ATI Bubblemaster 200 Skimmer Club.

[leonel04]

Hi all, I just got an ATI BM 200 A week ago and have been looking for some info or feedback from previous owners, with no success, so i have decided to start a new thread for the BM 200. Lets hear from all of you BM 200 owners. Please post comments and pics about performance and issues... Thanks to all.

Leo...

[CamBarr]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v503/cambarr/100_6574.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v503/cambarr/IMG_0271.jpg

its a good skimmer its just a bit finicky with water adjustments ect...

[Mr James]

I had one on my system and it worked just fine!! I adjusted the water height to I believe 14", (I think??) and away it went.

Forgot the pic...

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m121/floridahoosiers/Reef%20-%20Minnesota2007/IMG_0071.jpg

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

[CamBarr]

minis in about 8" of water 14" seems a little high?

[leonel04]

Mine is at 7'' of water right now, the operating instruction says that 8'' of water should be the limit, what do you guys think about this. Thanks. Will post my pics later...

[Mr James]

Maybe it was 7". I don't remember. I have since traded it off an am running a different skimmer. But the BM200 was very cool and very efficient!!

[CamBarr]

i dig mine but it has yet to skim super efficient like others i have seen? it could be just my bio load?

[leonel04]

reefcentral.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=257112&papass=&sort=1&thecat=500 reefcentral.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=257111&papass=&sort=1&thecat=500 reefcentral.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=257110&papass=&sort=1&thecat=500

[leonel04]

some pics..

[leonel04]

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/158421random_pics_029.jpg

[leonel04]

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/158421random_pics_030.jpg http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/158421random_pics_028.jpg

[palawan]

I have the 1st generation BM200. I've done the gate valve mod and installed an intake valve to adjust the incoming air. It's been running for 3yrs now and puts out a foul coffee type skimmate. I have very fine bubbles up to 1"-1.5" where the foam head breaks inside the collection cup tube. I would suggest that you wrap the outer portion of the skimmer body with a black cellophane or plastic sheet to prevent algae growth so you won't have to remove the skimmer out of the sump to clean. I have mine in 8" of water.

[leonel04]

Thanks palawan...

[leonel04]

Has anyone done any mods to the BM 200?

[palawan]

I know 1st generation had em. Don't know of the later ones.

[Daren]

How do you have the valves adjusted. Do you know how many turns and how much air are you restricting. I have a 1st generation BM250 and trying to get it adjusted.

Thanks,
Daren

[Jeff]

I believe the valve adjusts the amount of water leaving the body of the skimmer making the water rise higher in the skimmer. Think "back pressure".

[Daren]

Yes Im wanting to know how many turns he has the valve closed and how he has his set. Ive tried mine all the way open, half closed and without. Just trying to get a starting point to get it set right.

Thanks,
Daren

[CamBarr]

i have noticed the slightest turns make the hugest adjustments to the water level inside the skimmer. so do small turns then wait 15 mins between adjusting again

[leonel04]

Daren, i really don't know how many turns i did, i just kept doing half turns till the water level reached the beginning of the cone. Thanks..

[UrFace]

Here's mine:
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i322.photobucket.com/albums/nn409/winstone1080/DSC01027-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i322.photobucket.com/albums/nn409/winstone1080/DSC01028.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i322.photobucket.com/albums/nn409/winstone1080/DSC01029.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

I get this about every 72 hours. Very low bioload.

[leonel04]

UrFace, What are the water levels in the sump and the skimmer body?. Thanks..

[palawan]

On my 1st gen BM200 I put in a gate valve bought from OSH. I use a flow restrictor BFS-82 that I bought from Buckeyefields supply. I adjust my skimmer in the way: 1) first opening the air flow restrictor wide open. 2) adjust the gate valve where the foam head breaks midway in the collection cup inner tube(this is a sensitive adj. so I would do a small adj. and let it settle before doing another). At this point the foamhead in the inner cup are large as suppose to be but, now 3)I adjust the input air flow restrictor to where the bubbles in the foamhead are very small and dense like the bubbles in the skimmer body. I restrict the air flow to the point were the small bubble turbulence stays in the skimmer neck and not in the collection cup tube. then 4) I make a final adjustment to the gate valve where the foam head that is made up of fine dense bubbles breaks at 1.5in from the upper edge on the collection cup. The valve posted in URface's picture above will not work. I had to use the one mentioned. It is 3/4" tube and is more like a smooth needle valve. With this setting my skimmate is as black as coffee. I adust the gate valve for type of skimmate I want.

