The Life Reef Skimmer Club
- Thread starter d2mini
- Start date
EagleFF
New member
I just received an email from Jeff at Life Reef Systems, He says skimmers are almost always in stock so get you one if you need one, I received my sump,skimmer/refugium in 3 days ago, and let me tell you something brotha, I'm tired of plumbing it in lol, I am waiting on my external pump to come in so I can finish the plumbing, I'll post pics of the wet test tomorrow
jason2459
Well-known member
sro3000 previous user here (not a life reef owner) and as it was a beast of a skimmer I don't believe it was well balanced. It could have used a slightly less powerful pump and air draw.
Also, there's a different need and method on how the air is utilized here between how needle wheel skimmers chop the air and how venturi skimmers utilizes more water flow(read pressure) to force the air through the Venturi to create the bubbles.
Also, there's a different need and method on how the air is utilized here between how needle wheel skimmers chop the air and how venturi skimmers utilizes more water flow(read pressure) to force the air through the Venturi to create the bubbles.
EagleFF
New member
Thanks Hitch, that was at the beginning of the setup, I am almost back to that point with everything installed, this is my second skimmer to own and I must say, set it and forget it, works like a champ, cleaned my water in 24 hrs, and im curing/cycling the rocks at the same time(I dont have room for tubs to cure the rocks)
EvMiBo
VictoriaConcordiaCrescit
Venturi skimmers don't need to draw as much air as needle wheels. Iirc, these skimmers draw around 19-22 scfh ideally.
azjohnny
Active member
I have run various needle wheel skimmers including a SRO and I am now sold on venturi skimmers. My life reef is the most stable skimmer I have ever owned. If I didn't own a LR I would look into the MTC venturi skimmer line
DavidinGA
Active member
Considering a SVS3-30 IN-SUMP LR skimmer and am comparing the recommended Mag18 pump vs a SP4 pump.
My main concern between them is that the recommended Mag18 pump is said to be pretty loud. Would the SP4 pump be sufficiently quieter?
Also, on paper it seems you get more performance at less power draw from the SP4, true?
Mag Drive 18 - 150/watts
0' 1500gph
1' 1325
3' 1200
5' 1100
Fluval Sea SP4 Pump - 88/watts
0' 1822gph
1.5' 1672
3' 1548
4.5' 1347
5.7' 1281
Thoughts?
Thanks
:dance:
*edit*
Also, is this info true about the fluval pumps? I found a guy on RC posting info on them..
"For those considering the Laguna 1500, I would strongly recommend considering the new Fluval Sea SP4. It is the same pump with a higher output, stand, barbed fittings, and upgraded bearings. Basically they noticed that the hobbyists were using the Laguna pond pumps and decided to make a version for the aquarium world that would be ready to go right out of the box. And yes, this pump (SP4 and SP6 only) still has the "Smart Pump Technology" that made the Laguna 1500 - 4200 such a great pump."
"Fluval and Laguna are branches of Hagen. Hagen's pump motors (at least the ones we are talking about) are made by Askoll in Italy. Askoll pump motors were also used by Royal Exclusive which makes the Red Dragon although he claims that he purchased custom motor blocks direct from Askoll. It's definitely believable since his pumps have 10" cords and Laguna pumps have 20' cords. ATB also used Askoll pumps but here in the US they were modified Laguna pumps and not purchased directly from Askoll. This enabled them to have great customer service because Hagen was really good with ATB regarding the warranty"
Sounds like Fluval should be very solid pumps if they are made by Laguna/Hagen who gets motors from Askol; right?
My main concern between them is that the recommended Mag18 pump is said to be pretty loud. Would the SP4 pump be sufficiently quieter?
Also, on paper it seems you get more performance at less power draw from the SP4, true?
Mag Drive 18 - 150/watts
0' 1500gph
1' 1325
3' 1200
5' 1100
Fluval Sea SP4 Pump - 88/watts
0' 1822gph
1.5' 1672
3' 1548
4.5' 1347
5.7' 1281
Thoughts?
Thanks
:dance:
*edit*
Also, is this info true about the fluval pumps? I found a guy on RC posting info on them..
"For those considering the Laguna 1500, I would strongly recommend considering the new Fluval Sea SP4. It is the same pump with a higher output, stand, barbed fittings, and upgraded bearings. Basically they noticed that the hobbyists were using the Laguna pond pumps and decided to make a version for the aquarium world that would be ready to go right out of the box. And yes, this pump (SP4 and SP6 only) still has the "Smart Pump Technology" that made the Laguna 1500 - 4200 such a great pump."
