ATI Bubble Master Skimmers

[CamBarr]

Hey Guys i just got a BM 200 skimmer i wanted to start a general picture and discussion thread on theses skimmers any users out there??

cam barr

[Creetin]

Oh yeah theres users, Welcome.
Mine was in used for a year no mesh problems, Actually i was able to tweek mine to get a few more scfh by a simple plumbing mod. I have the first model, and never needed to change the settings from stock, I ran it in a 7.5 inch constant level sump and made sure the silencer was cleaned 1 time a week from salt creep when cleaning the collection cup..
I did have the original, and the ballvalve ATI sent out to be able to controll the skimmer, and i also made a gate valve for it which i never ended up using.

[Creetin]

Here's the chop down version to get every bit of space out of it and make it more sump friendly. IMO
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q128/realcreetin/IMG_2045.jpg

Here's a shot of my 250 just after break in, and about 24 hrs of skimmate. ( Wet but thats where i like it)
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q128/realcreetin/med_gallery_30_23_92055.jpg
Look mom no micro bubbles
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q128/realcreetin/med_gallery_30_23_230720.jpg

[Fitchguy]

I have just begun using my ATI bubblemaster 250 and I love it! Easy setup, easy to tweak! The ONLY complaint that I could give is that the connections from the pumps to the skimmer could have been designed just a little bit better. That is it though! I have never had to shut off my skimmer before for feeding Phyto and stuff like that, so the first time I fed Phytoplankton to my tank I immediately started to see my skimmate turn green!! It was amazing that the skimmer worked so quick, hence I shut off my skimmer during feedings.

[Jeff]

I love my BM200. Best skimmer I have ever owned and I have had a few in my day.

Here are a few pics a day after receiving it:
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b44/17831/DSCN0407.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b44/17831/DSCN0405.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b44/17831/th_DSCN0408.jpg (http://s16.photobucket.com/albums/b44/17831/?action=view&current=DSCN0408.flv)


DO NOT CLEAN IT WITH SOAP
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b44/17831/DSCN0402.jpg

[CamBarr]

Here is my BM 200 it started to skim pretty heavy then i had to put my hand into the tank and it killed my foam head. what do you think the optimum level in the skimmer is ??? i have had some trouble adjusting the skimmer


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v503/cambarr/100_6574.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v503/cambarr/100_6577.jpg

[Jeff]

I keep the level of the foam head around an inch above where the neck starts. Dont make adjustments too often. Try making an adjustment and waiting a day.

[grandp10]

.

[old salty]

I'm using a BM250. The pumps are a bit loud; they are the dominant noisemakers on my entire setup. Other than that, it's a good skimmer. The filter floss in the air silencer looks rather ghetto, but the skimmer sits in a dark closet.


http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a129/olsaltybastard/BM250009.jpg

[Mr James]

by Mr James
On all my previous systems, I ran MRC skimmers and calcium reactors. On my last tank in Florida (180g lots of SPS), I ran an MR-2 powered by a GenX-55HP (not horsepower).

Seen here (MR-2 on top and CR-2 on bottom):

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/7762rc_cabinet1.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m121/floridahoosiers/Reef%20-%20Florida2006/DSC03744.jpg


Now here is a picture of an ASM G2x or something like that. It came with the system I bought as a whole. It is shown with the recirculation (and gate valve modifications - not shown). I soon sold it as I couldn't stand it!!!

Shown here running on a temporary Brute can full of rock that was curing:

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m121/floridahoosiers/Reef%20-%20Florida2006/DSC03737.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m121/floridahoosiers/Reef%20-%20Florida2006/DSC03685.jpg

But of course this tank I am running an ATi Bubblemaster 200:

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m121/floridahoosiers/Reef%20-%20Minnesota2007/IMG_0054-1.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m121/floridahoosiers/Reef%20-%20Minnesota2007/IMG_0009-3.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m121/floridahoosiers/Reef%20-%20Minnesota2007/IMG_0008-1.jpg

[mr. pluto]

250 bm. for me works good. over 8" deep in sump
transition from big foam bubbles to small around half way up neck


http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e6/pluto123/equip%20%20pics/pic001e3.jpg

[CamBarr]

So half Way up the neck is optimum skimming height for medium skimming not to wet and not to dry???

