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    The BK Mini Line, Possible upgrade from Gen 1 to Gen 2?

    Around August when the Supermarin 300 was released by Royal Exclusiv, so was a new generation of Bubble King Mini skimmers. At this time all three models, the 160, 180, and 200, received an overhaul with drastically increased air intake. The 180 and 200 received a complete new venturi, nw, and enlarged volute. Previously the [...]

    mk_180_gen2Around August when the Supermarin 300 was released by Royal Exclusiv, so was a new generation of Bubble King Mini skimmers. At this time all three models, the 160, 180, and 200, received an overhaul with drastically increased air intake. The 180 and 200 received a complete new venturi, nw, and enlarged volute. Previously the volutes on the 180 and 200 were “stock” and allowed air draws of 600lph and 800lph for each respective model. With the pump overhaul, those numbers jumped to 1,000lph for the 180 and 1,700lph for 200. Here’s an up close shot showing the venturi, and volute on a BK Mini 200 from MACNA.

    bk-mini-200-gen2

    With the Gen 2 revision, there has been some confusion regarding the 160 model. As stated earlier, the Gen 2 BK Mini 160 has actually been out since August and it will not becoming with an enlarged volute. This is because with an enlarged volute, you would have the air intake of the 180– with a body and neck not capable of handling it. What’s interesting with this line is that all three motor blocks are the same. The differences in the performance and air intake are adjusted by the venturi, needle wheel and volute. A new NW and venturi is all that is included with the Gen 2 160 revision. This was enough to increase air intake from 400lph to 600lph.

    Visibly the only difference on the Gen2 160 is the venturi sticking out from the skimmer. All Gen 2 BK Mini models include the revised venturi featuring an optional ozone port.  Photos of the Gen2 160 can be found here compliments of Mojo: Pic 1, Pic 2.

    If you purchased a Gen 1 BK Mini only to see the new Gen 2 improvements, you may be in luck. Currently the focus of Royal Exclusiv is on the new RE-Vertex Alpha Cone Skimmer line and the controllable RD2 DC Pumps, but an upgrade package to change Gen 1 BK Minis to Gen 2s may become available in the future.

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    • charles

      The Gen 2 versions should have been what was released the first time around. :(

    • Andrew

      I’m glad you posted this. When I was researching before buying my new BK Mini 160 another site had posted that the new 160 had the larger volute and smaller holes in the bubble plate. I spent a lot of time trying to find a supplier of a 160 “Gen 2″ with these reported differences only to be told by Proline Aquatics (the North American RE distributor) that the Gen 2 160 Mini does not have the larger white volute despite what had been posted elsewhere. I now have the Gen 2 160 Mini and can confirm that it does not have a larger white volute like the 180 and 200 but it should come with the O3 nipple on the intake and the airline should go directly into the unified outlet/silencer.

    • Matt

      Charles, I couldn’t agree with you more. As an owner of a BK mini 200 Gen 1, I’d say that it’s just not worth the $$$. The body and neck is able to support much greater air input, but the RD included with it, doesn’t deliver….

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