Bubble Magus Curve 3 Extreme - Boiling water effect

[klvnnunez]

Hi all,

I'm in the middle of my tank cycle with Dr Tim. I have notice that after a few day of the skimmer running, I'm still seeing the boiling water effect (Pic below). It sorta almost looks like bubbly seltzer water. I know there's not enogh biolad in the tank for the skimmer to skimmate, but is this normal? I have taken the skimmer out and made sure its assembled correctly and gave it a thorough clean with RO water.

I also need to mention the skimmer is sitting at 6 inches deep. The mafucturer suggests for it to be at 8 inches. Is this the problem? I overlooked this as I made the sump prior to receiving the skimmer and didn't pay close attention to water depth for it (it's on me). Should I make a new sump (DYI) to make sure its sitting at the appropriate water depth? The gate is open at max and the water line sits right at the neck os the skimmer where the cup sits on the skimmer.

Are there any advise or should I not be worry as it will kick in once there's enough bioload in the water?

 

[Johnd651]

A skimmer works by using air bubbles, that looks correct and mine looks the same way.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

You're supposed to see that white bubble vortex, it means its working. Use the dial to move the level of bubbles up and down the skimmer body, but ultimately you want the bubbles at about where the cup starts.

My bubble magus is in 7" of water, 6" will be fine. Whatever the depth, you just need to adjust the dial accordingly.

 

[klvnnunez]

Indeed. I just never used BM before. Indeed I can use the dial to bring the water level up or down. I will also add a n air instake valve to fine tune the bubbles. I guess my concern is that if its not skimming is becuase there's not enough bioload yet. But at the same token, watching this video from BRS maked me wonder to begin with.



In the video you can clearly see at minute 3, the skimmer is creating bigger bubbles and skimming immediately. I guess the question is, have they added something not visible in the water for it to work instantly?

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Every tank is different, some collection cups will fill up in a day or two, my systems take a week to fill up the cup.

But you are right, it has to do with bioload, how much you feed, other types of filtration in use, etc....

 

[klvnnunez]

Thnaks Mojo. I will not fret just yet as the bioload is minimal due a new tank cycling.

 

[klvnnunez]

***Skimmer Update***

I had to restart the fishless cycling due to a large amount of ammonia in the tank which stalled the cycling process. I am now on day 5 and have turned on the skimmer as I noticed a brown foarm starting to form in one of the sump baffle. I assume this tells me there's enough bioload in the water column. With what i'm describing, I assume the skimmer should start working and create skimmate?

I have added an air valve to the skimmer to try and tune it. I have the bubble line right where the cup sits in the skimmer body. I still see the the boiling water effect going on. At this point, the skimmer should be broken in as it previously ran for about 7 days straight before the new cycle. Please take a look at the picture and let me know if there's something wrong with the skimmer or what step(s) I should follow to start skimming and clear the water is cloudy as we speak.

Note: I have taken the skimmer apart and cleaned it with vinegar, plus made sure its assembled correctly.

 

[jdpeters]

Hi all,

I'm in the middle of my tank cycle with Dr Tim. I have notice that after a few day of the skimmer running, I'm still seeing the boiling water effect (Pic below). It sorta almost looks like bubbly seltzer water. I know there's not enogh biolad in the tank for the skimmer to skimmate, but is this normal? I have taken the skimmer out and made sure its assembled correctly and gave it a thorough clean with RO water.

I also need to mention the skimmer is sitting at 6 inches deep. The mafucturer suggests for it to be at 8 inches. Is this the problem? I overlooked this as I made the sump prior to receiving the skimmer and didn't pay close attention to water depth for it (it's on me). Should I make a new sump (DYI) to make sure its sitting at the appropriate water depth? The gate is open at max and the water line sits right at the neck os the skimmer where the cup sits on the skimmer.

Are there any advise or should I not be worry as it will kick in once there's enough bioload in the water?

I have the same one sitting in 8 inches and it’s just boiling over with no chance it site to calming down. When I lift it up to about 6 inches I can dial it in it appears

 

[klvnnunez]

it seems that by chabging the air valve from top of the silencer and placing it in the middle of the air tube between the silencer and the intake of the pump, have done the trick. The skimmer is skimming. This mornning, I've found some wet skim in the cup. I have since tweaked it and have the froth sitting lower for a dryer skimmate. I will be keeping an eye on it.

