MRC Club

[studcoop]

gate valve right at the skimmer base outlet and the end of the drain hose is above the water line in the sump. does not get submerged in the sump water.

 

[RGibson]

put a 1/2 vent valve on the leaving side of the gate valve and put a 1/2 pipe from the vent valve 10 in vertical.

 

[newsalt]

I have a vent pipe on my piping and I still get fluctuating water level in the skimmer.

 

[WILLIAM2]

I've got an MR2 skimmer with two injectors and riser extension running on a Reeflo Marlin Pump. I can't seen to get the main column to be full of bubbles. It has bubbles in it and you can not see through it, but I've seen others with the same skimmer have the main column look so white that it lools like it's full of milk. What could be wrong?

Maybe you pieces inside the beketts are backwards. Just a thought.

Ok so I have a MRC2 with duel becketts and what look slike the new valves with the silencers but missing just the end cap piece so my question is what is under there and how does it all look I can buy the caps and fabricate them myself don't really feel like paying $25 each for what I am pretty sure is just a cap with some foam. Also I am thinking of adding a Ozone port that just connects between the valve and the beckett correct?

I would make the endcaps from HD. Buy the endcaps and drill a hole in the top of them. Add a cotton ball into the caps and screw them on. The ozone does go in between the valve and the beckett.

 

[WILLIAM2]

I have to say my MRC-2 has treated me right for the last couple of years but its time for old Betsy toretire. I have had MRC make me a new skimmer with a 12" body, bubbleplate and an Askoll 1500 pinwheel. Kinda looks like the new super reef octo with the bubble blaster. I just have to pick it up.... It really looks smaller than what it is. lol.

 

[erics3000]

I am sure it proballly uses less energy too.

 

[studcoop]

i am going to go get a vent valve for the end of my gate vavle. hopefully this will work for overflow problem on the skimmer.

 

[funnyguyMI]

WILLIAM2: Out of curiosity... Why the move to a needlewheel skimmer?

I'm running one of the Reef Octopus PRO 250 needlewheel skimmers with the askoll 1500 pump. It does ok, but I'm kicking around the idea of trying out a used MR2...

I've got a 180 DT and a sump and frag tank. Estimate my volume at around 300 gallons...

 

[studcoop]

anyone have a picture of the Vent Valve that is right after the Gate valve. I need to see how you hooked it up. Thanks

 

[RGibson]

you have a 1 1/2 gate valve,put a tee 1 1/2 1 1/2 by a 1/2in that is right after the gate valve,you will find the tee at home depot.

 

[SDguy]

Notes from the trenches

Notes from the trenches

I thought MRC skimmer folks would be interested in these observations.

I added a 8" riser to my MRC2 skimmer. Originally, at the stock height, with dual becketts powered by a GenX55, I was ending up with skimmate forming at the water line in the sump. Clearly, there was not enough contact time within the skimmer, and too much air was exiting the skimmer with the water.

When I upgraded my tank, I added the riser. I had to add risers to the becketts as well, otherwise the pressure of the water level in the skimmer body prevented them from functioning properly. Here are a few additional observations after using this setup for a few months. I assumed the taller skimmer would ONLY give greater contact time in the skimmer, and result in less air/water mixture leaving the skimmer. However, it also decreased the pressure of the water overall just enough to cause a few issues.

1. I dose vodka, which result in rather "stiff" foam, which doesn't break/collapse easily. This foam, with less pressure behind it, has a harder time draining down the 1/2" drain pipe into the waste collector. Furthermore, this will cause the collection cup to fill with stiff foam, causing the water level in the skimmer to drop, which in turn causes more stiff foam in the top, etc etc... a cycle which interferes significantly with the skimmer performance.

2. The lower pressure doesn't blow "crap" through the becketts as efficiently, so they clog easier, and require more frequent cleaning. I do, however, also blame the tank move for this, since my rock began shedding again after the move, resulting in lot more detritus and other particulates/pieces in the water column.

 

[WILLIAM2]

WILLIAM2: Out of curiosity... Why the move to a needlewheel skimmer?

I'm running one of the Reef Octopus PRO 250 needlewheel skimmers with the askoll 1500 pump. It does ok, but I'm kicking around the idea of trying out a used MR2...

I've got a 180 DT and a sump and frag tank. Estimate my volume at around 300 gallons...

I actually dont have as much time to clean becketts anymore. I like just having to emplty the collection cup. Also here are a few pictures of the skimmer in action just a few hrs after pluging it in.

 

[sailfintang]

Been making my way through all the splits and info here for my beckett skimmer I have had running on my system for a few months. After finally getting a good deal on a pressure rated pump I now have the opportunity to see how this thing will really perform under the correct specs.

Skimmer Specs
I have 1 injector
Single row 6" diffuser plate with 1/2" holes
4" inch bubble plate in on riser inside my 6" tube
U-Tube mod
Modded beckett injector housing with smaller 3/32" holes drilled
Spare 1" fitting for add on injector

Here is the initial design with pictures, which has been modified since this this post.

---------------------------------------------

My question is in regards to recirc vs non recirc?

Would I be better running a recirc or non recirc mr2 model?

Non recirc Option

I have a blueline 55 HD pump and what equates to an MR2 skimmer. Currently my sump is not drilled and I do not want to do the up and over method and lose pump performance.

I can drill my sump if necessary but then would still need an elbow from the sump to the pump so the pump can sit behind the stand.

OR

Recirc Option

I can add 2 bulkhead fittings to my mixing box on the skimmer. Plumb the blueline 55 as my recic, ditch my current pump and feed with a low watt efficient 500-900GPH pump from within the sump?

I also have the ability to add a 6"-8" riser to my current design to increase contact chamber time. I just have to get some routed flanges cut and mounted.

Let me know what you all think?

 

[sailfintang]

Bump on my post. No one on this thread anymore.

 

[HippieSmell]

Wherefore art thou, beckett users? I leave for a year and suddenly pressure rated pumps aren't cool any more. All the energy efficient pinwheel users make me sick

 

[RGibson]

Sailfintang non recirc option is the best way to run a beckett.

 

[sailfintang]

Sailfintang non recirc option is the best way to run a beckett.

A little too late I have went with the recirc mod currently and am happy with the results. Should I switch I can always plug the holes.

 

[nuccadoc]

I just purchased an MR-2 (used) from my lfs. Had to replace the beckett because it was missing the inner torpedo-looking piece. Also replaced the air injector with the new design. Now my problem is that it just doesn't look like it is performing the way it should. The bubbles in the column are not fine but more of a boiling-looking action. Therefore it is not producing anything. I have not called MRC yet. Suggestions?

 

[davidtsx]

Are you running a pressure rated pump? If not what type of pump are you running?

 

[nuccadoc]

The unit is set up externally. Sorry, it is an MR-1 and the pump is 1200gph flow rate, I do not know what the pressure-rating is for this pump. I also have to dial down the water-flow with an in-line gate valve at least 25% or else it will overflow.