Bubble Master Skimmers more info wanted???

[Oliver P.]

your new mod looks good but, i dont see how adding the sliding tee is going to acheive a DRYER foam. It seems to me that it would only allow you to raise the water level.

Ok, dont`t worry. The T-fitting only seem to be higer. Here are the exact modifacations:

1. The T-fitting is 1,5 inch lower, so the water level within the
skimmer body is lower and it is possible to skim drier.
2. The diameter of the acrylic-pipe is larger and thicker now. We
use a 60/50 mm acylic tube instead of a 50/44 mm acryly tube.
Please, look at the picture.


So, you can play with the skimmer, now. I know that some prefer a wet skim and some prefer a dry skim. The only difference is the quantity of water in the collection-Cup. But if you remove the part of water (cooking) you will have the same quantity of organics.

A disadvantage of a dry skim is that the foamtube gets dirty very soon, which has defently a bad influence of the performance of the skimmer. With a more wet adjusted skimmer you have a cleaner foamtube and this helps that a skimmer can work on a "higer level" for a longer periode of time. We made different comparisons and find out that you can remove more phosphates with a wet adjusted skimmer than a dry adjusted skimmer. We believe that this is a result of the mud on the inner side of the dirty foamtube. The mud seems to have an influence of the quantity and quality of the skimmable dessolved organic substances.

Will there be any external models in the future?

Our plan is to come with external models in 2-3 months.

@Maximus

Could you please explain the add on kit?..... I wonder if lowering the water level would have any effect on the water level in the skimmer?

If you lower the water level in your tank is has no influence on the water level in the skimmer. The water level within the skimmer is controlled by the position of the T-fitting. But a lower water level has a small influence ( - 5-10 %) on the performance of the pumps. I am sorry, that our pumps have too much power. Normally, you should have the same results as Creeting. But you can simply reduce the power of the pump, if you reduce the diameter of the treadwheel. The diameter should be 46mm or 1.81 inch. If you cut it a little to 45mm or 1.77 inch on one pump it should be perfect. But be careful, you can`t glue it again if you cut too much. Greg has no mateiral for replacement at the moment. We will sent all this things with the next shipment.
The add on kit is a t-Fitting and a ball valve. I will show pictures on monday how to use it.

@Creeting

please make your messurements after the silencer and use a thicker tube for the connection with the flowmeter. This is important . There is no high backpressure on the pumps, because the wateroutlet of the skimmer is large enough for both pumps. We only got bad results, if we connect both Air- intake tubes with a T or Y-Fitting. That is the reason why we go directly in the silencer with each pump.

Have a nice day.

Thanks
Oliver

[46bfinGA]

Our plan is to come with external models in 2-3 months.



Thanks
Oliver [/B][/QUOTE]



well i may jump on that.

[bubbaOPPD]

I just got the BM250 and was wondering if anyone else is a little worried that the pumps have no ground plug on them?

[Jim_S]

Originally posted by 46bfinGA
Our plan is to come with external models in 2-3 months.



Thanks
Oliver

well i may jump on that. [/B][/QUOTE]

Me too. I'm going to be watching for updates.

Thanks again.

Jim

[Maximus]

Ok, I don't understand what is wrong. I woke up today and found that the skimmer was overflowing. However, a new, potentially dangerous issue has arised.....water splashing underneath the stand What happened was when the cup was full, the holes on the lid of the cup kept spewing water through them. Because of this, I had water all over the stand and estimate that I lost around 1/2 gallon from it. I believe that either the pumps are much too powerful for the skimmer or the water level is much too high. This is strange because the water level was at a good height last night. I am at the end of my patience and do not know what to do.

[UCanDoIt]

Originally posted by Maximus
Ok, I don't understand what is wrong. I woke up today and found that the skimmer was overflowing. However, a new, potentially dangerous issue has arised.....water splashing underneath the stand What happened was when the cup was full, the holes on the lid of the cup kept spewing water through them. Because of this, I had water all over the stand and estimate that I lost around 1/2 gallon from it. I believe that either the pumps are much too powerful for the skimmer or the water level is much too high. This is strange because the water level was at a good height last night. I am at the end of my patience and do not know what to do.

It may be affected by your exhaust be submerged underwater. Try having the exhaust right above the sump waterlevel so that any changes within the sump water will not put backpressure through the exhaust.

[Maximus]

Originally posted by UCanDoIt
It may be affected by your exhaust be submerged underwater. Try having the exhaust right above the sump waterlevel so that any changes within the sump water will not put backpressure through the exhaust.

Actually, that is no longer the case. The new pvc fitting is clearing the water level. The exhaust is no longer submerged. I'll tell ya, I am no longer modifying anything anymore. I have been extremely honest in this thread about the BM250. Something is amiss here.

[Creetin]

I havnt had an overflow, The same results for me a dark tea colored skimmate. Thats fine with me. I feel for ya max, Did ya try taking out the floss? I found with less air restriction the skimmer runs more air, and less water. the more air restriction the more water comes thru pushing up the water level.

Oliver i tested first with 1/4 inch line on the silencer output for both pumps. I tried with 3/8ths line and got less airflow 40's scfh
Yes the pumps are very strong and i dont see any performance loss at a higher head pressure as you state. I get low to mid 40's scfh for each pump, and low 60's for both. I am figuring something is flawed with my test. I dunno though.

Also oliver for those that got the first batch of BM 250's, Are those the smaller diameter stand pipe tubing? (44mm)
If so what is the diagnosis of getting more water out of the smaller tubing? The only thing i can see is cutting it down to the flange and modifying the pvc tee to accept the flange so it can be lower.

