Bubble Magus BM180-CS Skimmer Reveiw
 

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/a...s/DSCN2114.jpg
http://i864.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/DSCN2116.jpg
http://i864.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/DSCN2119.jpg
http://i864.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/DSCN2124.jpg
http://i864.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/DSCN2126.jpg
http://i864.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/DSCN2129.jpg
http://i864.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/DSCN2130.jpg

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

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

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

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?

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

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

How load is the pump?

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

Just wondering
 

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?