Wow, what did you pay for it with shipping and all?

Lots and shipping was free because I already have a BK 400 ext.

You running internal or external? Is it worth the extra $$$ over other skimmers?

You can pm if you want more info as I don't want to hijack this thread.

How big will the BK be Ruth?

I will likely have minimal baffles. Maybe 2 or 3, otherwise, the sump will be fairly open. I'll push for 30" lenth. I guess I should think about the 800gph pump instead. Im not to keen on a CL right now, but can give it some thought. I really want the skimmer to have lots of new water though, would 400gph really be adequate through the sump in a system with a volume of say 118g? If so, I guess I could use the blue-line as a CL and a Mag 7 as a return?

Thanks for all the input!

Chris

No worries Ruth, these are good questions, feel free to hijack!

Ruth, your skimmer will qualify as massive. Especially because it is so FAT! :mrgreen:

Here is a page with the dimensions

http://www.captiveoceans.com/mm5/mer...de=Bubble_King

And those MSRP prices WOW.

What corals do you plan on keeping in this tank (this will determine the CL pump) The mag 7 would be a good return pump IMO. Is your skimmer custom or can you look up a manufacturer suggested feed rate?

I am pretty sure I posted pictures of my BK 400 in a previous thread I did on it in product reviews. The 500 that I am getting will be external and these things are monsters. I think it is 22" X 28" by 32" tall. IMO these skimmers outperform anything I have ever used or seen. They are incredible skimmer but they are big $. I believe in skimming heavily and for me, it is worth the price tag. They are very quiet, and FWIW, energy efficient. I am going to run the 500 on my 230g tank until I get my 300g cube set up.

Yeesh, that is going to be a beastly skimmer!

Im keeping SPS and LPS. I want more than 31x per hour turnover rate because I find the current is fairly light in the tank right now(75g). Would anyone know if its possible to dial back the flow on the blue-line with a ball/gate valve or something else? I really like what I've seen about the pump and would love to be able to use one. Dialing back the 800gph pump just a tad(100gph, minus head pressure that would already be there) would be perfect.

Thanks!

Chris

Dialing back a pump 100gph will be fine. Remember to add up your head pressure (include turns, linear length, and vertical height)

Strange the bubble kings are so fat compared to other skimmers, I wonder how this affects performance I always though taller was preferable so you get more bubble dwell time. What is the needlewheel pump gph the bk 500 runs off of?