MTC skimmer club!

[lucas in alaska]

I have a 28" clearance in my stand and am looking at the 26" MVX. If it will handle my 240 with 60 gal sump. It has a light bio load now but will ramp up to high with time.

Any idea on how they are rated for tank size?

I'm with you. I'm setting up a 180 right now and I am just about to order the 30" and a MAG 18 pump. I looked at the Lifereef skimmers and compared it with the MVX for recommended tank size.

I am interested to hear what others have to say.

 

[lucas in alaska]

I would also like input on a pump. If I get a 30" MVX skimmer for my 180 should I get a MAG 12 or 18 pump?

 

[jason2459]

I've got a mag 18 on hand ready to put on a 30" or 36"

 

[jason2459]

Decided earlier to take the advice of what I'd tell someone else and get the bigger skimmer. It's getting tight in there but I will just have to suffer. lol

Is there generally a better day/time to get a hold of them?

 

[aclinville]

Definitely call them instead of email! But great skimmers.

 

[jason2459]

Definitely call them instead of email! But great skimmers.

Thanks, I'm going to try and call them after the holiday's are over. Probably going to tough contacting them until after that.

 

[aclinville]

Hsa 1000

Hsa 1000

Hsa 1000 with new removable Beckett!

 

[lucas in alaska]

Those with MTC. Have you had any problem with salt clogging the air intake on the Venturi?

 

[muttley000]

Decided earlier to take the advice of what I'd tell someone else and get the bigger skimmer. It's getting tight in there but I will just have to suffer. lol

Is there generally a better day/time to get a hold of them?

I have had the best luck getting ahold of Jeff in the mid/late afternoon by phone. Not always awesome at answering emails but has always gotten me what I need eventually!

 

[ca1ore]

Those with MTC. Have you had any problem with salt clogging the air intake on the Venturi?

Every Venturi-based skimmer that I have ever used is suceptible to clogging (needle wheel skimmers also use Venturis BTW). Given the design of the mazzei, it's more prone to clogging than others I've used, so you have to have a way to clean it regularly. MTC suggests turning the pump off each day to flood the injector, but I didn't really like that approach so I designed an auto flush apparatus for mine. Works fine. Another approach would be to rig it to suck in humid air which is what Lifereef does.

 

[jason2459]

Every Venturi-based skimmer that I have ever used is suceptible to clogging (needle wheel skimmers also use Venturis BTW). Given the design of the mazzei, it's more prone to clogging than others I've used, so you have to have a way to clean it regularly. MTC suggests turning the pump off each day to flood the injector, but I didn't really like that approach so I designed an auto flush apparatus for mine. Works fine. Another approach would be to rig it to suck in humid air which is what Lifereef does.

I was wondering about that. I shutdown my return and skimmer 4 times a day in sync with my auto feeder all via Apex. So, since it will basically get flooded every day 4x how much extra maintanence is needed or none at all to clean it out?

 

[ca1ore]

I was wondering about that. I shutdown my return and skimmer 4 times a day in sync with my auto feeder all via Apex. So, since it will basically get flooded every day 4x how much extra maintanence is needed or none at all to clean it out?

You will always want to periodically remove the mazzei to check it for any debris. 4x a day is probably more than enough to clear salt buildup; just keep an eye on performance and if you see a decline inspect the injector to be sure.

 

[jason2459]

You will always want to periodically remove the mazzei to check it for any debris. 4x a day is probably more than enough to clear salt buildup; just keep an eye on performance and if you see a decline inspect the injector to be sure.

Perfect thanks.


If I remember right the mazzei has a spring and ball inside the venturi ? Anyone remove those and see more airdraw or less problems with clogging?

 

[ca1ore]

If I remember right the mazzei has a spring and ball inside the venturi ? Anyone remove those and see more airdraw or less problems with clogging?

No, nothing inside the mazzei. The beckett that MTC uses in the HSA skimmers has an internal ball-like structure (though no spring). All you have to do to clean the mazzei is remove a grey washer from the air injector port and squirt high pressure water into the interior.

 

[bayoupr]

No, nothing inside the mazzei.

Yes the Mazzei injector has a spring and small ball inside the air intake portion. This is to prevent water backing up into the air hose when the skimmer is shut off. Acts like a check valve.

If I remember right the mazzei has a spring and ball inside the venturi ? Anyone remove those and see more airdraw or less problems with clogging?

I removed mine. You get a little more air draw but the maintenance is still the same.

 

[ca1ore]

Yes the Mazzei injector has a spring and small ball inside the air intake portion. This is to prevent water backing up into the air hose when the skimmer is shut off. Acts like a check valve.





I removed mine. You get a little more air draw but the maintenance is still the same.

Well, perhaps MTC removed them from mine because there never were any. Makes sense actually if you look at the way they hold the black air lines well above the water level.

 

[bayoupr]

Well, perhaps MTC removed them from mine because there never were any. Makes sense actually if you look at the way they hold the black air lines well above the water level.

Yes, Jeff at MTC removes them from his mazzei's. If you buy these on line from Lifereef or another dealer like Big Brand then the injector comes with this installed.

 

[trickedout900]

MTC makes a great product. As many of you know, it takes awhile and some patience to get a hold of them but once you do the product is what I believe to be one of the best on the market. The easy clean injector is cool too, but I have learned that snails seem to plug it pretty frequently. At least it's easy to get too.

 

[muttley000]

MTC makes a great product. As many of you know, it takes awhile and some patience to get a hold of them but once you do the product is what I believe to be one of the best on the market. The easy clean injector is cool too, but I have learned that snails seem to plug it pretty frequently. At least it's easy to get too.

Hey stranger

Where do you all buy spare injectors? I would like to have one on hand.

 

[bayoupr]

I get my spare Mazzei's from BigBrandWater. There are different types, one for air/fertilizer mixing and one for air and ozone. I use the air and ozone one, besides you can't get the 684 in the other type.