Anyone have experience with bubble king skimmers??? Looking at mini 200

Bigfish93 · 05/19/2014, 11:26 AM

I was curious to find out if anyone has had any experience with bubble king skimmers. I know they are pricey and that's probably why I can't find many reviews on them but was curious to find out what everyone thought of them.
I'm limited on space in my sump and was looking at the bubble king mini 200.

Any input would be appreciated!

gcarroll · 05/19/2014, 12:02 PM

Craftsmanship of Bubble King Skimmers is unparalleled. Unfortunately there are some down sides that come with this. Performance is also spectacular considering it restraints, however there are other skimmers on the market with similar performance. If you have to go with a skimmer that contains an internal pumps is a fine choice. There may be other options however that you should consider. What type of limits on space are you dealing with. Also how high of a skimmer can you have.

Heliman · 05/19/2014, 04:17 PM

I have run a Bubble King Supermarin 250 on my 100 lit sps tank for 18 months.

It was slow to break in...took about a month, but has performed flawlessly ever since. I upgraded last year to the DC pump for a bit more controllability and less running cost.

Build quality is superb and controllability (anything from weak tea to liquid mud) is up to the individual choice.

I was running an old ETSS downdraft skimmer on my previous tank and the difference is astounding.

rgulrich · 05/19/2014, 05:05 PM

I ran a BK mini 200 for a few years on my 180. Used Kalk in my topoff and a calcium reactor, and the BK pump required a vinegar soak every 4-6 mos, sometimes with a good dis-assembly/scrubbing as well (a little bit of a pain to pull the impeller without damaging anything, but I'm a little clumsy at times).
First pump died just out of warranty, and it took about a month to replace. Used one of a couple of Tunze 9015s (which have a much smaller footprint) I had (and still have) sitting around as a stand-in.

Build quality, like others mention, is good and sturdy. A bit of "heft" to it, and you'll feel comfortable that it shouldn't break easily.

Skimmer works well for it's footprint, and it is a small footprint. Locate it someplace you won't mind pulling it out of on routine basis to maintain-keep it clean for maximum performance. Works well with ozone if desired, just T-off the input to the silencer. I still have it sitting around (I'm trying to decide what to do with my building collection of aquarium parts) "just in case" my RLSS DB 10-I konks out and I don't feel like using my Tunzes. I most recently used it in a 150 gallon stock tank quarantine for reef rock and inverts, and it performed fine - until the pump needed a vinegar soak and cleaning. I then just dropped in a Tunze 9015 for the remainder of the quarantine period.

Hope this helps in some way.

nickdo · 05/19/2014, 07:23 PM

Im using sm250 for one year. It is very stable.

advancedaquarist did a review on several skimmers.
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2010/1/aafeature

Bigfish93 · 05/19/2014, 08:24 PM

Thanks for all of the replies!

I only have about 8 inches from the top of the sump to the bottom of the top of the stand... if that makes any sense ha. With the vertex alpha 200 cup, I cant get it out or in the sump to clean. With the BK 200, the cup is 7 1/2 inches tall so i would be able to get it in and out.
The pump does not have to be inside the skimmer.

Most likely I wont be able to take the skimmer out of the sump to clean, so it will have to be cleaned in the sump.
I am open to other skimmers just want something that is going to work well!

Bigfish93 · 05/19/2014, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gcarroll

Craftsmanship of Bubble King Skimmers is unparalleled. Unfortunately there are some down sides that come with this. Performance is also spectacular considering it restraints, however there are other skimmers on the market with similar performance. If you have to go with a skimmer that contains an internal pumps is a fine choice. There may be other options however that you should consider. What type of limits on space are you dealing with. Also how high of a skimmer can you have.

What are some of the down sides?

Quote:

Originally Posted by nickdo

Im using sm250 for one year. It is very stable.

advancedaquarist did a review on several skimmers.
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2010/1/aafeature

Wow great article! I wish I didnt skip all my math classes in college.

kenghmoob · 05/20/2014, 01:12 AM

I have a mini 180. It is a powerhouse and works flawlessly. Well built and looks sooo nice. The only problem I've ever encountered was getting a replacement pump for the one that just died. Keep in mind that this was 3-4 years ago so I don't know if it has changed but there was only 1 or 2 distributors that carried any parts. One can't just call the manufacturer and expect to get customer service. I needed to go through the proper channel to get this replacement pump. No one in North America had the red dragon pump so I had to wait for the next shipment. Luckily, the next shipment was coming in within a week so I had to wait for that shipment otherwise I would have to wait 3-4 months. Now I'm not like some reefers that have skimmers laying around so if I would have had to wait 3-4 months, I would have been restricted to 2 choices, purchase another skimmer for the time being or wait for the pump. Again I was lucky that a shipment was coming in so I was out of a skimmer for approx 1 week.