[UCanDoIt]

Originally posted by Oliver P.
..... A disadvantage of a dry skim is that the foamtube gets dirty very soon, which has defently a bad influence of the performance of the skimmer. With a more wet adjusted skimmer you have a cleaner foamtube and this helps that a skimmer can work on a "higer level" for a longer periode of time. We made different comparisons and find out that you can remove more phosphates with a wet adjusted skimmer than a dry adjusted skimmer. We believe that this is a result of the mud on the inner side of the dirty foamtube. The mud seems to have an influence of the quantity and quality of the skimmable dessolved organic substances.....

Thanks
Oliver

Thanks for your contributions to this RC thread, we appreciate your presence here.

Yes, you are correct about drier skimming and collection of mud at the top of the riser tube, it definitely does slow the performance of removing the organics if not cleaned regularly. But it's really fine tunning for each owner and their preference. I like to skim very wet as well, but certainly not what Maximus is getting. Creetin seems to be getting closer to my preference or maybe just a little drier. I personal hate to sponge off that mud when I clean my collection cup weekly, so I always adjust my skimmers to skim a little bit more wetter so that it doesn't collect there, but most of my mud is on the lid and only the top edge of the riser pipe.

But your first USA model had a fixed exhaust that made the waterlevel within the skimmer too high, so no adjustment can be done and potentially the skimmer can overflow, exactly what Maximus just experienced. Looks like the new adjusting exhaust will work perfect for USA market, both shorter and wider exhaust should do the trick. Thanks, Christine

[Maximus]

Originally posted by Creetin
I havnt had an overflow, The same results for me a dark tea colored skimmate. Thats fine with me. I feel for ya max, Did ya try taking out the floss? I found with less air restriction the skimmer runs more air, and less water. the more air restriction the more water comes thru pushing up the water level.

Oliver i tested first with 1/4 inch line on the silencer output for both pumps. I tried with 3/8ths line and got less airflow 40's scfh
Yes the pumps are very strong and i dont see any performance loss at a higher head pressure as you state. I get low to mid 40's scfh for each pump, and low 60's for both. I am figuring something is flawed with my test. I dunno though.

Also oliver for those that got the first batch of BM 250's, Are those the smaller diameter stand pipe tubing? (44mm)
If so what is the diagnosis of getting more water out of the smaller tubing? The only thing i can see is cutting it down to the flange and modifying the pvc tee to accept the flange so it can be lower.

I'll take out the floss now. Have you been running yours without the floss?

[Creetin]

No but i putzed around with it alot today seeing how i could raise and lower waterlevel fooling with the air, and i have been measuring it.

[Creetin]

If still not enough max try it without the cap too.

[Maximus]

Currently, I took out the pvc section from the water exhaust. When I took out the floss, I didn't observe a reduction in water level. I'm sure it's too early to tell though. I'll take the cap off a bit later. Perhaps my pumps are supercharged, lol!

[Creetin]

Also would a 4 way pvc connector instead of the tee would lower water head pressure out of the skimmer? I think it would because the outflow of the skimmer is almost a full stream out of the tee, how much by doing that i dont know.

[Maximus]

Creetin, I took off the cap and it seems like the water level was reduced. I cant really tell because there is a lot of foam in the skimmer. This thing really does need a silencer because it now howls like a wolf!

[Creetin]

I am thinking you have some sort of restriction in your skimmer air lines. (Somewhere) A kink or in the cap some where. (Like the top hole too small) Check the venturi on the pump as well.

It may only need a bigger hole on the cap. If it dont overflow with the cap off, It just may be because it needs a slightly bigger air hole in the cap. I would check all pupmps and lines first before ya made the cap hole bigger. I would like to hear from oliver first as well before you did anything like drill the cap hole bigger.

[Maximus]

I just checked all the lines and pumps and everything looks normal. Man, I am having some bad luck as of late. I forgot to put the mesh cover on my tank yesterday. I just found my rhomboid wrasse on the floor

[Creetin]

Man thats a big loss, Sorry to hear. Golden rhomboid?

[Maximus]

RIP

[Creetin]

Man that just sucks, I lost 2 nice wrasses like that from jumping, I swore them off, and only keep cheap ones.
If i could do anything i would extend the necks on these up 4 more inches and have a gate valve.
The good things about these skimmers is the dwell time is awsome! Just a couple bugs i love my skimmer, Just wish i could controll it even though i would probably keep it where its at becasue i am getting a liter to a litre and a half of skimmate a day.
I hope we get whats going on with yours sang!

[Maximus]

Yeah, I'm done with fairy wrasses. I suppose there is a "bright" side to this. I no longer have to cover my tank which will let the light penetrate more. Thanks for all your help Creetin.

[ridetheducati]

Can we get a few more pix for those that are still waiting for our "Bubble Onslaught" to arrive. I need something to help me forget I paid for 800 cheeseburgers.

[Creetin]

Sang, Is the cap still off, and is the bubbles at a lower height?
Well i tested each pump running (Both on) and i am getting 42-42 scfh for each pump. Thats 84-86 scfh!!!! I am thinking i need a half inch meter to measure these pumps rather than a 1/4 inch model.
I am going to pick up a killowatt meter next week.
Oh and oliver if you need a beta tester for the new external i would be honored to try one out.

[Creetin]

Well to let you future BM owners know, feeding kills my bubbles.
Well live fatty foods kills it for about an hr. I am lucky to get bubbles up to the neck after feeding.
These skimmers react immediately like becketts do!

[Roland Jacques]

Originally posted by Creetin
to pick up a killowatt meter next week.
Oh and oliver if you need a beta tester for the new external i would be honored to try one out.

Yeah, I second the beta testing on the recirc also. Someone like Creetin or myself would do a good job going over it.

Creetin, you can pick up the Killa watt meter at harbor freight $24.99.