MTC skimmer club!

[jason2459]

Jason will be getting the extension body which will make the total height of the skimmer at 48inch which pump do you think is better fluval sp 4 or sp 6?

I wouldn't use either of those on that taller size. I'd look for something that has much better headheight or pressure rated. External you can find some good reliable pressure rated pumps. For internal theres none that I know of that are pressure rated but some that have 20' plus head height rated.

It seems about 20-22scfh of air draw is a sweet spot but that's just my experience with my setup. I saw someone else mention that as well. The waveline I'm using which is the apex ready version is supposed to be rated for around 23' head height. Remember as the pressure builds up the flow goes down. The better the pump handles that pressure the more flow it can provide through to shutoff.

 

[lcf425]

Any other pump other then waveline in your opinion?

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[hkgar]

What do you use to measure scfh?

 

[jason2459]

Any other pump other then waveline in your opinion?

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Does it have to be internal? Iwaki or Panworld make good affordable external pressure rated pumps.

For internal I'm not sure there's many that handle a lot of head height that are reasonably priced. Abyzz has very nice pumps that are supposed to handle a lot of head height but they are not cheap.

Most internal pumps have been made more for water circulation with a lot of flow at low head pressure.

Maybe a mag 24. Its around 18' shutoff. Deep water aquatics BLDC 12000 is around 21'.

 

[jason2459]

What do you use to measure scfh?

Dwyer air meter

In use
https://youtu.be/MPXmIhPxDBQ?list=PLN_wI2B-a8vrfiVH3_OAY7LxUcByoEcsu

 

[lcf425]

Yes it's has to be internal sadly. Abyzz cost a bomb haha. Just want to get more options as there are not many pumps available in Singapore. How to tell if their pressure pump is not overated? I used to own a life reef skimmer with jebao 12000 which I change the pump to water blaster and then fluval sp 4 . The change was better and better

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[jason2459]

Yes it's has to be internal sadly. Abyzz cost a bomb haha. Just want to get more options as there are not many pumps available in Singapore. How to tell if their pressure pump is not overated? I used to own a life reef skimmer with jebao 12000 which I change the pump to water blaster and then fluval sp 4 . The change was better and better

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The life reef also uses a 1" mazzei that may not put as much pressure on the pump. Not sure.

 

[lcf425]

Hopefully I can get waveline dc12000 haha

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[hkgar]

Dwyer air meter

In use
https://youtu.be/MPXmIhPxDBQ?list=PLN_wI2B-a8vrfiVH3_OAY7LxUcByoEcsu

I notice that your skimmer is in the sump. I have my pump in the sump, but the skimmer is external. Do you think it makes any difference in performance?

 

[jason2459]

I notice that your skimmer is in the sump. I have my pump in the sump, but the skimmer is external. Do you think it makes any difference in performance?

I doubt it unless the output is going to high.

 

[goreef170]

Well after a few emails and several calls, I finally got a hold of Jeff. He actually called me back today. I will be getting the MVX, and the total high will be 34 1/2" with the Quick change head. Jeff said it should be done 1st week of the new year. Very nice guy to talk to.
I have a question ? is there a sweet spot in the sump with the water depth. In my sump the water level will be around 12". The water level will be stable. I'm also thinking about going with the mag drive 1800. Does any body else use this pump ?

Thanks
Keith

 

[jason2459]

Sump height doesn't mater so much as long as it's stable.

The mag18 will do ok. I mentioned a few other pumps in the previous few posts that would probably do better.

 

[goreef170]

Sump height doesn't mater so much as long as it's stable.

The mag18 will do ok. I mentioned a few other pumps in the previous few posts that would probably do better.

Thanks Jason... I will check them out....

 

[goreef170]

Anybody try the Fluval Sea SP 4 or SP 6 with their MTC MVX Skimmer ? How do they perform ? Looks like they have better head pressure then the Mag drive 1800.

 

[jason2459]

Anybody try the Fluval Sea SP 4 or SP 6 with their MTC MVX Skimmer ? How do they perform ? Looks like they have better head pressure then the Mag drive 1800.

I wouldn't use the Fluvals but others have. They are a great reliable pump. Just they are terribly rated vs head height. Not optimal for a venturi air intection system.

The Mag 18 is 16.8' shut off

Fluval SP 6 is 13' shut off

For internal:
I would choose the mag 18 over the SP4 or SP6. I would choose the Mag 24 over the mag 18. I would go with the BLDC 12000 over the Mag 24. I would go with the Apex Ready Waveline DC 12000 over the BLDC.

If cost wasn't a factor I'd look at the Abyzz. I'm not sure what the Red Dragons are rated for but they are also a great pump. Both expensive though.

 

[goreef170]

I wouldn't use the Fluvals but others have. They are a great reliable pump. Just they are terribly rated vs head height. Not optimal for a venturi air intection system.

The Mag 18 is 16.8' shut off

Fluval SP 6 is 13' shut off

For internal:
I would choose the mag 18 over the SP4 or SP6. I would choose the Mag 24 over the mag 18. I would go with the BLDC 12000 over the Mag 24. I would go with the Apex Ready Waveline DC 12000 over the BLDC.

If cost wasn't a factor I'd look at the Abyzz. I'm not sure what the Red Dragons are rated for but they are also a great pump. Both expensive though.

Thanks Jason,

But i'm getting a little confused here. I currently run a vertex with the red dragon pump 1500 with a needle wheel inpeller. I thought with the venturi air injection, you don't use a needle mesh wheel pump. Like the mag drive ? Am I missing something here ?
Thanks !

 

[jason2459]

Thanks Jason,

But i'm getting a little confused here. I currently run a vertex with the red dragon pump 1500 with a needle wheel inpeller. I thought with the venturi air injection, you don't use a needle mesh wheel pump. Like the mag drive ? Am I missing something here ?
Thanks !

Needle wheels aren't restricting down by the plumbing but pull air in a venture to get chopped up by the propeller. They do get back pressure through the depth of water they run in. Why many needlewheel skimmers have recommended water depths to run in. Those pumps can't handle head height much at all especially with the air being mixed in by the prop.

A venturi injected skimmer like the life reef or MTC push water through a restricted opening to pull air in making very fine bubbles. Which that restricted opening appreciates a pump that can handle that back pressure to push through.

 

[goreef170]

and

Needle wheels aren't restricting down by the plumbing but pull air in a venture to get chopped up by the propeller. They do get back pressure through the depth of water they run in. Why many needlewheel skimmers have recommended water depths to run in. Those pumps can't handle head height much at all especially with the air being mixed in by the prop.

A venturi injected skimmer like the life reef or MTC push water through a restricted opening to pull air in making very fine bubbles. Which that restricted opening appreciates a pump that can handle that back pressure to push through.

Trying to understand. Is this statement correct on a venturi, you do not want to use a pump with a needle wheel with a propeller.? Does a mag drive pump use a needle wheel and propeller ?

 

[jason2459]

and

Trying to understand. Is this statement correct on a venturi, you do not want to use a pump with a needle wheel with a propeller.? Does a mag drive pump use a needle wheel and propeller ?

I believe one person in the Lifereef thread has used a tunze pump with a needle wheel prop on his. It's not recommended. But that's the beauty of these skimmers you are not stuck with any single configuration and can experiment to your hearts desires.

The mag drives do have needle wheel props you can get but usually they don't come with them.

 

[jason2459]

Oh and it's either a normal prop made to move water or the prop is designed to shred air like a needle/pin/mesh "wheel". They don't use both at the same time.