- Hey, it's Thomas here and today we
are going to be taking a look
at what makes these Curve skimmers
from Bubble-Magus such a popular option
for skimming on a budget.
If you're looking for a simple and affordable
yet highly regarded skimmer that has become a fan favorite
of many budget conscious reefers
with a small footprint to fit
in tight sumps and simple one point tuning with a wedge pipe
then check out the Bubble-Magus Curve Skimmers.
When it comes to protein skimmers
there is an entire rainbow of options out there
for reefers to choose from and just like cars,
if you can get something affordable to get you
from point a to B or splurge on more performance
and options than the average reefer
will know what to do with.
I think I speak for most of us when I say,
what the average reefer
is really looking for is the best we can get
in terms of a great skim
in a compact and quiet and affordable package.
It doesn't have to be fancy.
And while a few bells and whistles are definitely
nice to have it just needs to last the life of our tank
and do a great job without us going broke.
The Curve series of skimmers from Bubble-Magus
are a great balance
of features that hobbyists are after
in a budget friendly package with a wine bottle body
an internal AC pump and slim wedge pipe water
level control to keep the footprint
of the skimmer nicely compact.
Silicone feet to reduce vibration
and easy to clean air silencer,
a cone inside of the skimmer lid to help direct
the skim into the cup and a really nice clip system
for quick access to the skimmer body and pump.
And also of course, a solid skimming performance.
Let's get it out of the box
and I'll show you exactly what I'm talking about.
In the box, you'll find the Bubble-Magus Curve skimmer body,
the collection cup, the bubble diffuser,
the air silencer as well as tubing, the venturi,
the pump, a two year warranty card
and some flashy stickers.
Assembly of the skimmer is simple.
Nothing out of the ordinary
for your average protein skimmer
and only takes a few minutes to get ready to
start skimming all that nasty gunk from your tank.
I will say I do love the clips that they've used to
hold the body onto the base
rather than having to fully thread several nylon screws.
You just need a quarter turn to loosen them off
and swing the clips aside then back into place and tighten
down the screws to lock those clips back in place.
There are three models available.
The Curve 5, 7 and 9, rated for well-stocked
55, 90 and 120 gallon reef tanks respectively.
All three models have a really nice compact footprint.
Thanks to that internal pump and slim riser
making them a great option for those who don't have a ton
of space in their sumps or who just prefer to
save space wherever possible to keep things
from getting cramped.
The 5 comes in at only 7.3 inches by 7.1 inches.
While the largest model
the 9 is still only 9.25 by 7.9 inches.
All three models share the same water depth rating
of 9.5 to 11 inches for best performance.
There is one point of adjustment on the curve skimmers
and that is the wedge pipe style gate.
To adjust the water level in the skimmer potty
for either a wet or dry skim.
You turn the pipe left or right to open or close the gate
the bracket holding the pipe has markings.
So you can keep track
of what position works best for your particular tank.
While air control is also nice to have, Bubble-Magus
did a really good job of matching up the pump specs
to their skimmers so that they produce a usable ratio of air
to organics for a great scan based on the tank
sizes that they're rated for.
However, if you do want to fine tune the air as well
it's as simple as adding an inexpensive inline ball valve
to the air intake tube.
When it comes time for maintenance, the Curve
skimmers are also easy to work with.
The collection cup is easy to remove and take
to a sink to dump out, but Bubble-Magus also
included a drain port for those who prefer to
use a waste collector for more time between cleanings.
For more extensive cleaning, the locking clips that I
mentioned earlier make getting inside of the skimmer body to
access the pump a breeze and the other components
like the air silencer also come apart for cleaning
so you can easily remove any buildup of salt
or precipitant to keep that skimmer working like new.
If this curvaceous wine bottle bodied skimmer
matches your anything mantra
you can go ahead and pick one up for yourself by
clicking right here.
(moody music)