[slief]

Originally Posted by Kubi

I am bad. I have the 1st gen Mini BK200. 3rd pump in the last 6 or 7 years. I bought it when they 1st were released and I down sized tanks. Previous skimmer was a SM250 which I never had any issues with. I do the same maintenance as I have done in past almost 20yrs. In fact I have a Tunze return pump installed the same time as the mini bk200. Never an issue with that pump and still running strong. How long should the MBK 1000 last with proper care and maintenance?

They will last indefinitely. That is about one of the best AC blocks ever made. We have customers with those blocks that are well over 10 years. I always suggest quarterly maintencance. If you take them completely apart ever 4-5 months and soak the block, impeller and bearing in household white vinegar for 10 minutes. Then give them a good scrub inside and out using a soft dish brush followed by a rinse, they won't fail you. They will last indefinitely. There is a bearing at the bottom of the block that should also be removed and cleaned. That bearing supports the impeller shaft and buildup inside the bearing will create friction on the impeller which can overheat the block. It's the most common overlooked item when it comes to routine maintenance is the number one cause of premature failure. I suggest not putting the o-rings in the vinegar though. See post 2 of this thread. It discusses the bearing removal and installation. FWIW, the entire process of cleaning the pumps takes me a total of about 15 minutes including the 10 minute soak time. My pumps always look line new inside and out when I am done. It's really simple to do but it is important to take it completely apart. Some go longer on the maintenance intervals but getting in the habit of regular maintenance can go a long way in saving money. The old saying "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" comes to mind.

That said, if you have the first gen MBK200 which is the VS07 model, then the MBK1000 is the correct block for that skimmer/impeller combo and will actually perform better than the 1500 block. The 1500 was included with the Mini Bubble King 200 VS09 model which used a slightly different needle wheel and a heavier impeller shaft. My guess is that the last block you ordered was the wrong block. Either way, this one is the correct block for the first gen Mini Bubble King 200. Heck, even if you had the Mini Bubble King VS09 model, the MBK1000 is just fine. It will give you a bit better contact time which isn't a bad thing since it will allow the skimmer to perform more efficiently and remove more DOC's in a single pass. The MBK 1500 will also work fine but requires a slight adjustment to the water level as you have already seen. 6 of this, a half a dozen of the other.