I don't know how it is nowadays, but I found this inconvenance a little too annoying. I would recommend that you purchase a back up pump for the future so that you don't end up waiting for too long. Again, it can be different now and stock is more readiy available.

chema · 05/20/2014, 03:20 AM

I run a BK 200 internal in my in my 140. It's a beast. It has been working for several years and is the best piece of equipment I could have got. Almost completely silent, sturdy, easy to clean and regulate. I'm sure I couldn't keep the high biological load I have in my reef without its help.

The only con is its price. Ridiculous, but I bought mine second hand so it wasn't that bad.

I had to replace the pump a couple of years ago. I got the new one just in a week. The Spanish reseller of Royal Exclusiv works great and nicely. Also you can buy spare parts directly from RE in Germany.

If you can afford it I wouldn't hesitate.

amphibian · 07/28/2014, 05:33 AM

I have a 1600lt set up and was running a bk deluxe 300 and removed it for servicing and upgraded pump to rd3.
I installed a mini bk200 just as a temporary, its been there for 2 months and will be staying there for a while longer.
It surprised me, and going hard as i want it to.
So easy to clean and cup removal a breeze , just lift Up about 1/2 inch and good to go.
I must say im obsessed with Royal exclusiv equipment

http://www.masa.asn.au/phpBB3/viewto...t=200#p1197256

rounder45 · 07/28/2014, 11:21 AM

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1524677
here ya go.

05/19/2014, 11:26 AM	#1
Bigfish93 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 78	Anyone have experience with bubble king skimmers??? Looking at mini 200 I was curious to find out if anyone has had any experience with bubble king skimmers. I know they are pricey and that's probably why I can't find many reviews on them but was curious to find out what everyone thought of them. I'm limited on space in my sump and was looking at the bubble king mini 200. Any input would be appreciated! __________________ Derek Current Tank Info: 62x30x24

05/19/2014, 12:02 PM	#2
gcarroll Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Orange, CA Posts: 9,666	Craftsmanship of Bubble King Skimmers is unparalleled. Unfortunately there are some down sides that come with this. Performance is also spectacular considering it restraints, however there are other skimmers on the market with similar performance. If you have to go with a skimmer that contains an internal pumps is a fine choice. There may be other options however that you should consider. What type of limits on space are you dealing with. Also how high of a skimmer can you have. __________________ Greg Carroll I will be at REEF-A-PALOOZA! SPS = Stability Promotes Success Be wary of advice coming from those who will not show you the fruits of their success! Current Tank Info: building: 250g AGE Euro tank, Abyzz A200, Vertex Supra-G filtration, Ecotech Radion Pro LEDs, ...

05/19/2014, 05:05 PM	#4
rgulrich greybeard Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: MD Posts: 893	I ran a BK mini 200 for a few years on my 180. Used Kalk in my topoff and a calcium reactor, and the BK pump required a vinegar soak every 4-6 mos, sometimes with a good dis-assembly/scrubbing as well (a little bit of a pain to pull the impeller without damaging anything, but I'm a little clumsy at times). First pump died just out of warranty, and it took about a month to replace. Used one of a couple of Tunze 9015s (which have a much smaller footprint) I had (and still have) sitting around as a stand-in. Build quality, like others mention, is good and sturdy. A bit of "heft" to it, and you'll feel comfortable that it shouldn't break easily. Skimmer works well for it's footprint, and it is a small footprint. Locate it someplace you won't mind pulling it out of on routine basis to maintain-keep it clean for maximum performance. Works well with ozone if desired, just T-off the input to the silencer. I still have it sitting around (I'm trying to decide what to do with my building collection of aquarium parts) "just in case" my RLSS DB 10-I konks out and I don't feel like using my Tunzes. I most recently used it in a 150 gallon stock tank quarantine for reef rock and inverts, and it performed fine - until the pump needed a vinegar soak and cleaning. I then just dropped in a Tunze 9015 for the remainder of the quarantine period. Hope this helps in some way. __________________ The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination. Albert Einstein Current Tank Info: 360 degree walk around 300 DD island–4 300W & 2 165W ViparSpectra, 4 Kessil A350W, 2 A360WE, 3 XF150, 1 XF250, 1 XF350 Gyre along with 2 PP40 and 2 IceCap 3K gyre for robust current. Basement 150 gallon RubberMaid sump, SKIMZ skimmer, DCP18000

