Video - ATI Bubble Master 200 unboxing
I have just received an ATI Bubble Master 200 protein skimmer, and wanted to share my initial impressions. For reference, my previous skimmer was an ASM. The skimmer cost $549, which puts it above budget skimmers, but still not at the level of a Korallen Zucht, or Bubble King. It is rated for 250 gallon aquariums, which is over-rated for my 135 gallon tank, but should allow me to keep a high bioload.
Packaging
The skimmer was ordered from AquariumSpecialty.com. As you can see in the unboxing video, the skimmer was protected by custom-cut foam. It was extremely thick and the unit arrived in perfect condition.
Construction
The skimmer is solid. No part of the unit feels cheap, and the body does not flex when squeezed. Attention to detail is obvious, with the easy to adjust knife valve and rubber feet on both the skimmer foot and pump.
Instructions
The instructions which come with the unit are clear and understandable. I do have a complaint here. On every online vendor where you can purchase this skimmer, it says “In-sump in up to 8″ of water”. The instructions make this more clear, they state: “For optimal performance the water height should not exceed 8″. (Ideally 6-7″)” I wish that the 6-7″ note accompanied the advertisement online. My sump was made to be 8″ deep; had I known that 6-7″ is ideal I would have made it to that specification.
Assembly
Putting the skimmer together required no tools or plumbing. One of the main reasons I chose this particular skimmer is ATIs use of a knife gate valve for adjustment. This means no extra plumbing required, and no getting your hands wet. The collection cup simply rests on the body, sealed by the weight of the (large) cup and a rubber gasket. This makes removal easy.
For a glimpse at the assembly process, check out my unboxing video.
Install
Installation was definitely plug-and-play. After assembling the unit dry, I simply dropped it into my sump and plugged in the pump. The unit started skimming wet within minutes. I’ve had to tune it down as the skimmer breaks in so that I can find where the sweet spot is. The ATI-Sicce pump has a slight hum to it, which may be due to my placement, but it is not annoying or distracting.
Conclusion
I am extremely happy with my purchase, and in the few hours the skimmer has been running, I already have about 1″ of wet skimmate. I feel it will be capable of dealing with my bioload as my tank matures.
Pretty crazy setup you’re going to have. Will you ever be able to move? :) Also, that looks like a fire eagle tshirt in the video thumbnail, do you work on it?
i’m hoping to stay in my apartment as long as possible :]
good eye on the tshirt. yes, fire eagle is a brickhouse project. but we do multiple projects at a time so i’m not actively coding on it.
[...] and blogger Keith Thornhill recently purchased an ATI Bubble Master 200 skimmer for his new rimless AGE build. (If you have not [...]
Awesome looking skimmer. Looking forward to hearing how it performs for you.
And nice music selection you got there – be sure to check out distortedmagazine.com ;)
Keith, just wondering, how come you didn’t buy the skimmer from Ed at KMA? Hes located at SF.
charles: i’m not familiar with that store. what is the full name?
So how’s the skimmer working now? I need to buy another skimmer because my Euro Reef CS 8/2 has been a complete failure; it would not skim. My ER CS 5/3 out skims it. I have a 150 gallon total mixed reef with 100PPM nitrates.
I’m planning a more extensive review post, but not until i’ve run the skimmer through its paces for a few more weeks. (my bioload is still very low)
otherwise it skims great, but the knife gate valve did not live up to my expectations. it seems to get stuck when coated in biofilm and salt spray.
i’m probably going to give the skimmer a good cleaning, dial it a little wetter, and then let it do its business.
I have had this skimmer for a year now. I agree with you on the gate valve, it is not designed well imo. The handle was not working well and I ended up taking it off completely. Now I have to adjust the gate valve by pushing it up and down by hand. For the skimming, it does a good job though. I do have to blow air into the floss cylinder when it starts because the pump rattles. The other issue I am seeing lately is that the pump sleeve that connects with the skimmer body is coming out on its own sometimes. Im happy with this skimmer except the pump is loud lately, the rubber foot of the pump came unglued and I have to glue that back on as well.
i also have in my notes about the pump coming unattached. it happened a few weeks ago, but only once.
Nice! I inherited a BM160 from the previous owner of my aquarium and I’m trying to get it to skim. I’m also trying to figure out what pre-filter to put on the intake of the pump so it doesnt suck up my stray chaeto and sand in there.
I heard these things skim really well. BTW, nice site reefiris site. Im signing up now.