Skimmer problem Bubble Magus 3.5 Cone

ReefKnot · 06/07/2011, 01:17 PM

I have a Bubble Magus 3.5 Cone and I am just getting it started up for the first time. Its in my sump, there is 12" of water, but I have it on a 3" platform. It is supposed to run in 8"-10" of water, so I figure I'm alright. But the problem is that it is creating an obscene amount of microbubbles, but when I try to close the outflow pipe, it floods the collection cup with water. It is in a very new system. The only thing I can see about it is that the air tube coming from the pump up out of the water is just wide open. When I stick my thumb on it, the bubbles go away, but so does the foamy water in the skimmer.

Should I put a small air valve on that air tube? Anyone have some advice on what I can do to fix this? Thanks!

ReefKnot · 06/07/2011, 02:58 PM

bump

DZs · 06/07/2011, 03:06 PM

It needs to break in and to be fine tuned by tweaking the air with water flow. Both my SWC and Euro Reef has turn functions to control the air on the air tubes.

ReefKnot · 06/07/2011, 03:10 PM

I dont have any way to control the air flow, its just an open tube.... But basically I just need to leave it and let it work out the bubbles on its own?

DZs · 06/07/2011, 03:32 PM

See if you can find a valve like this. It will help you

steveoutlaw · 09/09/2011, 07:19 AM

You don't need a valve. You have a new tank and a new skimmer. It can take up to 3 weeks for a skimmer to break in enough to start producing skimmate. The best thing to do is to just let it keep running until it breaks in. You'll know when.

jmking33 · 09/11/2011, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steveoutlaw

you don't need a valve. You have a new tank and a new skimmer. It can take up to 3 weeks for a skimmer to break in enough to start producing skimmate. The best thing to do is to just let it keep running until it breaks in. You'll know when.

+1

DataSeaker · 02/14/2012, 02:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReefKnot

I dont have any way to control the air flow, its just an open tube.... But basically I just need to leave it and let it work out the bubbles on its own?

Just curious on what the status of your bubble problem is I have the same problem and just wondering what the break in period is?

zenzence · 05/19/2012, 09:06 AM

Updates I have a bubble magus 3.5 as well with a bubble trap installed after skimmer. Still ALOT of micro bubbles and its been well over 3 weeks.

dublo8 · 05/19/2012, 11:14 AM

I have the 3.5 as well. Let it break in. It took mine about 2-3 weeks. Don't put a valve on the airline, there is no need for it. If you have no livestock it could take longer. You need to let a little scum build up first.

r-balljunkie · 05/20/2012, 06:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DZs

See if you can find a valve like this. It will help you

DZs has it right. ive used a ball valve on my intake of a BM180CS, and my BM150 before that.

works fine for me, keeps my skimmer from overflowing.

C

06/07/2011, 01:17 PM	#1
ReefKnot Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Sudbury, Ontario, Canada Posts: 362	Skimmer problem Bubble Magus 3.5 Cone I have a Bubble Magus 3.5 Cone and I am just getting it started up for the first time. Its in my sump, there is 12" of water, but I have it on a 3" platform. It is supposed to run in 8"-10" of water, so I figure I'm alright. But the problem is that it is creating an obscene amount of microbubbles, but when I try to close the outflow pipe, it floods the collection cup with water. It is in a very new system. The only thing I can see about it is that the air tube coming from the pump up out of the water is just wide open. When I stick my thumb on it, the bubbles go away, but so does the foamy water in the skimmer. Should I put a small air valve on that air tube? Anyone have some advice on what I can do to fix this? Thanks! __________________ Tank: 50 Gallon DT, 29g Sump, 65g total, 75lbs Live Rock, 45lbs Live Sand, 4x54w T5HO, Bubble Magus NAC 3.5, Glass-Holes Overflow, Mag 9.5 pump with 2 drilled returns, BRS Carbon & GFO Reactor, 2 Vortech MP10w ES Livestock: 2 Occelaris, 1 Scissortail Dartfish, 1 Striped Blenny, 1 Purple Fire Goby, 1 Yellow Clown Goby, 1 Cleaner Shrimp, Snails and Scarlet Hermits

06/07/2011, 02:58 PM	#2
ReefKnot Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Sudbury, Ontario, Canada Posts: 362	bump __________________ Tank: 50 Gallon DT, 29g Sump, 65g total, 75lbs Live Rock, 45lbs Live Sand, 4x54w T5HO, Bubble Magus NAC 3.5, Glass-Holes Overflow, Mag 9.5 pump with 2 drilled returns, BRS Carbon & GFO Reactor, 2 Vortech MP10w ES Livestock: 2 Occelaris, 1 Scissortail Dartfish, 1 Striped Blenny, 1 Purple Fire Goby, 1 Yellow Clown Goby, 1 Cleaner Shrimp, Snails and Scarlet Hermits

06/07/2011, 03:06 PM	#3
DZs Sunny D's Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: CA Posts: 642	It needs to break in and to be fine tuned by tweaking the air with water flow. Both my SWC and Euro Reef has turn functions to control the air on the air tubes. __________________ -Donna My tank isn't too tall, my arms are just too short! 150 in the works Current Tank Info: 90 Bow Front, 29 sump

06/07/2011, 03:10 PM	#4
ReefKnot Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Sudbury, Ontario, Canada Posts: 362	I dont have any way to control the air flow, its just an open tube.... But basically I just need to leave it and let it work out the bubbles on its own? __________________ Tank: 50 Gallon DT, 29g Sump, 65g total, 75lbs Live Rock, 45lbs Live Sand, 4x54w T5HO, Bubble Magus NAC 3.5, Glass-Holes Overflow, Mag 9.5 pump with 2 drilled returns, BRS Carbon & GFO Reactor, 2 Vortech MP10w ES Livestock: 2 Occelaris, 1 Scissortail Dartfish, 1 Striped Blenny, 1 Purple Fire Goby, 1 Yellow Clown Goby, 1 Cleaner Shrimp, Snails and Scarlet Hermits

06/07/2011, 03:32 PM	#5
DZs Sunny D's Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: CA Posts: 642	See if you can find a valve like this. It will help you __________________ -Donna My tank isn't too tall, my arms are just too short! 150 in the works Current Tank Info: 90 Bow Front, 29 sump

09/09/2011, 07:19 AM	#6
steveoutlaw Moved On Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Woodbridge, VA Posts: 355	You don't need a valve. You have a new tank and a new skimmer. It can take up to 3 weeks for a skimmer to break in enough to start producing skimmate. The best thing to do is to just let it keep running until it breaks in. You'll know when.

05/19/2012, 09:06 AM	#9
zenzence Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 373	Updates I have a bubble magus 3.5 as well with a bubble trap installed after skimmer. Still ALOT of micro bubbles and its been well over 3 weeks. __________________ zen x 2 Current Tank Info: 75 Innovative Marine /mixed Reef

05/19/2012, 11:14 AM	#10
dublo8 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Morgan Hill, Ca Posts: 3,225	I have the 3.5 as well. Let it break in. It took mine about 2-3 weeks. Don't put a valve on the airline, there is no need for it. If you have no livestock it could take longer. You need to let a little scum build up first. __________________ 10g IM fusion. Zoa and SPS dominant, Apex monitored, Ai Prime, MP10, sicce return.

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