MRC Club
- Thread starter JohnL
- Start date
I have an MRC 6R with a Reeflo Barracuta pump. I am beginning to think it is the wrong pump for my unit because it is labeled as a Flow Rated pump, not a pressure pump. I have ONLY been able to skim very wet (using air valves open about 1 turn each) and after a day or so when the neck starts getting dirty, I have to adjust the gate valve to keep the foam at the top of the skimmer. I have a large waste collector, have the skimmer output above the water level in the sump, and extensions for the becketts to keep them above the water line. Water level without bubbles is almost to the top of the first riser. I always try to set the water at the highest level before it starts overflowing. Any less and the neck just gets dirty, not the collection cup.
What I would REALLY like to hear is for those of you that have a MRC 6R skimmer, what pump are you using and do you think it is the best choice? I am considering buying a Marlin, but not sure if it is worth $329 just to SEE if it works better.
-Randy
What I would REALLY like to hear is for those of you that have a MRC 6R skimmer, what pump are you using and do you think it is the best choice? I am considering buying a Marlin, but not sure if it is worth $329 just to SEE if it works better.
-Randy
Mikeeal
Same avatar since '05
MRC gurus! I need some advice.
Got an MR2, I just killed the PCX-55HP (1,140GPH) that was pushing it, so I replaced it with the PCX-70HP (1,537GPH) What single upgrade would be the most beneficial now with the added flow, adding a second injector, or adding a riser of 8" or 12"? Eventually I'll do both, but for now, which would you add?
Thanks.
Got an MR2, I just killed the PCX-55HP (1,140GPH) that was pushing it, so I replaced it with the PCX-70HP (1,537GPH) What single upgrade would be the most beneficial now with the added flow, adding a second injector, or adding a riser of 8" or 12"? Eventually I'll do both, but for now, which would you add?
Thanks.
steve68
New member
needle wheel skimmers are design to work better with air as far as contac time on NW the ones that i have seen that work great have 12 to 14 inch body's & 36 inch tall more contact time= better skiming.
the more contat the more skimate u pull out, the air allows u to make either a wet skimate (big bubbles) or dry skimate (small bubbles)
the more contat the more skimate u pull out, the air allows u to make either a wet skimate (big bubbles) or dry skimate (small bubbles)
Mikeeal
Same avatar since '05
Thanks for the reply.
Ok check it out, here it is up and running for about an hour, no joke, since I got the new PCX-70HP hooked up. It's definitely pulling nastiness, but look how big the bubbles are:
The gate valve is almost all the way open, and the air valve is atleast half way open. After reading a lot of this thread last night, I'm gonna try to close the air valve much more and raise the water level cause I'm sure when I go check out the skimmer today the foam will be WAY down like it usually is after running for a day.
Ok check it out, here it is up and running for about an hour, no joke, since I got the new PCX-70HP hooked up. It's definitely pulling nastiness, but look how big the bubbles are:
The gate valve is almost all the way open, and the air valve is atleast half way open. After reading a lot of this thread last night, I'm gonna try to close the air valve much more and raise the water level cause I'm sure when I go check out the skimmer today the foam will be WAY down like it usually is after running for a day.
steve68
New member
IME with this skimmer i have found that keeping the water level this high & maintaing low air gives me a real nice dry skimate but sometimes i give it just a little more air to get a wetter skimate but one thing i do not do is move my water level it has been set at this heigh since i added the 12 inch riser.
BrokeColoReefer
Hermit
WOW thats high, i keep my water about 8 inches in my first neck with my 18" extension tube. Before the extension tube i kept it about 2". The air adjustment gets me what ever type of skimmate i want. I guess the differance might be that mine is a recirc.
BrokeColoReefer
Hermit
what do the bubbles look like when the water level is that high? the bubbles in my extension tube are very slow small bubbles that looked "packed" in. the neck below the cup get up to marble sized. When i raise the water in my skimmer, the extension tube looks wet and milky vs dry and packed. Not sure what is better, but my skimmer works very well the way it is set up.
Mikeeal
Same avatar since '05
Good pics guys, I can't wait to get the 12" extension.
Broke I know what you mean by "packed" in, mine does the same, along with my previous beckett. Here's my take on it, and this is for any skimmer, wet vs. dry, IMO you're still pulling the same crap out, whether it be thinned out with your tank water, or it's so dry it's like a mud, you're STILL pulling the SAME stuff out. Sure if I wanted to take a pic of my skimmate for a forum let's say, I could drop the water level and make it muddy and everyone would go "EHHUUU!!!!" I'm leaning towards a slightly wetter product being more consistent. Just me.
Broke I know what you mean by "packed" in, mine does the same, along with my previous beckett. Here's my take on it, and this is for any skimmer, wet vs. dry, IMO you're still pulling the same crap out, whether it be thinned out with your tank water, or it's so dry it's like a mud, you're STILL pulling the SAME stuff out. Sure if I wanted to take a pic of my skimmate for a forum let's say, I could drop the water level and make it muddy and everyone would go "EHHUUU!!!!" I'm leaning towards a slightly wetter product being more consistent. Just me.
BrokeColoReefer
Hermit
I run mine slightly wet as well, my skimmate typically is brown to dark brown with the consistency of chicken soup.
What i mean about packed bubbles is that the small bubbles (1/32") or smaller move around each other, horizontal, down, and up moving all around each other and there moving slow.. When i have the water lvl to high, the bubbles swish around like there in a water vortex or something. The way i have it set up, im pulling about 1.5 gallons per day of regular skimmate, not sludge, the sludge gets the next to dirty and i have to clean to often for my liking. As it is, i clean my skimmer above the quick release every three days.
What i mean about packed bubbles is that the small bubbles (1/32") or smaller move around each other, horizontal, down, and up moving all around each other and there moving slow.. When i have the water lvl to high, the bubbles swish around like there in a water vortex or something. The way i have it set up, im pulling about 1.5 gallons per day of regular skimmate, not sludge, the sludge gets the next to dirty and i have to clean to often for my liking. As it is, i clean my skimmer above the quick release every three days.
MyReefCreations
New member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13033244#post13033244 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Mikeeal
Thanks for the reply.
Ok check it out, here it is up and running for about an hour, no joke, since I got the new PCX-70HP hooked up. It's definitely pulling nastiness, but look how big the bubbles are:
The gate valve is almost all the way open, and the air valve is at least half way open. After reading a lot of this thread last night, I'm gonna try to close the air valve much more and raise the water level cause I'm sure when I go check out the skimmer today the foam will be WAY down like it usually is after running for a day.
The large bubbles are fine as long as they are top of the skimmer. The water level in the tube will depend on the bio-load in each tank. You will find a week or two as the skimmer is working its magic you will start bringing the water level up in the tube. And will start becoming easer to fine tune it and you will get the dark nasty skim-mate that we all love so much…
Tim
