280 gallon tank project has begun!!!!!! - Page 3

Travis · 12/18/2005, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Wayupnorth
Don't know why but I just started reading this thread and have to chime in and say that I also ordered a BK400 that arrived broken. The whole collection cup lid was basically smashed into about 6 peices. I decided to just glue/duct tape it together and use. When I fired it up and it started skimming - which is very impressive by the way - I found out that the bottom seal on the collection cup was also faulty and I ended up with a bunch of water and skimmate on my floor. I ended up running a bead of PVC primer and glue and silicone around the edges and this stopped it from leaking but does not look good to say the least. Anyway I think the whole process to get my BK here (Canada) took at least 6 weeks and I have been waiting for a new lid and collection cup for another 8 weeks. I am told that they now have them in the States so just have to wait for it get to me - pobably sometime in January. Just thought I would chime in here with my experience.

Ruth

Thanks for chiming in Ruth,
I'm always looking to hear experiences from other BK users as we are few and far between right now. Sorry to hear you also had problems with getting the skimmer shipped to you in one piece.

At least you were able to temporarily fix it so it could be used until your replacement arrives. It sounds like you've had the skimmer for about 2 months now. Do you have the internal or external model. What size system is it running on. And, of course, have you been happy with the performance of the skimmer so far? Do you think it was worth the price? Also, do you have a BK distributer in Canada or do you have to get it through the US?

otolith · 12/18/2005, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Travis
Yup, I can vouch. When you drained your collection cup when we were there it certainly stunk up the basement for a while. Not to mention you have an extremely light fish load and hardly feed them anything.

I'm just glad you thought it was the skimmer and not me.

Since you two were here, I have finally hooked up a gate valve and am skimming wetter than normal. The stench isn't as bad, and I'm emptying the container almost every day.

Had to get rid of all the extra nutrients when I was feeding every day to catch the PBT. I think I'll leave it like this, and start doing 25g water changes every month, and hook my Ca reactor back up. God, what's coming over me????

Wayupnorth · 12/18/2005, 10:16 PM

No problem I don't know why I didn't follow this thread earlier. Anyway I have the 400ext. and have it set up on a 190g tank with a 90g sump/fuge. This skimmer is quite amazing - for me at least. Prior to this the biggest skimmer I had ever used was a ASM G4 (by the way I like the G3 a lot better) I am skimming fairly wet and will probably continue this. It is quiet and was not really that hard to set up. The collection cup is huge but I had a problem with UPS shipping and drop kicking this so it came with a broken lid and the seal on the bottom of the cup is leaking. It has a thingy in the bottom however to run the skimmate to an external collector and right now I am just using a salt bucket.
The down side of this skimmer is that it is BIG. The other PITA is that all plumbing parts are European size - I want to extend one of the discharges and am having a hard time finding any PVC to do it. I will probably have to go with a silicone bead to match up size. The other PITA is that if you need parts you usually have to wait for them to come from Europe.
Overall I am very pleased with this skimmer. It's not for everyone as you know it does come with a large price tag.
I ordered mine from Aquarium Obsessed out of Ontario but it still had to come to him via Europe and the States.
I think that Captive Oceans, who I have ordered other things from, is still trying to iron out the kinks of setting up a new business. I have found Gary to be very helpful in sorting things out that have been messed up and there does seem to be some communication issues at times but I have conversed with them fairly often and I think they are trying to get everything straightened out.
Anyhow my 2 pennies worth and HTH.

Travis · 12/18/2005, 11:09 PM

Wayupnorth, thanks again for sharing your experience with your BK. The skimmer is big, but I don't consider it to be overly large for the size of the aquarium it can handle. If you look at the comparable Deltec it is about the same length and width but almost a foot taller. The comparable H&S has pretty similar dimensions. Look at other skimmer brands and the skimmer dimensions are enormous. One of the things I like most about my BK is that it is still compact enough that I can run it in my sump underneat my stand. I agree that it is a PITA that all the parts are metric. I guess that is the small price we pay for purchasing from overseas.

Travis · 12/19/2005, 11:57 AM

Scott sent me a picture of the skimmer all packed up and ready to go. The box is HUGE. The length and width are the same as the pallet dimensions and it is probably twice as tall!!!! I don't think I need to worry about recieving a broken skimmer this time.

Heinz · 12/19/2005, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Travis
Scott sent me a picture of the skimmer all packed up and ready to go. The box is HUGE.

well, where is the picture

slovan · 12/19/2005, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Travis
Scott sent me a picture of the skimmer all packed up and ready to go. The box is HUGE. The length and width are the same as the pallet dimensions and it is probably twice as tall!!!! I don't think I need to worry about recieving a broken skimmer this time.

That's good news Travis! Sounds like they're serious about getting the skimmer to you in one piece too. I'm glad you are finally getting what you want in the end, a brand new BK400!

Take some pics when you get it. No wait! Take a lot of pics!

otolith · 12/19/2005, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Heinz
well, where is the picture

Travis · 12/19/2005, 02:03 PM

You guys sure are persistent.

