ATB Small or BK Mini 160....?

SteveJakubiec · 11/08/2008, 07:23 AM

I still cannot decide which to use on the 40g I will be setting up sometime this year. I have heard great things about the ATB Mini, and it pulls some serious stuff. I haven't seen many people w/ the BK so I am unsure of which to purchase.

ATB Small w/ Airstar Pump (Makes a Difference w/ Airstar)
or
BK Mini 160 w/ Red Dragon Pump

Ugh...decisions decisions. Please help me decide and give a valid reason please.

Thanks,
Steve

uhuru · 11/08/2008, 07:53 AM

I don't think you can get the ATB Small with and Airstar pump, you can get it with an eheim 1260. Might be overkill still. Perhaps the ATB nano (european model) with eheim 1250NW.

SteveJakubiec · 11/08/2008, 08:49 AM

It seems like i"m leaning towards the BK MINI 160

Steve

Paulairduck · 11/08/2008, 10:15 AM

The Bk mini is a great skimmer.

ClownReef® · 11/08/2008, 10:52 AM

BK all the way..

My opinion doesnt count anymore..LOL..Im all up for BK world domination..

chadfarmer · 11/08/2008, 01:38 PM

i had a bubbleking 160 on a 58 gallon

it skimmed ok for about a week and few and far between after that

i used a kz small on my 58 gallon and it made the bubbleking stop skimming

i have a atb small but never used it on my 58 so i cant give my opinion

the only problem i have with the bubble king is the price of a replacement pump

both my kz and my atb is about 100.00 eheim 1260

and the bubble king is over 500.00 (i know its supposed to last a long time but things do break)

thats the reason why i bought a h&s over the deltec back in the day

moondoggy4 · 11/09/2008, 01:56 PM

I second Chadframer's opinion.

GSMguy · 11/09/2008, 04:59 PM

ATB dude, I have talked to a couple guys like chadfarmer who were unimpressed with their mini 160s I know I know everybody is scarred of ATB because I am so vocal... Sorry.

I know what I'm saying is hard to swallow, how can anything be better than a BK, if ATB comes out with a low footprint skimmer with the pump enclosed then the comparison will be fair, I think comparisons between the deluxe and sipermarins are more well,,, direct.

ksed · 11/09/2008, 07:10 PM

I own a BK and will not go with anything but BK.

Creetin · 11/09/2008, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ksed
I own a BK and will not go with anything but BK.

Agreed 100% for me as well.

kdblove_99 · 11/09/2008, 11:05 PM

Think they are both way overkill for a 40 gallon and would save alot of money and get a skimmer that will work just as well on that size tank for a fraction of the cost like a MSX 160

orangekush4 · 11/10/2008, 12:24 AM

They are both great.You don't have to change the skimmer if you ever upgrade to a big tank.

myrchandle · 11/10/2008, 12:47 AM

Neither, for 40g and save some $$$ for extra toys get the H&S A110. Anything over 100g then it's best to consider the other models out there. I would get the ATB over the BK mini. A buddy of mine was not impressed with his mini and sold it, and went back to H&S. Same with the ATB.

ksed · 11/10/2008, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by myrchandle
Neither, for 40g and save some $$$ for extra toys get the H&S A110. Anything over 100g then it's best to consider the other models out there. I would get the ATB over the BK mini. A buddy of mine was not impressed with his mini and sold it, and went back to H&S. Same with the ATB.

To make a long story short I had a H&S 150 internal. I was told by the supplier that it would pull 500L/air. I installed a air meter and got 300L/air max. Nothing was ever done. Construction was very good. Bought a BK SM 200 which is rated @ 1500L/air. When installed the air meter , it maxed the air meter @ 1800L/air.
Credit to Klaus for delivering this that are stated and more.
You pay a little extra but you also get what is stated.
Nothing but BK for me.

myrchandle · 11/10/2008, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ksed
To make a long story short I had a H&S 150 internal. I was told by the supplier that it would pull 500L/air. I installed a air meter and got 300L/air max. Nothing was ever done. Construction was very good. Bought a BK SM 200 which is rated @ 1500L/air. When installed the air meter , it maxed the air meter @ 1800L/air.
Credit to Klaus for delivering this that are stated and more.
You pay a little extra but you also get what is stated.
Nothing but BK for me.

Well the performance of a skimmer is not always measured by how much air it will pull but the amount of time it will allow the DOC and body to contact. I was also referring to H&S A-110 which is an external recirc model which can be installed in-sump. It's long enough to allow maximum contact with body and air. It also has a good 1:1 air/water ratio which is great... It is engineered to be one of the top rated skimmers in the market, and has been tried and true. Just my $.02
It gives you flexibility with internal/external, it's a recirculating model, you don't have to worry about a top off to keep the consistent water level in-sump and it's far less expensive than the above mentioned items. But if you want to blow $ and it's no object I would go with the ATB.
The BK supermarin is a different story, but I know people who were not as impressed with their BK mini, as well as their ATB small and mediums.. They actually went back to H&S.

