Skimmer Q&A Thread

rhibear · Mar 20, 2012

bubble magus bm180EX noise

I just bought a bubble magus BM180EX on ebay, new in box. Other than the support arm being broken in the box (I glued it back on okay) I was pretty happy with it.... until I turned it on. It sounds like a riding mower under my tank!
Bubble Magus BM180EX LOUD! - YouTube
This is a video of the skimmer, I turned my return pump on and off during to give an accurate baseline. The return pump is a MAG 9.5 so not exactly silent, plus multiple fans for the lights etc. Yet the skimmer is INSANE!
Is this normal for the Atman 400 pump? Should I attempt to get a replacement pump or is this as good as it gets?
I work at my computer in the same room as my tank all day so there is no way I can run it like this.:cry:

luke33 · Mar 20, 2012

NJB said:
Thanks for the advice, the sk2 is on order and coming next week. Our refugium is a Eshopps, could anyone make suggestions for the refugium compartment? Sand, mud, gravel, bio balls? It would be great if you could point us in the right direction, we need a light to! We get a little bit closer to being ready to add to our tank, next up is tank lighting and then we should be good...thanks again for the help!

No bio balls or mud. I would just throw some chaeto in there and call it a day. Works great for trates and phos. So skimmer first, chaeto second.

luke33 · Mar 20, 2012

rhibear said:
I just bought a bubble magus BM180EX on ebay, new in box. Other than the support arm being broken in the box (I glued it back on okay) I was pretty happy with it.... until I turned it on. It sounds like a riding mower under my tank!
Bubble Magus BM180EX LOUD! - YouTube
This is a video of the skimmer, I turned my return pump on and off during to give an accurate baseline. The return pump is a MAG 9.5 so not exactly silent, plus multiple fans for the lights etc. Yet the skimmer is INSANE!
Is this normal for the Atman 400 pump? Should I attempt to get a replacement pump or is this as good as it gets?
I work at my computer in the same room as my tank all day so there is no way I can run it like this.:cry:

That can't be normal. I'd open up the pump and see if the impeller is rubbing on the volute.

rhibear · Mar 20, 2012

opened up the pump, as far as I can tell everything looks fine in there and its really not TOOO terribly bad when its running alone, still louder than my mag9 by a far chunk but not unbearable, but as soon as it's screwed into the body the thing starts roaring like a cheap flowmaster on a mustang :(

Tony Buck · Mar 20, 2012

I just bought a Red Sea prizm for my 55 gallon reef, is that too small it says on the box for up to 40 gallons? Also, is it ok to use Polyox with it? I have a HUGE hair algae problem I'm trying to reverse so I thought a skimmer would help am I on the right track?

pumarjr · Mar 21, 2012

I need to get rid of my NAC3 skimmer in my cadlights 40 tank, can you recommend a great in-sump skimmer for me? seems like there are so many choices and I would rather skip the pleasantries and just get a good one from the start.

pumarjr · Mar 22, 2012

Can no one help recommend a replacement skimmer?

rhibear · Mar 24, 2012

Bubble Magus replaced the pump and the BM180EX skimmer still sounds like a leaf blower. There is no way I can run it for even an hour without wanting to put my head through the wall. :cry:

Can anyone recommend a good QUIET!!! skimmer for a 135g system, footprint less than 11.75" x 10.5" and under $500, preferably a LOT less since I just wasted $300 on this thing.

Reefltx · Mar 28, 2012

Do you guys think a reef octopus sro 1000int/SSS would be over kill for a 40g? I guess my stock list is light/medium as I have 4 fishs all under 3".

rhibear · Mar 28, 2012

I used an Octopus NW100 on my 40. it was great and much cheaper than the one you are looking at, also so small it could fit just about anywhere

toothman · Mar 28, 2012

Can anyone recommend an in sump skimmer for a 300g tank

Dawson_Reef51 · Apr 4, 2012

i need a recomendation for a 220 gallon with 40-50 gallon sump , i have a asm g3 skimmer now , and want something way better in the $400 price range , i hate the asm models , intrested in the skimz sk181 the bubble magnus nac9 ... or open to options , need a space saver foot print no bigger than 13x13

mcarroll · Apr 8, 2012

toothman said:
Can anyone recommend an in sump skimmer for a 300g tank

So many good options - hard to pick with no restrictions. What kind of livestock? Will the sump be customized to the skimmer? Looking for used or new? Preferences for "foreign or domestic"?

At the size you will be looking at, thumbscrews start showing up more as skimmer-fasteners. I can suggest that you avoid skimmers with those if possible, just for the time savings during maintenance. Cones are a bit of a gimmick, as are colored plastics and bubble plates, so at least don't pay extra for those. (The geometry of a cone shorts you some skimmer body volume vs a column when the footprint and headroom remain equal. Volume of a cone = 1/3 * volume of cylinder.)

Tell us a little more about your system!

-Matt

mcarroll · Apr 8, 2012

Dawson_Reef51 said:
i need a recomendation for a 220 gallon with 40-50 gallon sump , i have a asm g3 skimmer now , and want something way better in the $400 price range , i hate the asm models , intrested in the skimz sk181 the bubble magnus nac9 ... or open to options , need a space saver foot print no bigger than 13x13

They don't usually top my recommendations list, but ASM's are well regarded for pretty good reason. Why do you hate them so much? (Will make it easier to make a better recommendation for replacment.)

Without knowing more, it may be interesting for you to switch up to an Aqua-C EV series skimmer with a pump selected according to your needs. I only suggest this as they are probably the simplest skimmer design around. Lots of other possibilities too.

Let us know!

-Matt

mcarroll · Apr 8, 2012

pumarjr said:
I need to get rid of my NAC3 skimmer in my cadlights 40 tank, can you recommend a great in-sump skimmer for me? seems like there are so many choices and I would rather skip the pleasantries and just get a good one from the start.

Can you give us an idea why you are getting rid of the NAC3? It would help in making the most correct recommendation. :)

-Matt

ReefMonkey13 · Apr 11, 2012

looking of some suggestion of a 70G tank with a 20G Sump. Budget is around $250-$350.

thanks in advance for the guidance

jfb2 · Apr 22, 2012

Help...!
I have a SRO SX350 skimmer. Has three pumps. I Can't get the skimmer to not overflow when trying to run all three pumps

Water level is at the minimum on the skimmer body.

is at the minimum

e on the skimmer boby. Any thoughts of how to adjust.

E.intheC · Apr 23, 2012

Is anyone running the JNS WS1? Ive not heard about it until today. Looks decent.

SoCal Tropical Fish Outlet : JNS WS1 Skimmer [JNSWS1] - $189.99 Superior fish supplies :

mojo · Apr 23, 2012

E.intheC said:
Is anyone running the JNS WS1? Ive not heard about it until today. Looks decent.

SoCal Tropical Fish Outlet : JNS WS1 Skimmer [JNSWS1] - $189.99 Superior fish supplies :

It should be fine for smaller tanks. Kind of a modern day Tunze 9002 really.