MTC marine technical concepts still open

This thread has turned a bit messy, but just to confirm, I talked to Jeff last week and he has had some health issues going on in the last few months. Not sounding in a great place. Leo is still around in some capacity as well, but I wouldn't expect them to be firing out product anytime soon.

Great guys and a great company. Their product is reliable and well priced for what it is (domestic and bullet-proof). I've never counted on them for rush jobs, but as long as your expectations match their relaxed business style (no call waiting, no answering machine) they are wonderful to deal with. Sure it might take them a month to produce a new unit, but they don't knock the door down holding an invoice either.
 
d2mini said:
I wouldn't call that junk either. I don't think that's what ca1ore was referring to.
Click to expand...

Indeed not. I guess people get a bit sensitive about their skimmers. I conceded to engaging in a bit of hyperbole in an effort to make the subtle point that quality is worth investing in. And I DO think that many of the skimmers available for purchase are extruded junk :lol:; including I might add, the multiple DiY skimmers I attempted when Tunze was about the only commercial game in town. Time to move on from this thread me thinks.
 
ca1ore said:
Indeed not. I guess people get a bit sensitive about their skimmers. I conceded to engaging in a bit of hyperbole in an effort to make the subtle point that quality is worth investing in. And I DO think that many of the skimmers available for purchase are extruded junk :lol:; including I might add, the multiple DiY skimmers I attempted when Tunze was about the only commercial game in town. Time to move on from this thread me thinks.
Click to expand...

insulting my skimmer is like insulting my mom, my dog, my country!!!!!
... But don't ever take sides with anyone against the Family again!!!!
 
Because I maintain and have maintained multiple tanks at a time I have had the pleasure of trying numerous skimmers including my latest DC pump skimmer. Although it is true there have been changes in style and power I disagree vehemently that this represents significant improvement. Just like LEDs the single biggest cost in skimmers is not power but initial purchase. How many people use their skimmer or light longer than 10 years? Answer: very, very few. Saving a few pennies a year on a DC pump is nothing compared to the initial purchase price.

Second, and to me of far greater importance, is reliability and overflow protection. Modern skimmers, especially in sump varieties, will ALWAYS some day or other overflow, or worse if you have a lift-off top and use the skimmer externally the skimmer can overflow and dump water all over the floor.

Third, the pumps don't last as long in a reef with lots of healthy growth. On average the needle wheel skimmers I have tried over the years lasted 3 months or so before I had to disassemble and clean the needle wheel and the pumps have yet to last longer than about 2 years before calcium carbonate buildup ruined the pump and required replacement or at the very least a new part or two.

Fourth the external airtight collection cup can be large enough to allow cleaning once a month. Let's see you try that with an in sump needle wheel DC pump skimmer.

Fifth, my skimmer doesn't care what the water level is. The skimmer intake is in the bottom of the sump. Water level is irrelevant, and setup is trivial. Install the intake line, turn on the pump, adjust the air intake to the height you like, and you're done . . . forever . . .

Lastly contact time, volume, and through-put. The very tiny amount of research that has been done on skimmers has shown that contact time and volume were the biggest determinate of efficiency. I guarantee that no modern skimmer has longer contact time or greater volume than my MTC HSA.

My MTC HSA 1000 is 15 years old. My Iwaki 55 is also 15 years old. On the occasion where my skimmer goes nuts for some reason my air tight screwed in collection cup with waste collector has saved the day by "sealing" off the waste cup from further collection. No mess on the floor, no waste dumping back into the sump.

Long story short. . .

Marketing hype reigns supreme once again.

Do "modern" skimmers work more efficiently from an electric standpoint? Yes. Do they represent any improvement in actual waste removal? Emphatically NO!

Skimmer's like lights are a personal choice and that's what makes the world a wonderful place in which to live because there is a choice for everybody, but if you think old tech like the MTC HSA is somehow a lesser choice just because its "old" you are sadly mistaken.


