Bubble King Supermarin 200 vs Deluxe RD3 Speedy?

ap2honda · 08/26/2013, 09:39 PM

I currently have a 140 gallon aquarium and I'm running a Reef Octopus xp-2000 skimmer that I want to upgrade since its very finicky, so Ive been thinking of just going for Bubble King my question is Which Skimmer should I get between:
Bubble King supermarin 200 or
Royal Exclusive Bubble King Deluxe 200 Skimmer with RD3 Speedy and why or any other suggestions?
Thanks in advance.

Jeremy B. · 08/27/2013, 07:28 AM

In my opinion the 200 series are going to be on the big side for your tank. I would suggest sticking with one of their 180 series models, such as the Double Cone 180 if you decide to go with a BK. Having said that, the XP 2000 skimmer you have is an awesome skimmer, and should handle your system with no issues at all. What type of problems are you experiencing with it?

ap2honda · 08/27/2013, 10:18 AM

Well my skimmer used to work fine for 2 and a half years when I first purchased It. A few months back my bubble blaster pump stopped working as far as producing good skimmate goes. The pump was still under warranty so I sent it to Jeremy at coralvue he claimed the pump was still good that everything tested positive at his test tub. I get the pump back but it still can not produce good foam I get nothing but micro bubbles. I have played with different levels of water ranging from 5 inches of depth to 10 I have cleaned the skimmer ( airline also). It just seems that when I turn the gate valve a lot to raise the inner water level the skimmer will loose its skimmate and over flow. When its commpletly open it has good dry bubbles but the water level is to low and the cone is too high so it doesn't reach to the collection cup.

I used to be fond of Reef Octopus, but I highly suspect its the pump that doesn't work since the first 2 years and 6 months it worked very well and now it can not produce good foam. The bubble blaster pump broke under warranty and Jeremy gave me a hard time to the point where I'm just done with coralvue and reef octopus products all together. I did contemplate for awhile to buy a new bubble blaster pump since I had read that others had bubble blaster pumps go bad within the first 3 years of ownership. But then I thought that shouldn't be my job to risk spending my money on a new pump to test my skimmer and for what? For the new pump to break again under 3 year warranty and have jeremy tell me too bad so sad? That should be his job when its under warranty. Sorry for the rant. But at the price of a new bubble blaster pump for me to buy and test and I wouldn't be able to refund it if it wasn't the problem. I would rather just go for the sure thing and buy a good quality built Bubble King skimmer where the skimmer and the pump are top notch.

Jeremy B. · 08/27/2013, 11:30 AM

Sorry to hear about the issues you've had. It's hard to say what could have been at play and causing the issues you were experiencing. A lot of times it can be things other than the pump itself such as a lower bioload, a silencer that's slightly clogged, etc.

Having said that, a BK, or really any other good performing skimmer would work just fine for you. As mentioned above though, I think you'd be happier with a Double Cone 180 on that size tank than what you would a 200 series Bubble King.

ap2honda · 08/27/2013, 11:55 AM

Now on the 180 would a double cone with a rbd3 speedy pump be beeter than the old pump? I have read great amazing reviews on the BK supermarin line so I was wondering if the rbd2 speedy pump is just. As good? I understand its a newer design but is it a better design? Is the double cone a better skimmer design as well? I just really want to make sure I get a BK I won't regret. Thanks for your input.

Heliman · 08/27/2013, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ap2honda

Now on the 180 would a double cone with a rbd3 speedy pump be beeter than the old pump? I have read great amazing reviews on the BK supermarin line so I was wondering if the rbd2 speedy pump is just. As good? I understand its a newer design but is it a better design? Is the double cone a better skimmer design as well? I just really want to make sure I get a BK I won't regret. Thanks for your input.

I run a BK Supermarin 200 with RD 3 Speedy on my1000 litre SPS Reef.

It is very effective, efficient and quiet. Has been running for just over 1 year with no problems. In fact I think my skimming capacity is probably a bit too large for 1000 litres, but better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it

However, I reckon the 180 would be better for your system, I think the 200 would definitely be overkill.

ap2honda · 08/27/2013, 05:16 PM

Yeah I think I am going with the 180 but my question now is, Is the double cone just as effective as the suermarin? I have heard and read great reviews on the Supermarin series but I still havnt really ran into any Double Cone user reviews and opinions.. before I take the thousand dollar decision I want to make sure I buy the end all be all Bubble King Skimmer...

ap2honda · 08/27/2013, 05:23 PM

or do they even have a BK supermarin 180?? at Premium Aquatics all I see is the 180 being the double cone and the 200 being a supermarin. Seems more people in reefcentral seem to run the supermarin series... Anyone out there have a double cone to share experience? or someone who has tried both?

ap2honda · 08/27/2013, 08:30 PM

What about between the Bubble King Mini 180 vs the Double Cone 180 Which one do you guys recommend?

ap2honda · 08/30/2013, 07:22 PM

Anyone has any experience with any of those two? What are your opinions which one is the least finicky?

