Skimmer Choice BK or Deltec

arconom · 03/21/2018, 10:16 AM

I currently have a 150 INT Reef Octopus. I just installed it 5 days ago. I know there is a break in period but I'm not happy with the production of bubbles and consitency in the skimmer itself. I used to use a Deltec .

Tank is 80 RR and sump is about 25 Gallons

Since I have just returned to the hobby does Deltec still have the same quality ?

I'm considering a Bubble King also

Vinny Kreyling · 03/21/2018, 04:40 PM

Inconsistency is a sign of a skimmer to large for the tank.
It pulls out whatever & depletes the water so there is nothing left to work on until it builds up again.

gcarroll · 03/21/2018, 04:45 PM

I have never seen a Deltec that I would have considered over a comparable BK. Side by side, there is a huge difference.

atorres53 · 03/21/2018, 05:34 PM

The built quality on a BK is unmatchable! I own a BK mini 200 with Speedy 3 pump. It is a beast. Set it and forget it.

drtrash · 03/21/2018, 05:45 PM

BK is a beast, have the mini 160 and could easily handle twice what i have (65 gal)

abhishek@1985 · 03/21/2018, 05:55 PM

I had a Deltec 1351 and now a Bubble king DC 150. Honestly deltecs are amazing but nothing comes close to a bubble king performance. You have to use both to believe it.
And my tank is almost your capacity .
This is what my BK 150 can pull out of a 90 gallon system with 10 fishes in 4 days :-

Regards,
Abhishek

arconom · 03/21/2018, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vinny Kreyling

Inconsistency is a sign of a skimmer to large for the tank.
It pulls out whatever & depletes the water so there is nothing left to work on until it builds up again.

It is pulling a good amount of Skimmate. It just doesn't have the bubble size my old Deltec used to have in the main Cylinder.

I'm leaning towards the BK MINI 160 GEN 3 VS12 . I want the 180 Gen 3 VS12 Protein Skimmer considering its not a lot more but it won't fit in my sump.

So is the 160 Gen 3 VS12 Protein Skimmer a good size for my setup? 80 Gal Main tank and about 25 Gal in my sump.

drtrash · 03/21/2018, 06:26 PM

Yep, it will work, worst case you may run it wet in 9" water

abhishek@1985 · 03/21/2018, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arconom

It is pulling a good amount of Skimmate. It just doesn't have the bubble size my old Deltec used to have in the main Cylinder.

I'm leaning towards the BK MINI 160 GEN 3 VS12 . I want the 180 Gen 3 VS12 Protein Skimmer considering its not a lot more but it won't fit in my sump.

So is the 160 Gen 3 VS12 Protein Skimmer a good size for my setup? 80 Gal Main tank and about 25 Gal in my sump.

Yes absolutely!! Dont get the BK 180 unless you have like 25-30 fishes. It wont be dialed in properly. Check with slief if you want in the sponser section.
BK skimmers are very conservatively rated .
I personally prefer DC as the pump is outside and ease of cleaning. But its also a little difficult to dial in compared to BK mini 160.

Regards,
Abhishek

arconom · 03/21/2018, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abhishek@1985

Yes absolutely!! Dont get the BK 180 unless you have like 25-30 fishes. It wont be dialed in properly. Check with slief if you want in the sponser section.
BK skimmers are very conservatively rated .
I personally prefer DC as the pump is outside and ease of cleaning. But its also a little difficult to dial in compared to BK mini 160.

Regards,
Abhishek

Ok , That's the one I'll get.

TheReefKeeper · 03/21/2018, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gcarroll

I have never seen a Deltec that I would have considered over a comparable BK. Side by side, there is a huge difference.

Agreed BK hands down

tom obrecht · 03/21/2018, 07:35 PM

Having run both...my vote is Bubble King!

shred5 · 03/21/2018, 07:57 PM

Deltec is a good skimmer without doubt but I do not trust them.. First Doug built up their brand and then gave the line to Marine Depot and then pulled out of the U.S.A... Then Adam at Battle corals built up their brand again and pulled it again to go to Marine Depot.

BK is a very good skimmer but it is very expensive.

slief · 03/21/2018, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arconom

It is pulling a good amount of Skimmate. It just doesn't have the bubble size my old Deltec used to have in the main Cylinder.

I'm leaning towards the BK MINI 160 GEN 3 VS12 . I want the 180 Gen 3 VS12 Protein Skimmer considering its not a lot more but it won't fit in my sump.

So is the 160 Gen 3 VS12 Protein Skimmer a good size for my setup? 80 Gal Main tank and about 25 Gal in my sump.