Picture is property of ScottW. Hope he doesn't mind that I posted it.

And you can all count on lots of pics when I get it unpacked.

Ball · 12/19/2005, 02:17 PM

As long as that forktruck doesnt run its forks into the side of the box.... DOH!

Lunchbucket · 12/19/2005, 02:31 PM

OMG that is more packing then some tanks!!!

Ball - LOL don't jinks travis now.

i can't wait to see it all up and running. i get first dibs on seeing it!!! let me know when you plan on opening it. we'll have an opening cerimony that will rival the Olympics!

can i hug it??

Lunchbucket

arconom · 12/19/2005, 03:35 PM

NICE!!!!! We got to see some pictures

Travis I can't wait until I see pictures of that thing pulling skimmate.

slovan · 12/19/2005, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ball
As long as that forktruck doesnt run its forks into the side of the box.... DOH!

It happens all the time but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it doesn't on this shipment. Yeah they are serious about getting that skimmer to you in one piece. If it doesn't make it this time, it just wasn't meant to be. You'll just have to settle for that Sea clone you've always wanted!

Now I can clearly see why it won't fit in your car. Any chance of strapping it to the roof?

melev · 12/19/2005, 04:24 PM

Just put an axle under it and drive it home.

Lunchbucket · 12/19/2005, 08:03 PM

i'm w/ slovan if it breaks not it wasn't meant to be. it wasn't even packed close to this good last time was it?

melev - LOL that is one way to ge tit home! prolly teh easiest

Lunchbucket

Travis · 12/19/2005, 10:00 PM

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that a forklift doesn't run its prongs through the box. Other than that, I think this box could be dropped off a 10 story building and all would be fine.

melev · 12/19/2005, 10:04 PM

I swear Travis is challenging the Karma & Fate gods.

Heinz · 12/19/2005, 10:05 PM

Quote:

I think this box could be dropped off a 10 story building and all would be fine.

you will never know untill you try it

,

Ball · 12/19/2005, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lunchbucket
can i hug it??

Ok. Thats weird... Kind of like the tree huggers. You sure you want to be a skimmer hugger? I want to see the picture of a grown man hugging a skimmer with a soothing smile on his face.

melev · 12/19/2005, 10:42 PM

Uh. I don't.

Heinz · 12/19/2005, 10:49 PM

what is wrong hugging your skimmer ?

slovan · 12/19/2005, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Heinz
what is wrong hugging your skimmer ?

Goodness! What are people coming to these days?

I do find it wrong that Lunch wants to hug another man's skimmer! I've heard of obsessing over this hobby but equipment too?

Personally I think there's something in the water up there in SD. Travis started this whole naked reefing thing and now Lunch is all about hugging skimmers! Hmmm......I'm just not too sure about all this!

melev · 12/19/2005, 11:45 PM

....unsubscribing now....

otolith · 12/20/2005, 12:37 AM

At least it's just his skimmer that he wants to hug.

asnatlas · 12/20/2005, 01:37 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by slovan
Goodness! What are people coming to these days? I do find it wrong that Lunch wants to hug another man's skimmer! I've heard of obsessing over this hobby but equipment too?

Personally I think there's something in the water up there in SD. Travis started this whole naked reefing thing and now Lunch is all about hugging skimmers! Hmmm......I'm just not too sure about all this!

ROFL, this is too much... Naked reefing and skimmer huggers

...

12/18/2005, 10:16 PM	#53
Wayupnorth Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: British Columbia Canada Posts: 110	No problem I don't know why I didn't follow this thread earlier. Anyway I have the 400ext. and have it set up on a 190g tank with a 90g sump/fuge. This skimmer is quite amazing - for me at least. Prior to this the biggest skimmer I had ever used was a ASM G4 (by the way I like the G3 a lot better) I am skimming fairly wet and will probably continue this. It is quiet and was not really that hard to set up. The collection cup is huge but I had a problem with UPS shipping and drop kicking this so it came with a broken lid and the seal on the bottom of the cup is leaking. It has a thingy in the bottom however to run the skimmate to an external collector and right now I am just using a salt bucket. The down side of this skimmer is that it is BIG. The other PITA is that all plumbing parts are European size - I want to extend one of the discharges and am having a hard time finding any PVC to do it. I will probably have to go with a silicone bead to match up size. The other PITA is that if you need parts you usually have to wait for them to come from Europe. Overall I am very pleased with this skimmer. It's not for everyone as you know it does come with a large price tag. I ordered mine from Aquarium Obsessed out of Ontario but it still had to come to him via Europe and the States. I think that Captive Oceans, who I have ordered other things from, is still trying to iron out the kinks of setting up a new business. I have found Gary to be very helpful in sorting things out that have been messed up and there does seem to be some communication issues at times but I have conversed with them fairly often and I think they are trying to get everything straightened out. Anyhow my 2 pennies worth and HTH. __________________ It's not the heat it's the humility (Yogi Bera) Current Tank Info: 230g AGA 77g mud refugium. 24g and 12g Nano