Jeremy B. · 09/03/2013, 01:55 PM

The Double Cone 180 will outperform the Mini 180, and will be a bit easier to dial in. Double Cone 180 would be more in line with performance of the Mini 200. HTH!

08/26/2013, 09:39 PM	#1
ap2honda Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 82	Bubble King Supermarin 200 vs Deluxe RD3 Speedy? I currently have a 140 gallon aquarium and I'm running a Reef Octopus xp-2000 skimmer that I want to upgrade since its very finicky, so Ive been thinking of just going for Bubble King my question is Which Skimmer should I get between: Bubble King supermarin 200 or Royal Exclusive Bubble King Deluxe 200 Skimmer with RD3 Speedy and why or any other suggestions? Thanks in advance.

08/27/2013, 07:28 AM	#2
Jeremy B. Registered Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Indianapolis, IN / Muncie, IN Posts: 8,219	In my opinion the 200 series are going to be on the big side for your tank. I would suggest sticking with one of their 180 series models, such as the Double Cone 180 if you decide to go with a BK. Having said that, the XP 2000 skimmer you have is an awesome skimmer, and should handle your system with no issues at all. What type of problems are you experiencing with it?

08/27/2013, 10:18 AM	#3
ap2honda Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 82	Well my skimmer used to work fine for 2 and a half years when I first purchased It. A few months back my bubble blaster pump stopped working as far as producing good skimmate goes. The pump was still under warranty so I sent it to Jeremy at coralvue he claimed the pump was still good that everything tested positive at his test tub. I get the pump back but it still can not produce good foam I get nothing but micro bubbles. I have played with different levels of water ranging from 5 inches of depth to 10 I have cleaned the skimmer ( airline also). It just seems that when I turn the gate valve a lot to raise the inner water level the skimmer will loose its skimmate and over flow. When its commpletly open it has good dry bubbles but the water level is to low and the cone is too high so it doesn't reach to the collection cup. I used to be fond of Reef Octopus, but I highly suspect its the pump that doesn't work since the first 2 years and 6 months it worked very well and now it can not produce good foam. The bubble blaster pump broke under warranty and Jeremy gave me a hard time to the point where I'm just done with coralvue and reef octopus products all together. I did contemplate for awhile to buy a new bubble blaster pump since I had read that others had bubble blaster pumps go bad within the first 3 years of ownership. But then I thought that shouldn't be my job to risk spending my money on a new pump to test my skimmer and for what? For the new pump to break again under 3 year warranty and have jeremy tell me too bad so sad? That should be his job when its under warranty. Sorry for the rant. But at the price of a new bubble blaster pump for me to buy and test and I wouldn't be able to refund it if it wasn't the problem. I would rather just go for the sure thing and buy a good quality built Bubble King skimmer where the skimmer and the pump are top notch.

08/27/2013, 11:30 AM	#4
Jeremy B. Registered Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Indianapolis, IN / Muncie, IN Posts: 8,219	Sorry to hear about the issues you've had. It's hard to say what could have been at play and causing the issues you were experiencing. A lot of times it can be things other than the pump itself such as a lower bioload, a silencer that's slightly clogged, etc. Having said that, a BK, or really any other good performing skimmer would work just fine for you. As mentioned above though, I think you'd be happier with a Double Cone 180 on that size tank than what you would a 200 series Bubble King.

08/27/2013, 11:55 AM	#5
ap2honda Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 82	Now on the 180 would a double cone with a rbd3 speedy pump be beeter than the old pump? I have read great amazing reviews on the BK supermarin line so I was wondering if the rbd2 speedy pump is just. As good? I understand its a newer design but is it a better design? Is the double cone a better skimmer design as well? I just really want to make sure I get a BK I won't regret. Thanks for your input.

08/27/2013, 05:16 PM	#7
ap2honda Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 82	Yeah I think I am going with the 180 but my question now is, Is the double cone just as effective as the suermarin? I have heard and read great reviews on the Supermarin series but I still havnt really ran into any Double Cone user reviews and opinions.. before I take the thousand dollar decision I want to make sure I buy the end all be all Bubble King Skimmer...

08/27/2013, 05:23 PM	#8
ap2honda Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 82	or do they even have a BK supermarin 180?? at Premium Aquatics all I see is the 180 being the double cone and the 200 being a supermarin. Seems more people in reefcentral seem to run the supermarin series... Anyone out there have a double cone to share experience? or someone who has tried both?

08/27/2013, 08:30 PM	#9
ap2honda Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 82	What about between the Bubble King Mini 180 vs the Double Cone 180 Which one do you guys recommend?

08/30/2013, 07:22 PM	#10
ap2honda Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 82	Anyone has any experience with any of those two? What are your opinions which one is the least finicky?

09/03/2013, 01:55 PM	#11
Jeremy B. Registered Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Indianapolis, IN / Muncie, IN Posts: 8,219	The Double Cone 180 will outperform the Mini 180, and will be a bit easier to dial in. Double Cone 180 would be more in line with performance of the Mini 200. HTH!