goreef170
New member
I have it set just about 1 1/2" into jug, thought about that already....I will be buying one of jeff's waste collectors soon. He is in the process of building them now.:thumbsup:
MTC skimmer club!
- Thread starter aclinville
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I have it set just about 1 1/2" into jug, thought about that already....I will be buying one of jeff's waste collectors soon. He is in the process of building them now.:thumbsup:
goreef170
New member
Here are 2 pics of collection cup after 8 days of running. The cup looks nasty, but as far as the skim mate draining down to collection jug, its very light colored ice tea. My old skimmer alpha vertex, everything stays in cup until you clean it out, and the color of skim mate is a lot darker. Not sure if this skimmer is still breaking in ?
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jason2459
Well-known member
Looks like you are getting some nice sticky foam which is good. So, what you may be seeing is you are getting more solids stuck to the collection cup while the liquid is draining to the jug. This will be different then what the Vertex was doing.
goreef170
New member
I think you might be right Jason..... Different type of skimmer...different results...
Just trying to get use to what it wants do do.... I don't remember seeing a lot of solids on the vertex, just dark skimmate. .....Interesting !!!
jason2459
Well-known member
....and remember you have more room to grow by getting a more powerful pump. :thumbsup:
goreef170
New member
On the pump you have a dc 12000 ? Is that what you would recommend ?
I'm sure you already tested it...how many watts does it use at the setting you have it set on ?
questions, questions questions :headwallblue:
jason2459
Well-known member
I would totally recommend the waveline Apex ready dc12000 for anyone running the 36" but if using a shorter skimmer it would still most likely be awesome and can always reduce power through the controller. The Vectra L1 would probably be pretty awesome too. Jecod/Jebao would be a cheaper alternative. It's just the waveline apex ready dc12000 had the highest rated headheight that wasn't over a grand like the Abyzz line that was still an internal pump.
And yep, I've got lots of numbers. The watts used went down in the deeper running water which confirmed my guess that the deeper water would reduce water/air flow.
@7-8" water depth at 100% the watts used was ~150
@14-15" water depth at 100% the watts used was ~146
I couldn't be happier with the waveline with it's higher head pressure rating compared to other (affordable) internal AC or DC pumps out there.
Adding on now to what I started to put together before.
So lets see some form of percentage of the ratio between cups dry produced vs wattage vs. air draw used
Aquamaxx Em 300
vs. wattage used: 3.2% "efficiency"
vs. air draw: 2.6% "performance"
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MTC MVX with Mag18 and MVX stock 684 mazzei venturi
vs. wattage used: 4.8% "efficiency"
vs. air draw: 25% "performance"
MTC MVX with Mag18 and 784 mazzei
vs. wattage used: 4.5% "efficiency"
vs. air draw: 21.4% "performance"
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Waveline DC 12000 @ Level 8 w/ 684 mazzei
vs. wattage used: 3.5% "efficiency"
vs. air draw: 22.2% "performance"
Waveline DC 12000 @ Level 9 w/ 684 mazzei
vs. wattage used: 4.7% "efficiency"
vs. air draw: 27.3% "performance"
Waveline DC 12000 @ Level 10 w/ 684 mazzei
vs. wattage used: 4.2% "efficiency"
vs. air draw: 25% "performance"
Waveline DC 12000 @ Level 11 w/ 684 mazzei
vs. wattage used: 3.7% "efficiency"
vs. air draw: 22% "performance"
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Waveline DC 12000 @ Level 8 w/ 784 mazzei
vs. wattage used: 2.6% "efficiency"
vs. air draw: 13.6% "performance"
Waveline DC 12000 @ Level 9 w/ 784mazzei
vs. wattage used: 4.2% "efficiency"
vs. air draw: 25% "performance"
Waveline DC 12000 @ Level 10 w/ 784mazzei
vs. wattage used: 4.2% "efficiency"
vs. air draw: 25% "performance"
Waveline DC 12000 @ Level 11 w/ 784 mazzei
vs. wattage used: 4% "efficiency"
vs. air draw: 23% "performance"
This is all fully assuming that the skimmate production would be exactly the same time after time at each of those levels. Which it's been really pretty steady but I'm sure what pulls 6 cups per day one time might pull 5.5 cups per day and reverse. But I don't see something pulling 3 cups per day gaining that much ground or reverse.
So, my totally unscientific conclusion which is most likely wrong is:
Waveline DC 12000 @ level 9 with the stock 684 mazzei is the winner for highest performance ratio of cups produced to air draw.
Mag 1800 with the stock 684 mazzei is the winnder for highest efficiency ratio of cups produced to wattage used
If looking for as much air draw as possible to say for aeration purposes the Waveline DC 12000 @ level 11 w/ the 784 mazzei is the winner.
If looking for a pump that runs cooler that will still produce something you'd be happy with then the Mag 18 w/ 784 venture. (produced about the same amount of skimmate as with the 684 but it was dryer so could produce more wetter.)
Definitely some unexpected results as I figured the waveline with the 784 was going to really kick the 684's butt. But, what I think is happening, the waveline handled the head height so well the more restricted 684 didn't hurt it at all. The 784 did help the mag18 that doesn't have near the head height rating. In fact I think the 684 may have produced a finer bubble with the waveline vs. with the 784.
and in the end YMMV
There's more I plan to play around with on this skimmer but going to take a break from it for a bit and get back to some other things like my saltmix parameter testing and thread.
jason2459
Well-known member
Height will be different for many. Currently mine is right about where the flange is at. Can't see exact hight as the quick change union blocks the view but when the skimmer turns on and fills up it really slows down once near the flange and just barely nudges above it.