 

[jdpeters]

So you are saying by manipulating the air it’s drawing in allowed you to start properly skimming? Imply that the water depth isn’t as important?

 

[klvnnunez]

So you are saying by manipulating the air it’s drawing in allowed you to start properly skimming? Imply that the water depth isn’t as important?

The water level is definitely important. For example, for the BM curve 3 ex, the water depth wiould be 8 inches deep. I have mine sitting at 6 inches. In my case, I think that because the skimmer was sitting a bit low, it was sucking in more air than it should, which was causing the boiling water effect. Adding an air valve and adjusting it, I was able to tweak the air ratio intake which in turn fixed my issue with the boilin water effect. Basically, the skimmer was running too lean.

 

[jdpeters]

The water level is definitely important. For example, for the BM curve 3 ex, the water depth wiould be 8 inches deep. I have mine sitting at 6 inches. In my case, I think that because the skimmer was sitting a bit low, it was sucking in more air than it should, which was causing the boiling water effect. Adding an air valve and adjusting it, I was able to tweak the air ratio intake which in turn fixed my issue with the boilin water effect. Basically, the skimmer was running too lean.

I’m getting frustrated with how much micro bubbles it’s producing. It’s causing my overflow box to need a large adjustment everyday

 

[klvnnunez]

Yeah, it's tricky. It took me almost 2 weeks to figure it out. In the picture, you'll see I removed the airline valve from the top of the silencer (circled), to the airline intake tube (2), and tweaked the air valve. Now it's producing skimmate as it should. It's very tedious, but just need to fiddle with it a bit. I have also noticed that leaving it alone once tweaked, it starts working. If it doesn't, tweak again and let It be. Eventually, you'll get it working.

 

[jdpeters]

That’s smart. I’m having luck with the venturi but at my wits end with the micro bubbles. Did you have a cloud of micro bubbles also escaping the body?

 

[klvnnunez]

That’s smart. I’m having luck with the venturi but at my wits end with the micro bubbles. Did you have a cloud of micro bubbles also escaping the body?

That's normal for the brake-in period. How long has yours been running?

 

[Troylee]

You shouldn’t need any valve on the air intake! All your doing is choking the skimmer.. the video above from brs they add skinmate from a seperate tank and yeah it will skim instantly! Just set you water level about an inch into the neck and let it do its job.

 

[jdpeters]

That's normal for the brake-in period. How long has yours been running?

Thank you for humoring me I’m exhausting. It’s been running for about 5 days.

I suspect the air bubbles are getting trapped in my return pump

 

[jdpeters]

You shouldn’t need any valve on the air intake! All your doing is choking the skimmer.. the video above from brs they add skinmate from a seperate tank and yeah it will skim instantly! Just set you water level about an inch into the neck and let it do its job.

I will watch it thank you

 

[jdpeters]

You shouldn’t need any valve on the air intake! All your doing is choking the skimmer.. the video above from brs they add skinmate from a seperate tank and yeah it will skim instantly! Just set you water level about an inch into the neck and let it do its job.

I watched that video and didn’t realize that having the valve set to minimum was choking it I believe and forcing a micro bubble storm out of the body of the skimmer. Thomas suggested setting it to max when breaking in. Immediately after cranking it open 95 percent of the bubbles dissipated.

I still have a bit of micro bubbles in my system I’m not totally sure why. I think I have my drain tubes too deep into the splash box or don’t have my overflow tuned perfectly. I’m not sure but I suspect by choking my skimmer I was inhibiting the break in. I assume it’s probably just better to let a new skimmer on a new system just boil over?

 

[Uncle99]

Yeah, it's tricky. It took me almost 2 weeks to figure it out. In the picture, you'll see I removed the airline valve from the top of the silencer (circled), to the airline intake tube (2), and tweaked the air valve. Now it's producing skimmate as it should. It's very tedious, but just need to fiddle with it a bit. I have also noticed that leaving it alone once tweaked, it starts working. If it doesn't, tweak again and let It be. Eventually, you'll get it working.

Looking good!
Skim on!