"Fluval and Laguna are branches of Hagen. Hagen's pump motors (at least the ones we are talking about) are made by Askoll in Italy. Askoll pump motors were also used by Royal Exclusive which makes the Red Dragon although he claims that he purchased custom motor blocks direct from Askoll. It's definitely believable since his pumps have 10" cords and Laguna pumps have 20' cords. ATB also used Askoll pumps but here in the US they were modified Laguna pumps and not purchased directly from Askoll. This enabled them to have great customer service because Hagen was really good with ATB regarding the warranty"
Sounds like Fluval should be very solid pumps if they are made by Laguna/Hagen who gets motors from Askol; right?
RingingEars
Because they ring
I've been driving myself nuts looking for a replacement for my sca-302. It looks like my replacement is going to be an svs2-24 in sump 
soulpatch
New member
I had been on the build plan for a sump/skimmer/refug from life Reef but need to cancel that as I was lucky to find a lightly used skimmer in the classifieds. I have the svs2-24 on its way to me right now.
For the sump I decided to save some coin for now and go with trigger elite unit so I maintain a refug area. The saved funds will go towards my TBS rock package or a DOS unit for auto water change station.
For the sump I decided to save some coin for now and go with trigger elite unit so I maintain a refug area. The saved funds will go towards my TBS rock package or a DOS unit for auto water change station.
jason2459
Well-known member
I might be completely off here but I would still go with the Mag 18 as it seems to handle preasure better when comparing the full head height charts. I was excited to see the SP4 but it can't handle the head height I need which is around 12'. I get about 750gph at that head height with the Mag18
Fluval Sea SP4 Pump
Head Pressure 0ft 1.5ft 3ft 4.5ft 5.7ft 7.1ft 9.4ft 10.6ft 11.8ft
Flow Rate (GPH) 1822 1672 1548 1347 1281 1135 805 499 0
Mag 1800
Nominal: 1800 GPH
Watts: 150
GPH at 0': 1500
GPH at 1': 1325
GPH at 3': 1200
GPH at 5': 1100
GPH at 7': 1050
GPH at 10': 875
GPH at 15': 575
Shutoff: 16.85'
DavidinGA
Active member
Right, but at the normal head height use (0-3') for a 30" LR the sp4 is much stronger...
jason2459
Well-known member
But what is the head height that is created by going through the venturi? It is not just the 1' or so distance from pump to skimmer. Usually beckett and true venturi skimmers like the life reef prefer pressure rated pumps. (which the mag is not pressure rated either but does have a good amount of head height ability)
Hitch08
New member
David - I bought that same skimmer earlier this year. I ordered the Mag18 with it. My intent, at the time, was to use a Mag12 for my return pump and a Mag18 for the skimmer. Later, I decided that I wanted the return pump to also run a manifold to reactors. The Mag12 wasn't enough so I bought an SP4.
I ran the SP4 in the same sump as the Mag18. I wasn't very pleased with the Mag18 largely because of the noise. It was obvious since they were sitting quite close.
I decided to replace the Mag18 with the SP4. I now have an SP4 as a return and another on the skimmer. I am quite happy - no doubt in my mind that it is quieter. I have heard, however, that the Mags quiet down after being run for a while.
Maybe it's psychological, but I believe that the SP4 makes a finer slurry of bubbles. When the Mag18 was running the skimmer, there were often large bubbles of air that blew through the skimmer. There is none of that with the SP4. I should also note that the skimmer was broken in with the Mag18 - so maybe that's the difference with the bubbles. I don't know.
If I had to do it all over again, I would buy the SP4 from the start.
Heck, if you are that interested in the Mag18, I'll sell you mine.
DavidinGA
Active member
Harry_Y
New member
I've been shopping for a new skimmer and have been looking at
a lot of them and did not really like any of them enough to buy.
I had actually forgotten about LifeReef until I cam across this thread.
I've been looking for, a straight forward Skimmer with an easy to find
pump (plus easy to find a substitute if needed) and low maintenance.
The more I read about LifeReef the more I realized it was what
I was looking for, a simple proven design with low maintenance.
I gave Jeff a call today, explained my system and wound up going
with the SVS3-36 (36" in sump model) with the MagDrive 18 pump.
a lot of them and did not really like any of them enough to buy.
I had actually forgotten about LifeReef until I cam across this thread.
I've been looking for, a straight forward Skimmer with an easy to find
pump (plus easy to find a substitute if needed) and low maintenance.
The more I read about LifeReef the more I realized it was what
I was looking for, a simple proven design with low maintenance.
I gave Jeff a call today, explained my system and wound up going
with the SVS3-36 (36" in sump model) with the MagDrive 18 pump.
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