I have been researching what pump to replace the stock one on my 280 and am leaning towards the bubble blaster 5000..
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- Thread starter JohnL
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I have been researching what pump to replace the stock one on my 280 and am leaning towards the bubble blaster 5000..
poolkeeper1
New member
Bb 5000/bb 3000
Bb 5000/bb 3000
This is just my opinion but i think the 5000 will be way too turbulant on the 280 body, If you would see the size of the cone that the 5000 comes on you would think twice. I have the Super Octo XP 5000 Cone so i speak from experiance and i also have the IN250 W/BB300 I would not even attempt to put the 5000 on that body JMHO. I think it would just overflow constantly even with the wedge pipe wide open.
Bill
Bb 5000/bb 3000
This is just my opinion but i think the 5000 will be way too turbulant on the 280 body, If you would see the size of the cone that the 5000 comes on you would think twice. I have the Super Octo XP 5000 Cone so i speak from experiance and i also have the IN250 W/BB300 I would not even attempt to put the 5000 on that body JMHO. I think it would just overflow constantly even with the wedge pipe wide open.
Bill
I appreciate the feedback. I definitely have been trying to figure which one would be best. I believe my 280 has a ten inch base with a five inch neck and twenty four inch height. When speaking to one of the retailers we were comparing my skimmer size to another skimmer in a different brand ( Octopus I think ) that is the same size and using the 5000.
From that point it seems the 5000 would be best. Another thing that has me wondering is the BB air rating (scfh?) is nearly twice my stock pump.
If I don't modify it I can exchange it if I'm wrong. I would like to see a close up pic of how you connected your pump to the skimmer body when you can. Thanks again for the great feedback.
poolkeeper1
New member
My thoughts
My thoughts
Here's my concern, The Base of the Cone is 12" Diameter and tapers down to a 5 1/2" neck with a total reaction chamber height of 15" with the neck being right at 8" high in itself. That's one big area for all those bubbles to rise up slowly and perform as good as these beasts do.
The connection is very easy as all you need to do is sand one end of a piece of 1" PVC pipe down slightly to make it slide on the SCH 80 90degree stock pipe that comes on the skimmer. In other words you do no mods at all to the BB at all, You do have to rotate the Volute to match the side exit from the stock pump and your done.
The fact that you can return the pump if it don't work is a luxury i did not have so I say try it! If it don't work return it and try the 3000:thumbsup:
Good luck, And i think you will be very happy once you get the correct pump on and broke in. Mine Skims like no other Skimmer i have owned, and that's a bunch including the XP 5000 Cone:wavehand:
Bill:dance:
My thoughts
Here's my concern, The Base of the Cone is 12" Diameter and tapers down to a 5 1/2" neck with a total reaction chamber height of 15" with the neck being right at 8" high in itself. That's one big area for all those bubbles to rise up slowly and perform as good as these beasts do.
The connection is very easy as all you need to do is sand one end of a piece of 1" PVC pipe down slightly to make it slide on the SCH 80 90degree stock pipe that comes on the skimmer. In other words you do no mods at all to the BB at all, You do have to rotate the Volute to match the side exit from the stock pump and your done.
The fact that you can return the pump if it don't work is a luxury i did not have so I say try it! If it don't work return it and try the 3000:thumbsup:
Good luck, And i think you will be very happy once you get the correct pump on and broke in. Mine Skims like no other Skimmer i have owned, and that's a bunch including the XP 5000 Cone:wavehand:
Bill:dance:
jonnybravo22
New member
figured i owe an update.
so i did 2 things and they seemed to fix it. i ran carbon. but i think more importantly it was the airline. even though i thought it was clear before and i ran RODI water through it twice, i think the block is actually in the silencer, not the tubing itself, so i'd missed it until recently.
the above picture is like 2 days worth i think, and i dumped a load of that size before collecting that so probably 2 of those in 4/5 days. -- quite a lot of organics to pull after running w/o working skimmer
i pulled an old airline silencer from an old skimmer in the meantime b/c i still havnt figured out how to clear blockage in siilencer (not pictured).i also still want to replace pump for quieter operation and potentially improved performance.
anyways thanks for continued opinions / advice.
Bill,
That a good point about the cone skimmer with the 5000, I do have one question though, doesn't the SRO5000 INT have a 10" reaction chamber just like the IN280, not sure how big the neck is on the SRO5000 though.
Ward,
That's cool that you are given the option to return the 5000 if it's too much. Where are you going to get it from?
Noel
That a good point about the cone skimmer with the 5000, I do have one question though, doesn't the SRO5000 INT have a 10" reaction chamber just like the IN280, not sure how big the neck is on the SRO5000 though.
Ward,
That's cool that you are given the option to return the 5000 if it's too much. Where are you going to get it from?
Noel
hdtvguy
New member
Ok..pump will be here Friday! Ok so I just need a stick of 1" pvc. I don't understand what you mean here though: "the SCH 80 90degree stock pipe that comes on the skimmer" The only 90 degree I can think of is the outlet or exhuast side of the skimmer? Do you mean to say "that comes with the "pump" instead of "skimmer"? Not being rude I just want to be ready and am a little lost on that part. Glad to hear it should run good. I'm afraid to name the supplier who said they would do an exchange because I did not order it from them and don't want to get anyone in trouble.
