Bubble Magus BM180-CS Skimmer Reveiw

[burrows14]

Hi Folks!

Over the next couple of months I will be doing a hands on reveiw of the new BM180-CS with the aquabee 2000/I pump for Aqua Digital:biggrin:. For the last three months I have been running a BM NAC7 with an Atman pump on my 120 gallon and have been really happy with its performance but I am upgrading tanks and cant wait to get this bad boy running:mrgreen: The plan is to get many pictures,videos and answer any questions or concerns you have about this skimmer so please do not hesitate to ask:)

Stats:
Rated for 185g(Heavy Bioload)-240G(light)
dimensions: 9x10.6x20.4" (lxwxh) 7" at base
Pump: Aquabee 2000/I with needlewheel impeller 19w
Water level 9.5"-11"

I opened it up last night to find it very well packed which I also found with my first BM skimmer. After removing the foam you will have to do a little bit of assembly but if you've ever cleaned your skimmer you will find this a breeze. The acrylic is nice and thick and even without the pump installed the skimmer has a nice solid feeling to it:biggrin: After about 10mins of assembly I placed the skimmer in a bucket to give a nice RO/DI and viniger bath overnight. I would reccomend doing this cause just like my first BM when I looked in the bucket the next day I could see the amount of dirt and oil were left over from manufacturing. I will leave you with a few pictures right now and hopefully have the skimmer in my sump within a couple hours followed by more pics:)

Cheers
Ray
http://i864.photobucket.com/albums/ab201/RayRayshobby/bubble%20magus/DSCN2114.jpg
http://i864.photobucket.com/albums/ab201/RayRayshobby/bubble%20magus/DSCN2116.jpg
http://i864.photobucket.com/albums/ab201/RayRayshobby/bubble%20magus/DSCN2119.jpg
http://i864.photobucket.com/albums/ab201/RayRayshobby/bubble%20magus/DSCN2124.jpg
http://i864.photobucket.com/albums/ab201/RayRayshobby/bubble%20magus/DSCN2126.jpg
http://i864.photobucket.com/albums/ab201/RayRayshobby/bubble%20magus/DSCN2129.jpg
http://i864.photobucket.com/albums/ab201/RayRayshobby/bubble%20magus/DSCN2130.jpg

[burrows14]

Out with the old and in with the new:mrgreen: One thing I have to say is the the aquabee pump is ultra quiet! it looks like its working effortlessly!

old..
http://i864.photobucket.com/albums/ab201/RayRayshobby/DSCN2135.jpg
comparison with the NAC7
http://i864.photobucket.com/albums/ab201/RayRayshobby/DSCN2140.jpg
http://i864.photobucket.com/albums/ab201/RayRayshobby/DSCN2141.jpg
BM180 in sump... Nice thick foam!!!
http://i864.photobucket.com/albums/ab201/RayRayshobby/DSCN2144.jpg
http://i864.photobucket.com/albums/ab201/RayRayshobby/DSCN2142.jpg

[burrows14]

24hr Update:

Came home today to find the skimmer was overflowing. I pulled out the collection cup and did some adjustments and hoping for the best. From what i can remember the break in period on my last BM skimmer was about 3-4 days

Cheers
Ray

[burrows14]

Weekend Update:

After a couple of days of constant overflows with it sitting in 10" of water I have decided to make an eggcrate stand for it and try it in shallower water. It is now sitting in 7" of water and seems to be working very well. Will post pictures tommorow for an update.

Cheers
Ray

[banditpowdercoat]

So it IS a little bit bigger. I was told the only difference was in the pump. But cups a little bigger, looks like the cone is larger at the base too. :D
Now I'd love a side by side pic of the BM180cs and the SWC Mini S both are about same priced skimmers.

the in sump pics, are the bubbles in the sump from the skimmer?

[burrows14]

The bubbles in the sump pics are from my overflow. No bubbles seem to be escaping the skimmer at al:biggrin:l. The air intake on the 180 is much larger than the nac7 and so is the pump intake. If someone around me has the new swc I would do a side by side for you. If want anymore info feel free to ask:biggrin:

Cheers
Ray

[burrows14]

I should also add the aquabee pump is very strong! pretty much anything in the sump gets pulled towards the skimmer compared to the atman pump on the nac7 which got maybe 70% of the floaties lol

[Chowder]

How load is the pump?

