What does a Bubble plate do?

Okay, here is the scoop, I have a MRC MR-2 skimmer, and I would like to replace it with a skimmer that draws fewer then the 180W that this one does. Don't get me wrong, the skimmer does a great job, it is just a bit expensive to run. I am trying to find a replacement skimmer, I am looking at skimmers in the $350-$500 range, and I found the new "Ocean Force" skimmers from MRC. This skimmer looks well built, and I like the pump being located below the skimmer body, it makes for a smaller "cleaner" looking foot print. Anyway, these skimmers have a bubble plate, but it is located directly on top of the pump output, so the water/air mix is pushed directly into the bottom of the plate. Other skimmers, like ATB, ATI, Bubble King, etc.. they all have bubble plates as well, but the water/air mixture is injected on a plane parallel to the plate, not perpendicular to it.

So, back to my question, what does a bubble plate do, and does it matter where the water contacts it?

Thanks!

 

Its to diffuse the flow so that you have less turbulence in the chamber to help proteins stick better. As far if it maters how it enter, I don't know

 

Guess it's not what I thought to eat bubbles off of....... Wonder if an e-mail to guys at MRC would help explain why they build their skimmers that way. Those new skimmers from MRC do look nice and I'm headed down the same road you are with my MR-2 Skimmer.

 

I think I am trying to make to much out of it then, it really is just as simple as diffusing the bubbles over a larger area.

Chris, the "downside" to the Ocean Force skimmers is that they are internal only, like most of the newer skimmers are. I like mine external, guess I just need to accept that change.

Do you have water in your 150 yet?

 

Just simply get a decent single pump and run the entire system off of that .. I use a pump to run my return to tank and all the reactors and the skimmer ..That way its less power heat and problems and keep a rebuild kit handy .. So that if the pump goes down on a Sunday afternoon then its repairable all should keep a pump kit handy. What size is the tank ? look at a Dolphin Amp master they pump from 2700 to 5700 GPH and use one amp. very very quiet can't hear a thing from them.. A strong enough air pump pulls power also..

 

I had a single pump at one point, but it is hard to do a recirculation skimmer with a single pump!

 

Currently running a Iwaki 70 for skimmer and return from basement. Looking at the AMP master I do not see a huge improvement over energy savings. If I were to switch to a Mak 4 return with 110 watts and a Octopus Extreme 300 with 80 watts I would be saving about 140 watts in energy. This would be running a 150 display with a 100 gallon sump in the basement.