The Life Reef Skimmer Club

EvMiBo said:
Fwiw, Jeff uses a mag18 on an svs24.

I think we had a similar discussion 3-4 pages back.

I have no first hand experience with both pumps on a svs24, but how do you figure an eheim 1292 is going to be a nice upgrade over a mag 9.5? They're virtually the same pump on paper, BUT the mag 9.5 has a higher max head pressure rating. 12.85' vs. 11.5'.

From what I've seen on this thread, if you want an substantial upgrade for an svs24 get a mag 12, better yet dc pump rated for around 6.5-8k, or a mag 18.
Click to expand...

eheim 1265 will be a better pump then the mag 9.5. Fluval SP4 is what I would look at like I said.

Edit: I think I need sleep. This is based off reports of people switching over to eheim pumps on skimmers like the aquac ev and other venture skimmers in the past and getting better results. I only suggested it because eheim pumps were brought up and asked about.

I want to see more success with DC pumps myself. I like the integration into the controllers some use like my Apex. I'm also considering at some point something like a waveline dc12000 for a 36" But I've already got the mag 18 and will continue to use that for my return for probably forever. I don't want controllability (other then on or off) or any kind of variability in my return which effects my siphon.
 
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I think I am sold on either the Mag 18 or a Fluval SP4. $50 difference between the two.

I am concerned with the DCT since Cabo had an issue and not the first time I have heard of ceramic shaft issues with Jabeao. (And I am not a hater on them as I have their RW pumps and like them)
 
jason2459 said:
You'd be surprised at how many watts are dropped due to the head pressure. Also, if someone uses a heater year round in their tank it's not inefficient at all.
Click to expand...

I agree with this. The heat from my pumps offset my heaters firing up. Tank is in my basement so it is basically a wash for me with pump vs heater. I am not in this for efficiencies. A few extra bucks a year in electric is not a big deal to me. Electric is cheapest monthly bill for the tanks I run...
 
soulpatch said:
I think I am sold on either the Mag 18 or a Fluval SP4. $50 difference between the two.

I am concerned with the DCT since Cabo had an issue and not the first time I have heard of ceramic shaft issues with Jabeao. (And I am not a hater on them as I have their RW pumps and like them)
Click to expand...

The mag 18 will handle the head pressure better. But since this is on a 24" I would think the SP4 might actually be better because of this. If this was for a 30" I'd go with the mag 18. The 24" has such a reduced full reaction area more water flow might be a negative.
 
soulpatch said:
I think I am sold on either the Mag 18 or a Fluval SP4. $50 difference between the two.

I am concerned with the DCT since Cabo had an issue and not the first time I have heard of ceramic shaft issues with Jabeao. (And I am not a hater on them as I have their RW pumps and like them)
Click to expand...

Was that the old Jabao DC models or the new DCT?
 
jason2459 said:
You'd be surprised at how many watts are dropped due to the head pressure. Also, if someone uses a heater year round in their tank it's not inefficient at all.
Click to expand...

I had a heat problem with the Mag 9.5 on a 54 gallon tank if the temp inside got over 73 degrees. I wouldn't recommend these Mags for under ~90 gallons.
 
Even with the build up I got on my my DCT pump, now that I've figured out where most of it came from and a reasonable cleaning schedule, I'd buy this pump again. Only time will tell though. In a month and a half, when I pull the pump to clean it again, that'll be the "pretty darn sure" marker that it's a good pump. If it builds up before that and locks up again, or something else happens, I'll just pick up an Ehiem Compact 3000+ and rock that.

But I think this pump will work out just fine (famous last words?).
 
Cabo2008 said:
Even with the build up I got on my my DCT pump, now that I've figured out where most of it came from and a reasonable cleaning schedule, I'd buy this pump again. Only time will tell though. In a month and a half, when I pull the pump to clean it again, that'll be the "pretty darn sure" marker that it's a good pump. If it builds up before that and locks up again, or something else happens, I'll just pick up an Ehiem Compact 3000+ and rock that.

But I think this pump will work out just fine (famous last words?).
Click to expand...

I've had my DCT6000 running for 1.5 months now. No noticeable decrease in performance. Was your problem caused by Kalk?
 
jason2459 said:
eheim 1265 will be a better pump then the mag 9.5. Fluval SP4 is what I would look at like I said.

