Bubble Magus NAC QQ

[tunicate]

Hi All,

Just aquired the above nano skimmer from a fellow reefer, & would like to share with all on this new experience.

I'm planning to upgrade my office tank & would like to make use of this QQ in it.

Background:

I'm currently running a BM NAC5A in my home's 2ft cube. The plan is to shut down the 5A & have QQ take over during this review period.

The bio load in the 2ft cube is as follows.

- A pair of Ocellaris

- 1x blue tang

- 1x tomini tang

- 1x yellow tang

- 1x yellow tail damsel

- 1x flame hawk

- 2x trochus snails

About 18 inches worth of fishes excluding the snails.

ok, here we go...

The packaging comes in a nice box with proper labeling.

Foam packing, warranty card, receipt from DE-Lighting,...

Assembly instruction. (I didn't really read that.)

I see the skimmer cup.

Solid acrylic material

Rest of the skimmer body.

Atman PH500 needle wheel pump with 3-pin plug adapter.(How thoughtful.)

Be extra careful when detaching the pump's inlet nozzle lest you break the ceramic impeller shaft.

Needle wheel impeller

Assembled skimmer. (probably took me only 2 min to complete. Definitely easier than an M16. )

Managed to squeeze into my skimmer compartment. (I've shut down the NAC5A)

I'll give it a few days to break in. Will update you as we go along.

Cheers

[Tian85]

Nice! Will like to know the performance of that skimmer =)

[peacemaker]

Bro, M16 needs to be assembled within 1 min. This is more difficult! Lol...

[straydum]

think less then 1 min! 40s?

[onizukaa]

nice review of the skimmer! thanks bro for sharing, staying tune for the foam/skim opening ceremony!

[tunicate]

It seems that SAF has raised its standards, or did I confused it with SAR80's timing. Hmmmm....

[Tian85]

Produce any skim mate kopi O skim mate already?

[peacemaker]

think less then 1 min! 40s?

Well, its been many years since I last dismantled an M16 rifle, but the last I recall, 1 min was the passing criteria. I think I did it in 30 secs during active days... now kalang kabo should be 1 min.

[peacemaker]

Bro, if you set the water level to reach half the length of the body of the skimmer, it should work pretty fast. I set the dial to #4 for my NAC 3.5.

[tunicate]

Due to my sump orientation, I'm looking thru 4 layers of glass. Lucky I can see the skimmer, let alone the water level within. The closest indication, would probably be the bubbles surfacing at the base of the collection cup.

[peacemaker]

Hmmm... guess the height of your cabinet is a limitation, huh? No worries, just wait for a couple of days.

[BFG]

Nice review with clear photos! This should be the format for any other equipment review. Good job!

[tunicate]

Thanks for the compliment.

Happy to report that it started skimming after about 24hrs.

A flurry of bubbles rising up the collection tube.(I'll try to set the skimmate as dry as possible this round.)

Notice the blue dot on the adjustment pipe? There's no reference point for this dot, so one has to 'guess-timate' the setting is at 3 o'clock, or 4, or 5,...for individual ideal setting. BTW, it's not easy to turn this adjustment pipe as there is a rubber ring at its base creating a good seal with the outlet T-joint. Don't know if this is necessary cause my NAC5A does not come with a rubber ring & it's much easier to make adjustment.

I don't see any micro-bubbles near the outlet sponge.

...so I lift it up for a better look. Still no bubbles from water gushing out of the outlet slits. But the sponge do serve the purpose of eliminating the splashing sound.

The only sound I hear is the air tube, although it's not too loud.

[Terryz_]

Bro, is the pump very hot?

[tunicate]

Surprisingly, not warm to the touch at at all!! I'm really surprised with this one.

[Terryz_]

Surprisingly, not warm to the touch at at all!! I'm really surprised with this one.

Hmmm.. must be good for pico and nano den..

[tunicate]

Day 2

[tunicate]

nice review of the skimmer! thanks bro for sharing, staying tune for the foam/skim opening ceremony!

Thanks, you're welcome.

[tunicate]

Day 4

[Tian85]

Colour is good!!!

[xaine]

very promising, now I have to check if this fits into a 12g JBJ which I have lying around.

[dulcet]

wah, Kopi-Oh!! niceee!!

[tunicate]

Below is a week's worth of skimmate from my tank.

[tunicate]

ok, this would probably be my last report on NAC QQ. I've removed it from my sump. Clean, dried, & repacked it into the box.

An observation:

The NAC QQ collection cup does not come equipped with a drain outlet. Hence, with I'm on extended travel, I'd either have to get someone to help pour the skimmate away for me, or mod the collection cup to fit a drain hose to it. Actually, even a $20 Resun SK-05 nano skimmer has the drain outlet on its collection cup. I don't see why BM sees fit to cut cost on this area. Below is a pic of the NAC QQ collection cup(left) & my NAC5 collection cup(right) that comes with the drain fitting.

Below is the NAC QQ specs for those who are interested:

Hang needlewheel protein skimmer

BM-NACQQ-220V

Capability : 100L(25G)

pump: atman ph500 (made in china)

Pump power: 9W, 220V 50Hz

220V Dimensions: 125*85*365mm(4.9" * 3.3" * 14.3")

220V cylinder: 2.36"

Water Level : 9.8"-10"

[peacemaker]

Nasty stuff. Good review.