Bubble King Mini Gen 1 Help Needed!!

TheReefKeeper · 01/11/2009, 02:54 PM

I posted this in the proline forum but it's the weekend and i think everyone is off so I'm posting this here.
Q-I just got my BK mini 200. Is this thing really that sensitive? I feed it drops for hours. You touch the water it drops for hours. What's the deal? The sump has an extremely stable water level. It's about 10in I know it's supposed to be around 9in. Will 9in. of water make that much of a difference? I bought this used and the old owner complained about the same issues. I figured I could get it to skim better because he said his sump did not have a stable water level. He went back to his Euro-Reef 135. He ran it for 3 month's and I've been running it for 3 days. So the break in period should not apply Right? Should I give it a break and let it go or do something different? I haven't seen much in the cup just light water may be 1 ml. of skimmate at best in 3 days. So far not too impressed. My corals need skimming now I don't have a week to figure this out my tank can't go that long unskimmed. Any input would really be appreciated.

Paulairduck · 01/11/2009, 03:30 PM

I never used the Gen 1 but I had the gen 2. I would just set the the bubble breaking level to the line and the skimmer would skim.

I use a osmolator, and ran the sump level @ 9 inches

what size tank are you running it on.

TheReefKeeper · 01/11/2009, 03:42 PM

150Gal total. I run a aquamedic doser topping off it's extremely stable. less than 1/8 of an in. fluctuation at all times.
I just cut some PVC feet and it's now sitting at 9". Hope this works if it doesn't it's For Sale.
Paulairduck- you are running this on a 300gal?

dphins · 01/11/2009, 08:03 PM

Mine is that sensitive.

gasman059 · 01/11/2009, 08:31 PM

patience buddy.
make sure the intake is not clogged-the skimmer is that sensitive. take apart the impeller portion and see if there's anything in there.

If u r running it in an area for example with cheato- the smallest algae can cause this.

IME even doing AA causes it to decrease the level- but in no time is up to speed again.

TheReefKeeper · 01/12/2009, 09:46 AM

I can't believe this thing is that sensitive. From all the positive reviews I would have thought this would have been the last thing that this skimmer would have a problem with.
How is this skimmer so efficient when it spends so many minutes/hours down when adding food or additives to the tank. Years ago a good skimmer was rated on never skipping a beat. and of course bubble size, and reaction time. From the looks of it reaction time and the bubble size are on the money. The down time really kills it for me.
I have nothing in my sump it's clean I run a filter sock too.

dphins- How is it skimming for you?

I have moved it to 9in of water and it seem a bit better but nothing to brag about. it's been 4 days and I cant even fill a test vial with skimmate. between feeding and supp's it spends more time down than up.

dobbs · 01/12/2009, 02:53 PM

If the level in the skimmer section of you sump is consistant - they work like a charm once dialed in. If that level changes - you will have problems keeping it dialed in.

BTW - what is your bio load?

TheReefKeeper · 01/12/2009, 03:37 PM

Heavy bio load 40 sps 3 soft. 9 fish 100+ # LR. Po4-0. No3-5. I was hoping to droop the NO3 to 0. I guess that will be my testing ground so I have a point to measure the progress of skimming.
The sump is extremely stable like I said less than 1/8 of an inch.
It appears to be doing all right but like I said nothing to brag about. I've had allot of skimmers over the years and I've never had a BK so I'll give it a fair shake before I call it quits. Their are too many people who have had nothing but good thing to say about them. I really want to be another one with good thing to say.

dphins · 01/12/2009, 06:26 PM

It took mine a week or two before it decided to start rocking. Now it depends on the bio-load. When I had my sandbed, it would skim alot. Now that I am barebottom, it skims more wet.
This was a weeks worth.

TheReefKeeper · 01/12/2009, 06:47 PM

Yea I'm gonna give it some time. looks like you run your water level low in the body. You get that color skimmate at that water level?

dphins · 01/12/2009, 09:16 PM

My sump is a 20 long so I can't run my water level any higher. If I run it any higher, when the return pump is turned off, it would overflow the sump. The water level in the sump is 8 1/2 inches with an auto-top off system. The picture was taken with flash.

TheReefKeeper · 01/12/2009, 10:03 PM

gotcha!

jnb · 01/13/2009, 08:43 PM

I am not so sure that the 1/8 swing is not a problem - everyone so far that I have seen address the level says keep so it does not vary - they never said keep it within 1/8 inch - many sumps if not most have baffles to keep water level so it does not vary - it isn't an issue of how high the bubbles are in the cup as much as pressure changes.

TheReefKeeper · 01/13/2009, 09:47 PM

Pressure absolutely makes sense. So fix the (less) than a 1/8 swing it may be more like a 1/16. Would make all that much of a difference? It's really that sensitive?

01/11/2009, 02:54 PM	#1
TheReefKeeper Aquaholic Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Somewhere Posts: 800	Bubble King Mini Gen 1 Help Needed!! I posted this in the proline forum but it's the weekend and i think everyone is off so I'm posting this here. Q-I just got my BK mini 200. Is this thing really that sensitive? I feed it drops for hours. You touch the water it drops for hours. What's the deal? The sump has an extremely stable water level. It's about 10in I know it's supposed to be around 9in. Will 9in. of water make that much of a difference? I bought this used and the old owner complained about the same issues. I figured I could get it to skim better because he said his sump did not have a stable water level. He went back to his Euro-Reef 135. He ran it for 3 month's and I've been running it for 3 days. So the break in period should not apply Right? Should I give it a break and let it go or do something different? I haven't seen much in the cup just light water may be 1 ml. of skimmate at best in 3 days. So far not too impressed. My corals need skimming now I don't have a week to figure this out my tank can't go that long unskimmed. Any input would really be appreciated.