05/19/2014, 08:24 PM	#6
Bigfish93 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 78	Thanks for all of the replies! I only have about 8 inches from the top of the sump to the bottom of the top of the stand... if that makes any sense ha. With the vertex alpha 200 cup, I cant get it out or in the sump to clean. With the BK 200, the cup is 7 1/2 inches tall so i would be able to get it in and out. The pump does not have to be inside the skimmer. Most likely I wont be able to take the skimmer out of the sump to clean, so it will have to be cleaned in the sump. I am open to other skimmers just want something that is going to work well! __________________ Derek Current Tank Info: 62x30x24

05/19/2014, 04:17 PM	#3
Heliman Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 266	I have run a Bubble King Supermarin 250 on my 100 lit sps tank for 18 months. It was slow to break in...took about a month, but has performed flawlessly ever since. I upgraded last year to the DC pump for a bit more controllability and less running cost. Build quality is superb and controllability (anything from weak tea to liquid mud) is up to the individual choice. I was running an old ETSS downdraft skimmer on my previous tank and the difference is astounding.

05/19/2014, 07:23 PM	#5
nickdo Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 149	Im using sm250 for one year. It is very stable. advancedaquarist did a review on several skimmers. http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2010/1/aafeature

05/20/2014, 01:12 AM	#8
kenghmoob Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Fresno, CA Posts: 183	I have a mini 180. It is a powerhouse and works flawlessly. Well built and looks sooo nice. The only problem I've ever encountered was getting a replacement pump for the one that just died. Keep in mind that this was 3-4 years ago so I don't know if it has changed but there was only 1 or 2 distributors that carried any parts. One can't just call the manufacturer and expect to get customer service. I needed to go through the proper channel to get this replacement pump. No one in North America had the red dragon pump so I had to wait for the next shipment. Luckily, the next shipment was coming in within a week so I had to wait for that shipment otherwise I would have to wait 3-4 months. Now I'm not like some reefers that have skimmers laying around so if I would have had to wait 3-4 months, I would have been restricted to 2 choices, purchase another skimmer for the time being or wait for the pump. Again I was lucky that a shipment was coming in so I was out of a skimmer for approx 1 week. I don't know how it is nowadays, but I found this inconvenance a little too annoying. I would recommend that you purchase a back up pump for the future so that you don't end up waiting for too long. Again, it can be different now and stock is more readiy available.

05/20/2014, 03:20 AM	#9
chema Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Spain Posts: 210	I run a BK 200 internal in my in my 140. It's a beast. It has been working for several years and is the best piece of equipment I could have got. Almost completely silent, sturdy, easy to clean and regulate. I'm sure I couldn't keep the high biological load I have in my reef without its help. The only con is its price. Ridiculous, but I bought mine second hand so it wasn't that bad. I had to replace the pump a couple of years ago. I got the new one just in a week. The Spanish reseller of Royal Exclusiv works great and nicely. Also you can buy spare parts directly from RE in Germany. If you can afford it I wouldn't hesitate.

07/28/2014, 05:33 AM	#10
amphibian Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: sydney , AUSTRALIA Posts: 15	I have a 1600lt set up and was running a bk deluxe 300 and removed it for servicing and upgraded pump to rd3. I installed a mini bk200 just as a temporary, its been there for 2 months and will be staying there for a while longer. It surprised me, and going hard as i want it to. So easy to clean and cup removal a breeze , just lift Up about 1/2 inch and good to go. I must say im obsessed with Royal exclusiv equipment http://www.masa.asn.au/phpBB3/viewto...t=200#p1197256

07/28/2014, 11:21 AM	#11
rounder45 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 301	http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1524677 here ya go.