Bubble Magus Curve Owners. Need some input.

[Zacco]

Hey everyone. So I just purchased a new Bubble-Magus Curve 5 for my 40 Breeder Build. I was looking for some input on a few things about these skimmers. What is the water level your keeping your skimmer in for best performance? And can anyone post some pics how far up the neck you have your bubble column set at. Below is a pic of mine getting broke in. It's setting in a 2 gallon bucket with hot salt water and Vinegar to export any oils and silicates from the maufacturing process.

 

[ReefAddict34g]

Return it and buy an SWC cone skimmer. I purchases the exact same skimmer new and it was extremely inconsistent (even with Tunze ATO), my water level never fluctuates and this thing would only pull light tea or overflow. They are built very well but not good performers at all. My SWC pulls straight tar!

 

[ReefAddict34g]

Forgot to clarify, I ran mine for 5 straight months and couldn't ever get it dailed in. Some ppl love these things but I am not a fan.

 

[Zacco]

Did you try it in different water levels? ( putting it on a platform) What water level did you have it sitting in? Alot of threads ive been reading say's it works best in 7 to 8 inches of water. If you place it in the recomended water level of 9.5 to 11, it over flows and goes crazy.

 

[ReefAddict34g]

Yea had mine in 9" of water at first and put eggcrates under to adjust it. Nothing worked. They are a decent skimmer, not complete crap but for the $$$ I would get an SWC. Just my .02. I actually bought a BM bc I was getting impatient waiting on my SWC to ship! Had the SWC in the garage for a while before I decided to junk the BM

 

[Zacco]

Also been reading that people having problems with the curve skimmers is because the inside air silencer tubes are too long and restrict air flow. Causing overflows. I may bag the silencer since i have a direct airline going outside of the house( no noise). And putting an air valve inline. Time to dissect the air silencer and see what i find.

 

[Lilguy]

I have had fish only marine aquariums in my stable for over 50 years and the first time I've used a skimmer is when I installed a C5 about 3 weeks ago. It's in a 30 gal wet dry sump in 7 inches of water. It works but I don't know how much sludge its supposed to produce. First 10 days just over an inch since then not nearly that much. The tank is a 75 gal with 10 fish, the largest a 4 in trigger, been up and running about 15 months. This is new to me. But it's my experience so far.

 

[tigerdragon]

I cant speak to the curve skimmers i run a nac9 have mine in 10" water does fine have it set at 4

 

[Breakthecycle2]

Also been reading that people having problems with the curve skimmers is because the inside air silencer tubes are too long and restrict air flow. Causing overflows. I may bag the silencer since i have a direct airline going outside of the house( no noise). And putting an air valve inline. Time to dissect the air silencer and see what i find.

Can I see pics?

 

[Zacco]

Well the air silencer tubes do not seem to be restricted on my skimmer. After 24 hours of being in the salt/ vinegar water, I Washed the skimmer in hot water and replaced the salt/ vinegar water with plain salt water @ 1.026 in 8 inches of water. I took about a half tablespoon worth of skimate for my Moded CPR Back-Pac that i have on another tank and added the skimmate to the Curve 5 bucket. The Curve 5 pulled out the skimmate in about 10 minutes with no overflows. ( you can see it stuck to the neck of the collection cup) it's not alot but remember i only put a half tablespoon in. Gonna dump the whole collection cup from the CPR into the curve 5 bucket tomorrow and see what happens. Another thing i noticed is that all web site spec's says that this particular skimmer comes with a 8 watt pump. Mine came with a 18watt pump. Is this a typo or did they start shipping the skimmer with a higer wattage pump to solve the over flow problems. ( not engough water and too much air causing too much foam in neck of skimmer?)

 

[Breakthecycle2]

Sorry, I meant the modification you did to the air silencer.

 

[Zacco]

OK. So I walked into my fish tank room and the skimmer cup was overflowing.....Im hoping this will cease after the skimmer breaks in. I removed the air silencer to take it out of the equation. Any heard about the olive oil trick? Supposably you spray or rub a light film of extra virgin olive oil on the inside of the skimmer collection cup neck (about an inch down from the top) and it is suppose to stop skimmers from over flowing. Foam hates oil and will recede when it hits the film of oil. Search:" Does Your Skimmer Overflow?" on youtube. It does not seem to effect the skimmate from rising into the collection cup either. Interesting.