Question for Life Reef skimmer users

[WestTexasReefer]

After seeing good reviews on the Life Reef skimmers here and talking to Jeff at Life Reef I decided to buy the vs-24 in sump skimmer with the mag 9.5 pump. It was the largest height that would fit under my stand. It has been running for 8 days now and just started pulling some skim mate a day or so ago and the pump is pretty quiet which is always a concern with tank in living room. At this point I am a little disappointed in the skimmer but then again it has only been a week and I know it needs some break in time. The cup is a real pain to remove as well good thing there is a drain on the cup. Questions are:

Do you have the water return above or below the sump water line?
Mine was slightly above but couldn't stand the waterfall noise effect and now run it below water line. Do you think being below water line impacts performance?

What pump do you use? Do you think that would make an impact on performance?

How often do you remove the cup and clean the neck?

I am going to give it more time because I don't want to buy another skimmer but would like to hear from others with their experience and how they are set up. Any tips would be appreciated.
Thanks

 

[kris101]

Lifereef skimmer

Lifereef skimmer

You skimmer is ok. Mine took just over a week to break in with an extremely low bio load. I have a 180 that I just started with a vs3-30 and it didn't do anything for a few days because it was new saltwater which had a lot of surface tension. my tank cycled in less than a week. I still have a low bio load 2 Percs and a firefish. I do have some coral also. As you can see in the photo, it pulls some very black gunk!

A few questions.

Did you give it a vinegar bath?
How old is the tank/ bio load

I have had the vs 24,vs3-48 and now the vs3-30. They all have constantly skimmed with out much interaction from me. I hardly ever clean the cup or neck. It will just skim. I wouldn't worry about it being 8 days or wanting a new skimmer.

 

[Flatlander]

After seeing good reviews on the Life Reef skimmers here and talking to Jeff at Life Reef I decided to buy the vs-24 in sump skimmer with the mag 9.5 pump. It was the largest height that would fit under my stand. It has been running for 8 days now and just started pulling some skim mate a day or so ago and the pump is pretty quiet which is always a concern with tank in living room. At this point I am a little disappointed in the skimmer but then again it has only been a week and I know it needs some break in time. The cup is a real pain to remove as well good thing there is a drain on the cup. Questions are:

Do you have the water return above or below the sump water line?
Mine was slightly above but couldn't stand the waterfall noise effect and now run it below water line. Do you think being below water line impacts performance?

Mine is right on the water line. I dont find much difference just below or just above, except the splashing, as you did.

What pump do you use? Do you think that would make an impact on performance?

I use a mag 12 but mine is the 30in. model.

How often do you remove the cup and clean the neck?

I bought the oversized cup, so dont use the drain feature. Empty and clean it once a week. I do wipe the neck but its pretty clean from my setting.

I am going to give it more time because I don't want to buy another skimmer but would like to hear from others with their experience and how they are set up. Any tips would be appreciated.
Thanks

It took awhile for mine to break in. Ran it a bit wet at the start. This is on a 50g sps tank with a Lifereef 40g sump. Best skimmer I have run since way back in my large beckett/pump.

 

[WestTexasReefer]

Didn't give it a vinegar bathh probably should have. Tank is a 180 been running 3 years with a pretty good bio load. I think I have it dialed in a little better it is pulling a brown thick foam at top now.

 

[d2mini]

Mine was skimming in 12 hours, no vinegar bath.
Mag 12 pump on the 30" model.
Output is half out of the water.
Water height is right near the top. Maybe 1/4" under the top plate.
I use the drain on my cup every 5 days or so and remove the cup to clean it once every 3-4 weeks, and wipe down the neck at that time too.

How dry are you trying to run it? What's your water height? Have you tried adjusting it?

 

[azjohnny]

If you want to run the exit below the waters surface you could use a vented "T" section made out of PVC and this will eliminate any back pressure in the skimmer. I have used this on MY SRO 5000INT with success and this allows me to run in 9" of water depth instead of the suggested 6"

 

[WestTexasReefer]

Water depth is about 8.5 inches in sump and now running water height inside skimmer to the top of base just below the neck. I keep adjusting and probably need to leave it alone for a while. I think I have it dialed in better now. There is a thick brown foam pushing out a little at a time in to the cup. I guess I am a little too impatient, lol.

Dennis-does having the output half out of water make more noise like flowing water?

 

[kris101]

I have had this conversation with Jeff and he has said it doesn't really matter. The valve is used to set the water level inside the skimmer. Back pressure is not a issue, just set the water level in the skimmer. A inch or 2 over the exit from what I understand won't make a difference. I would call Jeff. Im more than sure he would be happy to answer your questions

 

[baddiesel]

I have a 90 degree elbow on my drain, with a very short piece of spaflex (eg flexible pvc) jammed in the elbow, so that the drain dispenses below the sump water level. Makes it silent. I talked to Jeff a long time ago about cleaning the neck, etc. He mentioned not cleaning up to 3 months. I've been running my "dirty", and I do believe it operates better. Mine gets "caked" pretty bad, and I only clean it every 3-4 mos. Less "tweaking" involved. I love my Life Reef Systems skimmer, it's a well-made-quality skimmer.

 

[bayoupr]

I have mine above the water, but plumbed back down bellow the water. This was my VS3-36, I now run a VS3-48 plumbed the same way.

 

[kmmcgra]

Good thread and good information. I have a new vs24 running 7 days and its not skimming yet. These are nicely built skimmers. Can't wait for it to start cranking.

 

[bayoupr]

I have a new vs24 running 7 days and its not skimming yet

What pump are you using and what injector? These skimmers really take off with the Mazzei injector. These injectors allow more water flow and air. If you are running a 30" and smaller I recommend the 978 Mazzei, taller then the 1078 injector. I ran a 1078 on the 36 and now running the 1078 on my 48". Compared to the standard injector that comes with these skimmers, Mazzei is the best. Jeff offers these as an add on. Also, your skimmer should be skimming within 24-48hrs not a week unless you have no bio-load.

 

[kmmcgra]

Mag 9.5 with whatever injector it comes with. The previous skimmer (swc 120) was skimming so the bio-load should be there. Just going to give it a couple more days. It seems from some of the comments others took a few days to start skimming.

 

[d2mini]

Last night I went and raised the water level in my sump so that the water just covered the output completely and I still had a bunch of skim in the cup this morning. So that didn't make any difference over the past 12 hours.

 

[WestTexasReefer]

Mine is pulling some nasty gunk now. Part of the issue for mine taking a little more time was I played with water level in sump (too much) and then after 2 days had to replace the barb that connects to the pump because it cracked. It was just a bad barb. It was hard to screw on and had to use pliers. Should have known better but bought a replacement at Lowes which went on by hand easily. Once I set the water level to the top of the base with foam slightly pushing into the neck (day 5) and left it alone for a while it started working like a champ. I am thinking about swapping out the pump to a Sicce Syncra since my tank is in the living room and though not loud would like something a little quieter.

 

[azjohnny]

I have mine above the water, but plumbed back down bellow the water. This was my VS3-36, I now run a VS3-48 plumbed the same way.

What pump are you using in the pic of the VS3-36?

 

[bayoupr]

Was the SP6 but I think it might have been too much pump, IMO

 

[ksed]

I wonder if the SP6 would be able to handle the VS3-48.

 

[DavidinGA]

Wrong thread