the unofficial bubble magus curve 9 review

[lockrookie]

so here it is i just received the bubble magus curve 9 skimmer. now i had tried to ask the distributor questions about this skimmer and the best reply was..if you want answers to your questions..review the skimmer. i really dont want to get into the whole conversation. lets just say whatever the outcome this review will be more than honest. and i will try to document every detail through its life of my ownership. or its death.


When i picked up the skimmer from Pats pets today, (thanks again pat), my first inpression of the box was ..hoooooleeeee *sensored*thats a huge box.. then my second thought was did i make a mistake will it fit.... we will get to the last thought in a bit..

first here are some pictures of the unpacking process all in all it was packed very well.





i took all the pieces out and assembled the skimmer a few things i noticed that im leary about is how the skimmer cup connects to the body. it really doesn't seat easily but im sure after a year or so it may losen up a bit. the hose from the air diffuser to the pump is a bit short but they do have a second hose if you want to re position the pump 90 degrees. now this is a nice feature if you want to re position your pump. but they put a cheazy plug in its spot that could accidently get bumped off; and possibly cause the skimmer to fail.. i will have to modify this at the end of the initial review. i will have to use the second longer hose to ensure the hose doesn't pull itself off. will it actually slide off .. unsure but im not willing to take that chance.

here are pics of all parts while i set it together:

base plate:


pump and pump apart




diffuser plate


body and completed



flow adjustment an air diffuser


continued...

[lockrookie]

top down view


lid


so thats all the bits and pieces next post i make is a bit disheartening but fixable.

[lockrookie]

i then tested the fit for the skimmer knowing i have to adjust the shelf inside the sump for the recommended water level and dagnabbit the fear came alive the skimmer body is 9" and a stupid cross beam on my stand is in the way and only gives me 8" of clearance so i cant even get the skimmer into the sump at this time. regretfully it will be a few days before i can fire this thing up i have to make all the adjustments to that cross brace and the sump skimmer shelf, by re routing teh water flow and draining skimmer compartment i doubt i will have time to work on it until the weekend. but i am confident once i shave the cross beam i will be good to go and the review will commence.

[Bblinks]

Nicely done on the review so far, too bad you can put it in the sump yet.

[Skimmerking]

Jeff you were talking about the skimmer cup being hard to seal and it should take about a year to break in. I know that it was a smart ass remark. however its its a really snug fit that isnt good. this is how parts snap and break.
what type of pump is this on the skimmer?

with this curve is it really going to make a difference ?

what is the stand pipe is it hard to move or is it like the bubble magus CS 220 where you would move it and it would turn back wasn't a good feature on the BM 220.

Jeff try hooking it up in a Rubbermaid container and and running vinegar you will get a feel of how the skimmer will work to a point.

with the skimmer going in vinegar at least u can give a somewhat honest view of how the pump and water level can stay consistent of not and run it in several levels of water to see if its accurate or not.

HTH

[lockrookie]

thank you i want to be a detailed as possible.. i have to upload a couple more pics of this plug they use for the secondary pump loacation not exactly sure how this would benifit someone to begin with but options are options.. ive just never personally heard with all theresearch ive been doing on skimmers having a secondary hole.. if anyone has please chime in i'd like to know how it works for you.

as for the set back well..lol.. no matter how you plan how you think something will always get in your way... inlife... this hobby.. or the granny who cant see over the dashboard in front of you.. ive always believed if there is a will there is a way. my only concern is banging on a chisel under the umteen pounds of tank water i have to find a bit for my trusty dremel i think if i take out a 2" notch from the cross beam it will all be good. the biggest challenge is a cant make too much noise when the babies are sleeping and since they are walking now i definately cant do it while they are awake..challenges lol

more pics to come shortly

[lockrookie]

Originally Posted by Skimmer King

Jeff you were talking about the skimmer cup being hard to seal and it should take about a year to break in. I know that it was a smart ass remark. however its its a really snug fit that isnt good. this is how parts snap and break.
what type of pump is this on the skimmer?

with this curve is it really going to make a difference ?

what is the stand pipe is it hard to move or is it like the bubble magus CS 220 where you would move it and it would turn back wasn't a good feature on the BM 220.

Jeff try hooking it up in a Rubbermaid container and and running vinegar you will get a feel of how the skimmer will work to a point.

with the skimmer going in vinegar at least u can give a somewhat honest view of how the pump and water level can stay consistent of not and run it in several levels of water to see if its accurate or not.

HTH

i will check out your questions bud and pick up a container tomorrow to test out all that you asked ..your questions are a few that i asked the distributor and never got the answers to. so hopefully we can find the answers to yours and my questions. i will tell you it has a year waranty lol.. lets keep moving forward and review

[sphelps]

The second hole should just allow for an alternate pump orientation, although more common on external pump skimmers like BK-SM-200&250, it allows a little more clearance one way or the other.

[lockrookie]

Originally Posted by sphelps

The second hole should just allow for an alternate pump orientation, although more common on external pump skimmers like BK-SM-200&250, it allows a little more clearance one way or the other.

im sure the idea is as you say alternate orientation. my only concern really is the cheasy plug for the hole. there are better ways to seal a second hole position. i have to take thepics and post themright away here so you can see what i mean.. now i can be overly picky but there are automotive hole plugs made of plastic/rubber that would seal it better and not chance it popping out.

[lockrookie]

ok so here are the pics of the plug. it may work fine we will see. i just personally feel the need to glue it in place.





and skimmer king these are the blowup diagrams of the skimmer.. it seems they have o rings on the outlet tube to add friction in order to stop it from moving on its own.