I have the 684 mazzei in now but I have it adjusted to do the same as what you see here just before the 50 second mark
https://youtu.be/zpTaQfI3MeY
jason2459
Well-known member
No problem at all. Questions are good.
got2lb
New member
Jason I just got done reading your thread on another site. I'm looking at starting a 180 as we speak. Was looking at the MVX 36. I have exactly 36" of space from the bottom of the stand to the bottom of the tank. Could maybe squeeze another 2" if I change the way the bottom of the stand is. Is it exactly 36" tall? Is the quick change neck necessary? Also what pump would you get with it if you were starting over fresh? I'm having a hard time even finding a place that sells the waveline 12000 pump.
I see your in Iowa, are you a member of GIRS?
I see your in Iowa, are you a member of GIRS?
jason2459
Well-known member
The quick change head isn't necessary but it's certainly helpful. One of the reasons I got it was that it it did increase the height of the skimmer very slightly and gave a bit more of a transition from the body of the skimmer to the neck. Probably meaningless in both cases.
I do take the entire top off from the flange using the thumbscrews periodically to clean under the flange easier. I like having that option too. A tiny bit of oring greese on the threads of the thumbscrews helps make it easier to take them off.
The height of the skimmer is pretty accurate. I didn't get that handle on top as I had him drill a center hole and I put my swabbie neck cleaner on it but with the quick change head was 37.25" to the top of the thumbscews. That handle on top would probably have been 37.5" I believe the quick change head only hands like 1.5" even though the website says like 3".
Either way the height is definitely something I would talk with Jeff about. He can custom cut the height to fit. Taller the better.
For the pump I'm absolutely loving the waveline apex ready dc 12000. It seems to handle the head pressure wonderfully. Otherwise another pump I was looking at is the deepwater aquatics bldc 12000. It just didn't have the option to be apex controllable and had slightly less head height rating at about 21' I think compared to the 23' head height rating of the waveline. Very well could be the same assuming both advertised ratings are exaggerated slightly. But being able to control the waveline with my apex sold me on it.
Otherwise an abyzz pump would be awesome and would love to see someone try it. Or if they or someone would like to send me one to try (or keep...) I would really love that as well. lol
Cheaper alternative would be a jebao line. I believe their 12000 alternative has a rating of around 19'. Which is still better flow and head height then the mag 18.
No I never did or do have enough spare time to join any clubs.
got2lb
New member
Thanks for the info. Was doing a lot of reading today on skimmers and am really intrigued by the MTC line after reading up on them. The only problem it sounds like it's hard to get a hold of them. I'm kinda wanting to stay away from the mag 18 pump. Ran a mag 12 for a while, never really had a problem with it but thought it was kind of loud and when I switched it out for a different pump my temperature dropped 3 degrees.
I'll have to talk to them about making maybe a 34" model for me, I would definitely want it as tall as possible to get the most bang out of it.
Would love to check your setup out sometime if you wouldn't mind. Shoot me a pm if you wouldn't mind showing it off.
THANKS!
I'll have to talk to them about making maybe a 34" model for me, I would definitely want it as tall as possible to get the most bang out of it.
Would love to check your setup out sometime if you wouldn't mind. Shoot me a pm if you wouldn't mind showing it off.
THANKS!
jason2459
Well-known member
Jeff has been hard to contact at first but once you do he likes to talk.
Mag 18 is a solid pump that can last many years and has so for many people. Keep in mind when under pressure like will happen with the venturi its power draw drops quite a bit. Look at the numbers I posted. The mag18 actually draws less power and there for transfers less heat then the waveline dc 12000 even though they are both rated for around the same amount of max watts. Because the waveline handles a lot higher head height its able to push more flow through the venturi and pull more air which draws a lot more power.
Mag 18 drew like 63 watts vs the waveline drawing 147 watts at 100% power. Both with the 684 mazzei and 7-8" water depth. Both rated at about 150 max watts.
Mag 18 is a solid pump that can last many years and has so for many people. Keep in mind when under pressure like will happen with the venturi its power draw drops quite a bit. Look at the numbers I posted. The mag18 actually draws less power and there for transfers less heat then the waveline dc 12000 even though they are both rated for around the same amount of max watts. Because the waveline handles a lot higher head height its able to push more flow through the venturi and pull more air which draws a lot more power.
Mag 18 drew like 63 watts vs the waveline drawing 147 watts at 100% power. Both with the 684 mazzei and 7-8" water depth. Both rated at about 150 max watts.
got2lb
New member
Yeah i noticed that, never realized the power draw would drop like that.
Can these run external? I'm planning a 40 breeder sump and would have plenty of room beside it to accommodate an external skimmer under a 6' tank.
So just keep calling and emailing, annoying him until he answers. Check, got it! Haha
Can these run external? I'm planning a 40 breeder sump and would have plenty of room beside it to accommodate an external skimmer under a 6' tank.
So just keep calling and emailing, annoying him until he answers. Check, got it! Haha
jason2459
Well-known member
as long as you're not going to high, yes. I assume the skimmer's neck is over the sumps edge. I don't know what kind of impact that would have on performance if any.
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