MTC skimmer club!

I think my skimmer is finally starting to kick in after about 2 1/2 weeks. The waste container has about 10 days of waste. Its 5" across and 4" deep. (There is no tube in the middle like a collection cup) Couple of pics...
 

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Sorry if this is not the right thread to ask - I thought I read that the drain valve to drain the collection cup cannot be closed on the MTC skimmers, is that correct? I thought I read lifereef's could.
 
Sorry if this is not the right thread to ask - I thought I read that the drain valve to drain the collection cup cannot be closed on the MTC skimmers, is that correct? I thought I read lifereef's could.
That seems to be correct. The collection cup is sealed which is good for external use as an overflowing skimmer will not spill out the collection cup. Then hopefully there is a failsafe in the collection jug/bucket to stop the skimmer. Like a float switch or air pressure switch or both like I have.
 
hummm,,,Interesting, thanks. I mean I understand why, but wondering how that helps or doesn't help in my situation. I am on the fence between these 2 skimmers.
I like the ability to empty the collection cup from a valve and not having it just freely run into a collection bucket at will.

At least the other way I can close it or open it and it will not impact skimming.

Now, do the other features of the MTC make up for that discussed above? I am not sure...still reading and debating.

That seems to be correct. The collection cup is sealed which is good for external use as an overflowing skimmer will not spill out the collection cup. Then hopefully there is a failsafe in the collection jug/bucket to stop the skimmer. Like a float switch or air pressure switch or both like I have.
 
You could put a valve on the drain easily enough, but then you'd have to vent the lid to allow air to escape. Using something like the avast skimmate locker is a much more elegant solution.
 
hummm,,,Interesting, thanks. I mean I understand why, but wondering how that helps or doesn't help in my situation. I am on the fence between these 2 skimmers.
I like the ability to empty the collection cup from a valve and not having it just freely run into a collection bucket at will.

At least the other way I can close it or open it and it will not impact skimming.

Now, do the other features of the MTC make up for that discussed above? I am not sure...still reading and debating.

Just for fyi. Jeff at MTC sells waste collectors that use carbon and also a auto shut off to prevent overflows. Their on his web site.
 
hummm,,,Interesting, thanks. I mean I understand why, but wondering how that helps or doesn't help in my situation. I am on the fence between these 2 skimmers.
I like the ability to empty the collection cup from a valve and not having it just freely run into a collection bucket at will.

At least the other way I can close it or open it and it will not impact skimming.

Now, do the other features of the MTC make up for that discussed above? I am not sure...still reading and debating.
I can understand the concern. The lifereef is also a great skimmer. I went with the MTC based on a few design features I liked better.

I use the avast swabbie neck cleaner which fits much better in the MTC vs the life reef and the avast Davy Jones locker skimmate collection bucket. Works great and good combination to really get the most from the skimmer IMO.

The avast collector comes with a pressure switched outlet or can get the pressure switch to controller interface like for an Apex which I have. I also added a side mounted float switch that reports as an input to my Apex but could be any kind of controller. The float switch tells me its almost full so I will dump it. My skimmer pump is also apex controllable so when that dump me switch is activated my apex besides alerting me to dump it also reduces my skimmer's pumps speed so if for some reason it is foaming out of control that should slow it down or stop it but keep my water aerated helping my pH.

If for some reason I don't get to dumping the bucket and my skimmer is going crazy then the pressure switch will tell the Apex to alert me again its full and will also shutdown the skimmer's pump completely.
 
Yeah, definitely under performing so far.

This collection cup should be coated by now.

This is what it normally has looked like a few hours after cleaning the collection cup out. Not over 24hours.
1607d564a86b21e59d7d7af895a80be1.jpg


pH is slightly higher tonight but still lower then normal. Which to me its not mixing the air in nearly as well for one reason or another. I'm thinking the lower flow is not spinning it around nearly as much and the air is rising much quicker which which is what I see up top with the bubbles popping quicker or seemingly more wet. Just not getting the dwell time it had before even though there's more air it just isn't as efficient use of them.

Can see right when I installed it and the past two days of lower pH.
36596f234f283894436cf000eb596654.jpg



I just can't help myself... I love this skimmer and the ability to toy with it like this
072b7cda8506545aaac2e698c73e40a0.jpg



There's a lot less flow then I thought there would be with the 484x injectors. Air increased over all but I was initially worried about to much flow like with the 784.