[Mr James]

I am sitting in 7.5" of water in the sump and my bubbles break half way up the neck.

[mr. pluto]

my case yes, put a small r/o tube thru the plastic cap.
thats all i've done to this skimmer.

[sjm817]

My BM250

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a370/Cheerleader555240/DSC_1390.jpg

Foam Head:

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a370/Cheerleader555240/th_MyMovie1.jpg (http://s15.photobucket.com/albums/a370/Cheerleader555240/?action=view&current=MyMovie1.flv)

[CamBarr]

lets see some more pics

[JustinReef]

Heres mine...Nothing fancy about this set up. I am also skimming pretty wet during this pic, not so much anymore though...

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/DSC00715.jpg

[rpeeples]

Do any of the BM owners experience the skimmers foam collapsing for an extended period of time after feeding mysis, cyclopeze, selcon, or similar foods? My skimmer will quit skimming for over 3-4 hours sometimes. Should this concern me?

[flipteg]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11623409#post11623409 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rpeeples
Do any of the BM owners experience the skimmers foam collapsing for an extended period of time after feeding mysis, cyclopeze, selcon, or similar foods? My skimmer will quit skimming for over 3-4 hours sometimes. Should this concern me?

i don't think that is specific to just the Bubble Master skimmers... i experience the same with my recirculating Reef Octopus skimmer...

[trmiv]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11623409#post11623409 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rpeeples
Do any of the BM owners experience the skimmers foam collapsing for an extended period of time after feeding mysis, cyclopeze, selcon, or similar foods? My skimmer will quit skimming for over 3-4 hours sometimes. Should this concern me?

I don't have a BM, but every single skimmer I've owned does this, it's normal.

[rpeeples]

Thanks for the feedback......

[mr. pluto]

mine recovers a lot faster for reasons unknown to me.
i do have a seperate chamber for the skimmer within the sump
which is uneffected when the return pump is off.
i do turn off return when feeding though.

[CamBarr]

Yea the foam head will collapse if you feed its normal are you guys running your dry or wet?

[slant77]

I have the bm160 and it is the noisest thing on my tank.

[rpeeples]

I try to skim more on the dry side...My skimmer, BM250, utilizies DIY gatevalve mod since it was the 2nd wave of 250's released and at that time the 250's did not come with a gatevalve. My skimmer is the quietest of any equipement on my system however I have always experienced re-start issues with the Sicci's. I have tried just about everything and more times than not, the pumps have to be wiggled a little as they try to restart. Also, my skimmer only sits in about 6" of water as I have it on a stand within the sump.

[CamBarr]

my 200 is really quiet

[Meitzler]

I have a 250. One of my pumps is difficult to start, like taking 5 to 15 minutes of blowing air in the intake etc. Has anyone else experience this problem. This is a real pain since you need to change the cup at least once a week. Otherwise a good skimmer. Mine is the latest design.

[FloatingFish]

One of my pumps on my 250 is a pain to start also. So I leave them on when I take the cup off to clean it.

[Meitzler]

Thanks. I exchanged the port that they go into and still have the problem Sorry to hear that I am not the only one. If anyone hears of a fix or perhaps a conversion to a different pump, please post. Thanks FloatingFish.

[Creetin]

You might be able to go with the tunze needlewheel and replace the mesh for the needlewheel.
I dunno if tunze hydrofoamer has a custom fit volute for the needle though so i dont know if it will work.

[CamBarr]

blump

ha ha

[BONDQ]

I'm thinking about getting an ATI.

For those of you with pump re-start problems....have you tried plugging the air in-take with your finger when you try to restart the pumps?

I'm wondering if since those pumps pull so much air that there is simply not enough water around the impeller for it to rotate without assistance. So, if you cut the air for a second or two at restart, does the pump restart more quickly?

Let me know.

[Meitzler]

Yes, I have tried that. My problem, like many others that I heard, is specific to one pump. May be a quality assurance issue. It is sad that they just don't rapidly replace the pump, because otherwise not a bad skimmer

[das75]

Know they website is up but is ATI still in business?

[davocean]

I just got a BM200.
I was nervous about purchase hearing about noise, but I think it's pretty quiet actually, bubbles make the most noise!
Pump connect could be better, but I'm going to play w/ that.
On start up there was alot of noise, then I put my hand in front of pump and I could feel it kick in, similar to my tunze nano's when they start backwards.
After that, VERY quiet.

