Bubble Magus NAC5-E review (compared to Eshopps PSK-100H)

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

Just here to give a little personal review of the Bubble MAgus NAC5-E HOB skimmer. I have now owned a total of five HOB skimmers in my time in this hobby.

First was a CPR Bak-Pak, second was an Aqua C Remora, third was a Bermuda Aquatics Rogue, fourth an Eshopps PSK-100H and now the BM.

The first three are well documented and known about.

So I will discuss just the Eshopps and BM, both of which are superior to the the other three.

 

Eshopps PSK-100H

Pros:

-Small, for a circular bodied HOB this takes up little room

-Relatively quiet...it reads ~68-69dB @ 12" from the pump

-Well built for its' low price

-Included drain line in collection cup....and up towards the top

-Price

Cons:

-Not the easiest to clean the bubble diffuser plate

-The 4" body is not as condusive to bubble/foam production(still much better than any rectangular box though)

-Small company so although customer service is great, it is a little slow

 

Bubble Magus NAC5-E

Pros:

-Very well built

-Still relatively quiet, runs ~69-71dB @12" from the pump(for reference many SRO's run ~78-80dB)

-Included drain line in collection cup and included air valve with silencer

-Price for performance is unreal

-Bubble/foam production is out of this world foran HOB

-Nearly zero microbubbles returned to the DT after just a couple days

Cons:

-A little large for an HOB

-Collection cup's drain line is on the bottom of the cup(but there is a cap you can plug in to keep it closed

-Should come with a surface skimmer attachment(all hob's should-imo)(I built one for this)

-BM customer service is lacking, but EyePoppinCorals(where I bought it from) is fantastic

 

Here is the first 24hrs after I got it setup and running correctly:

 

Hours 24-60: (after emptying first 24hrs)

 

 

Size info and side profile:

5.5" from the back pane to back edge of skimmer. ~5.25" from black trim of back pane.

It is 10" from the top rim of the tank to the top of the collection cup.

[Samc]

So, what would you buy if you had to do it all over again? I'm running a Coralife Super Skimmer, some minor tweaks to increase bubble production but getting constant skimmate out of it has been a fruitless effort. Perhaps my tanks bio-mass is too low (it is low), but its also not known as the best skimmer out there. I'm tired of buying inexpenisve, but supposedly works well enough, products only to find out they don't work that great. I'd rather spend more upfront and get what I should have bought in the 1st place!