Now I want to try dual 584s and dual 684s. See, if I can get that flow rate up. But getting to much air in there may end up being a problem and where a taller body would need to come in. Like the dual venturi 48"-72" skimmers MTC makes.
 
Is an Apex module required to run the Apex ready Waveline 12000?

No it is not. When I was going through each level and getting data I was using just the controller and no Apex connected.

If you ever do want to connect it to an Apex you have to set the waveline controller all the way down or the waveline controller takes over.
 
Yeah, definitely under performing so far.

This collection cup should be coated by now.

This is what it normally has looked like a few hours after cleaning the collection cup out. Not over 24hours.
1607d564a86b21e59d7d7af895a80be1.jpg


pH is slightly higher tonight but still lower then normal. Which to me its not mixing the air in nearly as well for one reason or another. I'm thinking the lower flow is not spinning it around nearly as much and the air is rising much quicker which which is what I see up top with the bubbles popping quicker or seemingly more wet. Just not getting the dwell time it had before even though there's more air it just isn't as efficient use of them.

Can see right when I installed it and the past two days of lower pH.
36596f234f283894436cf000eb596654.jpg



I just can't help myself... I love this skimmer and the ability to toy with it like this
072b7cda8506545aaac2e698c73e40a0.jpg



There's a lot less flow then I thought there would be with the 484x injectors. Air increased over all but I was initially worried about to much flow like with the 784.

Now I want to try dual 584s and dual 684s. See, if I can get that flow rate up. But getting to much air in there may end up being a problem and where a taller body would need to come in. Like the dual venturi 48"-72" skimmers MTC makes.

I'd be happy if mine looked like that after 24 hrs after cleaning !
 
lol

This is what I've been getting after 8 hours

0a03fd056d94d5d7eab17a2c842fc229.jpg


24 hours
c7854a314f953044e4d52ce4a0aa2670.jpg


And 3 days
537ac2982c199d6f46b5fe6ddd1e555e.jpg


That's been very consistent this whole time since getting the skimmer going even through all the different speeds and pumps.

And this is what I got with the dual 484x injectors

After 3 and a half days
dfa66a5610d898079eba7e2e1d681c22.jpg



And only produced about 3 cups per day. The foam and everything seems wet. Definitely a flop compared to just running the 684 or even the 784. The mag18 and 684 did slightly better on my system then the dual 484x setup.

Looks like I will have the 2 584s and another 684 in tomorrow.
 
lol

This is what I've been getting after 8 hours

0a03fd056d94d5d7eab17a2c842fc229.jpg


24 hours
c7854a314f953044e4d52ce4a0aa2670.jpg


And 3 days
537ac2982c199d6f46b5fe6ddd1e555e.jpg


That's been very consistent this whole time since getting the skimmer going even through all the different speeds and pumps.

And this is what I got with the dual 484x injectors

After 3 and a half days
dfa66a5610d898079eba7e2e1d681c22.jpg



And only produced about 3 cups per day. The foam and everything seems wet. Definitely a flop compared to just running the 684 or even the 784. The mag18 and 684 did slightly better on my system then the dual 484x setup.

Looks like I will have the 2 584s and another 684 in tomorrow.

Thanks for sharing the pics... gives me something to shoot for .......
 
lol

This is what I've been getting after 8 hours

0a03fd056d94d5d7eab17a2c842fc229.jpg


24 hours
c7854a314f953044e4d52ce4a0aa2670.jpg


And 3 days
537ac2982c199d6f46b5fe6ddd1e555e.jpg


That's been very consistent this whole time since getting the skimmer going even through all the different speeds and pumps.

And this is what I got with the dual 484x injectors

After 3 and a half days
dfa66a5610d898079eba7e2e1d681c22.jpg



And only produced about 3 cups per day. The foam and everything seems wet. Definitely a flop compared to just running the 684 or even the 784. The mag18 and 684 did slightly better on my system then the dual 484x setup.

Looks like I will have the 2 584s and another 684 in tomorrow.

Jason, just curious...do you run filter socks in your sump ?
 
Thanks for sharing the pics... gives me something to shoot for .......
Just keep in mind variances will happen with different tanks. Like I don't do any other kind of mechanical filtration, run an ATS, carbon dose with vinegar, ~1% daily automatic water changes, and feed through out the day multiple times.
 
Just took care of my waste collector, so there will be no over flows onto the floor. But really didn't expect it to happen. I'm using the Vertex Vessel ( dosing container ) it holds 1.3 gallons. Just built a stand in put it into the sump close to the the skimmer. One less worry...
 

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