The Life Reef Skimmer Club
- Thread starter d2mini
- Start date
DavidinGA
Active member
True.
I'm not necessarily unhappy with my sro just always thinking the grass is greener on the other side I guess...
EvMiBo
VictoriaConcordiaCrescit
Yeah so I guess he just switched from the mag 12.
If put more flow through the venturi does the SCFH go up?
bayoupr
New member
The more water that is forced through the venturi the higher the SCFH. But beware, you can push too much and draw too much air. I'm using a Panworld 100Px-X which is more for flow but still I am getting over 35SCFH through a 1078 Mazzei on a 30" Lifereef. I installed a Needle Valve on the air hose between the cup and venturi to dial the air down to 22 SCFH. If I leave it open I have about a 3" foam head at the top below the neck. Skimmer does not run good like this.
Harry_Y
New member
I'm not 100% sure on that......
I would tend to believe too large of a neck is not a good thing.
soulpatch
New member
combination of factors comes into play but to just state that it would not function better since it has a smaller neck is not accurate.
Harry_Y
New member
Indeed, but I would thing a smaller neck would actually improve preformance.
EvMiBo
VictoriaConcordiaCrescit
Jebao DC9000 6/6 on 30
Jebao DC9000 6/6 on 30
Pushing almost all of the max. 70 watts.
Hooking up air meter in a couple days when I get the connections. I'm really curious about the SCFH, and interested in modding the venturi line with a needle valve.
Jebao DC9000 6/6 on 30
Pushing almost all of the max. 70 watts.
Hooking up air meter in a couple days when I get the connections. I'm really curious about the SCFH, and interested in modding the venturi line with a needle valve.
Last edited:
skinsncanes
New member
I purposely logged on today to see what the max flow rates my skimmer can handle because of the new ecotech pumps. I saw someone post that a 24 inch model can do 2500 gph max so thats way above what i probably would get anyway. I have the 36 inch skimmer, and right now am running the blueline 30hdx, which is 1100gph. I dont have the mazzei if that makes a difference.
I really want to get the new ecotech pumps for my return. Does the skimmer have to have its own pump? If I got the large ecotech pump its ~3000gph. I max out at 1200 based on two lifereef over flows. Plus I have the lifereef wet dry with cannisters. So 1200 to the main max, say 500 to the cannisters, thats still 1300 that could go to the skimmer. Its more than im doing now but probably a waste since I have the 36 inch and capability to do more.
bayoupr
New member
Problem is that when your filters start to clog then the flow rate in the skimmer and return will increase. I run a manifold with a bio pellet reactor, gfo and carbon reactor. When the GFO or Carbon starts to clog and slow the flow the pellets then tumble too much do to more flow. Hard to keep everything balanced using one pump especially with a skimmer involved. IMO
skinsncanes
New member
Would the skimmer be effected by changes in flow rates?
I definitely dont want my flow rate to my returns changed because of the plumbing limitations. So I could connect the canisters to the skimmer instead.
Do you know if there is a max to the skimmer, 36 inch? Im assuming the more I run to it the better it will perform?
bayoupr
New member
When I ran my 36" I had a Panworld 100PX with a Mazzei 1078 Injector. I had to dial the flow back some due to the pressure rating of the pump. A Panword 100PX-X with the 1078 would work better since it's a higher rated flow pump with lower head pressure rating. The 100PX will push more water but you will need to cut the flow back due to too much air draw or dial the air draw down with a valve. 100PX-X is rated at 1270gph at 13'. 100PX is rated at 790gph at 21'. One is rated at almost 500gph than the other but believe me the 100PX will push more water through the skimmer due to higher head pressure. These are external pumps though so not sure if you are external or internal. If it were me I would have the skimmer on a pump by itself.
skinsncanes
New member
I guess I dont understand the relationship between the head pressure and the pumps because on Jeffs page it says the minimum is 1100 gph. So my blueline 30hdx is 1100, so just the minimum. Wouldnt the pumps you listed either be below the minimum or barely above it?
bayoupr
New member
I ran both of the Panworld pumps on my 36" and the 100PX rated at 790gph, 21' head pressure pushed more water through the skimmer (I had to open the gate valve on the outlet more than with the other pump). Remember you are pushing water through a small orifice in the venturi so a higher pressure rated pump will handle this mush better than a lower pressure rated pump.
Hey guys and gals,
I have a lifereef 36" skimmer on my farm system. Been running the skimmer for a while now and having issues. It seems to randomly overflow like once a week. Like water spilling out of the cup overflow.
I think possibly the outflow valve is getting clogged? That’s all I can think of, as it runs perfectly and level foam height for days then randomly just goes berserk. I don’t think anything is changing in the tank. If I open the valve half a turn or so and let it come back down, then set the valve back where it was it'll return to a normal foam height.
Any idea on how to prevent this? The skimmer is sitting in sump, but on a 12” high stand. Water level is about 10” in the sump. I have tried placing the outfall water hose above and below water level and it eventually overflows either way.
I have a lifereef 36" skimmer on my farm system. Been running the skimmer for a while now and having issues. It seems to randomly overflow like once a week. Like water spilling out of the cup overflow.
I think possibly the outflow valve is getting clogged? That’s all I can think of, as it runs perfectly and level foam height for days then randomly just goes berserk. I don’t think anything is changing in the tank. If I open the valve half a turn or so and let it come back down, then set the valve back where it was it'll return to a normal foam height.
Any idea on how to prevent this? The skimmer is sitting in sump, but on a 12” high stand. Water level is about 10” in the sump. I have tried placing the outfall water hose above and below water level and it eventually overflows either way.
jerseypete
New member
Usually only have this problem if the level in the sump changes too much. Used to have a filter pad right before my return pump. Carbon dosing used to cause this to clog very quickly. Then the water level in the sump would go higher. Usually 3-4 inches which would cause the skimmer to overflow. I removed the filter pad and now no more o erflowing. But I think varying water level in the sump causes this the most. I highly doubt the outlet is getting clogged.
azjohnny
Active member
One thing I like with the Life reef skimmers is the height, this makes them more stable. I had mine over flow once before, but I was running on the wet side and I have since lowered the water height in the skimmer body and run it drier.
You might have had a spawning episode and the skimmer is just doing its job
)
JasonD
Active member
I now belong to the Life Reef Family, I have the complete system from Jeff, Sump, Refugium, Skimmer,
Sump is the LF1-200S
Refugium is the 20"
Skimmer is the SV 24 in sump
Beautiful system u have something that u can pass down to your children
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