help! need LifeReef skimmer instructions!

[saltySamurai]

am very excited to hook up a newly purchased used LifreReef skimmer (vs2-24), but it did not come with instructions. does anyone have a copy, or alternatively, some simple directions about how to set up? Like, does the skimmer return output need to be above, at, or below water level, and to what level should I try to set the bubbles in the chamber? I'm familiar with an aqua-c ev where the output is very sensitive to height and backpressure and there's a very specific level that you should try to set your water / bubble layer to - is this true with the LifeReef as well?....

 

[swanny]

I have that same skimmer, good choice imo. If it is in sump it needs to be in 7" of water. As far as the setting it will take a few weeks to get dialed in correctly. Set your bubbles low and slowly work your way up if you are not getting skimmate. Here is a pic of mine.

 

[ToddG.]

Yes the skimmer return has to be above water set your level bout inch or so from the top of the base and let it run awhile

 

[swanny]

I just noticed in my pic above the skimmer was not in 7" of water yet.

 

[ToddG.]

Swanny what pump are you using to run yours i have a external but am changing things around

 

[ToddG.]

Salty i woulda sold you mine cheap thier okay but im not overly impresed with it production of skinmate may try a mazzei injector

 

[saltySamurai]

thanks guys! great picture! Todd - when you same skimmer return, do you mean water exiting the skimmer or water entering? In swanny's picture, it sure looks like the water exiting the skimmer (with gate valve) is below water level....

 

[saltySamurai]

one man's garbage, another man's treasure! I'm switching out from an aqua-c to see if I can get a more consistent output - the output seems to need futzing a lot in order to keep the level correct...

 

[ToddG.]

Yeah his output is definatley below the sufrace im not sure how its opperating correctly like that i have the whole setup sump and all and mine external outut is made above water

 

[ToddG.]

Heres mine kinda hard to see

 

[saltySamurai]

whoa! now that's a PUMP!!! (the yellow one) very manly - like your picture!

 

[tufacody]

I have one of these that has been replaced with a cone skimmer, and is now used solely for ozone injection. Have you checked the LifeReef website? Jeff has always been excellent with customer service, I'm sure he'd email you one.

Jeff makes good stuff, but this skimmer is a very weak performer compared to most pinwheels. I used a very power hungry mag 9 on mine. The newer skimmers perform better and are far more energy efficient.

Swanny you might see better performance if you put the outlet just above the water level and removed that elbow.

 

[saltySamurai]

how many gph?

 

[ToddG.]

well said tufacody quality made stuff just not real efficient but does work well with ozone and that manley yellow pump is my return pump lol its actually to much pump for the sump i get micro bubble problems redesingning the whole system soon