[leonel04]

palawan, very good info. Thanks.

[Daren]

palawan,
where do you have your adjustable tube set at? all the way up, half way or at the lowest setting. also what depth is your water level? Do you have any picturesof yours in operation?

Thanks for the info,
Daren

[UrFace]

My water is at 8" and lowest is 6". If I am too lazy to top off, I just adjust my valve.... Of course readjusting when I add water. The body will have a water level of <10" before the bubbles, they break at the neck of skimmer right where it separates from the chamber.

Sorry no top off on my end so adjustments are necessary.

[Airwolf75]

I just hooked mine up yesterday and it's in 7-8 inches of water. It just took off too, starting skimming in about 2 hours. I can't believe that little 30 watt pump powers this huge thing.

[palawan]

Yeah, I love these BM skimmers from ATI. They are great skimmers once they are set up. But some RC members who bought em had problems to the point they got rid or em. One major issue was the meshwheel size. If its not right the skimmer will not perform properly.

[leonel04]

Well i have mine running for a few days now and it's amazing the amount of skimmate i got. It's a keeper....................

[Jeff]

I have had my BM200 for about a year and noticed a slow down of production and cleaned it up really good last week. I found the mesh was looking ragged so I am ordering a mesh reapir kit from Reefgeek.com. I will update after it is installed.

[UrFace]

I want to try the needlewheel with mesh. But I heard the needlewheel actually lowers the production of air. Oh well, I will find out when I get my needlewheel.
You have to keep a close eye of the mesh, this is what keeps the performance to standards.

[leonel04]

Yep, i heard that too about the NW. Not ready try that...

[Daren]

Here are some pictures of my BM 250. I am looking for suggestions as to how to set it. Does it look right? Need to lower or raise the water level? I cleaned the cup about 15 hours ago. After one week there was only 1/2 in of skim mate. It seems the foam head is not solid at the top. I also have a video fo it but do not know how to imbed the file. I can email or attach if someone would care to help.

Thanks,
Daren

Skimmer in action
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/25788S1030371.JPG

Top of foam
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/25788S1030369.JPG

[leonel04]

Daren, what is the water level in the sump?, also how often do you the feed?. try raising the water level by 1/2 inch and leave it for a day or 2. And if you have been making adjustment to the water level too often that also will slow down the skimmer performance. wait a day or two between adjustments. Thanks.

[Daren]

Feed very little right now, bioload is really low. I only have one fish and 200 lbs live rock. Im about to do a major overhaul, new sump, lights etc. and then purchase fish, corals. Water level is 7 1/2 with float valve to maintain water depth constant. I just installed new mesh 2 weeks ago also. I will try to raise the level 1/2 and see what happens.

Thanks,
Daren

[Daren]

Feed very little right now, bioload is really low. I only have one fish and 200 lbs live rock. Im about to do a major overhaul, new sump, lights etc. and then purchase fish, corals. Water level is 7 1/2 with float valve to maintain water depth constant. I just installed new mesh 2 weeks ago also. I will try to raise the level 1/2 and see what happens.

Thanks,
Daren

[Daren]

Well I raised the water level 1/2 inch and the skimmer quit skimming. It wouldnt even try and form a foam head. now I have lowered it a 1/2 inch to see what happens.

Daren

[Airwolf75]

The sheet that came with mine says 6-7 inches is the best. I've been closing my gate valve a little each day and have been getting a better skimmate. At first it was really dark & dry.

[boydx6]

I bought the needlewheel impellers for my BM250 and they produce about half (guess)the air bubbles of the mesh. I have had it on the tank for about 2 weeks and have yet to get it adjusted right. So far it only skims very dry. I am overseas for 2 weeks so I can't mess with it anymore. I will let you know if I get it figured out. So far I say save your money and replace the mesh.

[Snaphook]

How much noise do the BM200's make?

[leonel04]

I'ts very quiet IMO...

[palawan]

The BM200 is very quiet. I've had mine since they first came on the market and 2 weeks ago I removed the mesh wheel and there was no sign of wear or tear.

[afex]

haven't put it to good use yet, but here is mine:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3034/3059931045_2ceb6bc76a_b.jpg (http://flickr.com/photos/afex2win/3059931045/)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3191/3060777370_5cd37dfbe9_b.jpg (http://flickr.com/photos/afex2win/3060777370/)