Equipment10.jpg
 
Last edited:
JPMagyar said:
Because I maintain and have maintained multiple tanks at a time I have had the pleasure of trying numerous skimmers including my latest DC pump skimmer. Although it is true there have been changes in style and power I disagree vehemently that this represents significant improvement. Just like LEDs the single biggest cost in skimmers is not power but initial purchase. How many people use their skimmer or light longer than 10 years? Answer: very, very few. Saving a few pennies a year on a DC pump is nothing compared to the initial purchase price.

Second, and to me of far greater importance, is reliability and overflow protection. Modern skimmers, especially in sump varieties, will ALWAYS some day or other overflow, or worse if you have a lift-off top and use the skimmer externally the skimmer can overflow and dump water all over the floor.

Third, the pumps don't last as long in a reef with lots of healthy growth. On average the needle wheel skimmers I have tried over the years lasted 3 months or so before I had to disassemble and clean the needle wheel and the pumps have yet to last longer than about 2 years before calcium carbonate buildup ruined the pump and required replacement or at the very least a new part or two.

Fourth the external airtight collection cup can be large enough to allow cleaning once a month. Let's see you try that with an in sump needle wheel DC pump skimmer.

Fifth, my skimmer doesn't care what the water level is. The skimmer intake is in the bottom of the sump. Water level is irrelevant, and setup is trivial. Install the intake line, turn on the pump, adjust the air intake to the height you like, and you're done . . . forever . . .

Lastly contact time, volume, and through-put. The very tiny amount of research that has been done on skimmers has shown that contact time and volume were the biggest determinate of efficiency. I guarantee that no modern skimmer has longer contact time or greater volume than my MTC HSA.

My MTC HSA 1000 is 15 years old. My Iwaki 55 is also 15 years old. On the occasion where my skimmer goes nuts for some reason my air tight screwed in collection cup with waste collector has saved the day by "sealing" off the waste cup from further collection. No mess on the floor, no waste dumping back into the sump.

Long story short. . .

Marketing hype reigns supreme once again.

Do "modern" skimmers work more efficiently from an electric standpoint? Yes. Do they represent any improvement in actual waste removal? Emphatically NO!

Skimmer's like lights are a personal choice and that's what makes the world a wonderful place in which to live because there is a choice for everybody, but if you think old tech like the MTC HSA is somehow a lesser choice just because its "old" you are sadly mistaken.


[/IMG]
Click to expand...

alot of writing and points, however, almost no substance.....

all pumps need cleaning and fail. all skimmers can overflow for one reason or another: mine uses an overflow stopper. most "modern" skimmers all work about the same, mine and yours; that's a fact!!!! not sure what hype has to do with a skimmer, most work well.......if you're going to post your "blue" tank, don't bother, i've seen it; and prefer tanks that look more natural: with corals that sway and calcify and colors that look more like my frequent dives.
 
I as well have had many skimmers. I agree with a lot of people that NW skimmers are much easier with maintenance, power consumption and small footprint. But there are pro's and con's with each skimmer and when it comes down to it, it's just a matter of what you like. I have had my MTC skimmer for awhile and I can say it's the best skimmer i've owned it does suck to clean as compared to other skimmers but performance has been so much better.
 
It's important to also consider that if one is with the majority, and running a tank of 50 gallons or less, the in sump needle wheel skimmers are likely a better (and consequently more common) choice. All my smaller tanks have used one and they work just fine. When you are in the minority, and go really big, then a whole range of bigger skimmers get added to the list of possible choices.
 
CHSUB said:
alot of writing and points, however, almost no substance.....

all pumps need cleaning and fail. all skimmers can overflow for one reason or another: mine uses an overflow stopper. most "modern" skimmers all work about the same, mine and yours; that's a fact!!!! not sure what hype has to do with a skimmer, most work well.......if you're going to post your "blue" tank, don't bother, i've seen it; and prefer tanks that look more natural: with corals that sway and calcify and colors that look more like my frequent dives.
Click to expand...