12/18/2005, 11:09 PM	#54
Travis 10 and over club Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Sioux Falls, SD Posts: 5,525	Wayupnorth, thanks again for sharing your experience with your BK. The skimmer is big, but I don't consider it to be overly large for the size of the aquarium it can handle. If you look at the comparable Deltec it is about the same length and width but almost a foot taller. The comparable H&S has pretty similar dimensions. Look at other skimmer brands and the skimmer dimensions are enormous. One of the things I like most about my BK is that it is still compact enough that I can run it in my sump underneat my stand. I agree that it is a PITA that all the parts are metric. I guess that is the small price we pay for purchasing from overseas. __________________ TOTM August 08 An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Current Tank Info: 280 sps w/ 75 LPS, 75 refugium, 120 sump

12/19/2005, 11:57 AM	#55
Travis 10 and over club Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Sioux Falls, SD Posts: 5,525	Scott sent me a picture of the skimmer all packed up and ready to go. The box is HUGE. The length and width are the same as the pallet dimensions and it is probably twice as tall!!!! I don't think I need to worry about recieving a broken skimmer this time. __________________ TOTM August 08 An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Current Tank Info: 280 sps w/ 75 LPS, 75 refugium, 120 sump

12/19/2005, 02:03 PM	#59
Travis 10 and over club Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Sioux Falls, SD Posts: 5,525	You guys sure are persistent. Picture is property of ScottW. Hope he doesn't mind that I posted it. And you can all count on lots of pics when I get it unpacked. __________________ TOTM August 08 An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Current Tank Info: 280 sps w/ 75 LPS, 75 refugium, 120 sump

12/19/2005, 02:31 PM	#61
Lunchbucket Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Brookings, SD Posts: 12,924	OMG that is more packing then some tanks!!! Ball - LOL don't jinks travis now. i can't wait to see it all up and running. i get first dibs on seeing it!!! let me know when you plan on opening it. we'll have an opening cerimony that will rival the Olympics! can i hug it?? Lunchbucket __________________ Trying to lose weight by walking is like trying to bake a cake w/ a cigarette lighter - Lunchbucket - "Nancy-Boy Extraordinaire" - maxxII- Current Tank Info: 58gal Oceanic RR, 2x400w MH (20k XM and 10k XM), Deltec PF601 Ca Rx, Deltec AP701 skimmer, mag950 return, iwaki 55rlt w/ an Oceansmotions 4-way unit, Tunze 7300 and 6000 each w/ controller, fluidized po4 rx

12/19/2005, 02:17 PM	#60
Ball Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Iowa Posts: 648	As long as that forktruck doesnt run its forks into the side of the box.... DOH!

12/19/2005, 03:35 PM	#62
arconom Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Middletown, NY Posts: 2,126	NICE!!!!! We got to see some pictures Travis I can't wait until I see pictures of that thing pulling skimmate.

12/19/2005, 04:24 PM	#64
melev Moved On Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ft Worth, Tx Posts: 43,217	Just put an axle under it and drive it home.

12/19/2005, 08:03 PM	#65
Lunchbucket Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Brookings, SD Posts: 12,924	i'm w/ slovan if it breaks not it wasn't meant to be. it wasn't even packed close to this good last time was it? melev - LOL that is one way to ge tit home! prolly teh easiest Lunchbucket __________________ Trying to lose weight by walking is like trying to bake a cake w/ a cigarette lighter - Lunchbucket - "Nancy-Boy Extraordinaire" - maxxII- Current Tank Info: 58gal Oceanic RR, 2x400w MH (20k XM and 10k XM), Deltec PF601 Ca Rx, Deltec AP701 skimmer, mag950 return, iwaki 55rlt w/ an Oceansmotions 4-way unit, Tunze 7300 and 6000 each w/ controller, fluidized po4 rx

12/19/2005, 10:00 PM	#66
Travis 10 and over club Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Sioux Falls, SD Posts: 5,525	I'm keeping my fingers crossed that a forklift doesn't run its prongs through the box. Other than that, I think this box could be dropped off a 10 story building and all would be fine. __________________ TOTM August 08 An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Current Tank Info: 280 sps w/ 75 LPS, 75 refugium, 120 sump

12/19/2005, 10:04 PM	#67
melev Moved On Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ft Worth, Tx Posts: 43,217	I swear Travis is challenging the Karma & Fate gods.

12/19/2005, 10:42 PM	#70
melev Moved On Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ft Worth, Tx Posts: 43,217	Uh. I don't.

12/19/2005, 10:49 PM	#71
Heinz Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 1,534	what is wrong hugging your skimmer ?

12/19/2005, 11:45 PM	#73
melev Moved On Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ft Worth, Tx Posts: 43,217	....unsubscribing now....

12/20/2005, 12:37 AM	#74
otolith Cancer Sucks Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: MN Posts: 1,398	At least it's just his skimmer that he wants to hug. __________________ [QUOTE=BrianD;21444507]Listen to this man.[/QUOTE] "When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe." --John Muir Current Tank Info: 210g in the works :)