Edit: I think I need sleep. This is based off reports of people switching over to eheim pumps on skimmers like the aquac ev and other venture skimmers in the past and getting better results. I only suggested it because eheim pumps were brought up and asked about.

I want to see more success with DC pumps myself. I like the integration into the controllers some use like my Apex. I'm also considering at some point something like a waveline dc12000 for a 36" But I've already got the mag 18 and will continue to use that for my return for probably forever. I don't want controllability (other then on or off) or any kind of variability in my return which effects my siphon.
Click to expand...

The waveline dc12000 will be nice on a 36" LR. It has a max head of 22.96', while for example the jecod dct12000 has a max head pressure of 16.4'. But, the waveline is double the price. I wonder if at that flow and the pump's ability to battle head pressure well, if you'd have to dial it down slightly..?

jason2459 said:
You'd be surprised at how many watts are dropped due to the head pressure. Also, if someone uses a heater year round in their tank it's not inefficient at all.
Click to expand...

On the other hand, if your tank is on the warmer side, and you only use a heater in the winter...

(I use my heater for maybe 2 months out of the year)

I haven't tested, but I heard that mags will drop close to 50% in wattage under venturi conditions like these skimmers. For example, a mag 24 would drop from 265w to around 125-150w on a svs30.

My jebao dc9000 operates at ~80w at full blast with 0' head, and then ~68w ran on my svs30.

soulpatch said:
I think I am sold on either the Mag 18 or a Fluval SP4. $50 difference between the two.

I am concerned with the DCT since Cabo had an issue and not the first time I have heard of ceramic shaft issues with Jabeao. (And I am not a hater on them as I have their RW pumps and like them)
Click to expand...

Fluval SP4: 1822gph maximum, 88w, 11.8' max head.
Mag 18: 1800gph maximum, 150w 16.85' max head.

Both wattages will decrease, not sure by how much though.

The mag will outperform the fluval. May have more heat with the mag.

Sounds like you're not into the dc's, but I think the Jecod dct8000 on a mag24 is a decent fit.
 
EvMiBo said:
The waveline dc12000 will be nice on a 36" LR. It has a max head of 22.96', while for example the jecod dct12000 has a max head pressure of 16.4'. But, the waveline is double the price. I wonder if at that flow and the pump's ability to battle head pressure well, if you'd have to dial it down slightly..?



On the other hand, if your tank is on the warmer side, and you only use a heater in the winter...

(I use my heater for maybe 2 months out of the year)

I haven't tested, but I heard that mags will drop close to 50% in wattage under venturi conditions like these skimmers. For example, a mag 24 would drop from 265w to around 125-150w on a svs30.

My jebao dc9000 operates at ~80w at full blast with 0' head, and then ~68w ran on my svs30.



Fluval SP4: 1822gph maximum, 88w, 11.8' max head.
Mag 18: 1800gph maximum, 150w 16.85' max head.

Both wattages will decrease, not sure by how much though.

The mag will outperform the fluval. May have more heat with the mag.
Click to expand...


1 thing to remember about Mag pumps is that their ratings are done with 1.5" pipe. MySP4 draws about 60 watts when used as a skimmer pump with my 36" life reef
 
azjohnny said:
1 thing to remember about Mag pumps is that their ratings are done with 1.5" pipe. MySP4 draws about 60 watts when used as a skimmer pump with my 36" life reef
Click to expand...

What does that mean for us, azjohnny (ratings with 1.5" pipe)? Obviously our venturi's aren't 1.5" pipes, but what do you mean by that?
 
azjohnny said:
1 thing to remember about Mag pumps is that their ratings are done with 1.5" pipe. MySP4 draws about 60 watts when used as a skimmer pump with my 36" life reef
Click to expand...

Rates are done based on their output size. The mag 18 has a 3/4" output. Which is why in the charts you see at 0 head 1500gph not 1800

at ~12' head pressure I get ~750gph on my return line from the basement to the 1st floor display tank which lines up pretty well with that chart.
 
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EvMiBo said:
...
I haven't tested, but I heard that mags will drop close to 50% in wattage under venturi conditions like these skimmers. For example, a mag 24 would drop from 265w to around 125-150w on a svs30

...
Click to expand...

I'll find out in a few weeks. I believe though the mazzie that comes with the MVX is a 3/4" and the Life Reef's is a 1"?
 
I am using an ecotech vectra m1 on my lifereef 24 and love it. No heat, no sound, can change the output (and correlating wattage), and controllable.
 
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