[BONDQ]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11694300#post11694300 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by das75
Know they website is up but is ATI still in business?

Why do I keep hearing this?
The ATI BMs seem like a good value, but if they're not around to replace parts and provide service, that's not going to work out.

[CamBarr]

they are still in business it was just a rumor see the reef geek fourm

[Meitzler]

I just wish they would replace the questionable pumps until you get a good one. Seems that would do alot for customer satisfaction. You are right, they are good, except for the problem, but it would stop me from buying another one.

[mr. pluto]

Meitzler , did you trim the loose mesh on the pump that has as hard time starting?

[Meitzler]

I only trimmed straggler strands and not very much. I did not trim anything on the pump that works. The vendor recommeded that I rim them.

[old salty]

If you have a two pump configuration, plug them both in at the same time. Like above, I just leave them running. Not nearly as messy as I thought it would be.

[Rwinfrey]

We just installed a 250 at our shop within a couple of hours it was pulling crud out these skimmer kick some butt. A couple of days later the foam popped the top off this thing its breaking in alot faster than I thought it would. I talked with Greg and he told to have it at 6 inches of water that might be your problem how deep is your skimmer.:D

[Meitzler]

When they work, they-re great, but I expect a new skimmer to autormatically start. Mine is set in 7" of water. With 6", I would suspect the top of the power head would be close to being exposed. I do start both pumps simultaneously, or should I say try to. I tried 6" of water last night, but it did not make a difference.

[reefsahoy]

any other bm updates?

[reefsahoy]

any other bm updates?

[Meitzler]

I am interacting with the distributer at the moment. I am aware of two retail shops that stop stocking them, experiencing similar start problems for the 250. Like some in this thread, some owners simply do not turn them off when emptying the cup. Yes, it is a work around, but not what I would expect from a new skimmer.

Mine is on a neptune aquacontroller 3 which has both plugged into the same circuit so they both power up at once being on the exact same circuit.

[reefer96]

Does anyone know what the normal & heavy stocking ratings are on the BM 250?

[joeycadre]

i just got a bm200 used. i love it so far.

it started pulling out junk in less than an hour of setting it up. it's quiet. it was very easy to set up. i like everything about it so far.

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m245/joeycadre/100_0790.jpg

[46FiatYamaha]

So Mr James, how does the ATI compare to the MRC?

[enzo54321]

I don't know what the problem with mine is but it's loud much louder than my euroreef rs80 that I used to own. Bummer!

[joeycadre]

i had a euroreef rc80 before the ati and the euroreef was much louder than the ati.

[Tony B (UK)]

The Bubblemaster 300 is out (well, it is in England) and a reefing friend has one running in his sump - it's a big old skimmer and looks the muts nuts ;)

[gcarroll]

If he was a true friend, he would have supplied you with pics to go along with your post!

[sjm817]

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/9407/dsc0525eys8.jpg

[CamBarr]

nice!!!

[TwistedTiger]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11569193#post11569193 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mr. pluto
my case yes, put a small r/o tube thru the plastic cap.
thats all i've done to this skimmer.
What does that do for you????

[drosen]

I have a BM200 - it has been quiet, excellent at creating skimmate, and relatively trouble free. It can foam enough to pop its top - that's for sure. I was thinking about modding it for a second collection cup - anyone done that?

[drosen]

Here is a photo of my 200.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/586/17356550K-octopus-3000.JPG

[drosen]

Posted w/o IMG tags - apologies - here it is again.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/586/17356550K-octopus-3000.JPG

[rpeeples]

SJM, is th is your pic? Looks like the 300 has three pumps correct?

Have any lighting for sale? :) Nice Sig in the back drop.



<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12057842#post12057842 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sjm817
http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/9407/dsc0525eys8.jpg

[mr. pluto]

What does that do for you????

well it was put in the cap to hook up my dwyer which
promply made the foam denser so i left it in, i tried a bigger
size r/o tube but the foaming wasn't it as good.
same results happen if i take it out.

[sjm817]

Not my skimmer. I dont think you can get them in the USA yet. Yes, it has 3 pumps.