The Mini 160 is perfect for your display size. The 180 would be oversized.

slief · 03/21/2018, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abhishek@1985

Yes absolutely!! Dont get the BK 180 unless you have like 25-30 fishes. It wont be dialed in properly. Check with slief if you want in the sponser section.
BK skimmers are very conservatively rated .
I personally prefer DC as the pump is outside and ease of cleaning. But its also a little difficult to dial in compared to BK mini 160.

Regards,
Abhishek

Well said!

DesertReefT4r · 03/21/2018, 08:35 PM

Over the 2 BK if you want to pay to play. I would say give the RO 150 more time to break in. If its the newest version it a good skimmer with a good pump. However if you like go ahead and buy either The Deltec or BK either will outperform the RO and both use much higher quality pumps.

03/21/2018, 10:16 AM	#1
arconom Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Middletown, NY Posts: 2,126	Skimmer Choice BK or Deltec I currently have a 150 INT Reef Octopus. I just installed it 5 days ago. I know there is a break in period but I'm not happy with the production of bubbles and consitency in the skimmer itself. I used to use a Deltec . Tank is 80 RR and sump is about 25 Gallons Since I have just returned to the hobby does Deltec still have the same quality ? I'm considering a Bubble King also Last edited by arconom; 03/21/2018 at 12:02 PM.

03/21/2018, 04:40 PM	#2
Vinny Kreyling Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Miller Place, NY Posts: 7,206	Inconsistency is a sign of a skimmer to large for the tank. It pulls out whatever & depletes the water so there is nothing left to work on until it builds up again. __________________ 250 gallon mixed reef, 2 Reefbreeder's Photon V 2, Deepwater BLDC 12, DAS EX-3 Skimmer, MTC mini cal, 2-3/4" Sea Swirls, Aquacontroller & 6 Tunze pumps.

03/21/2018, 04:45 PM	#3
gcarroll Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Orange, CA Posts: 9,666	I have never seen a Deltec that I would have considered over a comparable BK. Side by side, there is a huge difference. __________________ Greg Carroll I will be at REEF-A-PALOOZA! SPS = Stability Promotes Success Be wary of advice coming from those who will not show you the fruits of their success! Current Tank Info: building: 250g AGE Euro tank, Abyzz A200, Vertex Supra-G filtration, Ecotech Radion Pro LEDs, ...

03/21/2018, 07:35 PM	#12
tom obrecht Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: WI Posts: 3,014	Having run both...my vote is Bubble King! __________________ Reef keeping is where Murphy's Law and your bank account collide!! TOTM May 2006

03/21/2018, 07:57 PM	#13
shred5 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Waukesha , WI Posts: 4,998	Deltec is a good skimmer without doubt but I do not trust them.. First Doug built up their brand and then gave the line to Marine Depot and then pulled out of the U.S.A... Then Adam at Battle corals built up their brand again and pulled it again to go to Marine Depot. BK is a very good skimmer but it is very expensive. __________________ David Polzin

03/21/2018, 05:34 PM	#4
atorres53 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 60	The built quality on a BK is unmatchable! I own a BK mini 200 with Speedy 3 pump. It is a beast. Set it and forget it.

03/21/2018, 05:45 PM	#5
drtrash Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: S. Scottsdale, AZ Posts: 2,178	BK is a beast, have the mini 160 and could easily handle twice what i have (65 gal)

03/21/2018, 05:55 PM	#6
abhishek@1985 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 525	I had a Deltec 1351 and now a Bubble king DC 150. Honestly deltecs are amazing but nothing comes close to a bubble king performance. You have to use both to believe it. And my tank is almost your capacity . This is what my BK 150 can pull out of a 90 gallon system with 10 fishes in 4 days :- Regards, Abhishek

03/21/2018, 06:26 PM	#8
drtrash Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: S. Scottsdale, AZ Posts: 2,178	Yep, it will work, worst case you may run it wet in 9" water

03/21/2018, 08:35 PM	#16
DesertReefT4r Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Mesa Az Posts: 771	Over the 2 BK if you want to pay to play. I would say give the RO 150 more time to break in. If its the newest version it a good skimmer with a good pump. However if you like go ahead and buy either The Deltec or BK either will outperform the RO and both use much higher quality pumps. __________________ Tank history 29g tropical ,55g cichlid tank, 20H softy reef, 29g mixed reef, 20H brackish goby & puffer tank, 55g mixed reef, 6g Nanocube softy lps reef, 40B sps reef, 75g sps reef, 75g sps reef in bu Current Tank Info: 75g sps reef build in the works.