The Life Reef Skimmer Club

[ERIC85854]

The Mag 9.5 raised my tank 2 degrees, I had a Sicce Syncra 3.0 and it didn't raise my temp, I just switched over to the Jecod dcs-6000 and have no temp increase even at full throttle.

I might do that in the future. Don't really feel like taking everything out right now though. Is the performance of the skimmer any better or worse vs the mag 9.5?

 

[Mr. Comer]

I have noticed a little improvement in skimming. The venturi based skimmers skim more if you feed them more water.

 

[ERIC85854]

Cool, thanks. I guess the DCT version is supposed to be better?

 

[Pablos RSM 450]

All,

Just got my Life Reef. What is the best way to break it in. Got the 24 inch running a mag 9.5 in 9.75 inches of water.
Thanks in advance.

 

[rjjr1963]

So I bought a 280 DAS tank that's 8 feet long, been looking at lifreef and talking to Jeff, he recommends the in sump skimmer so the lf300s instead of the regular lf300, pros and cons to each from you guys that have his system would be appreciated it,and how big of a skimmer would you go with and is the 300 big enough for a 280 or do i need to have him make me something bigger? And please post any pictures of the lf300 if you have one
Thanks,Tony

I've been talking to Jeff about the same set up. I'm going to have a larger sump built so that I can use it for water changes. I believe the lf300 only holds about 15 gallons while in operation. I'm getting the 30" flanged external skimmer. This way I can increase the size if I ever want to and have good access to the inside of the skimmer.

This build thread is using the lf300 sump.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2533793&page=7

 

[ERIC85854]

All,

Just got my Life Reef. What is the best way to break it in. Got the 24 inch running a mag 9.5 in 9.75 inches of water.
Thanks in advance.

Plug the venturi input in the cup with your finger until all the air dissipates to make sure your starting water level is slightly below the top of the body. Mine took about 1.5 weeks to do anything and finally seems almost broken in at close to 3.5 weeks. It may help to clean the inside of the cup neck with a paper towel and distilled white vinegar to get it working faster.

 

[EvMiBo]

Cool, thanks. I guess the DCT version is supposed to be better?

The DCT version has 10 speed settings now instead of 6. Now labeled as Jecod instead of Jebao as well. The build quality seems better to me too.

They changed around some max speeds. For example: They used to make the jebao dc9000, now it's the jecod dct8000.

For 30" body users I'd recommend getting the new jecod dct12000 and running it around setting 8/10. (I'm still using my jebao dc9000 on setting 6/6).

All,

Just got my Life Reef. What is the best way to break it in. Got the 24 inch running a mag 9.5 in 9.75 inches of water.
Thanks in advance.

Jeff recommends a maximum height of 9" for the 24" bodies. Run it open for the first couple of weeks. With mags the money spot for the waterline (inside the body) is right around the transition from body to neck.

 

[ERIC85854]

The DCT version has 10 speed settings now instead of 6. Now labeled as Jecod instead of Jebao as well. The build quality seems better to me too.

They changed around some max speeds. For example: They used to make the jebao dc9000, now it's the jecod dct8000.

For 30" body users I'd recommend getting the new jecod dct12000 and running it around setting 8/10. (I'm still using my jebao dc9000 on setting 6/6).

I bought the DCT-6000 for my 24" lifereef and it's running at max speed. Seems to work better than the Mag 9.5 and no excessive heat and noise.

 

[Reef_Paddy]

DCT-12000 delivered yesterday for the 30" body I'll be ordering later this month.

 

[Tetra84]

I bought the DCT-6000 for my 24" lifereef and it's running at max speed. Seems to work better than the Mag 9.5 and no excessive heat and noise.

Good to know, I'll probably pick this one up as well.

 

[Pablos RSM 450]

The DCT version has 10 speed settings now instead of 6. Now labeled as Jecod instead of Jebao as well. The build quality seems better to me too.

They changed around some max speeds. For example: They used to make the jebao dc9000, now it's the jecod dct8000.

For 30" body users I'd recommend getting the new jecod dct12000 and running it around setting 8/10. (I'm still using my jebao dc9000 on setting 6/6).



Jeff recommends a maximum height of 9" for the 24" bodies. Run it open for the first couple of weeks. With mags the money spot for the waterline (inside the body) is right around the transition from body to neck.