[burrows14]

absoultly silent! your more than welcome to come see it in person!

[H2o2]

Maybe just me but I see the bubble diffuser has a portion not drilled in the when its new picture that is right above the pump mounting hole and when you put it together you have the diffuser holes right above the pump outlet wont that cause some more turbulance inside the body that maybe shouldnt be there. Maybe just me?

[burrows14]

So its been just over a week of running this skimmer. Im still trying to find the skimmer sweet spot tho. It is still skimming a bit on the wet side. Im gonna try running it in 8 1/2" of water this weekend and see how that works. I am still very impressed with the power of this pump! nothing gets by it:smile: plus it is silent!! Compared to the nac7 this skimmer has improved my water clarity ten fold:biggrin:

[burrows14]

So the skimmer is now been running in 8 1/2" of water since sunday afternoon. So far so good! its skimming a bit on the wet side but I turned it down a little bit and emptied the skimmer cup and will update in 24hrs.

Cheers
Ray

24hrs at 8 1/2"
http://i864.photobucket.com/albums/ab201/RayRayshobby/DSCN2170.jpg

[burrows14]

the skimmer is performing great but im still not getting that thick stinky foam that i like so much lol I was trying to think why in comparison with the nac7 i am not getting it. The nac7 had a mesh wheel impeller compared to the 180s needle impeller. I am thinking of doing the mod but do not want to attempt it without any spare parts for the aquabee lol just in case cause I am know to breeak things with my stone hands lol. I am only doing this mod out of personal preferance.

Cheers
Ray

[mark]

be nice for a un-modded review.

[burrows14]

I wont be doing the mod for a while. probably do it in just over a month or so

[Aqua-Digital]

Just a side note, a mesh wheel is available it is an option from Bubble magus ;)

Just ask your retailer for one.

[burrows14]

on the weekend I made a eggcrate stand for the skimmer and its now sitting in 8" of water and is running like a dream! The outflow knob is dialed in a 3.5(out of 6) Im staring to get that thick foam ive been looking for:biggrin: I took a little longer for this skimmer to break in compared to others Ive had but it was worth the wait. Will be posting pics tommorow and hopefully a video.

Cheers
Ray

[burrows14]

This skimmer is getting better by the week:biggrin: Ive finally found the sweet spot on this thing and am very pleased with it. I have a few pics with 4 days of skimmate in it. For having a very light bioload at the momemt all I can say is not bad at all. If you have any questions feel free to ask.

Cheers
Ray

http://i864.photobucket.com/albums/ab201/RayRayshobby/DSCN2176.jpg
http://i864.photobucket.com/albums/ab201/RayRayshobby/DSCN2177.jpg
http://i864.photobucket.com/albums/ab201/RayRayshobby/DSCN2178.jpg

[Aqua-Digital]

Interesting to know, where did you set the skimming water level?

Inside the neck or just below the neck?

If inside the neck how far up?

I am running the BM-150Pro (uses the same pump) and with ultra low nutrients its still pulling Poo daily ;)

[burrows14]

I set the water line about an inch below the red ring on the skimmer body. I find it give the bubbles more space to build up. The skimmer is in 8" of water at the moment.

[Aqua-Digital]

So right at the base of the neck.

This is actually where Bubble Magus recommend also for optimum dry skimming, for a more wet skim then have the water line more into the neck itself.

[Aqua-Digital]

Here is my BM-150Pro

the foam on the lid is from me opening it and then putting it back on there was so much foam it pushed through the holes!

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i159/monitors-direct/IMG_4866.jpg

[no_bs]

Lookin good Ray. That looks like some nasty gunk.

[burrows14]

Here is my BM-150Pro

the foam on the lid is from me opening it and then putting it back on there was so much foam it pushed through the holes!

