Bubble Magus 3.5 pump upgrade

[zemuss]

I was wondering if anyone has upgraded the skimmer pump from the atman 1000 to the sp-1000. The SP-1000 is the latest pump which apparently ships with the BM 3.5 and other skimmers by Bubble Magus. I replaced the atman pump because it was very inconsistent, now the sp-1000 is working too good. After installing the new pump, I adjusted the flow to Max because on any other setting the collection cup would fill up with pure salt water. This might have been just a break in period but I also think the pump requires a different water level than the atman pump. I currently have the skimmer in 8 1/2 inches of water.

So for now what I did was put a restriction on the air flow using a piece of filter floss which has helped. The skimmer is producing a yellow / tan skimmate.

my quesiton are:

1. has anyone upgraded the BM 3.5 pump before?
2. Did the skimmer now require a new water level? What water level did you choose
3. Are you happy with it.

Don't get me wrong I think the SP-1000 is by far a better pump than the atman 1000, however, I need to find the "sweet spot" again with the new pump. It was by far a better solution than buying a new skimmer as it saved me $200.

 

[zemuss]

Responses from Sea Side Aquatics which is the US distributor in the states:

"we are moving away from the ph atman pump, so all the new skimmers will have the SP pump.

if you are happy with ph1100, there is no need to make any chages. The skimmer is very small, hard to see the changes."

Me: "I absolutely love the new pump. I almost switched skimmers because of the old pump. So in that regard I'm perfectly happy.My question is on the level of water which the skimmer should now operate in. It appears that the recommended 8-10 inches is now more like 7 because with the dial set to max I still flood me collection cup. I have a restrictor on the air intake which helps right now but know that isn't right.
So is there a suggested sump level with the better pump?"

Sea Side: "The deeper the water, the better for the pump, less pressure. But harder to get good skimmate

The lower the water, the pump have to work harder, more pressure. But its easy to control and get good skimmate.

NAC3.5, 7-8" is good."

 

[jservedio]

Let me know how this works out for you. I hate the atman pump because the older it gets the more noise it seems to make. I get GREAT skimmate now after about 8 months, but at the cost of being the loudest thing in the tank (even louder than the MP10 on short pulse with a bad bearing). If the SP pump is quieter and works better I would love to get it.

Have you tried putting some eggcrate under the skimmer to prop it up a bit? Even with the atman pump, I have mine set on 4 and get a medium skimmate, 4.5 gives me a dry skim. I couldn't imagine without changing the water level I would be able to get a good skim - there is barely any more room on the dial to turn it down.

Besides their suggested pump, I was considering going with a higher end pump like a Sicce or something as well.

 

[zemuss]

You need to match the flow rate. However, the flow rate of the sp-1000 is 100 l/h more than that of the atman. The Rock sp-1000 is much quieter than the atman. The other thing I notices with the atman is the pin wheel used is much different than the sp-1000.

I would recommend the sp-1000 hands down but let me get it dialed in and submit some pictures on this thread.