The Bubble-Magus Club

[dmorel]

I took it apart again (sorry, didn't get pics this time, will next time) --- It's still making noise. What I noticed when I tested it outside of the skimmer, it ONLY makes the rattling sound when the air intake is installed and the airline is in. If I remove the airline it is quiet again. I cleaned the airline and the silencer, no effect, still happens.
I have no more time to play with this tonight. I'll leave it running for now because my tank hasn't been skimmed in a week. If I have any free time tomorrow night I'll try taking it apart again and switching the impeller.
I appreciate the support...
-dm

 

[dmorel]

Well the new pump is no longer running at all...
Won't restart, even blowing in the airline.
I have to leave for work and will be out for most of the day
I'll try to mess with it when I get back, but sheesh.

 

[0je]

Hi
my tank 55g + 15g sump
what do you advise bmQQ? bm99?
Thanks.

 

[salty child 79]

Here are some pictures of the BM150. For those of you trying to improve on this skimmer try putting an air control valve on the air intake. I have found that it will produce a more consistent FINE bubble. rather than a few giant bubbles here and there. You can tell the difference in the pics.

Less than 24hrs

36hrs---
normal air with flash

Without flash

NORMAL AIR---neck

Reduced air with air control valve.-------neck

Air control valve--stolen from maxi-jet parts and duct taped.

 

[nuocean]

Dmorel,
Email sent.

 

[dmorel]

thanks Chris.
I'll keep everyone posted.

 

[whosinpower]

I am running a BM 160 external

I am running a BM 160 external

Someone had asked about leaking. I used some teflon tape on the return blue tubing on the skimmer when I put it together. No leaks whatsoever. I did not want to glue them in place in a permanent manner, so just tried the teflon tape, and this has worked very well.

I like the skimmer. I have it skimming wet right now.

 

[jmart55]

I'm trying to decide on the BM 155 or 150. It seems the 150 is more popular, I would guess it's the smaller footprint. The 155 has the pump outside of the skimmer body and looks a hell of a lot easier to clean. I think the 155 needs 13" deep to operate well and the 150 is 10". So that being said, does anyone have experience with both? I have space for either and just want the better performer.

 

[GSMguy]

the 155 is a better design for performance, longer dwell time and easier to maintain with the pump on the outside.

 

[jmart55]

it looked like the body was a bit taller due to the external pump. Assuming I can get the desired 13" depth I'll go with that one. Thanks for the input.

 

[whosinpower]

small update

small update

Skimmer was working ok, but I could not seem to keep water level within skimmer stable - I finally figured out that the return line that goes into the sump - I had picked up a 90 degree elbow and a length of pipe and had cut that vertical pipe so that it was extending under the water line of the sump - and this caused backpressure. I cut the pipe shorter so it would flow into the sump - and promptly flooded the skimmer! Several times - sheesh - what a mess. And then we had to deal with microbubbles.

I have the skimmer redialed now and it is skimming like a real champ. It is much more stable in terms of water level within the skimmer and the foamhead is consistant. Microbubbles were dealt with by getting that pipe at just the right level to the water level of the sump and with the help of some polyfloss. Socks are ordered so the floss is a temporary measure to reduce microbubbles.

Allot of my issues are that I have never set up an external skimmer before and I did not really know how to accomplish the plumbing.

 

[chevegan]

whosinpower - Any chance we can get a pic? My 160 is on it's way and I already have a plan for it. I just wanted to actually see what yours is like.

 

[bristle]

Here is my BM100 compared to an ASM G-1. The build quality isn't even comparable.

 

[whosinpower]

no camera

no camera

Sorry - Chevagan - my digital camera is on the fritz. Are you planning on running your 160 externally?

As a safety factor, you may want to put it in something so that if it floods - you will not have to deal with a soaked floor. Hindsight is always 20-20!

It took me a bit of adjusting to get it working well - and I think this is because the instructions are perhaps not as adequate for total idiots as myself. I had to add a bit of plumbing to the return pipe because of the way my sump is situated in the stand - and I made a mistake by having the pipe go under the water level of the sump. (I did that on purpose so there would be less microbubbles and so that it would be silent) The result was that I could not seem to get the skimmer dialled in consistantly to keep the foam level at the neck....it would rise and fall, rise and fall, rise and fall - and turning the standpipe even a 1/8 of inch was too big - it would either flood or collapse way below the red edge of the skimmer.

After I cut the pipe, I had to very quickly redial the skimmer because it wanted to flood. And now it is working fabulously with a consistant foam head. I am sure I had back pressure in the return pipe and this was the main issue. Two days now - no flooding and skimmate is abundant and getting darker by the day.

Because of my dinoflagellates issue - I am currently using both skimmers on the tank in an effort to reduce nutrients faster - the bubble magus totally outperforms the tunze - they are both skimming, but the tunze is far more sensitive and loses the foam head much easier and for longer.

But I will be honest - I have no experience with other external skimmers - this is a first. The tunze sits in the other section of my sump and its feed is seperate from the BM160.

 

[FishGuy5]

I'm hoping alot of us are in the same boat. I've finally narrowed down my 2 choices for skimmers- BM150 or Octo-Extreme 200 because that's what I want to spend. Both about the same $$$ (give or take a few). I'm putting it on a 110 mixed reef. From what you've heard and read, which way should I go?

 

[jmart55]

Fishguy5: I think the Octo extreme 200 is a bit more than the BM 150, maybe $50-75 or so after shipping. I just got home way too late and saw my 150 sitting by the door. I couldn't wait till the morning and had to unpack it now. WOW! I ordered this skimmer based on build quality and performance and right out of the box I am already impressed with the build quality. If it performs how people say it does this is my new go to skimmer for all my mid-sized setups. Can't wait to see this baby in action.

 

[chevegan]

got mine in yesterday but need to build a small stand for it so it can sit lvl outside. BTW it's the 160. The build quality is phenomenal. I mean it's top fricken notch. Can't wait to try it out!

 

[eagleONE]

does anyone notice any debris that settles on the floor of the skimmer and the top of the pump?

I'm wondering why this isn't being collected into the neck.

 

[jmart55]

what model? 100 or 150? If so I would say he top of the pump and bottom of the skimmer are isolated from the input and output of the pump, hence, dead spots for sediment to settle.

 

[eagleONE]

oops sorry 100.

yeah, ive noticed that. It's kind of annoying.