01/11/2009, 08:03 PM	#4
dphins Last place no more! Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Godfrey, IL Posts: 3,165	Mine is that sensitive. __________________ I work with a bunch of monkeys! Current Tank Info: 120 rr tank. Hamilton Cebu light fixture.. Apex controller. ATB 840 v1.5 skimmer. Lifereef calcium reactor with Geo 2nd chamber. Tunze 6100, 6105 and 6045. 40 breeder sump with eheim 1262 return. Pacific coast chiller...

01/11/2009, 08:31 PM	#5
gasman059 The OG mad scientist Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: SOFLA Posts: 10,308	patience buddy. make sure the intake is not clogged-the skimmer is that sensitive. take apart the impeller portion and see if there's anything in there. If u r running it in an area for example with cheato- the smallest algae can cause this. IME even doing AA causes it to decrease the level- but in no time is up to speed again. __________________ There's a fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness". 1985-present Current Tank Info: Officially lurking!

01/12/2009, 06:26 PM	#9
dphins Last place no more! Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Godfrey, IL Posts: 3,165	It took mine a week or two before it decided to start rocking. Now it depends on the bio-load. When I had my sandbed, it would skim alot. Now that I am barebottom, it skims more wet. This was a weeks worth. __________________ I work with a bunch of monkeys! Current Tank Info: 120 rr tank. Hamilton Cebu light fixture.. Apex controller. ATB 840 v1.5 skimmer. Lifereef calcium reactor with Geo 2nd chamber. Tunze 6100, 6105 and 6045. 40 breeder sump with eheim 1262 return. Pacific coast chiller...

01/12/2009, 09:16 PM	#11
dphins Last place no more! Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Godfrey, IL Posts: 3,165	My sump is a 20 long so I can't run my water level any higher. If I run it any higher, when the return pump is turned off, it would overflow the sump. The water level in the sump is 8 1/2 inches with an auto-top off system. The picture was taken with flash. __________________ I work with a bunch of monkeys! Current Tank Info: 120 rr tank. Hamilton Cebu light fixture.. Apex controller. ATB 840 v1.5 skimmer. Lifereef calcium reactor with Geo 2nd chamber. Tunze 6100, 6105 and 6045. 40 breeder sump with eheim 1262 return. Pacific coast chiller...

01/11/2009, 03:30 PM	#2
Paulairduck I LOVE FREE FRAGS!!! Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Chino Hills Posts: 2,909	I never used the Gen 1 but I had the gen 2. I would just set the the bubble breaking level to the line and the skimmer would skim. I use a osmolator, and ran the sump level @ 9 inches what size tank are you running it on.

01/11/2009, 03:42 PM	#3
TheReefKeeper Aquaholic Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Somewhere Posts: 800	150Gal total. I run a aquamedic doser topping off it's extremely stable. less than 1/8 of an in. fluctuation at all times. I just cut some PVC feet and it's now sitting at 9". Hope this works if it doesn't it's For Sale. Paulairduck- you are running this on a 300gal?

01/12/2009, 09:46 AM	#6
TheReefKeeper Aquaholic Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Somewhere Posts: 800	I can't believe this thing is that sensitive. From all the positive reviews I would have thought this would have been the last thing that this skimmer would have a problem with. How is this skimmer so efficient when it spends so many minutes/hours down when adding food or additives to the tank. Years ago a good skimmer was rated on never skipping a beat. and of course bubble size, and reaction time. From the looks of it reaction time and the bubble size are on the money. The down time really kills it for me. I have nothing in my sump it's clean I run a filter sock too. dphins- How is it skimming for you? I have moved it to 9in of water and it seem a bit better but nothing to brag about. it's been 4 days and I cant even fill a test vial with skimmate. between feeding and supp's it spends more time down than up.

01/12/2009, 02:53 PM	#7
dobbs Moved On Join Date: May 2006 Location: Forest Lake, MN Posts: 58	If the level in the skimmer section of you sump is consistant - they work like a charm once dialed in. If that level changes - you will have problems keeping it dialed in. BTW - what is your bio load?

01/12/2009, 03:37 PM	#8
TheReefKeeper Aquaholic Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Somewhere Posts: 800	Heavy bio load 40 sps 3 soft. 9 fish 100+ # LR. Po4-0. No3-5. I was hoping to droop the NO3 to 0. I guess that will be my testing ground so I have a point to measure the progress of skimming. The sump is extremely stable like I said less than 1/8 of an inch. It appears to be doing all right but like I said nothing to brag about. I've had allot of skimmers over the years and I've never had a BK so I'll give it a fair shake before I call it quits. Their are too many people who have had nothing but good thing to say about them. I really want to be another one with good thing to say.

01/12/2009, 06:47 PM	#10
TheReefKeeper Aquaholic Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Somewhere Posts: 800	Yea I'm gonna give it some time. looks like you run your water level low in the body. You get that color skimmate at that water level?

01/12/2009, 10:03 PM	#12
TheReefKeeper Aquaholic Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Somewhere Posts: 800	gotcha!

01/13/2009, 08:43 PM	#13
jnb Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: S.E. Florida Deerfield Beach Posts: 2,581	I am not so sure that the 1/8 swing is not a problem - everyone so far that I have seen address the level says keep so it does not vary - they never said keep it within 1/8 inch - many sumps if not most have baffles to keep water level so it does not vary - it isn't an issue of how high the bubbles are in the cup as much as pressure changes.

01/13/2009, 09:47 PM	#14
TheReefKeeper Aquaholic Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Somewhere Posts: 800	Pressure absolutely makes sense. So fix the (less) than a 1/8 swing it may be more like a 1/16. Would make all that much of a difference? It's really that sensitive?