck of a good skimmer.
Mavgi, if a $3,000 skimmer uses the same connection, is it that bad? I agree with you, it is just different and different doesn't mean bad, it just means different. Vegas come from a ASM background where they use those great uniseals.
here is the big thread on the BM skimmer mostly on the BM250 and this thread was split 3 time . there is a lot of review there .
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1072121&perpage=25&pagenumber=20
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1072121&perpage=25&pagenumber=20
Vegas_ReefMan
New member
Thanks guys, I feel better now! I was just upset as I thought it was very cheaply made in the pump connection and the cup connection. What is the box in the picture that the individual provided in page 2 of this thread? As I did not get one of those. Please let me know about the cup connection, did yours come with O-rings or a fastener between the collection cup and the body? I am going to keep it now, as I trust all of you more than my limited experiences. I just wanted to ask my bros at RC what to do, as my first impression was not good in regards to the connections. Thanks again All!
Well the new models the cup sits on the neck and i don't think they came with or needed orings. The others like mine and mavgi's prior to your model had orings because the neck sat in the body of the skimmer.
The way the pumps sit on the rubber pucks and the way they used silicone hose for connections greatly reduces vibrations.
ATI will not budge on that, and i can live with it. I was surprised to see it too when i first seen it.
When i tell you all i hear is water its the truth, But my skimmer standpipe is above the water so its going to make a little water sound. My tunze streams make more noise than these skimmer pumps.
After that skimmer breaks in you will have a new standard for skimmer performance. IMO
Take care and check out the ATI thread. Theres lotsa good info there, and if you have any questions or thoughts just ask.
The way the pumps sit on the rubber pucks and the way they used silicone hose for connections greatly reduces vibrations.
ATI will not budge on that, and i can live with it. I was surprised to see it too when i first seen it.
When i tell you all i hear is water its the truth, But my skimmer standpipe is above the water so its going to make a little water sound. My tunze streams make more noise than these skimmer pumps.
After that skimmer breaks in you will have a new standard for skimmer performance. IMO
Take care and check out the ATI thread. Theres lotsa good info there, and if you have any questions or thoughts just ask.
Without any problem you can skim without the O ring till you get it .
this skimmer it's a real beast and when you will run it in your system you will know what i am talking about.
again , maybe the pump will rattle at the beging but nothing to worry about. if you need any help you can send me PM.
here is some picture of skimming (believe me you don't know what you buy yet) look on those picture :
here it's video :
and here when i clean it :
here how much air i pull with it and it's not the end (show me something like this....)
Vegas_ReefMan
New member
Damn thanks guys for the great info. Tomorrow I am hooking it up and will let you know how it goes... I am very excited thanks for the amazing pics also!
Vegas_ReefMan
New member
Thanks Mavgi the video and pics were awesome!
Similar threads