Wow, guess you read my post in the MH thread and decided to stoop to my level, heh? You might be interested to note that I put out an apology for that comment.

Anyways, . . .

My post was simply making the point that new skimmers and old skimmers clean reefs equally well, and there is no evidence to the contrary, and both have pros and cons. Nothing you said changes that fact so I'm not sure what your point was other than trying to put down my "blue" reef.

Not sure what you mean by "blue" though, and I'm pretty into things that move, calcify, and look like corals I've seen on dives in the Fiji's and Australia as well . . .


Blue_zpswtj0ewts.jpg



Blue3_zpsofvgpfku.jpg




Blue2_zpsq6utwg6c.jpg



GorgonianA.jpg
 
CHSUB said:
most "modern" skimmers all work about the same, mine and yours; that's a fact!!!!
Click to expand...

This is what we've all been trying to say.
If you've got a properly functioning NW skimmer, it's skimming noticeably better than the "old fashioned" skimmers even with all those "technological advances".

Someone else early one stated that there has been "many advances to skimmer technology", but when I asked what those advances were (besides size and power consumption) he went silent. Because there is none.

Personally, I've had better luck with my venturi skimmer than I've ever had with NW, but I know there are plenty of people getting on just fine with their NW. Whatever. I just know there are plenty of people I've turned on to LR skimmers in perticular and they all love them... even if it pulls a tad more (electrical) juice. If you are happy with your NW than by all means stick with it. If it ain't broke... ;)
 
JPMagyar said:
Wow, guess you read my post in the MH thread and decided to stoop to my level, heh? You might be interested to note that I put out an apology for that comment.

Anyways, . . .

My post was simply making the point that new skimmers and old skimmers clean reefs equally well, and there is no evidence to the contrary, and both have pros and cons. Nothing you said changes that fact so I'm not sure what your point was other than trying to put down my "blue" reef.

Not sure what you mean by "blue" though, and I'm pretty into things that move, calcify, and look like corals I've seen on dives in the Fiji's and Australia as well . . .

.jpg[/IMG]
Click to expand...

just defending my skimmer:p and yes, i did read your other post: a little harsh. however, it didn't motivate this post. i didn't think i was putting down your reef, most would say it's very impressive, including myself. was trying to avoid the here's my skimmer, here's my reef response; while trying to "twist the knife a little";); but it seems i got it anyways!!! all in good fun of course!!! not on board with the alveopora, and don't tell me it's different from gonis!!!
 
Jeff @ MTC

Jeff @ MTC

II received a call from Jeff yesterday and he told me that he recently had heart surgery. That's more than likely the reason you haven't heard from him. He is working limited hours at this time.

The best way to reach Jeff is by phone, and even then you might have a hard time reaching him.
 
Has anyone had any contact with MTC recently? I've been trying to reach them for 3 weeks now by phone to no avail. I read earlier in the thread that one of the Owners was having some health issues. I hope that all is well.
 
Desert Sea said:
Has anyone had any contact with MTC recently? I've been trying to reach them for 3 weeks now by phone to no avail. I read earlier in the thread that one of the Owners was having some health issues. I hope that all is well.
Click to expand...

People have been having better luck with email recently. But still takes a couple emails. FYI.
 
Yes, they're still active. Ordered an HSA-3000 and 1000 from them a couple of weeks ago but haven't heard much since.

Another good contact idea is to fax them. Old school, but it works. I did that and Jeff called back an hour later.
 
scar79 said:
Yes, they're still active. Ordered an HSA-3000 and 1000 from them a couple of weeks ago but haven't heard much since.

Another good contact idea is to fax them. Old school, but it works. I did that and Jeff called back an hour later.
Click to expand...

I sent them an email this morning. I'll give it a day or so and see if I hear back from them.

I noticed your from Sw CT. I am also.
 
I spoke with Jeff from MTC today. He is still around. Said he has been busy with Dr.'s appointments and taking care of a sick relative. Anyone looking to get in touch with him should send him an email with a return phone number and he will call back.
 
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