Bill, forgot to ask you what is best operating depth for the 3000 and what size air line is it set up for.( Would like to some how fix the clogging problem where my air line connects to the top of the wedge pipe.)
figured i owe an update.
so i did 2 things and they seemed to fix it. i ran carbon. but i think more importantly it was the airline. even though i thought it was clear before and i ran RODI water through it twice, i think the block is actually in the silencer, not the tubing itself, so i'd missed it until recently.
the above picture is like 2 days worth i think, and i dumped a load of that size before collecting that so probably 2 of those in 4/5 days. -- quite a lot of organics to pull after running w/o working skimmer
i pulled an old airline silencer from an old skimmer in the meantime b/c i still havnt figured out how to clear blockage in siilencer (not pictured).i also still want to replace pump for quieter operation and potentially improved performance.
anyways thanks for continued opinions / advice.
That 90 degree fitting on the wedge pipe is where all of my problems are too.It clogs every two weeks or so. I know the new generation three's have a larger air line and fitting to prevent this so maybe you could get one from Vertex? I thought about trying to drill mine out a bit. I just ordered a better pump today and hope for better results!
Will do.
poolkeeper1
New member
3000 info
3000 info
I run mine in about 8" and the Airline is larger than the stock one and it is much more quiet than the stock pump. I ran it both ways with the silencer it restricked the pump and had starting issues. Without it it actually runs better IMO and is not so noisy as it bothers me in any way (It's in my bedroom) so that you will have to decide for yourself. One thing you will have to get a larger fitting if you want to use the wedge pipe silencer or you will lose performance. This pump has been running for over three months and it has never clogged up.
Bill:beer:
3000 info
I run mine in about 8" and the Airline is larger than the stock one and it is much more quiet than the stock pump. I ran it both ways with the silencer it restricked the pump and had starting issues. Without it it actually runs better IMO and is not so noisy as it bothers me in any way (It's in my bedroom) so that you will have to decide for yourself. One thing you will have to get a larger fitting if you want to use the wedge pipe silencer or you will lose performance. This pump has been running for over three months and it has never clogged up.
Bill:beer:
Thanks Bill. Did you see my other questions about the pipe fitting I posted prior to this one? Let me know Thanks
poolkeeper1
New member
Connecting pipe
Connecting pipe
Sorry i missed this ? When you get the BB pump it will have a union type connector on the pump, This is where the 90 degree piece comes into play. The Volute will be facing upward (Air feeds into Skimmer) and the 90 is how you insert the pipe into the side of the skimmer. In other words one of those connections needed some reducing in size to fit and I'm not sure which side it was on now DUH but you will need two small pieces of pvc pipe to connect the new pump one of those will need to be sanded to make it fit. It took all of a few minutes with sandpaper to make it work. It may well be the pump side that needed the sanding but i just don't remember, You will figure it out very quickly just as i did. It was so easy it was funny they were like made for each other and i was worried how hard it was going to be.:thumbsup:
Bill
PS I used all the pieces i had from the stock pump just had to cut 2 small pieces of pipe to connect it all.
Connecting pipe
Sorry i missed this ? When you get the BB pump it will have a union type connector on the pump, This is where the 90 degree piece comes into play. The Volute will be facing upward (Air feeds into Skimmer) and the 90 is how you insert the pipe into the side of the skimmer. In other words one of those connections needed some reducing in size to fit and I'm not sure which side it was on now DUH but you will need two small pieces of pvc pipe to connect the new pump one of those will need to be sanded to make it fit. It took all of a few minutes with sandpaper to make it work. It may well be the pump side that needed the sanding but i just don't remember, You will figure it out very quickly just as i did. It was so easy it was funny they were like made for each other and i was worried how hard it was going to be.:thumbsup:
Bill
PS I used all the pieces i had from the stock pump just had to cut 2 small pieces of pipe to connect it all.
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endlessblue
New member
anyone have this problem? my 250 cone is not making the bubbles high enough to get into the collection cup, i was fine for the first 6 months and now it never even fills the cup? any help thanks
Ok sounds good. I will be working on it friday night and maybe figure out how to post some pics. Lows is close by so I'm sure I can figure it out and make a quick trip once I figure out pipe sizing. Ward:thumbsup:
poolkeeper1
New member
WARD1,Just one more thought i had while reading this was the fact that the 3000/5000 pumps are different sizes. The 5000 is much larger than the 3000 so you may have some height issues of them lining up. If that's the case you mat have to somehow raise the skimmer body up to have the pump even with the stock hole in the side of the body. On the 3000 i removed the plate the BB comes with to make then sit exactly the same height and put a piece of rubber pad on the bottom of the pump to dampen any vibration. They both look alike just one is larger in size, You may have to try the volute pointing on it's side to go directly into the skimmer (Three screws to rotate the volute)
Good Luck, I'm sure you will work it all out.
Bill
Good Luck, I'm sure you will work it all out.
Bill
Have you cleaned the air hose and the plastic tube it connects too? My skimmer has been working great once I cleaned those out.
poolkeeper1
New member
Agreed, You most likely have salt creep blocking air intake somewhere in the line,Volute,Silencer or pump itself. Once you find the spot it's occuring just do a monthly cleaning and you should be good from then on.
Bill:thumbsup:
