The Life Reef Skimmer Club
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Orcus Varuna
New member
The Life Reef Skimmer Club
I agree. I run a SVS3-24" on my reefer 170 and the consistency of the foam produced is better with the rossmont riser I'm currently running then it ever was with the mag 12 I ran previously. My buddy with a heavily stocked 90 gallon swears by his Jebao DCP8000 on full power for his 24". My guess is the bioload has a lot to do with the ideal pump size.
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I agree. I run a SVS3-24" on my reefer 170 and the consistency of the foam produced is better with the rossmont riser I'm currently running then it ever was with the mag 12 I ran previously. My buddy with a heavily stocked 90 gallon swears by his Jebao DCP8000 on full power for his 24". My guess is the bioload has a lot to do with the ideal pump size.
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Just connected a Cor 15 to mine. Right now it is set to 80% but may lower it. I have the gate valve / wheel fully open and foam is at the base of the neck. Recently cycled 210 gallon since end of February so nothing is in the tank really. I guess it is pulling whatever the 150 lbs of dry Pukani has although ammonia and nitrite are 0 with low nitrates. No fish - figured I would turn on the skimmer to break it back in after spending 15 years a garage box 
Figured using the same pump has my return would be a good safety net in case one goes out. Especially if the return fails I can always take the skimmer offline and swap them. Great little pump. Skimmer isn't bad too I figured the skimmer back in 2001 would be a good investment. After that tank crashed and I took a break I'm able to use it and it is picking up right where it left off. Great product.
Figured using the same pump has my return would be a good safety net in case one goes out. Especially if the return fails I can always take the skimmer offline and swap them. Great little pump. Skimmer isn't bad too
I figured the skimmer back in 2001 would be a good investment. After that tank crashed and I took a break I'm able to use it and it is picking up right where it left off. Great product.
whyamisofly
New member
Getting ready to build my skimmer stand - what has everyone found to be the "sweet spot" on the 24" model for depth?
solitude127
Proud user of IO Salt!
Just connected a Cor 15 to mine. Right now it is set to 80% but may lower it. I have the gate valve / wheel fully open and foam is at the base of the neck. Recently cycled 210 gallon since end of February so nothing is in the tank really. I guess it is pulling whatever the 150 lbs of dry Pukani has although ammonia and nitrite are 0 with low nitrates. No fish - figured I would turn on the skimmer to break it back in after spending 15 years a garage box
Figured using the same pump has my return would be a good safety net in case one goes out. Especially if the return fails I can always take the skimmer offline and swap them. Great little pump. Skimmer isn't bad too
Is the skimmer noisy?
FullBoreReefer
New member
These skimmers make more noise than most but not horrible, especially if you remove the intake from the collection cup. Venturi skimmers will alway have more noise.
Actually, no. It isn't. The only thing I hear from the skimmer now oddly enough is the return water / dripping if you will. The Cor pump is pretty quiet. If I take the lid off the collection cup I will hear it but other than that it is pretty tame.
This is running on a 210 gallon tank that I will be moving a 40 breeder into. The skimmer on the breeder is a CPR Bak Pak and it is a lot louder believe it or not. If I used the mag pump I bet it would be noisier but the Cor is not loud at all.
africangrey
Active member
Yes the skimmer itself is noisier than needle wheel counterpart. It's the water splashing exiting from the outlet pipe.
FullBoreReefer
New member
A 90 degree threaded fitting can help that, mine exits below water level now.
whyamisofly
New member
Bump
Celtic_Fox
New member
As long as the water level outside the skimmer isn't much above the level of the exit pipe/valve it doesn't really matter.
The water level (and bubble level) inside this type of skimmer is usually governed by the height of the exit pipe and how open the exit valve is. The "sweet spot" depends on how wet or dry you want your skimate - and you adjust the exit valve as needed. (Assuming your pump pressure is constant of course.)
You only really get in trouble when the outside water height gets much higher than the exit pipe, causing the water and bubble level on the inside to rise more than wanted and/or expected - and of course the exit valve then becomes less helpful (or not at all) in adjusting the inside level...
Sooooo, if you need a skimmer stand (or just "want one", like I did), just make sure the exit pipe/valve is above the water level. If you end up not liking the sound of the water exiting the skimmer, a simple street elbow (and pipe if needed) pointed down, that reaches the the water line, works great.
whyamisofly
New member
Thank you for the response! I require a stand in my sump, as the water level is at 14".
FullBoreReefer
New member
My sump water level is 10.5” deep with a 3” stand. So my skimmer sits at a 7.5” depth.
As said above, I use a 90degree fitting as a turndown to quiet the exit flow.
As said above, I use a 90degree fitting as a turndown to quiet the exit flow.
whyamisofly
New member
Thank you! I'll plan on 7-8" depth
Orcus Varuna
New member
Jeff is a one man show on what I came to call Jeff time lol. so if you haven't yet I would call him and ask. If not it could be a week or two, he will also hold it and ship out when you return.
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rmchoi
New member
That depth is right on. I have a Lifereef system built with Lifereef SVS3-24 skimmer. The water line sticker that came on the Lifereef sump is at 7" from bottom, right where the water line actually is.
Yogre
Cheesehead Reefer
Last time I ordered from him, been a couple of years now, he told me he only ships on Tuesdays. So, you'd have to coordinate a Tuesday that works for you.
Antonee
New member
Thanks for the reply and I guess Jeff hasn't changed much from an operational standpoint. He shipped out my skimmer this Tuesday and it's arriving this Saturday. Super excited.
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