Just put on my new Bubble Magus NAC5E, HOB skimmer

Ludwigia73 · 10/02/2010, 08:15 PM

Initial thoughts... need a little coordination to get it started, wait for the water level to catch up (took a little while, like an aquaclear starting up for the first time), then as the water level rises (don't go get a coke!!!) quickly turn on the air!

It's a little noisy, gurgling noises from the top of the riser tube. Put a towel over it, killed the noise about 80 percent.

Some really neat ideas went into this skimmer:

Where the collection cup mates to the skimmer neck, there's a cool seal, with a double air seal, made out of super soft silicone, but still seems durable. No air or water getting past there!

Large collection cup

Neat riser tube, cut off at an angle, that you turn, with 2 black marks to line up for full flow. The angle sits right at the 90 degree side of the T fitting, so turning it turns the flow down. Ingenious. Simple ball valve.

The pump is outside the tank, good thing, too, because at 41 watts it'd really add some heat to my little tank.

Cons:

It may be too early to complain, but that's what I do best. It would have been easy to make a silencer for the top of that tube. Also, the outlet has large slots cut in the pvc, for easy water flow. It's covered by a massive black sponge, which is about 4" diameter. It's full of bubbles, and the tank is getting micro bubbles like crazy.

I'm off to look at mods to this thing already!

For $125 shipped, can't beat it, and looks to be a well put-together, cheap Chinese knockoff of something I've never seen before. But it already has a great following, and it does seem like a great skimmer.

nivram · 10/03/2010, 09:27 AM

Cool. Maybe the bubbles will go away after it breaks in. Any pics?

pompeyjohn · 05/22/2011, 09:09 PM

I have one on order...... How is it working out for you now?

Ludwigia73 · 05/23/2011, 09:25 AM

Working great as a dust collector... I would have sold you mine for $40... keep it in mind, the pump's worth more than that... It'd be worth it just for parts. It was a pretty good skimmer, it finally just broke a couple of months in, and they wouldn't do a thing for me. I could have probably fixed it, but the company ticked me off enough that I just bought a different brand. Let me know if you could use it.

pompeyjohn · 05/23/2011, 10:40 AM

Wow, what broke on it?

Ludwigia73 · 05/25/2011, 08:58 AM

Sorry to take so long to reply...
The tube that goes from the pump to the skimmer broke right at the pump. So it'll need to be drilled out or honed out with a dremel, and reattached.

pompeyjohn · 06/21/2011, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ludwigia73

Working great as a dust collector... I would have sold you mine for $40... keep it in mind, the pump's worth more than that... It'd be worth it just for parts. It was a pretty good skimmer, it finally just broke a couple of months in, and they wouldn't do a thing for me. I could have probably fixed it, but the company ticked me off enough that I just bought a different brand. Let me know if you could use it.

If that offer is still available I'll take it. My pump has just died. The skimmer is only a few months old so I am going to call socaltrop tomorrow and see what's up. The parts would be good to have.

milesofreefs · 06/21/2011, 04:27 PM

can i see a pick of it on the tank

Ludwigia73 · 06/21/2011, 08:09 PM

No pics, sorry...

10/02/2010, 08:15 PM	#1
Ludwigia73 Reef Reef Reef Reef Reef Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Davie, FL Posts: 4,841	Just put on my new Bubble Magus NAC5E, HOB skimmer Initial thoughts... need a little coordination to get it started, wait for the water level to catch up (took a little while, like an aquaclear starting up for the first time), then as the water level rises (don't go get a coke!!!) quickly turn on the air! It's a little noisy, gurgling noises from the top of the riser tube. Put a towel over it, killed the noise about 80 percent. Some really neat ideas went into this skimmer: Where the collection cup mates to the skimmer neck, there's a cool seal, with a double air seal, made out of super soft silicone, but still seems durable. No air or water getting past there! Large collection cup Neat riser tube, cut off at an angle, that you turn, with 2 black marks to line up for full flow. The angle sits right at the 90 degree side of the T fitting, so turning it turns the flow down. Ingenious. Simple ball valve. The pump is outside the tank, good thing, too, because at 41 watts it'd really add some heat to my little tank. Cons: It may be too early to complain, but that's what I do best. It would have been easy to make a silencer for the top of that tube. Also, the outlet has large slots cut in the pvc, for easy water flow. It's covered by a massive black sponge, which is about 4" diameter. It's full of bubbles, and the tank is getting micro bubbles like crazy. I'm off to look at mods to this thing already! For $125 shipped, can't beat it, and looks to be a well put-together, cheap Chinese knockoff of something I've never seen before. But it already has a great following, and it does seem like a great skimmer. __________________ 14" cube (12 gal), LED's Current Tank Info: 125 gallon with 40 gallon sump, LED's

05/23/2011, 09:25 AM	#4
Ludwigia73 Reef Reef Reef Reef Reef Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Davie, FL Posts: 4,841	Working great as a dust collector... I would have sold you mine for $40... keep it in mind, the pump's worth more than that... It'd be worth it just for parts. It was a pretty good skimmer, it finally just broke a couple of months in, and they wouldn't do a thing for me. I could have probably fixed it, but the company ticked me off enough that I just bought a different brand. Let me know if you could use it. __________________ 14" cube (12 gal), LED's Current Tank Info: 125 gallon with 40 gallon sump, LED's

05/25/2011, 08:58 AM	#6
Ludwigia73 Reef Reef Reef Reef Reef Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Davie, FL Posts: 4,841	Sorry to take so long to reply... The tube that goes from the pump to the skimmer broke right at the pump. So it'll need to be drilled out or honed out with a dremel, and reattached. __________________ 14" cube (12 gal), LED's Current Tank Info: 125 gallon with 40 gallon sump, LED's

06/21/2011, 04:27 PM	#8
milesofreefs Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 692	can i see a pick of it on the tank __________________ water and electricity... whats your hobby consist of?

06/21/2011, 08:09 PM	#9
Ludwigia73 Reef Reef Reef Reef Reef Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Davie, FL Posts: 4,841	No pics, sorry... __________________ 14" cube (12 gal), LED's Current Tank Info: 125 gallon with 40 gallon sump, LED's

10/03/2010, 09:27 AM	#2
nivram Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: S. FL Posts: 6,194	Cool. Maybe the bubbles will go away after it breaks in. Any pics?

05/22/2011, 09:09 PM	#3
pompeyjohn Registered Member. Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 890	I have one on order...... How is it working out for you now?

05/23/2011, 10:40 AM	#5
pompeyjohn Registered Member. Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 890	Wow, what broke on it?

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