Thanks for the heads up. I will raise the skimmer with egg crate. The skimmer is going on its 3rd day and I must say it is the noisiest skimmer I have owned. I had removed and cleaned the RLSS R6i I was running in the tank and decided to put it back in while the life reef breaks in. The RLSS started skimming right away as it did the first day I put it in. So far I do not like the noise from the skimmer and it has nothing to do with the mag pump. I will only keep the skimmer if it produces better skim than my RLSS. I will be making a side by side comparison video between the 2.

 

[EvMiBo]

The noise from the skimmer should be very quiet, can you describe what the noise sounds like?

Are you sure it has nothing to do with the mag pump?

Finally, if you're going to compare the two, and want to get the best out of the 24" body you should put a mag 18 on it. I really think a jecod dct8000 would be an excellent pump too (haven't seen it in action though). It will be as or more effective, quieter, give off less heat, consume less watts, project less noise, and cost less than the mag.

 

[Pablos RSM 450]

The noise from the skimmer should be very quiet, can you describe what the noise sounds like?

Are you sure it has nothing to do with the mag pump?

Finally, if you're going to compare the two, and want to get the best out of the 24" body you should put a mag 18 on it. I really think a jecod dct8000 would be an excellent pump too (haven't seen it in action though). It will be as or more effective, quieter, give off less heat, consume less watts, project less noise, and cost less than the mag.

It is the suction noise from the venturi even with the cover on it is loud. The mag 9 has the foam on the base. Ill try and post a video today.

 

[Mr. Comer]

I'm interested is seeing this video and may post one myself. I love the performance of my skimmer but it's the loudest skimmer I've owned. I can hear the venturi two rooms away with the cabinet doors closed (when there is no other noises in the house). My new Jecod dct6000 sounds like a computer fan running and isn't to bad for noise even running at full speed.

 

[Cabo2008]

Loud? Really? Mine is pretty darn quiet....especially compared to the Skimz skimmer I had before. I'll pull a video and post it after work today.

 

[Pablos RSM 450]

I'm interested is seeing this video and may post one myself. I love the performance of my skimmer but it's the loudest skimmer I've owned. I can hear the venturi two rooms away with the cabinet doors closed (when there is no other noises in the house). My new Jecod dct6000 sounds like a computer fan running and isn't to bad for noise even running at full speed.

My son sleeps in the room next to where the aquarium is located and you can hear the venturi suction. I am going to try and make a silencer for the skimmer to install it between the skimmer cup and the venturi.

 

[ERIC85854]

The noise from the skimmer should be very quiet, can you describe what the noise sounds like?

Are you sure it has nothing to do with the mag pump?

Finally, if you're going to compare the two, and want to get the best out of the 24" body you should put a mag 18 on it. I really think a jecod dct8000 would be an excellent pump too (haven't seen it in action though). It will be as or more effective, quieter, give off less heat, consume less watts, project less noise, and cost less than the mag.

Mag 18 on a 24 inch? Why? I would recommend the DCT-6000. It works well on mine and better than the mag 9.5. I don't like mags due to their inefficiency and excessive heating of the water.

 

[ERIC85854]

My son sleeps in the room next to where the aquarium is located and you can hear the venturi suction. I am going to try and make a silencer for the skimmer to install it between the skimmer cup and the venturi.

Do you have the venturi attached to the cup and is the lid on it? It shouldn't be very loud at all if it's in a cabinet. And you should not hear anything if there's a door between the two rooms. I cannot hear anything from the tank upstairs with no doors closed.

 

[Pablos RSM 450]

Do you have the venturi attached to the cup and is the lid on it? It shouldn't be very loud at all if it's in a cabinet. And you should not hear anything if there's a door between the two rooms. I cannot hear anything from the tank upstairs with no doors closed.

Yes the hose is attached to the cup and while you cant hear that much when the tv is on and all of the other ambient noise during the day you can hear it very clearly at night. It doesnt help that the skimmer that it is replacing is the quietest skimmer I have owned.

 

[Pablos RSM 450]

The DCT version has 10 speed settings now instead of 6. Now labeled as Jecod instead of Jebao as well. The build quality seems better to me too.

They changed around some max speeds. For example: They used to make the jebao dc9000, now it's the jecod dct8000.

For 30" body users I'd recommend getting the new jecod dct12000 and running it around setting 8/10. (I'm still using my jebao dc9000 on setting 6/6).



Jeff recommends a maximum height of 9" for the 24" bodies. Run it open for the first couple of weeks. With mags the money spot for the waterline (inside the body) is right around the transition from body to neck.

Thanks for the heads up. I lifted the skimmer about 3/4 of an inch to a total of 9 inches and it started to skim.