11/08/2008, 07:23 AM	#1
SteveJakubiec Moved On Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: 07508, New Jersey Posts: 843	ATB Small or BK Mini 160....? I still cannot decide which to use on the 40g I will be setting up sometime this year. I have heard great things about the ATB Mini, and it pulls some serious stuff. I haven't seen many people w/ the BK so I am unsure of which to purchase. ATB Small w/ Airstar Pump (Makes a Difference w/ Airstar) or BK Mini 160 w/ Red Dragon Pump Ugh...decisions decisions. Please help me decide and give a valid reason please. Thanks, Steve

11/08/2008, 07:53 AM	#2
uhuru Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Columbus Posts: 2,949	I don't think you can get the ATB Small with and Airstar pump, you can get it with an eheim 1260. Might be overkill still. Perhaps the ATB nano (european model) with eheim 1250NW. __________________ August 2011 TOTM

11/08/2008, 10:52 AM	#5
ClownReef® Bubbletrousing Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 1,872	BK all the way.. My opinion doesnt count anymore..LOL..Im all up for BK world domination.. __________________ Waterbox Peninsula 5526 l Ecotech Radion XR30w G4 l Ecotech Vectra M1 l MP40QDW l Vertex Omega 180i l Tunze ATO l Apex Fusion l DOS l Trident l Ice Cap Scrubber

11/08/2008, 01:38 PM	#6
chadfarmer Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: ST Charles, MO far from nanook Posts: 11,045 Blog Entries: 1	i had a bubbleking 160 on a 58 gallon it skimmed ok for about a week and few and far between after that i used a kz small on my 58 gallon and it made the bubbleking stop skimming i have a atb small but never used it on my 58 so i cant give my opinion the only problem i have with the bubble king is the price of a replacement pump both my kz and my atb is about 100.00 eheim 1260 and the bubble king is over 500.00 (i know its supposed to last a long time but things do break) thats the reason why i bought a h&s over the deltec back in the day __________________ If you think you know the answer than ask 3 more people the question Current Tank Info: 200 Gal RR,ATB medium, 4 AI blue sol,230 LBS LIVE ROCK, no sand , 40 GAL sump, airstar1800, 3 tunze 6105 1- 6205 1-6305, Geo 818, profilux3ex with toys

11/09/2008, 04:59 PM	#8
GSMguy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northern New Mexico Posts: 17,420	ATB dude, I have talked to a couple guys like chadfarmer who were unimpressed with their mini 160s I know I know everybody is scarred of ATB because I am so vocal... Sorry. I know what I'm saying is hard to swallow, how can anything be better than a BK, if ATB comes out with a low footprint skimmer with the pump enclosed then the comparison will be fair, I think comparisons between the deluxe and sipermarins are more well,,, direct. __________________ Nick. Conehead. Shallow Reef club. Current Tank Info: 48"x27"x14" Envision Acrylic rimless, 6x39w ATi Sunpower, Custom ATB Deluxe Skimmer, 4x tunze nano stream,ATB flowstar 1500, ACJR, Tunze osmolator.

11/08/2008, 08:49 AM	#3
SteveJakubiec Moved On Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: 07508, New Jersey Posts: 843	It seems like i"m leaning towards the BK MINI 160 Steve

11/08/2008, 10:15 AM	#4
Paulairduck I LOVE FREE FRAGS!!! Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Chino Hills Posts: 2,909	The Bk mini is a great skimmer.

11/09/2008, 01:56 PM	#7
moondoggy4 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: menifee So cal Posts: 11,042	I second Chadframer's opinion.

11/09/2008, 07:10 PM	#9
ksed Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 1,867	I own a BK and will not go with anything but BK.

11/09/2008, 11:05 PM	#11
kdblove_99 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Frederick,CO Posts: 8,683	Think they are both way overkill for a 40 gallon and would save alot of money and get a skimmer that will work just as well on that size tank for a fraction of the cost like a MSX 160

11/10/2008, 12:24 AM	#12
orangekush4 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 367	They are both great.You don't have to change the skimmer if you ever upgrade to a big tank.

11/10/2008, 12:47 AM	#13
myrchandle Moved On Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 163	Neither, for 40g and save some $$$ for extra toys get the H&S A110. Anything over 100g then it's best to consider the other models out there. I would get the ATB over the BK mini. A buddy of mine was not impressed with his mini and sold it, and went back to H&S. Same with the ATB.