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i159/monitors-direct/IMG_4866.jpg

Mine has done that a couple times too lol Cant compalin about the amount of bubbles these things produce lol

[burrows14]

I have been curing some dry rock for my system for the last couple of moths and decided to add last sunday. Even tho the rock was all clean The skimmer had to work double time to keep the system clean. IT did a great job and pulled out some nasty nasty stuff. Im becoming a bigger fan of the aquabee pump everyday! Hopfully wil be able to post videos this weekend:biggrin:

[burrows14]

Over the last week Ive been running the skimmer wide open. I'm getting some very dense foam and some very dark skimmate:biggrin: I Have also been over feeding making sure the skimmer is having to work hard and it has passed with flying colors! This weekend Im upgrading my system and am expecting a small cycle, Im really looking forward to seeing what this thing pulls out:biggrin:

Cheers
Ray

[burrows14]

So its been almost 2 weeks of running my skimmer wide open and it has become my favorite setting. The skimmer will perform differently in every system but in my system the sweet spot is in 8" and the intake wide open. By far out of all the skimmers I have run(5) this is my favorite by far

[burrows14]

Heres a couple pics of the skimmer after 4 days. Some nice and stinky nog:biggrin: Im still running it wide open in 8" of water. I'm still find I'm getting my best performance at this depth and setting.
http://i864.photobucket.com/albums/ab201/RayRayshobby/DSCN2179.jpg
http://i864.photobucket.com/albums/ab201/RayRayshobby/DSCN2180.jpg

[Aqua-Digital]

wow!! You have it set to MAX and in 8" of water, thats impressive.

I have mine in 10" set to 3, the skimmate is not that dark but I have very low nutrients.

Impressive stuff :)

[burrows14]

Im a big fan of the thick nasty skimmate lol I like running it wide open because of the nice dense foam it produces. The bubble are nice and thick you could almost cut it with a knife lol I do find that this skimmer is a bit too powerful for a lightly stocked 120 with 40 gal sump so I have been doing a little over feeding.

[burrows14]

Havent moved it over to my new set up yet but it is still pulling out nasties from my old 120 gal that has had only 1 clownfish in it for the last 3 weeks. Cant wait to see wjat it pull when I boost up my bioload in my new tank:biggrin:

[burrows14]

Finally moved this into my new set up! My new set up is alot quieter than my previous one and I never noticed this before but I now can hear the air draw on this skimmer and it sounds like its taking in a ton! by no means is it loud or annoying. you can only hear it when your within a couple of feet of it. Its been pulling lots of junk out of the tank over the last 2 days. I will post some pics of it in its new home tommorow:biggrin:

[burrows14]

The skimmer has not been performing as well as it was before I moved it last week. I attribute it to all the new sand and epoxy I have been using for aquascaping. It has had a build up of grey muck so I pulled it out and gave it a good rinse and and everything should be back to normal within a couple days. I still need to post pics but I have been really busy and hope tp have them up this week

[snow1]

I have a question about this skimmer that maybe you can help me with. BTW any updates on it? Okay then, my question....are you always now running it open? Or did you do it for just that one week. Where do you find it to be the best. All open, near closed or half way?

[burrows14]

Skimmer is still running great! I raised it up a couple of inches and run it half way open and Im having alot of success with it. it has been set it and forget it over the last 2 months:mrgreen:

[pluff]

Hi,where in Canada can I buy one of these skimmers? I would need one for a 180 with 55 sump.my sump is 48L x 12W x 20H.. from what I can see these skimmers have a small foot print. or anyone know if there are other options out there?

cheers,

Marcel

[burrows14]

Send a PM over to Aqua Digital. Im sure he can help you out with a dealer in your part of the country:biggrin:

[Aqua-Digital]

contact Oakville reef gallery in Oakville ontario they have the only one left in the country.

The next sea freight order leaves China Mid September.

[Ron99]

Hi,where in Canada can I buy one of these skimmers? I would need one for a 180 with 55 sump.my sump is 48L x 12W x 20H.. from what I can see these skimmers have a small foot print. or anyone know if there are other options out there?

cheers,

Marcel

Check with Ian at Oceanic Corals as well as he can bring these in fairly quickly or can maybe set you up with an equivalent Reef Octopus or SWC skimmer.

[Aqua-Digital]

Did you get any luck with Oakville?