Hello,
I just purchased the lifereef skimmer model VS3-60 and I am quite impressed with its performance and its ease of maintenance. This model is 60" tall but I added the 12" extension so the total height is 72" tall. I am using the Blueline HD 100 pump with this skimmer. It is currently connected to my 720 gallon system (600g display + 120 sump). What you see in the collection cup is about 3 days worth of skimming. What I like most about this skimmer is that there is virtually no maintenance required. Other than empty the collection cup twice a week, there is no other maintenance needed. It has been running for a month now. The water level in the sump has no impact on the skimmer's operation. So during feedings or water changes, I turn off the return pumps while the skimmer is still running, without having to worry about the skimmer overflow. So besides empty out the skimmer cup twice a week there is no other maintenance task needed to run this skimmer.
I used to have various types of needle wheel skimmers. I have to clean the needle wheels every now and then, and replace them every few years. With this lifereef skimmer, there are no needle wheels to clean or replace. The only thing that needs to replace is the skimmer pump, but my previous blueline pump lasted over 10 years. I am so glad I switched over to the lifereef skimmer. No more wasting time and money with the needle wheels skimmer.
Anyone else out there running a lifereef skimmer? If you are looking for a good skimmer with low (zero) maintenance and virtually zero cost to operate it (depending on the quality of your skimmer pump), you should consider looking into a lifereef skimmer.
I just purchased the lifereef skimmer model VS3-60 and I am quite impressed with its performance and its ease of maintenance. This model is 60" tall but I added the 12" extension so the total height is 72" tall. I am using the Blueline HD 100 pump with this skimmer. It is currently connected to my 720 gallon system (600g display + 120 sump). What you see in the collection cup is about 3 days worth of skimming. What I like most about this skimmer is that there is virtually no maintenance required. Other than empty the collection cup twice a week, there is no other maintenance needed. It has been running for a month now. The water level in the sump has no impact on the skimmer's operation. So during feedings or water changes, I turn off the return pumps while the skimmer is still running, without having to worry about the skimmer overflow. So besides empty out the skimmer cup twice a week there is no other maintenance task needed to run this skimmer.
I used to have various types of needle wheel skimmers. I have to clean the needle wheels every now and then, and replace them every few years. With this lifereef skimmer, there are no needle wheels to clean or replace. The only thing that needs to replace is the skimmer pump, but my previous blueline pump lasted over 10 years. I am so glad I switched over to the lifereef skimmer. No more wasting time and money with the needle wheels skimmer.
Anyone else out there running a lifereef skimmer? If you are looking for a good skimmer with low (zero) maintenance and virtually zero cost to operate it (depending on the quality of your skimmer pump), you should consider looking into a lifereef skimmer.
