Fix Bubble King Mini or get a new skimmer?

[andrewkw]

I'm having a tough time deciding what to do. I have a 90 gallon tank that needs a skimmer. I have a bubble king mini 200 this is pretty old and some time ago I broke the impeller. It was so long ago I don't really remember what happened. A new impeller is about $185 + shipping or half or more of the cost of a new medium end skimmer.

I've looked at a couple of reef octopus models including the Classic 152-S. I have been using a diablo 160 I believe is the model number for a long time on another tank and been happy with those results. That new skimmer would only be about $100 more then the bk impeller. Of I could go a littler high up and move to say a nyos quantum 120.

Are skimmers today really better then the skimmers of 10 years ago? At least a modern medium end to an old high end? Sure now you can get cheap skimmers that actually skim, but would the performance of either of those skimmers or something in that price range compare to a bubbleking mini 200 that is 10 years old? I tend to believe the bubbleking would perform better, it would be overrated for the tank which these days seems like less of a thing to do as in the past. Other then performance my concern would be if the actual pump goes on the skimmer within say 3-5 years it would be such a waste to get that impeller since a new pump would cost more then any skimmer I'm considering today which I would hope to get 3-5 years before pump replacement if not more.

This is not really urgent as I have just one clown fish in the tank and am currently running it skimmerless, but one of these days I would like to stock it. I'd love to hear some peoples thoughts. Thanks!

 

[Acroporaaddict]

I feel that the skimmer would to big for the bioload on your tank. I ran a BK 160 on a fully stocked 100g system and was very happy with it. With that said, if it was me, I'd buy a new impeller as long as the pump itself was good. Next I would put the skimmer up for sale. You will easily get the cost of the Impeller back and enough to purchase a skimmer better fitted to your tank size. I would seriously consider looking into Deltecs. I replaced my BK with a Deltec and can honestly say unless Deltec goes out of business, I will never own another brand of skimmer. Just my 2¢

 

[Gablami]

Agree with above, in that a bk200 is definitely oversized for your tank size and probably won’t skim consistently. I would also replace the impeller and sell the skimmer. It’s a great skimmer and pump, and someone will have use for a quality skimmer. You can then buy the skimmer you want. If you want to stick with BK, a BK160 mini would probably be more suitable.

 

[andrewkw]

That is an idea I did not think about. Of course if I go that route I'm just as likely to hold onto the mini for future use since I've had it so long. I think once I have some more fish in the tank it would probably work with the 90.

While I did use a deltec skimmer a long time ago not really looking to go that route now, or buy a smaller bubble king. If I go for a new skimmer instead of using the bk it will be a more mid range model like a reef octopus ect.